It’s good to talk – Lee Bowyer reveals pre-match calls to Charlton owner Thomas Sandgaard
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
Lee Bowyer has started making pre-match calls to Thomas Sandgaard so that the Charlton owner is fully clued up on their tactics.
The Dane has flown back to his Colorado home after jetting in to watch Saturday’s 5-2 win over AFC Wimbledon at The Valley.
And Addicks manager Bowyer has revealed a new approach when Sandgaard is in the States and streaming the matches.
“I speak to him the day before the game so I can explain what we’re trying to do,” said the Charlton boss. “So that when he watches it makes more sense than just watching a game of football. I mentioned about us doing it a couple of weeks ago – he said that would be great and that he might learn a thing or two.
“It paints a picture. It doesn’t always come off, but two or three of the goals in the Wimbledon game was stuff we worked on. By talking it through it makes more sense when he sees us playing a certain way or doing certain things.”
Bowyer cites Conor Washington’s goal in Saturday’s victory as a prime example.
Jason Pearce released the summer signing from Hearts to break down the left before cutting inside and curling beyond Connal Trueman with the help of a slight deflection off Terell Thomas.
“The first goal was something so basic as sliding it down the side but it was something we worked on,” explained Bowyer. “We want to play through the thirds but there are going to be times that is going to be the right pass and it is going to hurt them.
“If he [Sandgaard] sees us hitting a long pass he might think ‘why are we playing back to front?’ but sometimes that is the right thing to do.”
The 2,000 fans at The Valley gave Sandgaard an appreciative welcome on Saturday- it was his first match with some supporters in attendance since he completed a deal for the football club in late September.
“That’s a little taster for him – winning with a crowd at home,” said Bowyer.
“I’m looking forward to when all the fans can be there, because the atmosphere is very good.”
PHOTO: KEITH GILLARD
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