It would appear from comments made by Alan Pardew that Charlton are looking to strengthen the squad in three positions. My hope and guess is that we are looking t and strenthen the spine. For me the priority is a playmaker midfield to keep Reid on his toes and cover his poor injury record. A proven goalscorer to give Big Chris a breather and allow Varney and McLeod time to come good without all the pressure and a quality centre back to play alongside Sodje (is he gonna stay) What do others say ?
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You must be watching something different to me.
Both have been fantastic players for the club and are great professionals. But I think even they would be surprised to be first choices in a premiership promotion chasing team when the demand is so much for full on athleticism for 95 minutes.
Holland has worked tirelessly in recent games but his best days are behind as he is rarely able to create an impression going forward.
They should be an inspiration to the younger members of the squad.
Tricky with Holland, isn't it? He must be a manager's dream; never any trouble, always willing & available. Impossible then ever to dislike the guy for all his professionalism and genuine commitment. Reckon he's done what he's still capable of well recently, but that just can't be enough - when Kins reached that stage due to his knees, he was moved on. Once in a blue moon that little fetch and give back to defenders might just help draw players out and open up a gap, but only if said defender is capable of spotting it (& executing it). Keen, experienced, and enthusiastic, but often very ineffective, and unlikely to hurt any team at the other end. An odd game now & again and good to have about the place - & please no more bloody group hugs that stood us in such good stead v Colchester (suppose the start v WBA counters that!).
Holland has been the same throughout his Charlton carreer, looks good when we are on top, goes missing when we are under the cosh. For every one decent game he has, there are 7-8 where he might as well have not been playing for all the impact he has had on a game.
People can go on about how much running he does, I'd rather have someone that ran less but actually had an impact on the game. For me, Andy Reid is a far better example of not hiding in a game.
It's just my opinion but considering how hyped he was at Ipswich, I think that Holland is one of the most disappointing players I have ever seen in a Charlton shirt.
Holland challenges for every ball that is free. As much as I like Semedo, he does more of a "mopping up" job. If you see a ball high in midfield, or coming out of either box, its Matt Holland who will be busting a gut to challenge for that ball. As far as I've seen, there's nobody else that does that job as effectively as Holland.
Is he playing for his country though, and are they the right category matches - as that was the problem with his getting a work permit in the UK.
Are you on a wind up? Surely if we had Player of the season now he would win it hands down.
Perhaps it's the Charlton team that look good when Matty's playing well?
And when he is not so outstanding that's why the team may then struggle.
A lot of what Holland does is not noticed - the tracking, covering, mopping up, playing the short tidy pass then moving 15 yards to pick up the return. He's the one that knits the team together - and makes the team play like a team.
And he's leading with the commitment of a true Captain's role.