Blackpool preview

I had intended to write about how Blackpool were the only team with a fruit-related nickname, when it suddenly dawned on me (on the bus incidentally) that Bournemouth were the 'Cherries'. Only fellow bloggers can understand the immense disappointment this caused me.

In my defence however, although it seems the Tangerines do indeed have some company at the greengrocers, I would dare to suggest that even the most minimalist dessert chef wouldn't attempt to claim that pairing some tangerine with cherry constituted a genuine 'fruit salad'.

There are however several nickname subgroups which contain several more constituents, which got me thinking that a Cup competition between the various subgroups might enliven what is rapidly becoming a rather staid and unexciting domestic footballing calendar.

COLOURS eg. Clarets, Reds, Sky Blues
BIRDS eg. Canaries, Robins, Cockerels, Bluebirds, Seagulls, Magpies, Bantams, Swans, Owls, Gulls
INSECTS eg. Bees, Hornets
VOCATIONS eg. Cobblers, Glaziers, Railwaymen, Rangers, Saddlers, Glovers, Potters
FOOD eg. Toffees, Biscuitmen
WILD ANIMALS eg. Tigers, Foxes, Wolves, Lions, Stags
FISH-RELATED eg. Shrimpers, Gills, Haddocks
HISTORICAL RELIGIOUS FIGURES eg. Pilgrims, Saints, Quakers
TOOLS AND UTENSILS eg. Hammers, Blades
DOMESTIC PETS eg. Terriers, Black Cats
CRIMINALS eg. Exiles, Villains, Pirates
SEXUAL DEVIANTS eg. Cottagers, Red Devils

I'm yet to iron out the exact rules of competition, and have not decided what to do with those teams in a subgroup of their own like, you've guessed it.....Iron (Scunthorpe). Perhaps they could join other lonely teams like the Latics, Spirites, Tractor Boys and Pompey into a catch-all 'Randoms' team, which surely most neutrals would latch onto.

The Birds and the Vocations would seemingly began as strong favourites, although I suspect most fans would be keen to avoid a tricky away trip to either the 'Historical Religious Figures' or the 'Domestic Pets'. It is also notable that 'Tools and Utensils' sounds rather like 'Rushden and Diamonds' or 'Dagenham and Redbridge'.

The competition could bring together fans of teams that are naturally rivals (eg. Swans and Bluebirds), whilst perhaps encouraging those who have previously not shown much interest in the game to take a fresh look eg. ornithologists. It also offers an ideal opportunity for West Ham and Sheffield United to bury their differences from last season.

Anyhow, I'm straying slightly off-topic because tomorrow's game is undoubtedly a vital one for Charlton, and yet another chance to put right our highly inconsistent home form. On the six occasions where we've scored the first goal at home, we've accumulated an impressive 14 points which probably tells you that there's a negative feedback loop at The Valley that needs to be broken. We shouldn't be falling behind 7 times in 13 home games, almost always in the first half (QPR the only exception).

The experimental line-up for last weekend's FA Cup tie appears to have given an early indication that an addition of pace at full-back and upfront, might just add the spark which a formation centred around a solitary Iwelumo (with support from central midfield) appears to be lacking. With all due respect to Chris Powell for example, not only does the future of the club ike at the feet of Youga, Moutaouakil, Basey et al, but so too does the present.

I hope Pards doesn't revert back to type; he complained about the flatness of the crowd, but as I argued earlier this week, it works both ways. The fans will respond to attacking endeavour and a commitment to playing without fear, and if that can breed the confidence to break the aforementioned vicious home circle, then we have the ability to secure automatic promotion still.

I hope he lines them up as follows: Weaver, Moutaouakil, Youga, Bougherra, Fortune, Sam, Zheng, Holland, Thomas, Varney, Iwelumo. Subs: Randolph, Basey, McCarthy, Ambrose, McLeod.

NY Addick predicts: Charlton 2 (Varney, Zheng), Blackpool 0. Att: 20, 112.