What are Charlton's strengths?

Charlton may be feeling like a bridesmaid left standing at the altar when AFCB come to play them today. It's not always fun to be at a party when you are not the centre of attention, but the Addicks have had a reasonable season despite having made a managerial change. Watford fans may say that they should have changed manager a few more times, but sitting in the top half of the table Charlton have certainly improved from last season and they will not want to come second best to Bournemouth at The Valley on Saturday.

What final day dramas will we see at The Valley?

Their strike force may not have scored the number of goals that the Cherries have but in Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Igor Vetokele they now have forwards that have played a season in the Championship and they are likely to be stronger for the experience next season. They both have 11 goals and Gudmundsson I hear has been perhaps the pick of the Charlton players this season. Chris Eagles is also a payer who can get on the score sheet but only came to the club on a free transfer in February having been at Blackpool - Eddie Howe will know all about the wide man from his days at Burnley.

Charlton have also defended well though and it is good to see that Stephen Henderson is getting regular games for them in goal. At the back they also have the Cameroon international Andre Bikey who is a season campaigner having played for Middlesbrough, Reading and Burnley in the past and he is now 30. Ben Haim an Israeli international also adds experience to the Addicks' midfield. Their season though has been a case of drawing too many games. Their draws are up to 18 now and if they had won eight of those games they would have been banging on the door of the play-offs.

So it has not been a totally bad season for the Addicks, but I get the feeling that they are looking forward more to 2015/16 from what CEO Katrien Maire had to say on their website about a preview before the AFCB game: "We will also be revealing our new home kit before the game and I hope that is one of many reasons why fans will already be looking forward to 2015/16."

Well hopefully Charlton fans don't have much more to look forward to on Saturday's display from their team than that. AFCB have to do their job which is to try and win the game. They may find a draw is also a good enough result to win the trophy. I'd like to see Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall pick up the Championship title more because of what happened a couple of seasons ago with Doncaster. The important thing is that the Cherries are up, but it would make the open bus tour a lot more special with a Championship winning trophy to hold up high.

I'd like to ask a favour from Sheffield Wednesday as well if I could - a clean sheet for you today please! It's not too much to ask for is it?

Let's not give AFCB a bad name. Allow Charlton to celebrate
their team on the last day of the season.

Finally, like AFCB I would like to repeat that while I Hope everyone has fun on the final day of the season, please behave and respect Charlton Athletic and keep off the pitch!! The presentations that follow the game should be great to see but for Eddie and JT and the players please keep off the grass. We don't want anyone spoiling the reputaton of our great club, especially with global TV viewing of the pictures from The Valley. Let Charlton enjoy their last home game and respect their fans who will help make it a special day at the Valley. 

Charlton Home Form
WLWDW

AFCB Away Form
LWDWW

Chicago Addick flies in to offer AFCB some Rival Lines

Rival Lines

Match Preview: Charlton v AFCB
Blogger Interview: Chicago Addick
Twitter @ChicagoAddick

You didn't expect me to have a quiet week when the Cherries have secured promotion did you. No, well with a final chance to squeeze in another Rival Lines with a Charlton blogger before we depart the Championship. Chicago Addick has been kind enough to spare Cherry Chimes a few moments of his time from his Bermuda hide away to let us glean a greater insight into Charlton Athletic. 

CC: What will you remember most about Charlton's 2014-15 season?

CA: The early promise under Bob Peeters, playing some of the best passing football I have seen in 40 years. The realisation that Peeters was useless tactically and after we got found out, he became clearly out of his depth. The utter derision that Guy Luzon’s appointment was met with after having the wool pulled over our eyes. The utter helplessness as we dropped down the table. The realisation that Luzon was actually his own man, a decent coach, played a simple game and got the best out of the players. Been quote a topsy-turvy season!

CC: Did you think that the teams that came up from League One last season made the Championship a tougher division?

CA: Very much. Wolves were always going to do well. I rate Jackett very highly. I also thought Brentford would adjust well, so that leaves Rotherham who became the league’s only ‘minnows’ if I can call them that. I always thought one or two of the ‘bigger’ clubs would struggle. Although how bad Fulham, Brighton and especially Wigan were surprised me.

CC: Do Charlton fans need to feel a common bond with their manager like they did with Chris Powell and Alan Curbishley?

CA: Yes. I think part of the tough adjustment we have had under our new owner and his network philosophy is that the club’s fans and owners and management was always pretty connected, and that is no longer the case. The game has changed of course and it is hard to form a connection with four managers in less than a year, but Addicks’ will always point to the club’s most successful times and the relationship they had with those managers – Jimmy Seed, Lennie Lawrence, Alan Curbishley & Chris Powell. It would be nice to have that again, but I can’t see it.

CC: Can you see qualities in Guy Luzon that you like?

CA: I think so. He got off to such a bad start that the initial rapport was exceptionally frosty. I still question his career and how he has got himself his jobs, but on face value he has instilled a stronger mentality playing players in their right position and using their best attributes. He simplifies things and is a straight talker. I doubt if The Valley will ever be serenading him from the rafters, but in tough circumstances he has stood up well. His second season at Standard was a disaster though, although mostly undone by the owner (our owner) selling his best players from under him. This summer is very important and Addicks’ will watch on carefully.

CC: Are there any early rumours of players that Charlton might bid for over the summer or are you more concerned with losing any of your players?

CA: Wikipedia Standard Liege, Sint Truiden, Upjest or Carl Zeiss Jena and help yourself! Seriously I sincerely hope that the management have learnt their lesson that The Championship is beyond 90 per cent of the network cast offs. The club need to sign players better than what we have be they from Belgium, Britain or elsewhere. Our immediate concern is who will stay? Yoni Buyens and Frederic Bulot will probably go back to Standard, then there are others out of contract. Most fans will be praying that Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Igor Vetokele and Joe Gomez stay and the club builds on what we have now, and not dismantles it. The summer will no doubt be as rocky a road as it has been since Roland Duchatelet took over.

CC: Sixty points is only six less than AFCB had last season when they were 10th so are Charlton not far off being a top six side?

CA: Probably only a couple of players as it stands. A big striker (that French bloke you’ve got will do), a commanding central midfielder who can grab a goal and a centre-half would probably have us competing for top six.

CC: Guy Luzon talked of a lack of quality after Charlton's last game against Birmingham but do you see that some of the Addicks' players have improved this season?

CA: Very few of them were around last season. Out of those that was is young Callum Harriott, but he has gone backwards and has had injury problems. Your old favourite Rhoys Wiggins has missed the bulk of the season to injury too. Morgan Fox has steadily improved at left back in Wiggins’ place and Joe Gomez has come into the first team at 17-years old and looks as if he has 300 appearances! The biggest improvement has been from Jordan Cousins, now playing in central midfield with Luzon, after Peeters insisted on playing him out wide.

AFCB have clinched promotion but is the game against Charlton more worrying for you now knowing that the title is still a possibility for the Cherries or do you believe it will give the Addicks more of a reason to play well and try and deny the Cherries something they want.

The last few games have been a struggle as Luzon tries to get them up for games that frankly don’t matter. Our last four games have been against other teams with nothing to play for, so I sincerely hope that AFCB bring the best out of us. I am personally glad you are already up, which takes the pressure of the day. My hope is that we turn up and not just roll over. Especially as I fly in from Bermuda Saturday morning just for the game. Congratulations to you and all Bournemouth fans and I look forward to being part of a great day out on Saturday.

CC: That has to be one of the biggest exile journey's to make - Bermuda to The Valley! How about that AFCB fans and Charlton aren't even going up. That's dedication and while I know Chicago Addick can't make every home match you won't find many more informed followers of the Addicks - some great answers. You can read more views on Charlton at Chicago Addicks' website.

Sadly, AFCB did not quite come out top in the football league ground awards but were highly recommended. They can rip the pitch up now I suppose as undersopil heating is a requirement of the Premier League!

Cherry Chimes' May Newsletter is out today and features the top stories from the blog in April to recall how AFCB reached the top flight. Stories include 90 minutes away from the Premier League and Fairy tales really do come true.

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Charlton's scalp will be difficult to take

It is not that often that you get to the middle of October and face an unbeaten side in front of you. Charlton pose just that challenge to AFCB and the steely qualities that the Addicks have shown in not giving away many goals has played a major part in their strong start to the season. Only Brighton and Derby have managed to score more than one goal against Charlton, and it is a record that AFCB are going to have to find an answer to if they are to topple this inform Championship team.

The great problem is that Charlton not only know how to defend. With Igor Vetokele they have unearthed a striker that is finding life in the Championship to his liking on six goals so far. Vetoke is an Angolian international although he played for Belgium up to U21 level. He made his name at FC Copenhagen a couple of years back and has been an instant success at Charlton, picking up September's SkyBet player of the month award. Johnnie Jackson is also likely to offer plenty of strong running up front. He smashed in the late winner against Norwich last month.

Between the sticks they have ex-Bournemouth loanee keeper Stephen Henderson and we all know how well he can keep goal. Less popular is likely to be Rhoys Wiggins with AFCB supporters, while on the other side of the back four or sometimes in midfield is Chris Solley, who always puts in a good shift going forward. The powerhouse at the back though is Andre Bikey-Amougou, who has been a Cameroon international. Bikey has lots of experience of Championship football and likes to scrap for every ball.

Bob Peeters has also given encouragement to young striker Karlan Ahearne-Grant to start more games after his late last minute debut against Norwich. Back in contention will also be Johann Berg Gudmundsson who is their Icelandic a winger and central defender Tal Ben Haim, who trained this week, but midfielder Fredric Bulot is a doubt and Simon Church is certainly out after dislocating his shoulder playing for Wales against Cyprus in mid-week.

Charlton Away Form:
DDDDW

AFCB Home Form:
WLDLW

What's your score prediction? Tweet them to me @peterbell19 You can also get a free voucher when you bet through Free Bet Negotiator.

Surprise packages in the Championship

While AFC Bournemouth have got away to a reasonable start this season there are one or two other clubs that have made an even better start that may be considered as surprise packages. Having dabbled with the relegation spots for a while last season I have been especially impressed by the form of Millwall and Charlton Athletic, two London clubs that have not had massive resources but are holding down top six places after just the first five games.

Of course, Ian Holloway was showing signs that he had turned around the Lions' form at the end of last season and when AFCB went their on the last day, with the outside threat of Millwall going down, Holloway's men found a way to get the win they wanted and were good value for the points on the day. AFCB did not fare any better when they went away to Charlton for an evening game last season, also coming away with a 1-0 defeat. But things have changed significantly at Charlton with the new manager Bob Peeters and his in form striker Igor Vetokele is right up the top of the goal chart with Lewis Grabban on 5 goals.

The other surprise package for me is Brentford. For while I expected them to be a strong outfit they have quickly settled in the Championship and showed against AFCB that they have some quality players. Whether these teams can keep going strongly though is the big test for them and AFCB must also now look to build on its away draw at Norwich with some home wins if they are to keep in the mix with these London teams. 

I would also expect another London club to gradually improve. Fulham have too much about them to be sitting near the bottom of the league for long. It's early days as they say and things can and will change very quickly if teams can string three or four wins together, but the Championship is already an exciting league to watch.

Michael Dunne has released his All Departments' podcast - Dickie Dowsett: Icon and you can listen on the All Departments' website or scroll down Cherry Chimes' right hand panel to the sound bar and listen in.

Good luck to the Development Squad today who take on Luton away in their first league game. UTCIAD!