More depth. This season we've played right midfielders on the left, the first choice left back at right back, and one of the centre backs at full back. Doubt if we'd get away with it in the Champs.
An experienced CF/Target Man is also a must. When Kermorgant was missing at Huddersfield, there was no one capable of winning the ball and holding it up. He ain't gonna play every game.
A decent left winger, cover for both full backs and a centre forward to replace BWP as we cannot afford to give him 10 clear cut chances before he scores, not if we want to do well next season because you may only get a couple of chances a game and we need them converted.
there seems to be agreement on here .. we need centrebacks, a right back, central midfielders, a 'wide man' and a striker or two .. now all we need is the £50,000,000 minimum to pay for all those players who have been mentioned as well as their salaries .. oh, I forgot, probably need a keeper as well.
I'm am willing to part with 0.5% of my annual salary as part of the 'Buy Messi' fund...That means currently we nearing 20quid, and once else willing to invest in the future of CAFC?
Obviously Messi will just be a benchwarmer for Hollands though, i may just point out....
hamer, solly, wiggins, morro and kermo are the only 5 who's places i would say are pretty safe - not to say the others will be discarded as i think they are all decent as well but if i were looking to strengthen in terms of upping the quality of the first team then i'd look at positions other than those.
In my eyes at this higher level we desperately need a key man in midfield. Someone who can dictate the play, is always available for a pass and hardly ever loses the ball. Every decent Charlton team over the past 20 years I have seen has had one: Paul Mortimer - Mark Kinsella - Scott Parker - Claus Jenson - Andy Read - no one since. Combine this with a 20 goal striker (hopefully BWP) and we'll be challenging for automatic promotion.
Dale Stephens has shown glimpses of becoming this player but is currently too inconsistent, and perhaps Jackson in the middle could be the answer. Outside the squad who do we think? Ryan Harley, Michael Bostwick, others..?
Agree with you Brighton - can't see Jacko being the answer though and Stephens just isn't 'busy' enough. Centre mid followed by a goalscorer in that order are our priorities in my opinion. I like Haynes. Maybe he can be the answer up top with kermo or maybe on the left but i think a tried and tested CM and goalscorer to add to what we've got will be the starting point.
Could do with strengthening the support in West stand - like a freekin' morgue up there. Lass next to us moaned when my 10 year old son offered her a red balloon to let fly.
Could do with strengthening the support in West stand - like a freekin' morgue up there. Lass next to us moaned when my 10 year old son offered her a red balloon to let fly.
Can only see us signing one CM, Stephens and Pritchard could surprise a few and step up. Pritchard especially has been a terrific find and has got better, was excellent v Fulham and against the Sheffields. Whist Stephens is still very young and has all the attributes to be a fine midfielder, needs to find more consistency but that may come if he has an injury free campaign.
1) Another striker even though I think Haynes will do a good job especially if he and Yann develop an understanding.
2) A cover at right back as we have no one there at the moment to cover Solly
3) A midfielder that can get really stuck in or dictate play or both - even though I think our midfield might be able to step up. Or we could move JJ to centre mid and see how that goes
4) A faster LM/LW (Ephraim) and maybe a RM/RW as well
Could do with strengthening the support in West stand - like a freekin' morgue up there. Lass next to us moaned when my 10 year old son offered her a red balloon to let fly.
Lol
I certainly let one go in the upper west on Saturday.
LW. As much as I love JJ and think he is a great captain, his pace is not championship level. Which is fair enough, he is a LM not a winger. But I think we need a player able to worry defenders with his pace. Sort of a combination of Haynes and Green but on the left. Not too much to ask is it?!
I think you could be right about JJ. Often thought he would be a good option in central midfield but Parky, Peacock and Powell have all resisted the temptation to play him there. I suspect that whilst he may start the season he may not be with us for the end of it - hopefully I am wrong, as with most of my footballing pronouncements.
Be interesting to see where we play Hughes if we retain him, whilst bought as a right back the few opportunities to play him there have been resisted and he has played central midfield, not sure he is good enough for the Championship, after all Leeds did not fancy him there. I woudl certainly have him behind a Darrel Russel type player.
A right midfielder is a must. No idea if green will cut it or not as he hasn't futured as much as everyone would have been hoping.
Scott wagstaff showed on saturday once again he hasn't got what it takes to start in the championship good to come off the bench with his energy but he has no real quality on the ball which is a shame.
jacksons future is probably in a cm role. He hasn't got enough pace to worry the opposition right back, he may have great quality on the ball but beating a right back from our left side area will come from wiggins and not jackson next season.
Yeah the Hartlepool goalie has always impressed me. Shame he's ex-Palace! I don't see us signing a keeper though. Sullivan to remain No2 and there's the loan option if Hamer got injured.
What we need more than anything is pace, particularly at centre half.
Don't worry about JJ, he's a clever footballer, links up play brilliantly and has a great set piece in him. Think he's best on the left.
That said, the formation SCP finished with on Sat, with BWP and Haynes flanking Yann in a 451/433 might be the way to go, at least initially. This might mean looking for that midfielder to complement Hollands/Stephens and Pritchard (who i think will continue to grow next year). Could be JJ in that formation.
For me, what we do about a goalie will show our ambition. If we keep Sullivan or sign someone else as cover, then we are looking to consolidate in the Champs. If we are aiming to do a Norwich/ Southampton, then we will sign an experienced number one - someone like Craig Gordon. Hamer has improved enormously, and can still improve further, but to compete at the top of the Champs next season we would need a goalie who can boss the defence/ give Hamer real competition.
Comments
An experienced CF/Target Man is also a must. When Kermorgant was missing at Huddersfield, there was no one capable of winning the ball and holding it up. He ain't gonna play every game.
Obviously Messi will just be a benchwarmer for Hollands though, i may just point out....
Another CM, a centre back, a striker and right back cover. Easy.
Out: Sullivan, Doc, Alonso, Hayes, Clarke, Euell, Hughes
Dale Stephens has shown glimpses of becoming this player but is currently too inconsistent, and perhaps Jackson in the middle could be the answer. Outside the squad who do we think? Ryan Harley, Michael Bostwick, others..?
2) A cover at right back as we have no one there at the moment to cover Solly
3) A midfielder that can get really stuck in or dictate play or both - even though I think our midfield might be able to step up. Or we could move JJ to centre mid and see how that goes
4) A faster LM/LW (Ephraim) and maybe a RM/RW as well
Not to much to ask for is it. ; )
We need more athletes to match the footballers
Like Chris Powell.
;o)
Be interesting to see where we play Hughes if we retain him, whilst bought as a right back the few opportunities to play him there have been resisted and he has played central midfield, not sure he is good enough for the Championship, after all Leeds did not fancy him there. I woudl certainly have him behind a Darrel Russel type player.
Scott wagstaff showed on saturday once again he hasn't got what it takes to start in the championship good to come off the bench with his energy but he has no real quality on the ball which is a shame.
jacksons future is probably in a cm role. He hasn't got enough pace to worry the opposition right back, he may have great quality on the ball but beating a right back from our left side area will come from wiggins and not jackson next season.
a Winger/Attacking Midfielder
a Central Midfielder
and a Striker
Players to definately keep
Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Cort, Wiggins, Wagstaff, Green, Pritchard, Hollands, Stephens, Jackson, Haynes, BWP, Kermorgant
Don't worry about JJ, he's a clever footballer, links up play brilliantly and has a great set piece in him. Think he's best on the left.
That said, the formation SCP finished with on Sat, with BWP and Haynes flanking Yann in a 451/433 might be the way to go, at least initially. This might mean looking for that midfielder to complement Hollands/Stephens and Pritchard (who i think will continue to grow next year). Could be JJ in that formation.