Opposing View: Charlton Athletic

Vital Charlton ed. 'Red God' gives us the inside track on the Addicks

What were your hopes, fears & expectations for the season?

The hope was doing a Norwich/Southampton, the fear was an instant return to League One, the expectation was to be somewhere in mid-table.

How have the Addicks adjusted to Championship life?

A bit mixed really.

A good performance at Birmingham on the opening day of the season deserved more than a point. Three days later we were fortunate to get all three ponts agaonst Leicester.

Forest ran us ragged so as you can see, things haven't really settled down yet.

What has Chris Powell done to get you moving in the right direction?

He brought in over 20 new players last season, swept away the losing mentality & developed a fantastic team spirit.

Powell has given last year's team the chance to prove themselves in the Championship.

Key man on Tuesday?

Dale Stephens. If he plays well, the team plays well.

One player you'd drive to his next club & why?

It would have been Leon Clarke but he scored his fifth goal in five appearances for Scunthorpe on Saturday!

One Watford player you'd like at the Valley & why?

This will probably get derision from both sets of fans but in his season at The Valley, Chris Iwelumo was an absolute warrior.

I remember him scoring at the Hawthorns when he was barely able to walk. We had to cut costs the following season & sold him to Wolves in the summer. We never replaced Big Chris and were relegated. Under rated at every club he plays for.

How will you line up Tuesday?

Powell is a big 4-4-2 fan but was forced to play 4-5-1 against Blackburn due to injury problems. We signed Abdul Razak on laon from Manchester City on Saturday and there will be another new face or two arriving before Tuesday's game.

Match prediction?

It will be tight, we can't keep clean sheets. You guys also seem pretty leaky at the back but score plenty as well. I think it could go either way but I'm fairly certain it will not be a 0-0 draw!

Cheers Red God - a bit of Heskey figure is big Chris; underrated and largely derided becuase of his goal ouput. Reality is that those playing off him thrive.