I know what you are thinking, three helpings of Trash Talk is enough to give you indigestion, so we apologise, a bit of miscommunication amongst one or two of us meant we were all collecting answers for this game. Sometimes its not easy, oppo fans make us a promise to respond and it doesn’t always work out so we keep a few channels of communication open just in case, and this week we came up with three, and we didn’t want to let any of them down considering they had all made the effort, so for this one we must thank 24 year old Dan Finch…..…thanks Dan, stay safe.
Can you give us an interesting fact about your club?
The Last 3 Charlton managers to gain promotion are all former players of the club (Alan Curbishley 1998 and 2000, Chris Powell 2011, and Lee Bowyer 2018).
Who is likely to be your player to make a difference in our clash?
We have a few that can change a game but of late I’m going to go with someone you know well Chuks Aneke. Chuks when fit has been incredibly good for us this year but is struggling to find full fitness, his goal against Burton was sensational and he has been in the goals for us when he has featured.
Knowing our luck Chuks will be injured and therefore I will also give a shout out to Andrew Shinnie, the attacking midfielder who joined us from Luton on a season long loan and has shown ability of changing a game with one single pass.
Every club is relying on Academy players this season, who is your breakthrough player?
Well in recent years due to the off the field issues nearly every week we have relied on the academy products to help us out. Alfie Doughty is currently injured but has had a massive breakthrough in 2020. This season so far, we haven’t really got one who has come through, Charlie Barker started the year at centre back at the age of 17 but hasn’t made the squad in recent games. Albie Morgan is showing signs of breaking into the first team for good after a year and a half of being chopped and changed.
What sort of playing style will we see from your team?
Bowyer is keen on a passing game and we often line up in a diamond in midfield or a 5 at the back but 99% of the time we will play with 2 strikers, a big man and a active man (often Omar Bogle and Conor Washington). “Bows” likes to use the second forward to cause issues wide as well as affect things through the middle, it can sometimes be slow but more often than not this season it has worked.
Where do you see your team finishing in the League this season?
I think a top 6 finish is possible and will be demanded by Bowyer and our new owners. I don’t like to say top 2 because I think the top of this league is way too tight and full of really good sides so I would be happy with making the playoffs, if you had asked me this question a month ago I would have probably told you top half, but we ended the window with some good signings and hopefully we can cause some issues.
A few games in, so have you revaluated your thoughts on the season ahead?
Well to outsiders I don’t think they realised how bad it was, we almost didn’t make the start of the season and then we were days ago from going bust let alone into administration, so really I can’t complain with too much, early defeats happen especially when we had 15/16 players like the Doncaster defeat. Since the window ended, we played well got some good results and looked sharp. Only one stinker against Burton which doesn’t surprise any Charlton fan. Overall a solid start and with an owner that has already showed that he will back the club I think we have every chance of being up there.
Who are you most concerned about in the MK Dons team?
I Obviously haven’t seen much of the MK Dons this season but there a few names that intrigue me. Cameron Jerome is a still a presence and I notice he has scored a few times, but for me I’ve always been a fan of Ben Gladwin, I saw him once play in the lower leagues and he was a talent back then, he is the kind of player that can hurt us with the ball. Oxford fans must have nightmares of that goal he scored not long ago.
Where do you see the MK Dons finishing in the League this season?
I think around their current position is probably fair, I think they’re a step above the clubs who I expect to be in trouble, but I don’t see them as a club who are dark horses for any run at the play offs, so anywhere from 12-18th is where I would label MK Dons to finish. (Above AFC if that helps at all).
Predictions for the game?
I’ll go with a tight 2-1, I’ve seen many Charlton-MK games and they are mostly always tight and scrappy, hopefully we will have our first-choice centre back pairing back and Aneke can be fit and roaring.
Who do you see as the most likely team to win the league this season?
I think right now it has to be Hull. They’re scoring for fun and causing teams real issues, they have an exceptionally good manager who somehow kept his head during a turbulent year for the Tigers last season. They rebuilt well and look like they can beat anyone. I wouldn’t rule out Portsmouth, Sunderland, Peterborough, or Charlton either. I also expect the likes of Lincoln, Ipswich and Fleetwood to cause issues too.
