All very encouraging. What's also important is that in all likelihood this new squad has been assembled very cost effectively in terms of wage bill - probably well below the cost of the squad in 2012/13 and perhaps even lower than last season.
Always assuming that we'll be competitive next season (and, of course, that remains to be seen), we could interpret this in one of two ways. Either Duchatelet set what may have been a worryingly low budget and still managed to deliver a decent squad. Or, having got to this point without flexing financial muscle, there is now scope to up the ante when appropriate, either in January or next summer. If it's the latter then we've got more upside to look forward to.
Be very interesting if we could compare what, say, Kermorgant, Stephens and Dervite are now being paid (or what we'd have had to pay to retain them) with what we're paying our new signings. I have a hunch we'd be surprised and impressed. It's not at all clear to me that we'd have been better off had more long-term deals been agreed last summer. That's just my perspective by the way. I'm not trying to be controversial.
Seems a lot of players contracts will expire in 2016 or more worryingly so 2015(Lawrie Wilson) so hopefully our new owner will learn from the mistakes our last owners made and offer and finalise new contracts a lot quicker
The midfield suddenly looks light with the u21 players removed. Think we need another signing in that area as I don't think there's anyone in that u21 we can be sure will make the step up this season - unlike Gomez who I think
Seems a lot of players contracts will expire in 2016 or more worryingly so 2015(Lawrie Wilson) so hopefully our new owner will learn from the mistakes our last owners made and offer and finalise new contracts a lot quicker
Only 3 players are ending in 2015. After last season I'd call that a vast improvement.
We still have a full year to tie them down, or not in the case of some that aren't seen as good enough.
I'm excited about this squad. It's a fresh new young team, but with several of our most trusted players still in the mix. Players like Jacko and Morrison will play a huge part in the development of the new players - it's exciting.
Really nice reading loads of positive comments too.. unusual!!!!!... but nice
The midfield suddenly looks light with the u21 players removed. Think we need another signing in that area as I don't think there's anyone in that u21 we can be sure will make the step up this season - unlike Gomez who I think
I'd tend to agree with this. In an absolutely ideal world we'd now sign two more players, a midfield enforcer and a powerful front man to lead the line. To illustrate the profiles, based on players we've seen at the Valley since returning to the Championship, I'd use as examples Mile Jedinak and Lukas Jutkiewicz. Of course, these are both out of reach, but the addition of two players of this type could make us play-off contenders.
The midfield suddenly looks light with the u21 players removed. Think we need another signing in that area as I don't think there's anyone in that u21 we can be sure will make the step up this season - unlike Gomez who I think
I'd tend to agree with this. In an absolutely ideal world we'd now sign two more players, a midfield enforcer and a powerful front man to lead the line. To illustrate the profiles, based on players we've seen at the Valley since returning to the Championship, I'd use as examples Mile Jedinak and Lukas Jutkiewicz. Of course, these are both out of reach, but the addition of two players of this type could make us play-off contenders.
Could Tucudean be that "powerful front man" and Buyens or Cousins the "midfield enforcer"? I'd say we are more in need of a creative midfielder (playmaker) and cover for Wilson on the right.
Is it clear from those that have seen a few of the friendlies what sort of role Buyens will play? You could argue any of Buyens, Cousins and Jackson could play the holding role or more box to box. It does seem clear Peeters will be playing 4-4-2, might be wrong but it looks like that's the only formation we've used so far.
Thanks for this Henry et al, we appear to have assembled a good squad.....maybe.
I can only take credit alongside Scoham for the list.
Assembling the squad was down to BP + RD building on what CP, PP and the academy had already provided
: - )
If PP is Parky Henners, can you refresh my memory on his role in the rebuilding. Not wishing to open an old debate which I am sure has been thrashed to death on here but I need reminding. I thought his budget was pretty low and he had to dip into his own pocket to fund certain deals so presumably he must have done something with bringing the youngsters on but I'm struggling to think who.
Thanks for this Henry et al, we appear to have assembled a good squad.....maybe.
I can only take credit alongside Scoham for the list.
Assembling the squad was down to BP + RD building on what CP, PP and the academy had already provided
: - )
If PP is Parky Henners, can you refresh my memory on his role in the rebuilding. Not wishing to open an old debate which I am sure has been thrashed to death on here but I need reminding. I thought his budget was was pretty low and he had to dip into his own pocket to fund certain deals so presumably he must have done something with bringing the youngsters on but I'm struggling to think who.
I didn't say re-building but "building on" what CP, Parky and the academy had already provided.
Thanks for this Henry et al, we appear to have assembled a good squad.....maybe.
I can only take credit alongside Scoham for the list.
Assembling the squad was down to BP + RD building on what CP, PP and the academy had already provided
: - )
If PP is Parky Henners, can you refresh my memory on his role in the rebuilding. Not wishing to open an old debate which I am sure has been thrashed to death on here but I need reminding. I thought his budget was was pretty low and he had to dip into his own pocket to fund certain deals so presumably he must have done something with bringing the youngsters on but I'm struggling to think who.
I didn't say re-building but "building on" what CP, Parky and the academy had already provided.
PP signed the skipper.
Ok cheers, a very important building block, I'm not quite losing it yet then :-)
The midfield suddenly looks light with the u21 players removed. Think we need another signing in that area as I don't think there's anyone in that u21 we can be sure will make the step up this season - unlike Gomez who I think
I'd tend to agree with this. In an absolutely ideal world we'd now sign two more players, a midfield enforcer and a powerful front man to lead the line. To illustrate the profiles, based on players we've seen at the Valley since returning to the Championship, I'd use as examples Mile Jedinak and Lukas Jutkiewicz. Of course, these are both out of reach, but the addition of two players of this type could make us play-off contenders.
Could Tucudean be that "powerful front man" and Buyens or Cousins the "midfield enforcer"? I'd say we are more in need of a creative midfielder (playmaker) and cover for Wilson on the right.
Quite possibly and I'd be delighted if Tucudean is as effective as Jutkiewicz. My point was a more general one, albeit based on what I've read and/or surmised rather than on what I've seen first hand.
I reckon we'll be OK at the back and that going forward we'll have pace and creative options. My concern is with how well we'll cope with the physicality of the Championship.
The midfield suddenly looks light with the u21 players removed. Think we need another signing in that area as I don't think there's anyone in that u21 we can be sure will make the step up this season - unlike Gomez who I think
I'd tend to agree with this. In an absolutely ideal world we'd now sign two more players, a midfield enforcer and a powerful front man to lead the line. To illustrate the profiles, based on players we've seen at the Valley since returning to the Championship, I'd use as examples Mile Jedinak and Lukas Jutkiewicz. Of course, these are both out of reach, but the addition of two players of this type could make us play-off contenders.
Could Tucudean be that "powerful front man" and Buyens or Cousins the "midfield enforcer"? I'd say we are more in need of a creative midfielder (playmaker) and cover for Wilson on the right.
I thought Gudmunsson, although left footed, played on the right wing. I have seen him in pre-season so can anyone confirm this?
We need a right winger and central midfielder for the squad to be good. At the moment incredibly light in depth
We've got Cousins, Buyens , Jackson and Moussa and a few good youngsters centre mid is fine but I agree wouldn't mind another right mid, Ideally we will loan out Church and bring in another striker well I'm hoping anyway , he works hard but we need better.
We really need another striker. Hopefully both Igor and George will be successful and Reza will be more impressive this season (assuming he stays) but they both need to settle into a new country and league and we're also bound to pick up some injuries.
Overall, though, we're in much better shape than this stage last year. Our only recruits then were Gower, Wood and, a few days before the Bournemouth game, Churchy and Sordell.
As it looks we are playing a 442, my guess is that we might sign one more midfielder on loan as an upgrade to Munns as the 8th midfielder. I don't think we sign another striker unless Reza leaves. Don't think Baheback is an option as he is more of a 433 forward and we are not going to pay 7 figures to have him sit on the bench behind vetokele. I am beginning to think we are looking at our completed roster.
We need a right winger and central midfielder for the squad to be good. At the moment incredibly light in depth
We've got Cousins, Buyens , Jackson and Moussa and a few good youngsters centre mid is fine but I agree wouldn't mind another right mid, Ideally we will loan out Church and bring in another striker well I'm hoping anyway , he works hard but we need better.
That's not really enough though. Let's say Cousins and Buyens get injured. That leaves Jackson, who now tires more easily, Moussa who is an attacking midfielder and would likely be a disaster in a 442, especially without a devoted holding midfielder, and some kids with little experience. Big squads keep you alive in these leagues, we need a proper holding midfielder.
We need a right winger and central midfielder for the squad to be good. At the moment incredibly light in depth
We've got Cousins, Buyens , Jackson and Moussa and a few good youngsters centre mid is fine but I agree wouldn't mind another right mid, Ideally we will loan out Church and bring in another striker well I'm hoping anyway , he works hard but we need better.
That's not really enough though. Let's say Cousins and Buyens get injured. That leaves Jackson, who now tires more easily, Moussa who is an attacking midfielder and would likely be a disaster in a 442, especially without a devoted holding midfielder, and some kids with little experience. Big squads keep you alive in these leagues, we need a proper holding midfielder.
You could say that about every position , I personally think that's one our strongest areas and we'll be fine there. Already it's hard to pick a starting two out of them four.
Comments
Always assuming that we'll be competitive next season (and, of course, that remains to be seen), we could interpret this in one of two ways. Either Duchatelet set what may have been a worryingly low budget and still managed to deliver a decent squad. Or, having got to this point without flexing financial muscle, there is now scope to up the ante when appropriate, either in January or next summer. If it's the latter then we've got more upside to look forward to.
Be very interesting if we could compare what, say, Kermorgant, Stephens and Dervite are now being paid (or what we'd have had to pay to retain them) with what we're paying our new signings. I have a hunch we'd be surprised and impressed. It's not at all clear to me that we'd have been better off had more long-term deals been agreed last summer. That's just my perspective by the way. I'm not trying to be controversial.
PS As ever, this is an incredibly useful thread.
If Reza goes we'll need another striker as well.
We still have a full year to tie them down, or not in the case of some that aren't seen as good enough.
Really nice reading loads of positive comments too.. unusual!!!!!... but nice
Can't wait for the season to start now
Assembling the squad was down to BP + RD building on what CP, PP and the academy had already provided
: - )
PP signed the skipper.
I reckon we'll be OK at the back and that going forward we'll have pace and creative options. My concern is with how well we'll cope with the physicality of the Championship.
http://rolandsrevolution.blogspot.com/2014/07/summer-2014-charltons-transfer-dealings.html
Ideally we will loan out Church and bring in another striker well I'm hoping anyway , he works hard but we need better.
Overall, though, we're in much better shape than this stage last year. Our only recruits then were Gower, Wood and, a few days before the Bournemouth game, Churchy and Sordell.