Is the interest in the South London Derby waning?

Football is always a personal thing of course, so I'll let you decide but, approaching one of the highlights of the season, hosting our near neighbours there is a feeling at least in this fan that there should be more energy and anticipation about it.

Nothing ever stays just as it was of course. Life, football clubs, players, even rivalries can ebb and flow but there are some institutions that fans look forward to and this is surely one of them for most of the South London faithful. Once the niceties of Millwall fans pretending they don't care about beating us are over, normal service can resume. There can be something very satisfying in bragging rights for a win against your local rivals.

Issues of the previous seasons saw some rather extreme solutions to potential problems which, along with previous unfortunate happenings, have dampened for some  the spectator aspect of the occasion or at least kept some fans away - notwithstanding the TV schedule which saw last season's fixture broadcast.

This season in stark contrast to keeping fans in home areas away from the Jimmy Seed, the club have sold out the A block East Stand with its new 150 quid season ticket. With Millwall likely to sell out their end -  which is adjacent to the block in question, -fans will be closer than ever to one another, which should hopefully add some banter, and singing of course. There are no additional security measures announced by Police so far for exiting the ground.

Is interest waning, well the main indicator will be attendance on Saturday compared to previous non-televised fixtures, and of course the atmosphere.

Heroes

Speaking of heroes Millwall have recently worn a camouflage kit in remembrance of the fallen, while Charlton fans unveiled a memorial at the last home match. Both clubs honoured those who have given their lives for their countries, fittingly at a time when we are remembering 100 years since the start of World War 1.

Let us hope the lasting memory of the World Wars will mean nothing like that happens again, and that the whole world will one day enjoy prolonged and relative peace, as we have now for more than a generation.

There is a feature in Saturday's TNT for anyone who's interested in reading a follow up on the events at the Sheffield Wednesday match. That and the other articles are very worthy of a look in my opinion.

The Teams

Taking a look at the Addicks squad -  it has changed dramatically since the derbies last year but we still have messrs Jackson, Solly and indeed Harriot, and the clubs comms team, to educate the new incumbents of the importance of these games.

Ex Millwall forward and now Charlton coach Bob Peeters himself may also have a view.  His Charlton team has so far run a steady but not exactly sensational ship so far. The foundations are there however for a push towards the top 6, the squad depth being a well rehearsed play of this feature. This will be the Charlton and Standard Liege owner's third transfer window, and we watch with interest what happens both at the entrance and exit doors.

Certainly this period in the run up to the window will be interesting if Charlton can stay in touch with the top 6. The Addicks remain very much in touch with what is still a very tight pack. Forest in 11th on 25 points are 7 points off 1st placed Derby on 32.

Charlton sit 8th 2 points off 5th. Millwall sit 18th with 18 points. Only Blackpool seem truly adrift in the table, Charlton's former coach Riga left recently after a poor start to the season, reportedly at one stage in the summer five short of a first 11.

Recent form sees Charlton having drawn 2, lost 1, won 1. Millwall have drawn 1, lost 2, won 1.

Milwall's men to watch include joint top goal scorer and ex Charlton pro Ricardo Fuller on 3, Lee Gregory also on 3, and Mark Beevers on 2.

Prediction:

Charlton edge this one for Big Bob.

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