Gibbs first casualty

Cory Gibbs is the first player to feel the backlash from the disappointment of this season. His contract will not be renewed in the Summer and, whilst that's hardly a surprise bearing in mind he has been injured more-or-less since he arrived in 2006, it shows some intent on the part of Alan Pardew and the Club.

Gibbs has at least made the reserves in recent weeks but with the options we already have in defence, he has become surplus to requirements. Something of a standing joke amongst Addicks, the risk of renewing his contract and him being crocked again was obviously too great and it will be interesting to see where he goes next.

Sam Sodje has also been speaking about his future and the uncertainty about what happens next. He has very cleverly left the door open at both Reading and Charlton whilst signalling his availability to everyone else. If we could secure him for a decent price, he would be a good signing and would give us four first-team centre-halves which we need.

Jonjo Shelvey and Scott Wagstaffe look like getting their first-team Valley debuts on Sunday and expect Therry Racon to get a run-out. Rob Elliott deserves another game too and an appearance from him would go some way to atone for the mistake in not allowing him to keep his place for the Wolves game following his heroics as substitute at Plymouth. This is the team I would like to see start on Sunday; Elliott, Youga, Sodje, McCarthy, Moutaouakil, Varney, Shelvey, Racon, Wagstaffe, Gray and Iwelumo. Personally, I'd also put several other youngsters on the bench and look to give them at least 20 minutes each unless we are getting thumped. This is just the sort of match in which you can do this without any significant risk.

I have decided to go to this game after all as I am keen to see the youngsters and because I have the rest of the day to drown my disappointment of this season.