How can a team that looked so bright, lively and incisive until the last weekend of August have declined so quickly into the lacklustre outfit that lost five games out of six in September ?
Well, injuries have played their part and I suspect that Simon Makienok's absence has been the one most keenly felt. He isn't a prolific goalscorer but his hold up play, his linking and his dummies played a crucial part in Charlton's fine start to the season. Without him (and without the mystery that is Igor Vetokele) our front line has looked too young, too inexperienced, too lightweight and over-reliant on Tony Watt producing a moment of magic. We don't yet know whether Makienok will be available for the game against Fulham on Sunday but a front pair of Watt and Ahearne-Grant or Kennedy doesn't inspire confidence.
Fulham didn't enjoy a good start to the season. They got their first win (3-1 at Rotherham) on 29th August when we were experiencing our first defeat. Things have improved since then, which may be connected with their deadline day signing of Richard Stearman from Wolves. They beat Blackburn 2-1 at Craven Cottage, lost narrowly (2-3) at Sheffield Wednesday but then produced their standout performance so far with the 4-0 demolition of QPR two weeks ago. Last week they were humbled 0-3 at home by Wolves, but this may be explained by the sending off of their influential midfielder Tom Cairney when the score was 0-0. Cairney will be suspended on Sunday.
Scott Parker hasn't appeared for Fulham yet this season because of injury so he will not have to endure the tedious abuse he gets from some Charlton fans. Ben Pringle (signed from Rotherham in the summer) will start in midfield alongside Dartford boy Jamie O'Hara who joined Fulham after experiencing the joy of playing for Blackpool last year. O'Hara is still only 29 and has probably found his level after all those years of not quite being good enough at Tottenham. Andy Lonergan (another summer signing) will probably be preferred to Bettinelli in goal.
Up front, Fulham look strong. Whether Ross McCormack is worth £11m is questionable but he is a very dangerous striker at Championship level and has already notched six goals this season. He will surely be partnered by young Frenchman Moussa Dembele who should not be confused with the Belgian Moussa Dembele who left Fulham a couple of years ago for Tottenham. Fulham's Dembele is still only just nineteen and his pace will stretch the Charlton defence. An alternative up front is the giant Matt Smith.
With the game being shown on TV and with transport to the Valley severely disrupted it is likely that there will be plenty of gaps in the crowd on Sunday. We can only hope that those who do get there will get behind the team. There is a danger that discontent will lead to scapegoating and that some of the younger players might lose even more confidence. Will there be a place in the team or on the bench for our own Moussa ? Franck had four starts last season and ten substitute appearances. This would be a good time for him to reappear refreshed and to score one of the wonder goals for which he was famous at Coventry.