VALLEY veteran Matt Holland knows there will be a high turnover of players at the club in the summer but is hoping he will remain with the South Londoners.
Holland has been with the Addicks for six years, since joining for £750,000 from Ipswich in June 2003.
The Irish international has racked up 187 appearances during that time, though he has been on the fringes of Phil Parkinson’s starting XI recently.
And while he accepts a number of players will leave, whether Charlton stay up or go down, he is hopeful of remaining in SE7 beyond the end of the season.
“I honestly don’t know what the situation will be,” said Holland. “I’m out of contract in the summer and there are a lot of players here who will be in the same situation.
“I’m sure there will be a turnaround in personnel and money is bound to come into it. But it is a very good club and I would like to stay. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens at the end of the season.”
http://www.southlondon-today.co.uk/tn/Sport.cfm?id=11402&headline=Holland
Even if Bailey and Racon go, it's hard to see him having a regular place for the whole season. Probably good to have around, but should we look to freshen things up?
Comments
I wouldnt bet against it
Does that mean we get rid of our better midfielders (Bailey, Racon, Shelvey) to accommodate him?
If he his prepared to perform a player coach type role then he undeniably has a lot to offer.
However I don't want 35 year old Matty to be our first choice midfielder next season.
My suggestion would be to make him reserve team coach or something similar and use him sparingly as and when needed in the first team.
The failure to address the centre midfield has been one of the main reasons we are in so much trouble.
Holland should have left before we left the prem. He has added nothing to the team for two years now and will add nothing in Div 1 where we need powerful players.
He appears to have been kept on fopr sentimental reasons alone.
Good for the kids, can still do a good job and he wants to be here
Make him club captain again - experience on the pitch and a great ambassador off it, rather like Murty at Reading.
Spot on.
If we have to to rely on Holland playing next season then we can forget about a quick return to the Championship.
There is no good football reason for giving him a playing contract, it would be a waste of money imo.
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It all depends on who from this year's squad leaves and who stays. ZZ, Ambrose, Holland are out of contract and may go, while Bailey, Racon, Spring etc aren't, but what if a good offer comes in for Racon or Bailey?
Next year we'll likely be playing several younger players in the team and with a smaller squad (through financial necessity) there might be logic in retaining Holland as cover. At any rate he's nearing the end of his career and should be looking to take his badges, so if he stays then his new contract should be along the same lines as Chris Powell's last contract - allowing him to train for those while playing occasionally/coaching the kids.
Play odd games here and there.
No ones is saying he's going to be first name on team sheet
I am Ledge ! I'd make him club captain. Model pro on the pitch to set an example to the youngsters. And a v good ambassador for the club off it.
A good pro yes but we will, I hope, have better midfielders and centre halves and the squad is likely to be 20 players plus some kids next year IMHO.
Even if he takes a pay cut, and he did this year, that is still money that could pay for a couple of kids or another experienced pro.
Or even better some loan players ; -)
Yeah I'm sure it won't be long until both Holland and Murty are player/coaches somewhere. Might be here, might not be. Probably only room for one of them though.
1) who else from our enormous midfield legion is still around. For example if the salary paid to Holland could be offered to Bailey to convince him to hang around then I'd be doing that deal. If on the other hand Bailey, Shelvey, ZZ, Racon, Semedo and Wright leave then we'll desparately need his experience
2) Ultimately it''s a matter of salary - I'd guess he renewed this season on a reduced rate, would he be prepared to take another drop. I'd guess he's a player that a Championship club would happily have in on a Bosman.
If Holland goes then another little bit of what Charlton is, will die.
Absolutely spot on. The only player that gets his name chanted for clapping the fans, and no footballing ability whatsoever(starting with those last 2 years in the prem). - well excluding recent centre back performances. His heart is in the right place, no doubt, but others wore it on their sleeves (Kish etc), and they got booed.
Our midfield has been gash, ever since Parker went. At least can we move forward, try and keep Bailey, and build a new team.