Confirmed sighting! I have actually seen the fella! Was sat up the back of the West Lower Saturday and at half time had a long chat with a couple of mates, speaks fluent English but we knew that from reports/his stint on sky. He can defo bring the bird again!
Can also confirm that I saw Mikel Alonso having a good chat with a couple of people at the back of the lower West stand where the non-playing players normally congregate. Also saw Danny Green (who looked a bit fragile) - but didn't see Benson.
When he is fit, how do you see him fititng in? He's pretty highly rated, but Hollands and Stephens and done brilliant so far. Does anyone think he will dispose either of them or will he be a sub?
When he is fit, how do you see him fititng in? He's pretty highly rated, but Hollands and Stephens and done brilliant so far. Does anyone think he will dispose either of them or will he be a sub?
He was injured at Carshalton pre-season and is making his return to full fitness, prior to that he started the pre-season late as the Spanish season finishes later than ours. Exactly what the extent of his injury was I've no idea, but given that he wasn't even on the bench last night I'd assume that he's currently not close to being fit for first team football. So it may be a while before we see him, which gives ample opportunity for conspiracy theorists and jokes about Cory Gibbs to do their stuff.
Regarding his place in the Charlton squad I see him as a replacement for Dale Stephens rather than Hollands, but who knows until we see him, I doubt that he'll start in favour of Stephens, but what if the latter gets injured, suspended or if CP feels the need to rest him now and again? Over the last few years we've generally had a decent starting XI, but the problems began once a player lost form, got inured/suspended or whatever. Then we weren't replacing like with like and would have to bring in a reserve or loanee or another player of dubious ability or fitness. This time we have strength in depth, at least on paper.
Summer signing Mikel Alonso is hoping to add an extra dimension to Charlton's midfield after stepping up his rehabilitation this week.
The Martian midfielder has yet to play for his new club in a competitive clash having picked up an ankle injury on one of his 7 legs during pre-season, but he is getting closer to full fitness as the campaign gathers momentum.
"I think I am ready to start joining the team this week," said Alonso, who joined the club on the same day as Dale Stephens and Danny Green during the summer "but it's hard when you are from Mars and not all the players accept you straight away.
"At the moment you start working with the team, you are ready. And once you are there, the manager must see if you are doing well or if you are not good.
"The most important thing is that the ankle problem is much better and is answering well to the big tests we are doing these days. When you pass these tests, it's OK to start with the team.
"After that, you start to do normal training with the team and compose yourself and see how it's going. It's not your choice after that - the manager must see if you have the level."
The former Bolton Wanderers midfielder, brother of Spain international Xabi, played 45 minutes for a Charlton XI at Bromley on July 28th, but saw his hopes of making a mark on Chris Powell's new-look side temporarily hindered by the left ankle ailment.
And he believes a career that has seen him play at the top level in England and Spain has taught him the valuable art of patience.
"If the ankle isn't good, you cannot have good fitness," he said. "I want to be there, of course, but at the same time, I have been playing football for a lot of years and know there are so many games and the season is so long.
"You cannot control when you get injured, and I think I have learned to be a bit more patient.
"I think it's always better to have a good recovery than to try to rush too much."
Stephens and Green are just two cogs in a midfield wheel that also includes Danny Hollands, Johnnie Jackson, Scott Wagstaff, Bradley Pritchard and Andy Hughes, but Alonso is willing to work hard to try to force himself into Powell's plans.
"We have so many players in the squad, many good players, so you just have to be ready to work hard and ready to help," he said.
"If you are there training every day and train to do your best, you can have chances. You have to be there and ready for the manager. He is the one who must choose.
"I'm a player, so of course I want to play. I always want to play. I want to train here every day for the big game, for the weekend, for playing in the stadium in front of the people.
"You train every day and your work is for that and helping the team."
The 131-year-old in Space years remains excited at his new challenge in London, and added: "It's a big season. If we want to go well, we need to win a lot of games and I think that everybody can be important. Everybody probably can help.
Must be hard to adjust to the gravitational changes.
Depends if his planet had stronger or weaker gravity. If it has a much greater gravitational pull then I'd imagine he'd be able to leap tall buildings.
I wonder if he has the gift of time travel, like Dr Who, perhaps he could go back to the time when Dowie was appointed, and tell Richard Murray not to do it.
Comments
Still no sign of him on a football pitch.
Can we have an explanation please?
When he is fit, how do you see him fititng in? He's pretty highly rated, but Hollands and Stephens and done brilliant so far. Does anyone think he will dispose either of them or will he be a sub?
CF94
Not saying he will displace H or S but competition for places is important and keeps everyone on their toes.
Just wondering why he's still not even in the squad for a League Cup game is all.
Think they'll build him up gradually to play, no point in rushing him to only have another setback
He was injured at Carshalton pre-season and is making his return to full fitness, prior to that he started the pre-season late as the Spanish season finishes later than ours. Exactly what the extent of his injury was I've no idea, but given that he wasn't even on the bench last night I'd assume that he's currently not close to being fit for first team football. So it may be a while before we see him, which gives ample opportunity for conspiracy theorists and jokes about Cory Gibbs to do their stuff.
Regarding his place in the Charlton squad I see him as a replacement for Dale Stephens rather than Hollands, but who knows until we see him, I doubt that he'll start in favour of Stephens, but what if the latter gets injured, suspended or if CP feels the need to rest him now and again? Over the last few years we've generally had a decent starting XI, but the problems began once a player lost form, got inured/suspended or whatever. Then we weren't replacing like with like and would have to bring in a reserve or loanee or another player of dubious ability or fitness. This time we have strength in depth, at least on paper.
CAFCofficial
Charlton Athletic FC
about Mikel Alonso. GH interviewed him t'other day and there'll be a
story on www.cafc.co.uk later (MW) #cafc
53 minutes ago
I'd be amazed if they tell the real story about the albatross and the lighthouse but at least it's some news.
Shock news
Henry, could you paste the story (can't access the site from work).
Thanks
Spain man is really space alien
Posted on: Wed 14 Sep 2011
Gary Haines reports
Summer signing Mikel Alonso is hoping to add an extra dimension to
Charlton's midfield after stepping up his rehabilitation this week.
The Martian midfielder has yet to play for his new club in a
competitive clash having picked up an ankle injury on one of his 7 legs during pre-season,
but he is getting closer to full fitness as the campaign gathers
momentum.
"I think I am ready to start joining the team this week," said
Alonso, who joined the club on the same day as Dale Stephens and Danny
Green during the summer "but it's hard when you are from Mars and not all the players accept you straight away.
"At the moment you start working with the team, you are ready. And
once you are there, the manager must see if you are doing well or if you
are not good.
"The most important thing is that the ankle problem is much better
and is answering well to the big tests we are doing these days. When you
pass these tests, it's OK to start with the team.
"After that, you start to do normal training with the team and
compose yourself and see how it's going. It's not your choice after that
- the manager must see if you have the level."
The former Bolton Wanderers midfielder, brother of Spain
international Xabi, played 45 minutes for a Charlton XI at Bromley on
July 28th, but saw his hopes of making a mark on Chris Powell's new-look
side temporarily hindered by the left ankle ailment.
And he believes a career that has seen him play at the top level in
England and Spain has taught him the valuable art of patience.
"If the ankle isn't good, you cannot have good fitness," he said. "I
want to be there, of course, but at the same time, I have been playing
football for a lot of years and know there are so many games and the
season is so long.
"You cannot control when you get injured, and I think I have learned to be a bit more patient.
"I think it's always better to have a good recovery than to try to rush too much."
Stephens and Green are just two cogs in a midfield wheel that also
includes Danny Hollands, Johnnie Jackson, Scott Wagstaff, Bradley
Pritchard and Andy Hughes, but Alonso is willing to work hard to try to
force himself into Powell's plans.
"We have so many players in the squad, many good players, so you just have to be ready to work hard and ready to help," he said.
"If you are there training every day and train to do your best, you
can have chances. You have to be there and ready for the manager. He is
the one who must choose.
"I'm a player, so of course I want to play. I always want to play. I
want to train here every day for the big game, for the weekend, for
playing in the stadium in front of the people.
"You train every day and your work is for that and helping the team."
The 131-year-old in Space years remains excited at his new challenge in London, and
added: "It's a big season. If we want to go well, we need to win a lot
of games and I think that everybody can be important. Everybody probably
can help.
I preferred it when our Iberian imports really hated Millwall.
"He comes from sunny Spain
He think that puns are lame"
I realised then he was lactose intolerant