I said to him at the sponsors' dinner that he's not five foot three. His answer: "I know, but it wouldn't rhyme then, would it?" I think he loves his song!
Yeah many congratulations to Chris for this well earned recognition after a truely stunning season. His technical playing performances have been nothing short of sensational and this coupled with a consistancy rate unrivalled at the club. He's easily been the best right back in L1 and next year I can see him being the best right back in the Championship.
I think we've got a REAL player on our hands here, I really do....and the fact thats he's `one of ours' just makes it all the more sweeter
I think its worth noting what a magnificent job CP is doing with regards to guiding and developing our full backs cos its so apparent. They couldn't wish for a better teacher could they!
Loved tonight. Many of the players kindly videod messages for my two newly addickted 5 and 8 year olds, which they'll love seeing tomorrow. Was delighted to present Yann with his 2nd placed award - utterly deserved recognition. What a fitting finale to end our season on!
Well done Chris, been saying since turn of the year he would win it. Fantastic player and just hope he has many more to come with us. Reminds me so much of a certain left back we had in our prem days.
The things that will live in the memory this season is firstly the fact that for at least half of the season Solly was being targeted as the weak link by opposing managers to their cost lol, secondly I couldn't get CAFC palyer for a game and listened through our opponents player - initially they were suggesting they could get some joy with Solly and it was great listening to them when it dawned on them that he was a fantastic player. Thirdly, seeing players think they had beaten him only to find him bite back and get the ball, fourthly his quality going forwards with great energy and delivery and lastly the shimmy he does to mug off opponents. If we haven't got the two best full backs in the Championship next season, I'll eat my laptop. Well done Chris, I honestly thought you were decent but not anything really special after last season, but this year you have made a massive jump and the world is your oyster.
I would just like to add my congratulations to Chris. I have only been to the home games this season but I can honestly say I have not seen him make a mistake of any consequence all season. We have to keep hold of him, it would cost a fortune to replace him.
Congratulations to Chris! A truly great season from a likeable guy. Well deserved. As mentioned, seems harsh on the rest of the team when they have all been fanatastic, to choose a winner but Chris derserves it. Well done Yann and JJ too.
I saw him in one Youth game and knew he would be great for us...I had gone to see Jonjo but Solly was head and shoulders above all the players on the pitch and the way he crunched into tackles proved to me it was not a "one off good game". Buying Francis ahead of him was a dismal decision, but one that has probably worked well for us in the long term because he would have been flogged last year if he had played more.
Congrats to the chap, a superb player and one with heart - those two attributes do not come together often and mean he will go a long way IMO. Seems a grounded & nice lad too from what everyone else has said about him.
It is amazing to think Morrision and Wiggins were not even top 3 when last year we were really struggling for one candidate to win it!
Let's not forget our last great defender who came through the youth team & who couldn't score for toffee. He saved his first ever goal for the most important occassion imaginable!!
I'm sure Solly will be looking to follow in his footsteps.
I voted for Solly an wholly deserved for his consistency throughout the season. All the squad were excellent and a shame each and every one of them could not be recognised as POTY!
Muttley has called it pretty well, especially about the oppo commentators. I listened to a lot of oppo commentary on player for away games, and the pattern was repeated over and over regarding Solly. Firstly guffaws and semi-sneering regarding the tiny right back, then he would (remaining unnamed) 'just' get the ball from their tricky/pacey/tall left sided attacker, then they would start mentioning him by name, then they would say he was having a good game 'today' against their bloke having an off day, and then finally they would say what a good player Chris is. A friend unfamiliar with us went to the Fulham game, and texted me in the away end praising our No 20, and so on and so on. What I like about Chris is his decision making, and his ability to think like a proper footballer, I also love that he is one of ours, and he is special because to make it as a pro when you're only 4'11" takes some doing.
The transformation has been pretty much unbelievable. Still remember him being torn to shreds by an unknown away to AFC Wimbledon in a pre-season two years ago.
Thankfully that performance is long since consigned to history.
He played a few games left book to fill a hole I remember. Always looked good,just unlucky in that position. Looking forward to seeing him getting the chance to player a higher level with us.
Last time i went to PoTY a yng lad called Richard Rufus won the yng player award--------------i think it was at the old Valley Club---------- a very long time ago
Muttley has called it pretty well, especially about the oppo commentators. I listened to a lot of oppo commentary on player for away games, and the pattern was repeated over and over regarding Solly. Firstly guffaws and semi-sneering regarding the tiny right back, then he would (remaining unnamed) 'just' get the ball from their tricky/pacey/tall left sided attacker, then they would start mentioning him by name, then they would say he was having a good game 'today' against their bloke having an off day, and then finally they would say what a good player Chris is. A friend unfamiliar with us went to the Fulham game, and texted me in the away end praising our No 20, and so on and so on. What I like about Chris is his decision making, and his ability to think like a proper footballer, I also love that he is one of ours, and he is special because to make it as a pro when you're only 4'11" takes some doing.
You are right about his decision making Seth. Always calls it right when to go to ground, when to just stand up and send his player down the channel and when to push forward. Not trying to get too carried away as I'm sure Powelly and Solly himself will admit he can improve as a player, but this lad has the potential to on to match or even dare I say become a better player than a certain John Humphrey (the most under rated right back in top flight football in the late eighties). A great season from a very good player (and a nice lad by all accounts).
Well done Chris Solly!!! To win POTY in a year of outstanding performances from all the team is a truly outstanding achievement. You richly deserve it for your inspiring play which reflects both the spirit of the fans and the club. I look forward to seeing you "owning" an England shirt in the years ahead.
Solly got my vote, and it's hard to dispute the 1-2-3. But it says something about the number of strong contenders this yeaar that you can score 20+ goals (no pens) + a fair few assists and not even manage 3rd place.
Comments
You could sense the excitement in the crowd before he had even put his foot through it.
The place would have gone mad.
His technical playing performances have been nothing short of sensational and this coupled with a consistancy rate unrivalled at the club. He's easily been the best right back in L1 and next year I can see him being the best right back in the Championship.
I think we've got a REAL player on our hands here, I really do....and the fact thats he's `one of ours' just makes it all the more sweeter
I think its worth noting what a magnificent job CP is doing with regards to guiding and developing our full backs cos its so apparent. They couldn't wish for a better teacher could they!
Fella can be a Charlton legend if he hangs about for a bit, live the bloke.
Chris Solly oooohhh
Chris Solly oooohhh
He's actually 5 foot 8
He is my fucking mate
Well done Chris, you deserve it. Been awesome all season. All that was missing was a goal.
I have only been to the home games this season but I can honestly say I have not seen him make a mistake of any consequence all season.
We have to keep hold of him, it would cost a fortune to replace him.
Congrats to the chap, a superb player and one with heart - those two attributes do not come together often and mean he will go a long way IMO. Seems a grounded & nice lad too from what everyone else has said about him.
It is amazing to think Morrision and Wiggins were not even top 3 when last year we were really struggling for one candidate to win it!
I'm sure Solly will be looking to follow in his footsteps.
Valiantphil
August 2011
I've never really been a fan of his, but tonight he was superb.
He got to 2 balls I thought were impossible (one header and one sprint), as well as a quality tackle in our box early on.
A proper 90 minute shift, with excellent contributions, so fair play to the lad.
Well Done.
and he never looked back..........
A friend unfamiliar with us went to the Fulham game, and texted me in the away end praising our No 20, and so on and so on.
What I like about Chris is his decision making, and his ability to think like a proper footballer, I also love that he is one of ours, and he is special because to make it as a pro when you're only 4'11" takes some doing.
Thankfully that performance is long since consigned to history.