Bristol buoyant as Rickster is gloomy

After losing three matches in a row, including one to the Spanners, Bristol City are looking forward to collecting three points in what is seen as a winnable match this afternoon: Bristol City line up

Charlton have never lost consecutive home league matches against Bristol City, having lost 1-0 against them the last time they met back in February 2016. Bristol City are looking to complete a league double over Charlton for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign.

Charlton are without a win in their past 11 league games (D4 L7), drawing each of the past two games. The Addicks last drew three in a row in league competition in September 2016. Bristol City have lost their past four away league matches on Boxing Day since a 4-2 win at Watford in 2008. Away from home this season they have won five, drawn four and d lost two, a better record than they have had at home.

Since the start of last season, Lyle Taylor has been directly involved in 40 league goals (28 goals, 12 assists) - 12 more than any other Charlton player.

The city of Bristol and football

The city of Bristol has generally punched below its weight in football, having two teams in a rugby playing area. I have two friends who are Gasheads. One offered me a lift to a game when Charlton were playing there, but I am glad I didn't take it. We beat them 5-1 and he said he would have left me in Bristol. Knowing him, I can believe it. He had an interesting footballing style of standing still and shouting 'far post'.

Bristol City have been given a big boost by the involvement of Guernsey based billionaire Steve Lansdown. He is not just investing in football, but a whole range of sports. I have to declare an interest: I am client of his funds and share supermarket Hargreaves Lansdown. They have done very well for me (and for the taxman), and I have been able to open my own branch of the Bank of Grandad, giving one of my granddaughters a Christmas present of a substantial deposit on her own home. I wish someone had done that for me at age 18, but then I didn't have to work in a challenging caring role as she did yesterday on Christmas Day.

That said, there has been a bit of tension between Robins fans and Addicks in the past. In his first book, Garry Nelson recalls an awkward encounter with a group of their fans on Charlton Station after a match. However, no doubt a festive spirit will prevail today.

Cloud of gloom over the Isle of Thanet

Voice of the Valley will be on the sale at The Valley this afternoon or if you prefer not to be seen with a copy it can be bought online. I don't think it is too much of a spoiler to say that editor Rick Everitt seems to be in a relatively pessimistic mood, although no doubt he would prefer the terms 'balanced' and 'realistic.'

In a review of recent games under the heading 'Addicks slide into trouble', the one time Mercury sports editor does not pull his punches. He says that the injury problems 'cannot disguise the fact that the team has been on a wretched run of results. If not arrested in short order, it is likely to pitch it into a relegation battle that the budget on which it was constructed always made likely.'

Drawing on 50 often painful years of watching Charlton, the Ramsgate-based fan says: 'When a team hits a losing streak it's always tempting to unpick the team selection tactics, substitutions or focus on individual mistakes. But the bigger picture is obvious.'

'Mistakes get made as confidence drains away ... This group and the manager need help. But can we rely on January to bring it?' I don't feel much more hopeful than when I prayed yesterday for Her Majesty's Government and social justice.

It has to be said that the Rickster has a bit of a track record in being pessimistic. I haven't been able to fact check this yet, but towards the end of one Championship season he forecast relegation. He anticipated defeat by the Super Hoops but we beat them 1-0, surviving by the skin of our teeth.

Acworth is of royal descent

Leading Charlton fan Jonathan Acworth-Waldegrave (as he is now styled) has asked me to inform Charlton fans that it has been confirmed that he is a direct descendant of Henry the Eighth who is his 15th grandfather. Apparently one of his key ancestors was John St. John. Wasn't he a striker somewhere?

Just as well that Roland didn't to ahead with his plan to rename the East Stand as the Anne Boleyn Stand, even though the renaming ceremony would have given Acworth a starring role: Anne Boleyn

With potential new owners from the Gulf, it might help if we were able to identify all fans of royal descent who could then be given a special seating area. However, we would have to exclude those descended from illegitimate royal children as there are simply too many of them, although it is thought that there may be even more at Millwall.

Club steals march on West Ham

A few disgruntled Charlton customers may be tempted by the lure of the Olympic Stadium next season with its digital wrap around screens. However, the Addicks have come up with a plan to attract West Ham fans disappointed at leaving the Boleyn Ground.

The East Stand next season will be renamed the Anne Boleyn Stand. What is more, to enhance the matchday experience, there will be a new mascot in an Anne Boleyn costume.

This innovation will enable historical events to be recreated on the pitch. For example, the King of the Belgians (played by Jonathan Acworth, who has royal blood) will descend the steps of the East Stand and meet Anne Boleyn on the pitch to depict their historic meeting at Greenwich.

When it was pointed out that there was no Belgium or King of the Belgians at the time Anne Boleyn was queen, a club spokesman said that this was a mere historical detail. The point was to depict a woman who had been a victim and at the mercy of a powerful man.

There will also be a dramatization of Anne Boleyn’s execution with a contemporary version of her speech. She will say: ‘I pray God save Roland and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord. I must pay the ultimate price for throwing a beach ball on the pitch. Make sure you do not share my fate.’

In order to attract a new customer base, the club is also revisiting the question of the club’s name. It is felt that the Charlton brand is too down market and attracts the wrong sort of customer.

However, it was agreed that the name of Estuary which branding experts came up with a few years ago was too bland. The club was disappointed to learn that Greenwich Royals was the name of a swimming club as it was felt that that had the right cachet.

However, staff noticed that no London club has actually had ‘London’ in its title whereas rugby clubs had names like London Scottish and London Welsh. Hence, the club is to apply to the FA to rename the club ‘London Belgians’.

Pards to return to West Ham?

The Daily Star is floating a story that Pards is in the frame to return to West Ham. No doubt this was thought up by some journo in between writing a few words to accompany one of their 'Bikini Babes'.

Nevertheless, I don't think the Hampsters will find it too easy to find the quality of manager they want. The transfer season dealings, and the fact that the Icelandic economy is going down the tubes big time, shows that there is not much cash to splash at Upton Park. The way in which Curbs was constrained in transfer dealings would worry many potential managers, although continental ones less so.

And then is the unrealistic expectations of Hampsters fans who favour free flowing, attacking football. 'It's just like watching Charlton' they chanted at Curbs. Well, given the number of injuries he had, it's no surprise that he reverted to the organised, defensive style he favoured at Charlton. I see from his interview on Sky last night that he is keen to manage another Premiership club. I can hardly see Newcastle taking him on, but you never know.

I think that West Ham should cash in on the current fad for the Boleyn sisters, emphasising that they are called the Boleyn Ground. There was a Hollywood film I think and there is the current historical bonkfest showing on BBC 2 (although Anne Boleyn seems to have done a bit of time travel as some of her best lines are borrowed straight from Princess Di). A book on Anne's sister is all over the Americam bookshops. Apparently, she was the Duchess of Rochford, so she must have been the first Essex girl.

No match to preview tomorrow, but we will once again be the only Charlton blog reporting on tomorrow's game between Leamington and Marlow - from a New Windmill Ground shaken by this week's boardroom split.

Apparently, one of our boys in blue is now in charge. This reminds me of the time when they turned out in force for a needle derby against Racing Club Warwick. Called back to a fracas in the town centre, one of them replied, 'I'm at Leamington football club - it could kick off at any minute.' At which point the referee blew his whistle.