Far too many "ok" players; nowhere near enough quality to compete at the top end of this league.
Most worrying is that Robinson's comments about strengthening the team have gone from feisty to wimpy in a matter of weeks. After the visit to Duchatelet and the apparent decision not to invest the Lookman windfall into the team, Robinson seems prepared to settle for much less than he would have hoped or expected.
I do still feel like we have slightly too high expectations for League One. This isn't a brilliant league. And yes, I know we're in mid-table, but Holmes, Magennis, Pearce, Bauer, Rudd, Texeira, JFC, Watt, Solly are all top players at this level. Same might be said of in form Nathan Byrne, Nicky Ajose, and maybe even Andrew Crofts. The issue is we've never had all of those players (or the departed Lookman and Fox) on the pitch at once.
I agree with you Davo that we need some more quality, particularly in the attacking third. But I don't think we're that far away. I've made the same point over on the match preview thread that I think one of our biggest problems is that January just isn't meant to build a squad, it's meant to tweak squads. And here we are, once again, needing to rebuild a squad. And short of paying 1m for the likes of Dempsey or Reeves, we just may not be able to get players in with the quality we need.
It's a great lesson, once again, to build better squads in the summer. I think Slade has to carry the can for some of that, given how poor and immobile our team was.
Lastly, I'd have Naby Sarr back. I think he's very raw but there is a fair amount to work with there. But I don't know that calling him back now (depending on how long Bauer is out) would make a lot of sense. According to Wikipedia, he's played 17 times for Red Star this season, anyone have any idea how he's done?
Agree about the lesson not being learned but not so sure it was down to Slade. With RD holding the purse strings tightly and Km doing her usual negotiating "masterclass" I suspect it was more about his targets/wish list not being delivered.
Something that I'm sure is now happening to Robinson. Only difference being that it seems Robinson can adjust his sights/comments to suit the constraints - but that doesn't lead to us having a high quality first eleven or a squad more able to cope with injuries and absences.
But Slade is the one who decided to fight over Foley and Crofts as central midfielders. And we chased Louis Thompson, a Norwich reserve, until seemingly the 11th hour. If we're going to call for managers to have control over transfers (and I've stated many times I'd rather we had a Director of Football for continuity), then they have to have a broad scope of transfer targets. That, to me, is the exact reason why you don't want to give managers that power, as they have enough work coaching the team.
Not sure Jimmy Seed would have agreed with you!
But when managers come and go as frequently as they do now at Charlton, I can see your point. But most managers want at least some say in tranfers (third party ownership not withstanding of course!)
There are a lot of great managers from the past who wouldn't agree with me, but I'd argue that the game has just changed so much. Gone are the days when Brian Clough can turn up at Dave McKay's house and not leave until he signs. With the amount of money spent, and as you said with the high turnover in managers, you need to make sure you're signing a player who will succeed.
But that is impossible regardless of what system of recruitment you use.
The problems at Charlton re:recruitment are:
. Too much influence from Dreisen and others who are still recommending players
. The use of statistics only with no account taken of human factors
. The search for value ie cheaper French and Belgium based players over worth ie players who will improve the team
. The false belief that players who do well in one country will automatically do well in another
. The need to recycle previous failed players from the network - List too long but Watt seems to be the last. For now at least but still have Ba, Sarr, Cebellos and Igor eating up big % of wages.
. Constantly changing managers and coaches meaning that those bought in under previous coaches aren't wanted or don't fit the system that the new manager players (442 v 4231)
. On pitch failure leading to panic buys in January to keep the team up (Johnson, Tex - good player but very expensive)
. Short-termism meaning that the regime seeks players for the immediate crisis (see above) not the long term
A director of football couldn't work under this regime as power would still lie with Driesen and Duchatelet and all their thinking is short term. They won't give power to a manager so why would they give it to a DOF unless they were a relative of Roland's.
Terrell Thomas back from Woking might be the easier way to go. At least he knows English football and is doing well there.
Worrying that the huge gaps that appeared in our squad were nearly a week ago, with the window open and no movement. 2 players with little game time and an EFL novice is the sum of our transfer movement, with quality leaving. Top 6 is disappearing over the horizon.
Far too many "ok" players; nowhere near enough quality to compete at the top end of this league.
Most worrying is that Robinson's comments about strengthening the team have gone from feisty to wimpy in a matter of weeks. After the visit to Duchatelet and the apparent decision not to invest the Lookman windfall into the team, Robinson seems prepared to settle for much less than he would have hoped or expected.
I do still feel like we have slightly too high expectations for League One. This isn't a brilliant league. And yes, I know we're in mid-table, but Holmes, Magennis, Pearce, Bauer, Rudd, Texeira, JFC, Watt, Solly are all top players at this level. Same might be said of in form Nathan Byrne, Nicky Ajose, and maybe even Andrew Crofts. The issue is we've never had all of those players (or the departed Lookman and Fox) on the pitch at once.
I agree with you Davo that we need some more quality, particularly in the attacking third. But I don't think we're that far away. I've made the same point over on the match preview thread that I think one of our biggest problems is that January just isn't meant to build a squad, it's meant to tweak squads. And here we are, once again, needing to rebuild a squad. And short of paying 1m for the likes of Dempsey or Reeves, we just may not be able to get players in with the quality we need.
It's a great lesson, once again, to build better squads in the summer. I think Slade has to carry the can for some of that, given how poor and immobile our team was.
Lastly, I'd have Naby Sarr back. I think he's very raw but there is a fair amount to work with there. But I don't know that calling him back now (depending on how long Bauer is out) would make a lot of sense. According to Wikipedia, he's played 17 times for Red Star this season, anyone have any idea how he's done?
Agree about the lesson not being learned but not so sure it was down to Slade. With RD holding the purse strings tightly and Km doing her usual negotiating "masterclass" I suspect it was more about his targets/wish list not being delivered.
Something that I'm sure is now happening to Robinson. Only difference being that it seems Robinson can adjust his sights/comments to suit the constraints - but that doesn't lead to us having a high quality first eleven or a squad more able to cope with injuries and absences.
But Slade is the one who decided to fight over Foley and Crofts as central midfielders. And we chased Louis Thompson, a Norwich reserve, until seemingly the 11th hour. If we're going to call for managers to have control over transfers (and I've stated many times I'd rather we had a Director of Football for continuity), then they have to have a broad scope of transfer targets. That, to me, is the exact reason why you don't want to give managers that power, as they have enough work coaching the team.
Not sure Jimmy Seed would have agreed with you!
But when managers come and go as frequently as they do now at Charlton, I can see your point. But most managers want at least some say in tranfers (third party ownership not withstanding of course!)
There are a lot of great managers from the past who wouldn't agree with me, but I'd argue that the game has just changed so much. Gone are the days when Brian Clough can turn up at Dave McKay's house and not leave until he signs. With the amount of money spent, and as you said with the high turnover in managers, you need to make sure you're signing a player who will succeed.
Exactly. A DoF is as much about continuity of managers as players...
Read about what Les Reed has done at Southampton.
Continuity in getting managers who fit into the club's philosophy and play in a similar way. Meaning that they will be able to utilise and get the most out of most of the players already there.. hence why Southampton have been able to maintain their rise despite losing managers (and players).
That is something that this regime don't get. They are now getting managers who know the leagues but they give no thought to continuity or succession. Whether the manager fits the club's philosophy and whether he will get the most out of the players there isn't something they consider. They just get someone who seems alright. Therefore every transfer window we end up rebuilding a squad to the latest incumbents philosophy only for him to be sacked before the next window.
This scattergun and hope approach is never going to work. They will never find a manager who can come in change everything in one window and bring success especially given the other constraints on them.
Duchatelet's level of reinvestment in the team will be low anyway and I think he's decided to defer that (or the bulk of it) until the close season - or, perhaps more likely, permanently !
Clubs always end up paying a premium in January unless a player is out of contract in the summer and the selling club is desperate to realise a fee. Duchatelet flogged Kermogant and Stephens cheaply when they were in the last 6 months of their contracts, although those decisions also reflected his and his scouts' collective idiocy. There are plenty of other examples - e.g. Wednesday selling one of their best players,Greg Whelan for only £50K to Stoke nine years ago when his contract was running down, since when he's been a regular in their side.
Duchatelet has probably figured - correctly in this instance - that our chances of getting up via the play-offs (no better than 1 in 4 even if you get there) are probably no better than, say, 10% at best. I can understand the logic of keeping your powder dry in those circumstances but the problem is that, come June, a lot of players will be departing and we will be left with a threadbare squad once again. Hence the revolving door continues unabated.
I expect the only reason Duchatelet has sanctioned the couple of signings we have made is that they were young and cheap and that one or more of them may have the potential to realise a sizeable transfer fee in the future. Perhaps some sort of deal will be struck in the last week of the window (when prices can come down) but I doubt it.
As ever, there is no real football ambition. Not do I have the slightest confidence that an effective recruitment plan for next season will be formulated and implemented over the coming months. How can it with this owner and with tools like Driesen still floating around ?
Comments
The problems at Charlton re:recruitment are:
. Too much influence from Dreisen and others who are still recommending players
. The use of statistics only with no account taken of human factors
. The search for value ie cheaper French and Belgium based players over worth ie players who will improve the team
. The false belief that players who do well in one country will automatically do well in another
. The need to recycle previous failed players from the network - List too long but Watt seems to be the last. For now at least but still have Ba, Sarr, Cebellos and Igor eating up big % of wages.
. Constantly changing managers and coaches meaning that those bought in under previous coaches aren't wanted or don't fit the system that the new manager players (442 v 4231)
. On pitch failure leading to panic buys in January to keep the team up (Johnson, Tex - good player but very expensive)
. Short-termism meaning that the regime seeks players for the immediate crisis (see above) not the long term
A director of football couldn't work under this regime as power would still lie with Driesen and Duchatelet and all their thinking is short term. They won't give power to a manager so why would they give it to a DOF unless they were a relative of Roland's.
http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/brandon-hanlan-bromley-loan-3529208.aspx
Probably confirms that Umerah is now ahead of him in the pecking order. Hard to argue. And Hanlan needs games at this stage in his development.
@Ollywozere staying professional there by not saying "Neil Smith’s super Ravens currently sit comfortably in 13th position in the fifth tier"
As ever you stick an updated Squad list up and players move. Admin @stig @wss @i_b_b_o_r_g @AFKABartram can you update the OP please.
Read about what Les Reed has done at Southampton.
Continuity in getting managers who fit into the club's philosophy and play in a similar way. Meaning that they will be able to utilise and get the most out of most of the players already there.. hence why Southampton have been able to maintain their rise despite losing managers (and players).
That is something that this regime don't get. They are now getting managers who know the leagues but they give no thought to continuity or succession. Whether the manager fits the club's philosophy and whether he will get the most out of the players there isn't something they consider. They just get someone who seems alright. Therefore every transfer window we end up rebuilding a squad to the latest incumbents philosophy only for him to be sacked before the next window.
This scattergun and hope approach is never going to work. They will never find a manager who can come in change everything in one window and bring success especially given the other constraints on them.
Clubs always end up paying a premium in January unless a player is out of contract in the summer and the selling club is desperate to realise a fee. Duchatelet flogged Kermogant and Stephens cheaply when they were in the last 6 months of their contracts, although those decisions also reflected his and his scouts' collective idiocy. There are plenty of other examples - e.g. Wednesday selling one of their best players,Greg Whelan for only £50K to Stoke nine years ago when his contract was running down, since when he's been a regular in their side.
Duchatelet has probably figured - correctly in this instance - that our chances of getting up via the play-offs (no better than 1 in 4 even if you get there) are probably no better than, say, 10% at best. I can understand the logic of keeping your powder dry in those circumstances but the problem is that, come June, a lot of players will be departing and we will be left with a threadbare squad once again. Hence the revolving door continues unabated.
I expect the only reason Duchatelet has sanctioned the couple of signings we have made is that they were young and cheap and that one or more of them may have the potential to realise a sizeable transfer fee in the future. Perhaps some sort of deal will be struck in the last week of the window (when prices can come down) but I doubt it.
As ever, there is no real football ambition. Not do I have the slightest confidence that an effective recruitment plan for next season will be formulated and implemented over the coming months. How can it with this owner and with tools like Driesen still floating around ?
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Anfernee Dijksteel has signed a new #cafc deal until the summer of 2020.