There’s always one player who just stands out when they’re on the pitch. Maybe it’s the way they play, their work rate, or those little moments that make a game more enjoyable to watch.
Could be someone from a few years ago or someone from way back. That one player you’d love to see back at The Valley, even if it was just for one more season. There are plenty of former players who still feel like they belong in a Charlton shirt.
What’s your go-to "hidden gem" British crime show currently streaming on Netflix UK that you recommend to everyone?
We always talk about obvious fashion powerhouses like Bimini, Awhora, Cheddar Gorgeous, or Gottmik on the international stage, but who is a queen whose runway package didn't get nearly enough appreciation from the judges or the fandom when their season aired?
Looking back through all the previous series, who do you think genuinely deserved to win the investment or the job offer based on their performance throughout the season, but lost out in the final boardroom purely because of their business plan?
I've always found the group category interesting because it seems much harder to build a consistent identity around several people.
Solo contestants only have to develop their own image and sound. Groups have to make everyone work together while still giving each member a reason to stand out.
Did any group actually have a realistic chance of winning in your opinion?
I tried making a custom Connecting Wall for a family Christmas quiz last year. I spent about 4 hours balancing the red herrings and categories, only for my uncle to solve two groups by complete accident in 10 seconds because he guessed words that rhymed. Making a balanced Only Connect question is a legitimate art form
I’m pretty happy with how the squad is looking, but there’s always that one area where you’d feel a bit more comfortable with another option. For me, adding a bit more depth there could make a real difference over a long Championship season. Injuries, suspensions and the usual run of fixtures can quickly test the squad, so having another reliable player could be useful.
Emersonn, Fatawu, Maeda, Diop, Scherpen, Florentino, Enciso, Ouattara.. it's a completely different-looking squad from last season. I'm excited by it, but there's also a lot of new players who need to figure each other out pretty quickly. With Sunderland coming up on Saturday, who are you starting? And how long do you reckon it'll take this team to properly click?
Sage has stuck with a back three through pre-season, including the Freiburg game, so it doesn't look like he's planning a massive tactical overhaul just yet. But with Lacroix gone, the dynamic at the back is obviously going to be different. Having watched Sage’s Lyon and Lens sides, do you think he eventually tweaks things into a 4-2-3-1, or are we sticking with the back three for the long haul? Personally, I reckon he'll keep the 3-4-2-1 for now and gradually put his own spin on it rather than ripping up what was already working.
Picture the line-up walk into the castle. You want someone who completely contrasts with your personality - someone who can handle the social mingling, someone who looks completely innocent when lied to, and someone who won't crack under pressure.
Who from any past UK series would you pick as your ultimate co-conspirator in the turret?
Is there an actual tactical method to tackling the wall, or is it mostly blind panic mixed with desperate pattern recognition?
I always watch in awe as teams spot the red herring instantly, whereas my brain immediately tries to group four completely unrelated football managers with a 17th-century poet. What is your personal approach when you're staring down the grid at home?