TEAM PREVIEW: Charlton Athletic – Andy Ansah hopes for a successful season at The Valley

 

It’s been a transitional few years down at The Valley. The Belgian revolution has seen the likes of Jose Riga and Bob Peeters try and fail, with Guy Luzon now the man to take Charlton forward. A mid-table finish last season could have been worse and it will be interesting to see if Luzon can hit the ground running.

Last Season: Championship (12th)

Manager: Guy Luzon

 

Squad

GKs: Stephen Henderson, Marko Dmitrovic, Nick Pope
DFs: Andre Bikey, Rhoys Wiggins, Chris Solly, Morgan Fox, Harry Lennon, Loic Nego, Patrick Bauer
MFs: Johnnie Jackson, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Franck Moussa, Callum Harriott, Alou Diarra, Jordan Cousins, El-Hadji Ba, Ahmed Kashi
FWs: Simon Makienok, Igor Vetokele, Tony Watt, Joe Pigott, Karlan Ahearne-Grant, Reza Ghoochannejhad, Piotr Parzyszek

 

Transfers

In: Patrick Bauer (Maritimo), El-Hadji Ba (Sunderland), Josh Staunton (Gillingham), Ahmed Kashi (Metz), Simon Makienok (Palermo – Loan)

Out: Tal Ben Haim (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Christophe Lepoint (Zulte Waregem), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Simon Church (MK Dons), Chris Eagles (Released), Neil Etheridge (Walsall), Roger Johnson (Released), Jack Munns (Cheltenham Town), Oguchi Onyewu (Released), Harry Osborne (Welling United), Lawrie Wilson (Released), Dillon Phillips (Cheltenham Town – Loan)

 

First Six: QPR (H), Derby County (A), Nottingham Forest (A), Hull City (H), Wolves (A), Rotherham United (H)

Likely Lineup: (4-4-2) Henderson – Solly, Bauer, Wiggins, Fox – Berg Gundmundsson, Diarra, Cousins, Harriott – Watt, Vetokele

 

 

A word from…Andy Ansah

On appreciating how difficult the football league is as a former player It’s very difficult indeed, especially when you consider the financial clout that many of the other teams have (especially those relegated from the Premier League).

They have big budgets and can afford higher wages and attract and keep players because of that advantage. We have to fall back on the Charlton ‘spirit’..the kind that brought us back to the Valley and got us promoted under Alan Curbishley. Our biggest strength has to be our team spirit. When we went up before we had players like Rufus, Mendonca & Newton who had that mentality and a real connection with the fans. It will be difficult for us to be promotion contenders this season because of the way money has changed the game.

On an unconventional post-retirement route When I retired, aged 30, I knew I wanted to be an actor but I didn’t fancy going to drama school and all that so I was fortunate to get the chance to join Sky’s ‘Dream Team’ programme. I learned how to act and what went on in front and behind the camera. The shows director tapped into my knowledge about what dressing rooms were really like and what being a pro was really like, so I ended up being a consultant for the football side of the show. It all escalated really quickly and within a short time I was in Rio working on the film ‘Mike Bassett – England Manager’.

After that I was getting approaches from companies like Nike to work on commercials and I was able to build my own company from there. I consider myself very fortunate but not lucky. I really worked hard and I think I made my own luck. I’m fortunate in that I’ve already had the best job in the world, being a footballer, and now I’ve got the second best job..working with footballers around the world and in the TV industry. And, as you said, there’s the whole ‘Unbelievable Tekkers’ thing! Me and my mates had always used the word ‘tekkers’ as short hand for skill/technique but it was after an interview for the ‘Wayne Rooney – Street Striker’ series that it all took off.

I was getting these calls saying “Andy..you’ve got to see this..” And then Soccer AM picked up on the phrase and it developed a life of its own. Unbelievable that a password I’d chosen for something my son was doing on the computer could take off like that. I get people wind down their windows and shout ‘Tekkers’ to me when I’m out and I made the most of things with the clothing and all that. It’s quite surreal to be honest.

On Charlton’s new season I think it might be realistic within five years yes. We still need another two to three years of stability on and off the pitch to lay the foundations. If we can stabilise the club we can definitely challenge for promotion.

But fans need to be patient as change does take time to work through and we need to understand our direction as a club from top to bottom. Two managers last season was not good as we need a boss who will stay with the club so that he can bring in his players and play in his way. What’s happened before is a manager has come in and inherited players, some of whom he won’t have fancied and all the comings and goings means you can’t have a coherent group.

On the Belgian revolution Well we had a few players come in from Belgium who were pretty good but we have to be careful we don’t have people in, for say a year, and then leave as there’s no continuity in that. More importantly, the fans can’t relate and connect with the players and that’s what we’ve had at Charlton when we’ve had success. I don’t have any problem with the ‘revolution’ as you call it as long as it’s a long term thing.

On the influx of foreign players to the Championship It’s definitely heading that way (same as the Premier Leagu). There was a time when it was, largely, confined to the top division but now the Championship is going down that road. It’s a mixed blessing. I look at our home grown youngsters and wonder whether they will ever get the opportunity to show what they can do in the first team if too many foreign players are brought in. The U21 league doesn’t replicate the demands of making that step up and that’s a shame as we have a fantastic youth system here.

We regularly win our youth league and I’d like to see a better mix between those coming through and those brought in. But, I understand the pressures put on a manager (often by fans) to deliver results and that can lead to a short-term approach. It’s a real Catch 22 situation.

On Guy Luzon I think he’s good. I watch a lot of the games and I love his passion and how he shows it. When he left Standard Liege he was a virtual unknown to us and many fans were very sceptical about him. But he has won them over I think by how he’s conducted themselves. Charlton fans need to have patience as we have a really tough start. We’ve got QPR as the first game and a really tough beginning to the season. Everyone’s got to give him at least three months to bed this team in and see where we are. Trouble is the game, and the fans can often be so fickle. That’s why Guy’s good rapport with the fans will be important.

On Joe Gomez and his departure I’ve worked with the lad since he was 14 as I was involved in selecting him for his (London) Borough side..Lewisham and they with him they won their inter-London cup something like four times in six years. He’s quick, strong, great ‘tekkers’ and is fearless. Most important is his temperament is second to none. If he does the right things he could go on and lead an England team, he really has got it all. He’s 18 now and plays like a 24 year old with 250 League games under his belt.

I definitely think he’s made the right choice in working with Brendan (Rogers) as his ability to mentor young players is different class. What’s really impressive is that Joe chose to sign for Brendan first and Liverpool second and that demonstrates his maturity. Brendan will take him to the next level and he can have a great career.

On Charlton’s missing link For this season, I’d be well happy beating last season’s 12th place. I think that would be proof we are heading, as a club, in the right direction – especially when you consider the changes and our (relative) lack of finances. Ideally we can bring on a few more of our own youngsters too and, in time, we can have the South London derby against Palace in the Premier League. That’s what we all want!

 

The Offside Rule Podcast Prediction: Despite a solid mid-table finish last season, Charlton once again have several foreign players coming in who will need to adapt to the league. Whilst they are unknown talents, Luzon will need time to mould his side together and promotion may be off the cards for this season.

Key Player: Johann Berg Gudmundsson – The Icelandic was sensational at times last season, playing in almost every Championship game and hitting double figures in terms of goals. If he’s on form, he makes things tick.

One to Watch: Morgan Fox – The Welsh defender wasted no time in making a regular breakthrough into the team last season and making himself first choice in his position. At 21, he’s got plenty of time to improve and this season will be interesting for him.