Charlton blogger Dr Kish offers you a seat at The Valley

Rival Lines
Match Preview: Charlton v AFCB
Blogger interview: Dr Kish

While AFCB fans were biting their nails last weekend wondering whether the team was about to fall out of the automatic promotion places and wondering whether the result against Sheffield Wednesday had scuppered the Cherries' promotion charge, I took a few moments to send over some questions to regular Charlton blogger Dr Kish who as more than happy to calm my nerves and provide some clarity on some of the decisions taken at The Valley this season.

CC: Charlton changed their manager this season. Do you feel that the owner, Roland Dutchatelet, is dabbling with the club and risks alienating supporters and what happened at the fan meeting in February with him?

DRK: Well, Watford are in a similar situation, four managers in 36 days for them this season, with an owner who has other clubs under his command. I'm sure Charlton fans would like to have emulated the Hornets. Though Duchatelet is accused of interfering by some fans, there's nothing to substantiate the claims. He is a businessman and does not get involved with the day-to-day running of the club.

Nobody from the club was present at the fans' meeting. Since then, the team has been in reasonable form and the worries harboured by some have eased.

CC: Charlton sit in 10th place ahead of the last two games so are you fairly pleased with how the season went for the Addicks on the pitch?

DRK: I'm a firm believer that the table doesn't lie. In September, we would have been hugely disappointed with tenth, in January we would have been delighted with it. The 14 game win-less streak ended any hopes we had of ending in the top six, consistency is the key to success in football and we didn't have it in the middle of the season.

CC: Do you see much change in the way the team has played since Guy Luzon has been manager and can you see him lasting any longer than Bob Peters?

DRK: Peeters, like Chris Powell, was a defence minded coach. During his time in charge, all the six wins Peeters achieved were by a single goal and only once did the team score more than twice in a game. Luzon is much more attack minded, we have scored three in a game on several occasions, have come from behind to win - something we never did under Peeters - and continue attacking even if we are leading late on in a game. Luzon's team is much easier on the eye and his future looks assured.

CC: Who has been Charlton's best player this season?

DRK: Our Icelandic midfielder, Johann Berg Gudmundsson. He is capable of scoring spectacular goals.

CC: Charlton still doesn't have a 20 goal striker and do you think that is the main reason why you have not made it higher in the league this season?

DRK: Not really. When Cardiff and Hull went up a couple of seasons back, their top scorers netted eight and nine goals respectively. Inconsistency and an overly cautious approach earlier in the season are the main factors behind us not being higher in the table .

CC: Charlton have only lost three of their last 10 home games so this is not going to be an easy game for the Cherries is it?

DRK: It will be an open game, Eddie Howe worked out that scoring more than the opposition - rather than trying to concede less - is the key to success. Two talented wingers, good strikers, pace and speed of thought have served you well. Luzon will also attack, both sides will have chances and it is down to who has the composure to take them on the day.

CC: How has Stephen Henderson been in goal and do you think he is one of the better keepers in the Championship?

DRK: Stephen missed 14 games in the middle of the season and it is no coincidence that we did not win any of them. He was also out for a short spell earlier in the season. He is a top keeper at this level and key to our chances of success next season. I have not seen any keeper in the Championship I would swap him for, but as you guys know, he is injury prone. But for that, I think he'd be playing in the Premier League.

CC: The Addicks were a bit reluctant to give AFCB more than 2900 tickets for the final game of the season but conjured up another 1400 after AFCB chairman Jeff Motsyn pleaded with Charlton Athletic to release more tickets - any reason why can think why Charlton were so slow to agree to a bigger allocation of tickets for AFCB fans for such a special game for our supporters?

DRK: A few words on the figures to start. The Jimmy Seed Stand (the stand behind the goal which will house the Bournemouth fans) has a capacity of just under 3300. Watford, Millwall and Leeds have all brought well over 3000 fans. I assume the 2900 figure you quote is because the club (Bournemouth) had to reserve more than usual for players' families etc, given the importance of the game. Also, despite both clubs announcing the release of an additional 1400 tickets, I believe the figure is actually closer to 1500. There was never any reluctance to allocate more tickets, but there were a number of issues that had to be resolved. The Met Police are strict with segregation at London grounds and this is the first time that The Valley in its current form, has housed away fans anywhere but in the Jimmy Seed Stand. For the FA Cup ties with Brentford and Leyton Orient a few years back, the end two blocks of the East Stand (the one to the right of where you guys will be sitting) were given to the away fans. This was relatively easy, there were no season ticket issues, the stand has turnstiles at both ends and the two blocks have their own toilet and catering facilities. This season, Charlton sold season tickets in the end block for £150 and sold it out. I'm not sure of the legalities involved in moving season ticket holders but there is not enough room in the East Stand to relocate them all. The Upper West, where your extra tickets are, gives a fine view of the action and is normally fairly sparsely populated in the blocks you have been allocated. However, there are a number of season ticket holders in these blocks and Charlton contacted them all individually and gave them food vouchers by way of compensation. Also, the Met are unhappy about housing away fans above home fans and I believe the local council had to be contacted regarding the safety certificate. I think (correctly) both clubs did not want to say anything until all the issues had been resolved. I think Katrien Meire (Charlton CEO) deserves credit for making the release of extra tickets possible, and also Jeff Mostyn , for paying the considerable additional costs incurred.

CC: Do you think Charlton fans would be pleased to see the trophy at the ground should Bournemouth win the league and do you think such scenes could help inspire Charlton for next season?

DRK: Bournemouth's elevation to the top flight is a modern day fairy tale that any true fan will enjoy. The lifting of the trophy would not be the inspiration, you have already given that with the season you've had. A few years back Bournemouth were in the bottom tier of English football with a 17 point deduction. Now you are on the cusp of the Premier League, you have no debt, a summer spend of just £3.5m (and I guess most of that was recouped by the sale of Lewis Grabban?) and you have the smallest capacity in the division. If that's not inspirational, I don't know what is.

CC: What do you make of Eddie Howe's talent?

DRK: One of my favourite 'if only's' is how different things might have been had Eddie come to The Valley back in 2011. Fantastic manager who gets his teams playing the right way. Eddie's a cunning so-and-so, the season we signed Simon Francis he had been in dispute with Southend and missed most of pre-season.

First game of the season, we were at home to AFCB and Francis' fitness level being below par, a young Chris Solly played at right back. Eddie isolated Brett Pitman at the far post with Solly and exposed his lack of height.

Francis was ushered into the team before he was ready and had a poor season and had the crowd on his back. Eventually Franny left to fulfil his potential with you guys. Say no more.
CC: What is your score prediction for the game?

If both teams play like they did in their weekend games, Bournemouth will win in a canter! I'm hoping Charlton will be back on form and Eddie and the boys spend the week celebrating! I think there will be a few goals in the game.

I would like to thank Peter for giving me the opportunity to answer theses questions. I am typing these final words whilst watching the celebrations after the Bolton game!

Congratulations to everyone connected with Bournemouth. Enjoy the euphoria, the party at The Valley on Saturday, the summer, the sleepless night before the fixtures are released on 17 June and then you will know for sure it's not a dream. I will miss my favourite away trip next season but hope to witness a little bit of history on a sunny afternoon in August 2016, when Bournemouth entertain Charlton in the first ever top-flight clash between the two teams.

Good luck to you all, enjoy the Premier League! You will - like us for a few years - be everyone's second favourite team.

CC: We couldn't have asked for a much better farewell from the Championship than some of the kind words spoken by Dr Kish there. I think I can speak for most AFCB fans that we have thoroughly enjoyed being in the Championship and should the Addicks do an AFCB, and score a bucket load of goals next season, I am sure we will remember the day we are about to have at the Valley, especially the 1400 who already have Katrien Meire down to receive the first congratulations when the Addicks come up to join the Cherries!

As for the trophy I don't suppose SkyBet has a helicopter and a heli-pad at Charlton and Watford - it could be a bit of a hard decision where to land at half time on Saturday. Make sure you check out Dr Kish's site which has some excellent views on matters Charlton and Championship chat.

Tomorrow we'll be releasing the Cherry Chimes' May Newsletter which picks over the top stories from the blog in April to reflect on how AFCB reached the top flight.

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Cherry Chimes talks to Addicks fan Dr Kish

Match Preview

Charlton V AFCB

Blogger Interview - Dr Kish

I was a bit stuck last week in the hunt for a Charlton blogger who would come on and chart with us about their team ahead of our mid-week fixture. Considering the week that Charlton had just had I was fearing that football was a poor topic of conversation for Addicks's fans having seen the company severe ties with Chris Powell. However, I caught up with Dr Kish whose blog is one of the most well respected in the Championship and he was pleased to give some comments. The interview took place pre-Millwall game so Dr Kish probably had that game very much on his mind.

CC:  Are you surprised at the timing of Chris Powell's sacking, I think the fans really showed how much he was liked when he went?

DRK: Personally, no. Chris will always be a legend at the club but we have recently been taken over, we are bottom of the league, the style of football is awful, we are the lowest scorers in the Football League so something had to change. Many were disappointed to see Chris go but we did look to be heading for relegation.

CC: I imagine AFCB fans are not going to be popular if we start singing Yann Kermorgant songs at the Valley, but do you think he'll get a good reception?

DRK: Au contraire, Yann is the biggest cult hero we had at the club since our Premier League days. He loves South London and recently spent a lot of money on doing his house in Greenwich up. Yann will get a fantastic reception and we may even join in with your songs. We'll be nervous if you get a free-kick within in thirty yards of goal but Yann could get that rarest of all football accolades, applause for an opposition player who scores.

CC: Are you soon to be called Charlton Liege?

DRK: I hope not, thus far we have bought or loaned four players from them with none of ours heading in the opposite direction. The real riches for Roland Duchatelet would be if Charlton could regain their Premier League status. He hankers after acquiring the PL television rights and is on a mission to buy clubs in all the major European Leagues, Bari being the latest he has his eyes on. Obviously it is a concern that we could be used as a feeder club, but we'll have to wait and see.

CC: It appears from the outside that cash is something the club really needs at the moment or are things not that bad?

DRK: Charlton lose about £6m pa but the FFP rules are looking to address the crazy losses many clubs make. Duchatelet's business model is for his clubs to produce their own talent and he refuses to pay agents to bring players into the club. Now, it is not so much that we do not have access to money, more the owner being unwilling to spend it.

CC: Do you know very much about Jose Riga? Please enlighten us.

DRK: Riga is a 56-year-old Belgian & a former Standard Liege head coach who took them to the last 16 of the Europa League in 2011/12 after winning their group. Previously, he guided R.A.E.C to the second tier title in Belgium, a feat he repeated with Mons. More recently he has worked as technical director of Cercle Sortif Vise and for the Aspire Acedemy in Qatar. Academy wise, he has also been involved with AC Milan but this is his first experience of working in England.

CC: Are you nervy pre-Millwall game and what do you expect to happen?

DRK: We have a truly shocking record against Millwall and it would be foolish not to be nervy. We have only beaten them 11 times, whereas they have beaten us 33 times! Having said that, the Lions have injury worries so it could just be the right time to play them.

CC: As you will all probably know, Millwall and Charlton fashioned a draw which was probably a better result for Charlton than the Lions!

CC: The clubs form improved with the FA Cup run but do you feel it has left you in a bad position playing catch up in the Championship?

DRK: Though the cup form was fine, we have only won two of our last fifteen league games. Combine that with the games that had to be postponed because of the weather and the cup run left us with three or four games to play to catch up on our schedule. Fatigue, mental and physical, will play a part, we will be playing twice a week for the rest of the season. We rarely have a cup run and this one really came at the wrong time.

CC: The pitch at the Valley is known to be horrible at the moment (perhaps mud wrestling would be easier than football?), but are your players getting used to it?

DRK: The pitch is awful, Eddie Howe should take your guys to a ploughed field to train in readiness for Tuesday! Powell used the long ball a lot but the early impressions are that Viga wants to play football on the deck. The pitch drainage system was last renewed in 1998 and those of you that know The Valley are aware that the stadium lies at the bottom of a steep hill, close to the Thames. The drainage system has collapsed and the water table was high. The drier weather has meant that the pitch is bone hard so needs watering pre-match. The problem is that the water does not penetrate everywhere so there are puddles on the surface after watering. It will be completely renovated in the summer but is a real mess at the moment and impossible to get used to.

CC: Who do you feel has the most quality up front between Sordell, Jackson and Church - do they all offer something different? I am hoping Ghoochanneijhad does not play as I don't want to have to write his name down too often!

DRK: Johnnie Jackson is a goal scoring midfielder who we rely on. Kermorgant was our main man and it was a question of who played alongside him. Sordell wasn't given much of a chance by Powell and Marvin probably wishes he signed for you guys in the summer. Church is a willing runner but not a prolific scorer. Viga gave Sordell a rare start on Wednesday and I suspect it will be him and Ghoochannejhad who will start against the Cherries.

CC: What did it feel like when you beat QPR at home?

DRK: I suppose the main feeling was relief, especially as the goal came so late. QPR had been on an indifferent run so I felt we had a chance of getting something from the game.

CC: How did you feel the team played against Huddersfield in mid-week, were you unlucky?

DRK: We performed much better, the team was much more attack minded and certainly had enough chances to win. Goal scoring has been a problem all season and needs to be rectified quickly.

CC: I'd better ask how Mr Wiggins is doing? Some of our supporters may not even mind if we lost the game as long as Wiggins received a red card.

DRK: Rhoys sustained a bad injury against Crystal Palace at the start of last season & missed much of the campaign. Many of us feel he hasn't been quite the same player since. He recently won his first full cap for Wales, became a father and penned a deal that extends his contract at The Valley until the end of the 2017-18 season. The deal was pushed through after Reading manager, Nigel Adkins, watched in in the cup game with Oxford. Bournemouth fans may be interested to know that Danny Hollands is back at the club after a loan stint at Gillingham, A peripheral figure for the last two seasons under Powell, many at The Valley feel he's been given a rough deal & could do a job at this level. Danny, if Eddie now offers you a deal for next season you know where to send my fee to!!.

CC: Which three teams do you think will go down to League One? (I don't want to see any London clubs go down for purely selfish reasons that they are good away matches for us)

DRK: Really it looks like perm any three from Barnsley, Charlton, Millwall and Yeovil. The other three all have managers with vasy experience at this level that will not help us. Time may finally run out on Barnsley and I think Gary Johnson will do well to save Yeovil, so it could be a shoot-out between Charlton and Millwall. Whoever wins (won?) on Saturday will have a huge psychological edge.

Really good questions, I enjoyed that Peter, thanks for asking me.

CC: No problem Dr Kris, it was a pleasure to have you on Cherry Chimes. What great answers too! I had not heard about Danny Hollands return to Charlton, but that will indeed have many of our fans keen to see if he can feature in Charlton's remaining games - he was always a favourite at Dean Court. To some extent AFCB fans might have though that we would be in a similar position as Charlton at this stage of the season so we have a good understanding of how you must be feeling with a six pointer against Millwall and having had a change in manager. The Bournemouth game may seem no less important to Charlton though come Tuesday night and I am hoping for a cracking atmosphere at the Valley and am looking forward to seeing that ploughed field!

For more consultation with Dr Kish simply visit the Doctor Kish blog where there are lots of bits of information and stories about the Charlton season so far, including the Blankety Blank draw at the Den. Let's hope their are some goals on Tuesday night.