PROVE WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT TODOROV - PARDEW
Alan Pardew has challenged his Charlton team to prove they can bounce straight back into the Premier League in spite of losing their top scorer and most talented player - Svetoslav Todorov - for the season.
The Bulgarian striker, who has netted three times this season, was hurt in a tackle by Krisztian Timar in Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat by Plymouth.
The 29-year-old, who signed from Portsmouth in the summer, sustained cruciate knee ligament damage and a fracture in his knee. He is due to undergo reconstructive surgery in three weeks' time.
"I thought it was a bad, clumsy challenge," said Pardew. "It's a big blow - it has taken out our most technically gifted player.
"Now we have to prove we can do it without him. I'm going to ask the three strikers we have to prove to me they can do it. They need to come to the fore now."
Ahead of their London derby against bottom club QPR, Pardew responded to criticisms that his team were soft against Plymouth.
"If I was a player I would take that as a motivational statement," said the manager. "We are not going to whinge, but stand up to it."
He also praised the work of visiting caretaker manager Mick Harford in an attempt to ease the pressure on his team.
Pardew continued: "The change in manager has seen an upturn in results for them. They have some good professionals.
"It's a difficult game for us because we are expecting to win and anything QPR get will be a bonus for them. The pressure will be good for us."
Alan Pardew has challenged his Charlton team to prove they can bounce straight back into the Premier League in spite of losing their top scorer and most talented player - Svetoslav Todorov - for the season.
The Bulgarian striker, who has netted three times this season, was hurt in a tackle by Krisztian Timar in Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat by Plymouth.
The 29-year-old, who signed from Portsmouth in the summer, sustained cruciate knee ligament damage and a fracture in his knee. He is due to undergo reconstructive surgery in three weeks' time.
"I thought it was a bad, clumsy challenge," said Pardew. "It's a big blow - it has taken out our most technically gifted player.
"Now we have to prove we can do it without him. I'm going to ask the three strikers we have to prove to me they can do it. They need to come to the fore now."
Ahead of their London derby against bottom club QPR, Pardew responded to criticisms that his team were soft against Plymouth.
"If I was a player I would take that as a motivational statement," said the manager. "We are not going to whinge, but stand up to it."
He also praised the work of visiting caretaker manager Mick Harford in an attempt to ease the pressure on his team.
Pardew continued: "The change in manager has seen an upturn in results for them. They have some good professionals.
"It's a difficult game for us because we are expecting to win and anything QPR get will be a bonus for them. The pressure will be good for us."
Labels: Alan Pardew, Championship, Charlton, Svetoslav Todorov
