Seen some people saying stuff like '' Our squad is piss in terms of backups '' '' how is this team going to push for promotion ''
I'm not being funny .. but we have recently played Birmingham/Leicester/Hull. And have come through those games unbeaten. with what we have thats a blood great effort. as i was quite worried about how we would start as our games looked hard (Them 3 teams will be there or there abouts) and to be fair we held our own in all 3 games.
We have signed, Fuller & Button Both good backups/players in this league imo, and theres nothing to say further loan options for CM will come along, im also pretty sure we are still able to sign free agents. At the end of the day after the downfall we have had over the last 3-4 years stability is what we need, all i wish for is that this club is financially okay, and still in the CCC next season. Some people need to get there ambitions and expectations sorted. For now i'd happly settle for CAFC to be a mid table CCC team.
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If we count Jacko and Pritch as CM's then we have 4 + Kerkar. I would prefer a nice winger in on loan, someone like Ephraim would probably do.
But I do agree that we are heading in the right direction. We have a top quality man at the helm, a hungry young squad and hopefully we can just keep improving. We're probably not going to do a Norwich or a Southampton, but a Brighton would do me fine. A team who pissed League 1 like ourselves and gradually keep getting better it seems. They are similarly placed to us and I would rather we gradually keep getting better to aim for promotion in say 3 seasons than splash the cash and go for shit or bust.
I think this will be determined by our opponents - the Birmingham game saw WIggins able to do this but it will depend on how our opponents set up and the pace they have in the full back positions. But we have the qulaity to snatch a goal whatever and will have qulaity from the bench to bring on with Fuller and Haynes. Also it will depend on whether we are at home or away - where teams may be a bit more open, it may be easier in away games.
People have been quoting what Chrissy told us Gus Poyet observed about showing too much loyalty to his existing players when Brighton went up. Well he was talking about Brighton, all teams are different. I look at a lot of our players and they are young and have something to prove and I think it is right we give them the chance to. I have believed and still believe that the biggest error that could have been made would have been to make largescale personnel changes.
I have a lot of faith in the CMs and I think Pritchard is destined to be a top player and he is at a stage where he needs to be playing and learning to reach the hights I think he can. I am certainly not adverse to some squad strengthening signings though. Hammond would have been a good addition - a player that has been a key part of the rise up to leagues -but there is also the loan window.
We don't really know where this team can go - maybe Chrissy doesn't either. We do know - or at least should - that they are certainly not a relegation team at this level. I am going to enjoy seeing what they can achieve. There was a recent thread about what was your favourite Charlton side - It would be hard to beat the late 90s side for me, even though they were certainly not the best Charlton side, but it was interesting the question was asked in the context of this side. I think we have one of those groups that play for each over and the fans and that can take you a long way.
The fans have to do their bit too and support them, and to be fair that is happening. It is entirely possible that this side will become my favourites. I love Kermogant's quality and endeavour, The way BWP has worked his way out of a dip in form last season (the performance against Leicester would be what every manager would ask for from a striker, Solly putting up the none shall pass signs and his little shuffle, Wiggins tearing down the wing to deliver a telling cross, Morro oozing qulaity and Cort winning all of his headers, Hollands working his nuts off for the team and Pritchard buzzing around the midfield like somebody who knows he nearly missed his chance and is determined to take it. Stephens' quality delivery, passing and deft little balls that not many notice and Hamer, the hyperactive schoolboy who is transforming himself into one hell of a keeper. And JJ the captain who everybody loves with his eye for goal and telling ball.
Thanks but I really like this bunch and want them to get to grips with this league together and then see how they push on. I really believe they can and will. I'm delighted after the transfer window we can now do that and the doom and gloom stories about having to sell a few of them haven't materialised COYRS.
The Championship is a long season and you need stregnth across all positions to deal with the rigours, I just don't think we have that right now - you can talk about loans and free transfers but that's all hypothetical.
"Seen some people saying stuff like '' Our squad is piss in terms of backups '' '' how is this team going to push for promotion ''"
Do some people really expect us to be pushing for promotion? Yes it would be great, but surely a decent mid-table-ish finish would be a good effort for our first season back and I think we have a squad that can achieve that.
We all know our squad is short on depth but equally wouldn't we rather have players there with the right attitude than filling it with Carlos Kickaballs putting our longer term financial stability at risk?
Looking at some of the fees and wages reported today some of our competitors are going to be so far up s### creak if they dont go up as to be out of sight.
Forget about them and let's quietly go about 'moneyballing' our way back in the game!
I think people looked at Orient and said "back up isn't good enough" forgetting that CP isn't ever going to play that side in the league. There are good players who played v Orient who will do well when coming into the squad.
We have also yet to see Fuller and Haynes. When and if both are fit that is a big boost to the side. I can see Haynes playing RM today at some time or even starting today if Pritch comes into the middle to replace Stephens.
Button as GK
Dervite and Wilson for the defence is strong esp. as Wilson can play CM or RM.
Kerker is a CM IMHO,
Cooke, Fuller and Haynes give us wide options and forward options.
We'll see how good this lot are over the next 43 games and there is still the loan market.
Compare to our squad last time we were in the championship. Player for player. I wouldn't swap a single one. We will be fine.
Many of us are convinced that there is a finance shortfall of some kind at the club, but we've also heard that TJ was flying all over the place looking for people to plug the gap. You've got to hope that his bullish attitude to other clubs was backed up by the knowledge that the gap has been plugged.
Off field, we will learn more in the coming months. On the field, I agree with Scoham, and am happy with that. So long as everyone connected with the club accepts that mid-table consolidation is a reasonable target, then we'll be fine, and enjoy some good days. Today may not be one of them, but I'm relieved to get back to the footie.
Hopefully, we can get some stronger financial backing and start to compete more strongly in the transfer market, as we build towards a play off or auto promotion place hopefully in the next 2-5 years.
Forest at some points today were so much better than us, but ultimately it ended up being 2-1 with forest hanging on at the end.
2nd half, having made a better attempt at closing down the midfield, we were much more competitive.
Forest showed that they are a good side, but conceded the inititive once we pulled a goal back. Another 10 mins and I would have fancied us to equalise.
As others have said, if only Fuller and Kerkar had come on 10 minutes earlier!
Please note, Mr Powell !