With the window virtually closed for the next few months, now seems a good time to review the net impact of Charlton's transfer dealings this summer.
It was a period where financial restructuring continued at a pace, probably quicker than most had anticipated. But all were in agreement that the squad from last season was too large, and that reductions in the budget were necessary. The reports that £5m needed to be raised in transfer fees also proved to be accurate.
Overall, are you happy / content / disappointed by how things have turned out ?
Are we stronger / the same / weaker as a team / club as a result of the changes ?
Baring in mind the financial necessities, were there things that should of been done differently / pleased with how they happened ?
Below is a list of the ins and outs. Tell us your views
Out
M Bent
Faye
J Thomas
Iwelumo
Bougherra
McCarthy
Thatcher
Powell
Gibbs
Walker
Sankofa
A Thomas (loan)
Wagstaff (loan)
Randolph (loan)
In
Hudson
Bailey
Fleetwood
Bouazza (loan)
Cranie (loan)
Primus (loan)
Promoted
Shelvey
Youseff
Solly
0
Comments
Of the 'leavers' I agree Bougherra is the biggest loss and Iwelumo from a squad perspective but I'm already convinced that Hudson and Bailey are good additions with Bouzza, Cranie, Primus and Shelvey in the 'promising' category.
Pards has the resources to make the play offs but he needs to improve tactically to make the most of them
Hudson for McCarthy
Bouazza for Thomas
Bailey for Faye
Does not look to shabby !
Out
M Bent If only he put as much effort into football as he did his image
Faye Can't believe we off loaded him!
J Thomas Never delivered so no lose
Iwelumo Maybe should have stayed, proven goalscorer at this level, look at Wolves.
Bougherra We never see enough of him so no lose
McCarthy We got the better deal, a fighter but cost us a lot last year
Thatcher With the problems we have at left back I think he should have stayed, never really cost us a game and was solid
Powell Some good thing come to an end, shame a true CAFC legend
Gibbs No lose
Walker Hope we don't live to regret letting him go
Sankofa Hope we don't live to regret letting him go
Wagstaff (loan) Needs the loan move to improve
Randolph (loan) Will never be first choice at CAFC
In
Hudson Looks an Excellant buy
Bailey Looks an Excellant buy
Fleetwood Time will tell
Bouazza (loan) Looks good at the moment
Cranie (loan) Time will tell
Primus (loan) Proven if fit enough
Promoted
Shelvey Will only get better
Youseff Time will tell
Solly Time will tell
Overall I think we are in better shape than last year. Not to many loans, smaller squad more togtherness. Other teams have gone mad with lots of new players, we've seen that and it doesn't always work. The core of the side is intact, Gray & Varney have somrthing to prove this year and so far appear to be trying to do so. Racon I think will become a cult hero if he stays, something about him that reminds me of the old 'Charlton Player' along with Bailey. Keeping ZZ is a massive bonus if it was his choice to stay, he has that something etra about him.
Two major things that will shape our season are staying injury free and PArds tactics. This is the season AP makes or breaks it Charlton, if he makes it he to could become a cult figure much like Curbs did, and if he does I think he could take us futher than curbs.
The Board got a lot of abuse during the summer, I think they have come out the other side not to battered or bruised, we now need to our bit and get behind the boys as much as we can. Come Jan we could be in a healthy position and just maybe AP will be given the chance to go out and add to the squad but at the moment we look quite strong all over the park.
So, I'm a lot happier now than a month ago, but more importantly a lot more confident.
As far as outgoings it's only Bougherra that stands out for me as the keeper and in a question of raising funds if it could've been ZZ who had swelled the coffers instead I think I would've taken that. Powell - would have loved to have seen him in a coaching role but that day will come and I think Iwelumo (sadly) was beyond keeping because of the ridiculous effect he had on the others. All others are tosh.
Hudson and Bailey look great buys - very good business. Cranie and Primus I also like and Bouazza on his day is as good as anyone in this division (and I feel his day comes around far more frequently than Thomas'). The one thing I'm unhappy with is up top. With Macleod out, Todorov probably a mile off 100% and Andy Gray who I just don't rate, we are relying on a raw Chris Dickson (who definitely has a certain something) and the great Luke Varney (who needs sustained confidence). I probably wouldn't have gone for Stuart myself. I think we need something else there, probably a Premiership loanee tied down for the year as purchase funds seem scarce judging by the balance sheet. I just think when we are hard up, a £100-200k development fee (or whatever we paid for him) is a lot to throw away on someone I reckon won't get more than one or two starts this season (if that). If we had £1mil (which obviously we didn't), I would've gone for Eastwood as I still think he's got it in him.
All in all though, I'm pleased with the business.
Boogy i think is a big loss, but, the 5mill had to come from somewhere and it wasnt going to come from Faye and Thomas. Part of my decision will be how Cranie and Primus slot in so well have to see how that goes, but generally so far i think Pards has done well, much better than slarf did when he dragged in Traore and the others, except for Reidy!
For me ZZ staying is as big a plus point as any signing made or could have made believe me when i say the option that i was told is not as good as ZZ and we would have been weakend as a playing squad.
I think financially we have done well to get in the cash we did and remove the high wages and attitude of some of the players that we had
I think the fact that we have Toddy,Gray,Varney all able players at this level but we also have Mcleod,Dicko, Fleetwood as untried prospects gives us good options upfront however this is where i would have like to have seen one of our summer buys be a striker to give us 4 with championship experience and then the others as bit part, Dicko howver i dont know why i can not wait to see get a run in the team
overal i am very happy with the signings, Pards and the board
As regards those who have come in obviously too early to express an opinion re Primus and Crainie but both reasonable on paper. Hudson, Bailey and Bouazza look excellent signings assuming they can produce their form consistently. Fleetwood looks a bit of a punt and I don't really understand that one given that we have another punt in Dickson.
Jonjo looks an excellent prospect but he needs to be wrapped in kid gloves a bit and played at the right times. In my view being chucked in against Shaplow, a borderline Prem excellent championship player, was not the right time. He needs to gain confidence and should come off the bench at home when we are winning reasonably comfortably and he can showcase his talents in a positive atmosphere.
Please with ZZ would like to see Dicko play.
Very pleased with the boards and Pards decisions.
bailey , not seen enough off but looks a good un but i am worried about bouazzas consistency just hope he's more of a 1 in 3 than a 1 in 10 player
Elsewhere we have done really well in the circumstances and have a decent strike force and a very promising midfield.
In their place we have a smaller bunch of players who may be good enough to get us promoted, but will probably need to exceed expectations to do so.
We've got players who genuinely want to be here and they are showing it already. yeah we've lost 2 away games but they've been by odd goals. Maybe we will do the opposite of last season and win at home more consistently.
I also thought Thomas would be a cut above this level but only Curbs knew how to get the best out of him so I suppose good to get his wages off the books.
Happy with Hudson, Bailey and Crainie and more than happy to keep ZZ.
Saw enough of McCarthy and Bougherra comedy show to last me a lifetime so to get our money back on those clowns was great business
Tactically Pards seems to have carried on where he left off last season.....I hope he can improve with a smaller tighter knit squad.
Don't really get all this 'he's got decent feet for a big man' either. He's not the worst player we've had with the ball at his feet (Faye & Sodje for example were a lot worse), but he was still nothing more than average with his feet.
He gets a few goals at this level, from the looks of things at Wolves, mainly from just getting into good positions for crosses, and with the wide players we have, we aren't going to see good crosses coming in regularly enough.
I had a look at the stats on the Football League website last season, Iwelumo gave away the second most fouls in the league (Scowcroft at Palace was 1st), personally I found that very frustrating to watch.
M Bent - Had to go.
Faye - Had to go.
J Thomas - Lucky we got shot before that injury.
Iwelumo - Pity to see him go had a brilliant attitude and can use his feet why couldn't we figure that out?
Bougherra - Pity strong, fast and reliable and could get an attack going.
McCarthy - replaced by a younger faster better player.
Thatcher - Slow aggressive a liability.
Powell - Centre mid anyone?
Gibbs - Never seen
Walker - Wont be regretted
Sankofa - too slow in the reactions department.
A Thomas (loan) - needed loan
Wagstaff (loan) - needed loan
Randolph (loan) - needed loan
In
Hudson - taller faster better than Mccarthy
Bailey - seems good to partner matty
Fleetwood - unseen
Bouazza (loan) - good loan
Cranie (loan) - good loan
Primus (loan) - unsure
Promoted
Shelvey - not ready but will improve
Youseff - as above
Solly - as above
Player who maybe should've been moved up
B GODFREY - needs real games improve and wont do that unless he plays in this league!