Solly was/is just outstanding, I dont think I have ever seen a player improve so much over a season! I wonder if having an ex-England full back as manager has helped! ;o)
For me it was a toss-up between Yann and Solly for POTY, but I think Solly gets it especially after yesterdays performance. Yann scored but Solly made tackle sfter tackle on their tricky wide player. Solly is a microcosim of our season. And he's only 5ft 3". ;o)
And the best defence in the league which lays the foundations of our current success, hopefully we can keep it together for next season reinforced with cover at Right back and centre
watched him closely yesterday when he was defending- eyes on ball, doesn't go to ground and wins his fair share of headers...all basics but attributes lost on a lot of other so called better players
Chris solly is the best full back in the country FACT
Should be in the England squad but won't because he plays for little old charlton (taken from charlton life England squad for the world cup in Brazil thread march 2014)
Very happy for Chris to go about his business fairly unoticed until we are in a position to challenge for the top flight. Don't want him picked of by one of the prems lesser lights. Once we are in a position to move onto the next level he will start to attract attention. Lovely little player.
Although I agree that Solly is great I reckon Wiggins is just a little bit better--more pace and a better crosser of the ball. Not much to choose between them though.
There's no doubting Solly's ability to defend....he's been first class...but a couple of issues may prevent him from getting to the very top; his lack of height (which will turn some managers off despite there having been countless examples of excellent small full-backs) and perhaps a slight weakness in kicking strength. Plus, does he have the pace to cope with the top players? I'm not sure...he might have just enough.
In terms of playing at a higher level, he does of course, possess many strengths that probably outweigh any weaknesses....positional play, tackling ability, determination, work-rate and most important of all, a love of defending. There are far less able right backs currently playing in the Premier League and I wouldn't be especially surprised to see him make a move in the summer. Let's hope that no-one else has noticed him eh?!
I was in with the Bournemouth fans yesterday and as the game began, the bloke behind me kept urging their left winger to attack the Charlton right back as "he's crap". Within 5 or so minutes he had changed his tune completely!
Solly keeps his head down and lets his game do the talking.
Although I agree that Solly is great I reckon Wiggins is just a little bit better--more pace and a better crosser of the ball. Not much to choose between them though.
without doubt we have the best full backs in this league.both have the ability to play at a higher level and I hope that will be with us for many years to come
The geezer (ex-footballer) on the Bournemouth radio in the first half yesterday certainly noticed Solly. His initial comment was a slightly amused one about Chris being 'five foot' tall. He never quite learned hi name (at least in the first half), but he continually commented on Sollys play...not praising him as he was working the Bournemouth angle, but it was clear that Solly had an eye-catching and impressive game yesterday, and there were a record number of Chris Solly songs being sung from our support. I am sure that periodically throughout the season non-Charlton people (such as oppo managers post match) have made comments about Chris. All this confirms to me, that even with our bias, Solly, as we all know deep down, is the real deal at the moment. It is going to be interesting if we go up how Chris copes in a higher division. What I particularlt like is that Chris is a player we have brought through, and that factor may tip the balance in the POTY vote, when frankly the award should go to all of them!
Whilst we're hero worshipping, in my view Chris Powell isn't geting worship enough at the moment. There needs to be a song about him sung at all of the remaining games. By all measures Chris (and his coaching staff) have been stunningly brilliant all season.
I was in with the Bournemouth fans yesterday and as the game began, the bloke behind me kept urging their left winger to attack the Charlton right back as "he's crap". Within 5 or so minutes he had changed his tune completely!
Solly keeps his head down and lets his game do the talking.
Thanks for the belly laugh the change in opinion gave me... Would have loved to hear that and see the humbling effect:-)
I was in with the Bournemouth fans yesterday and as the game began, the bloke behind me kept urging their left winger to attack the Charlton right back as "he's crap". Within 5 or so minutes he had changed his tune completely!
Solly keeps his head down and lets his game do the talking.
Thanks for the belly laugh the change in opinion gave me... Would have loved to hear that and see the humbling effect:-)
A few minutes after that, as the Chris Solly song rang out, he asked his other half "Is he really only 5 foot 3?" I had to suppress a chuckle to try and remain incognito!
I freely admit to being sceptical of Solly's chances of success early on (not his talent, that was obvious, but size, speed etc all seemed a bit suspect to me) but fair play to the guy, he has proven me completely and totally wrong... big helpings of humble pie for me but it tastes so delicious I don't care!
Wiggins on the other hand I was expecting to be good, wrong again- he has been excellent, the best left back since The Great Man SCP himself.
I freely admit to being sceptical of Solly's chances of success early on (not his talent, that was obvious, but size, speed etc all seemed a bit suspect to me) but fair play to the guy, he has proven me completely and totally wrong... big helpings of humble pie for me but it tastes so delicious I don't care!
Wiggins on the other hand I was expecting to be good, wrong again- he has been excellent, the best left back since The Great Man SCP himself.
I freely admit to being sceptical of Solly's chances of success early on (not his talent, that was obvious, but size, speed etc all seemed a bit suspect to me) but fair play to the guy, he has proven me completely and totally wrong... big helpings of humble pie for me but it tastes so delicious I don't care!
Wiggins on the other hand I was expecting to be good, wrong again- he has been excellent, the best left back since The Great Man SCP himself.
This exactly
Yep - love Wiggins, Solly never fails to stagger me by playing brilliant - like yesterday
What I liked about Solly first time I saw him was that he was up Jarret for Barnet, who was pacey and had played in the prem and twenty odd games in the champ: albeit his talent often didn't transfer to the pitch. Jarret is blistering pacey, so Solly stood off him and Jarrett put crosses in at will. By the end of the first half he decided to go tight on him and push him outside. He was never skinned and in the second half completely dominated him. This was a player who'd played 100 odd games in the football league.
Never seen a young player in game think about his strategy and change it completely. Was unsure of his physical presence, but pretty sure his in game intelligence is streets ahead of his Charlton contemparies such as Shelvey: also streets ahead of the majority of English players.
What I liked about Solly first time I saw him was that he was up Jarret for Barnet, who was pacey and had played in the prem and twenty odd games in the champ: albeit his talent often didn't transfer to the pitch. Jarret is blistering pacey, so Solly stood off him and Jarrett put crosses in at will. By the end of the first half he decided to go tight on him and push him outside. He was never skinned and in the second half completely dominated him. This was a player who'd played 100 odd games in the football league.
Never seen a young player in game think about his strategy and change it completely. Was unsure of his physical presence, but pretty sure his in game intelligence is streets ahead of his Charlton contemparies such as Shelvey: also streets ahead of the majority of English players.
A bit similar to the Halifax FA Cup game - Halifax brought on a pacey winger in the second half who got a cross in a few minutes after he came on, after that Solly tucked in close and not only read but intercepted every attempted through ball. His lack of height/physique could be a hindrance, but it has forced him to develop other skills which taller, stronger defenders don't always bother to develop -principally he reads the game better than opponents think and hopefully CP has taught him a thing or two about positioning. It helps that he's playing in the best Charlton defence for around five years (at least).
That said against Orient he struggled against Lee Cook, but he's a quality player and on that day we were reduced to ten men after Hamer's red card and the player selected to get subbed was Wagstaff who would normally track back and offer a bit of support.
He'll play premiership football, preferably in a Charlton shirt, but I think he needs another season or two first to develop his game. Next year if/when we get promoted he'll be up against a better class of winger and he'll improve further.
The problem is - If Morrison doesn't win it you could say that would be harsh on him and likewise Wiggins or kermogant (although he hasn't had a full season with us). I think Solly is definitely in the lead (In my books) but one of those others could still pip him to the post.
Comments
I wonder if having an ex-England full back as manager has helped! ;o)
For me it was a toss-up between Yann and Solly for POTY, but I think Solly gets it especially after yesterdays performance. Yann scored but Solly made tackle sfter tackle on their tricky wide player.
Solly is a microcosim of our season. And he's only 5ft 3". ;o)
Should be in the England squad but won't because he plays for little old charlton (taken from charlton life England squad for the world cup in Brazil thread march 2014)
In terms of playing at a higher level, he does of course, possess many strengths that probably outweigh any weaknesses....positional play, tackling ability, determination, work-rate and most important of all, a love of defending. There are far less able right backs currently playing in the Premier League and I wouldn't be especially surprised to see him make a move in the summer. Let's hope that no-one else has noticed him eh?!
I was in with the Bournemouth fans yesterday and as the game began, the bloke behind me kept urging their left winger to attack the Charlton right back as "he's crap". Within 5 or so minutes he had changed his tune completely!
Solly keeps his head down and lets his game do the talking.
I am sure that periodically throughout the season non-Charlton people (such as oppo managers post match) have made comments about Chris.
All this confirms to me, that even with our bias, Solly, as we all know deep down, is the real deal at the moment. It is going to be interesting if we go up how Chris copes in a higher division.
What I particularlt like is that Chris is a player we have brought through, and that factor may tip the balance in the POTY vote, when frankly the award should go to all of them!
Whilst we're hero worshipping, in my view Chris Powell isn't geting worship enough at the moment. There needs to be a song about him sung at all of the remaining games. By all measures Chris (and his coaching staff) have been stunningly brilliant all season.
Wiggins on the other hand I was expecting to be good, wrong again- he has been excellent, the best left back since The Great Man SCP himself.
This exactly
Never seen a young player in game think about his strategy and change it completely. Was unsure of his physical presence, but pretty sure his in game intelligence is streets ahead of his Charlton contemparies such as Shelvey: also streets ahead of the majority of English players.
That said against Orient he struggled against Lee Cook, but he's a quality player and on that day we were reduced to ten men after Hamer's red card and the player selected to get subbed was Wagstaff who would normally track back and offer a bit of support.
He'll play premiership football, preferably in a Charlton shirt, but I think he needs another season or two first to develop his game. Next year if/when we get promoted he'll be up against a better class of winger and he'll improve further.
Same as midfield you will often get a centre mid showing on the right or left.