I understand, although this may be common knowledge, that, besides the lucrative new kit deal, there is a major new sponsorship deal in the offing and that money will definitely be available for the new players who are needed. I have no doubt at all that rather than beginning the search for them now, Chris and his team have already set their sights on those who they want to add to the squad. I wouldn't be surprised to see some early signings like last year. As for next season, I would like to think we'd finish in the top 10. Play-offs would be fantastic. Top 2 dreamland.
We are a very different team to Norwich, Saints or Brighton when they went up from L1.
They were all more free scoring whereas Charlton are a much tougher, grittier side that grinds out wins and is very, very hard to beat.
I think our momentum - a crucial factor - can give us a really good shout at the Play Offs next season but we need 3-4 Championship class players to come in.
I really don't want to bring any old boys back to the club either, let's focus on new blood.
We're going up again next season. As soon as I collect my winnings from this season I'm lumping some of it straight back on another automatic promotion.
I'd heard that we are getting 3 new players and basically keeping the same squad. That came from a very decent source but it doesn't really make sense. The owners want to push on and being a loss making happy club isn't part of their plan. Chrissy is ambitious, the board is ambitious and still losing money, so I'm expecting to challenge for the play offs with 4-5 new players coming in.
The bigger picture is simple, the current owners are not in this for the long term, they saw Charlton as a distressed asset and picked it up on the relative cheap (as well as the debts) because they saw that a return to the Premier League could make them a nice few quid.
As a result, they don't want to hang around the CCC for 4-5 years, they want to get into the PL and increase their chances of selling to a Tony Fernandes type (like the QPR mob did) and walk away with a nice few quid tucked away.
Once you're in the PL with the multi-million pound TV deals then the game changes totally so its probably worth these guys ponying up another round of transfer investment to achieve their bigger goal.
I think we will be top ten... I also expect a couple of absolute quality signings from Powell he will have that bit of extra cash and by god he will use it wisely I reckon... Just that interview talking about him sitting deeply making sure he makes the right choices ... I reckon he has his eye on some proper quality that will stand us in good stead ... I reckon it's going to be a great summer and imagine the kick off next year we are on a high!!!
The first few months maybe a period of "bedding in" and consolidation, with the 2nd half of the season being a surge towards the ply offs, so I could see a top 8 finish. There will be an onus on the fans to be realistic too. We won't have everything our way next season and there will be set backs at home, so hopefully the crowd will be understanding and not get on players backs either individually or collectively.
There are some obvious departures I suppose, Hughes, Alonso, Hayes, Doc. Other players may be suited to Championship football - For example- I think we have unearthed a talent in Pritchard. Chrissy will now what he needs and he seems to have excellent judgement.
I think the first few months will be the easier part of next season . I'm pretty sure millwall ,leeds, brighton , soton?? & norwich all flew out of the blocks using the impetus of promotion to get off to decent starts riding the crest of the europhic wave of promotion and then the novelty factor wears off and the reality sets in that we'll be playing football teams rather than shite pub sides!
Away from the bottom, mid table with interest in the play offs would be brilliant. A lot of these players signed 3 year deals last summer so not expecting too many changes, hopefully one ot two good additions
If we stay with current squad then they will be fighting off relegation, Chris will need to bring in 6-8 new players and release the same number. If he does so and does it well then mid table in the first season back.
This thread worries me a bit. A lot of people keep saying playoffs which is fine my fear is that if we don't achieve than the fans will get on the players back and make the valley doom and gloom again.
No idea. There's not a lot of weak links in there and if the Sheff clubs come up there'll not be any obvious dead wood.
Something I've also looked at with the clubs that'll be in the league next season.
Ourselves, (Millwall), Barnsley, Peterborough, Coventry etc will be the weaker links, but the Sheffield clubs (providing they invest wisely) & yourselves will be stronger than at least 2 of the aforementioned teams.
There will be some clubs who finish top half this season who can't afford to invest properly next season, may lose some players and they'll be battling next season, whilst others may invest well & spring into the top half. It really is a complete unknown until I reckon end of October when you see how teams really are doing.
as things stand we're strong at the back, happy to have the same players next season, but we're relatively weak going forwards with a lack of pace .... if that wasn't addressed I'd expect lower mid-table but if we can add some pace and quality going forwards then top 6 is realistic.
I think to be honest, it's too early to say. Personally I would be happy with a mid-table finish and a season of consolidation. Anything else would be a bonus.
I do wonder if some people have some fairly short memories. Whilst I agree that some squad strengthening may be required, I think that a high turnover of players is partly what got us relegated to League 1 in the first place. There is more to building a good squad than just splashing the cash. Someone else mentioned building the club in a measured, intelligent and quietly ambitious way, and I think this will be the key to our success over the next few years.
I also find it interesting that so many people seem willing to boot out some of the players who have worked so hard this year to get us promoted. I wonder what the reaction from the fans would be if a player showed a similar level of 'loyalty'? No doubt some would say there is no room for sentiment in football, but I do feel that the current core squad have all earned the right to prove themselves at the next level - even if supplemented with a few extra signings. There is a lot to be said for team spirit, and it's been a long time since I've seen a Charlton team who obviously want to win as much as the current squad.
If we stay with current squad then they will be fighting off relegation, Chris will need to bring in 6-8 new players and release the same number. If he does so and does it well then mid table in the first season back.
Blimey bring us all crashing down from our high why don't you :-(
This thread worries me a bit. A lot of people keep saying playoffs which is fine my fear is that if we don't achieve than the fans will get on the players back and make the valley doom and gloom again.
Agree. We should be happy to consolidate anything else will be a bonus. Lets hope and dream but not expect
I reckon we will challenge for play-offs. Continue the momentum from this year. Get off to a great start and have sticky patch during xmas period/jan but pick it up again to finish 5th.
a good mid table positioni n early march. outside chance of play offs and then who knows.i trust chris powell and the staff to get it right in the summer again. consolidation is the aim and continue the steady building of this club back to the top.
Midtable, ideally around 10th in early March and with a chance of the play offs.
Going to be interesting in the Championship, cause I can't see the clubs going down from the Premier League really battering their way out of the league, maybe only QPR if they drop, and then if one of Southampton or West Ham stay down will be real stand out sides.
Comments
They were all more free scoring whereas Charlton are a much tougher, grittier side that grinds out wins and is very, very hard to beat.
I think our momentum - a crucial factor - can give us a really good shout at the Play Offs next season but we need 3-4 Championship class players to come in.
I really don't want to bring any old boys back to the club either, let's focus on new blood.
As a result, they don't want to hang around the CCC for 4-5 years, they want to get into the PL and increase their chances of selling to a Tony Fernandes type (like the QPR mob did) and walk away with a nice few quid tucked away.
Once you're in the PL with the multi-million pound TV deals then the game changes totally so its probably worth these guys ponying up another round of transfer investment to achieve their bigger goal.
I'm pretty sure millwall ,leeds, brighton , soton?? & norwich all flew out of the blocks using the impetus of promotion to get off to decent starts riding the crest of the europhic wave of promotion and then the novelty factor wears off and the reality sets in that we'll be playing football teams rather than shite pub sides!
Ourselves, (Millwall), Barnsley, Peterborough, Coventry etc will be the weaker links, but the Sheffield clubs (providing they invest wisely) & yourselves will be stronger than at least 2 of the aforementioned teams.
There will be some clubs who finish top half this season who can't afford to invest properly next season, may lose some players and they'll be battling next season, whilst others may invest well & spring into the top half. It really is a complete unknown until I reckon end of October when you see how teams really are doing.
I do wonder if some people have some fairly short memories. Whilst I agree that some squad strengthening may be required, I think that a high turnover of players is partly what got us relegated to League 1 in the first place. There is more to building a good squad than just splashing the cash. Someone else mentioned building the club in a measured, intelligent and quietly ambitious way, and I think this will be the key to our success over the next few years.
I also find it interesting that so many people seem willing to boot out some of the players who have worked so hard this year to get us promoted. I wonder what the reaction from the fans would be if a player showed a similar level of 'loyalty'? No doubt some would say there is no room for sentiment in football, but I do feel that the current core squad have all earned the right to prove themselves at the next level - even if supplemented with a few extra signings. There is a lot to be said for team spirit, and it's been a long time since I've seen a Charlton team who obviously want to win as much as the current squad.
Going to be interesting in the Championship, cause I can't see the clubs going down from the Premier League really battering their way out of the league, maybe only QPR if they drop, and then if one of Southampton or West Ham stay down will be real stand out sides.
Top half of table would be a bonus!