As an aside, there are some interesting anomalies in the chart. Notice how the 13th of any month is a bit less popular? Also, look at the Christmas holiday bit. Apparently, this is because hospitals are less likely to induce on public holidays.
So here's the thing. We are a Championship team. It's not unreasonable to expect that the owners would look to strengthen or at the very least not weaken the squad over time.
In Powell's last season we had a spine of Hamer, Morrison, Stephens, Kermorgant. Not the tip top, but pretty strong with plenty of Championship experience. Add a few quality players around that spine and we're genuinely competitive.
Except they've all gone and it looks like, if TBH goes, our spine is, er, Dimitrov, Sarr, Cousins, Vetokele.
Not good enough by any stretch of the imagination.
I think you need to revise your definition of "plenty of Championship experience".
Fair point re Hamer and Stephens - perhaps "plenty of experience of the English game"?
East_Stand_Loopy Member There is one small problem with the "Championship experience" debate. We go to one of those, and he says "Yes, I can do a job for you. It'll cost you 5 grand a week." Alternatively, we go to someone like Baby Sarr, who says "I've never played in the Championship, but I helped my team win the U20 World Cup. I can do a job for you. It'll cost you 1 grand a week" If it was YOUR money, which one would you sign?
The answer is quite simple really, you ask yourself about each player, 'can this man do the job that I require ? '. If the answer about both is yes, and you don't know anything that would stop him from doing so ( homesickness, age etc), you take the cheapest.
I'm sure they're working on a number 9. Will be chuffed if it's someone of the calibre of Sarr.
It said in the paper had been playing for their B team in Portugese 2nd division.
Surely that is weaker than the English 2nd tier.
Quite right, OneLung. I thought he was from the Portuguese top flight, having played in the Championnat last year. Turns out he's only played 6 senior games. Not what I thought at all.
So here's the thing. We are a Championship team. It's not unreasonable to expect that the owners would look to strengthen or at the very least not weaken the squad over time.
In Powell's last season we had a spine of Hamer, Morrison, Stephens, Kermorgant. Not the tip top, but pretty strong with plenty of Championship experience. Add a few quality players around that spine and we're genuinely competitive.
Except they've all gone and it looks like, if TBH goes, our spine is, er, Dimitrov, Sarr, Cousins, Vetokele.
Not good enough by any stretch of the imagination.
A few things: 1) Hamer, Stephens and Kermorgant wouldn't sign another contract with us so they're gone anyway for this season 2) the spine is indeed important and for the first 15 games this season it consisted Henderson, Bikey, Ben Haim, Jackson/Cousins, Buyens with Vetokele + 1 up top. One can debate this but isn't it reasonable to suggest the spine is stronger?
3) I don't particularly rate Stephens and no one rated Hamer when it mattered. I'm afraid it's human nature for players to out perform in the last few months of their deals for they are playing for their next pay day. Sean Bartlett was a star when he first arrived on loan as he wanted a perm deal but later on not so good.
4) you don't mention Poyet and he's the one we have really missed - Coquelin helped and now perhaps Veljković will play the cdm role?
The squad and team evolves and we still need a number 9. At least the majority of the squad are with us for next season, perhaps 12 or 13 out of our best 18 players are on long term deals. They will have a years championship experience playing together and the gaps can and should be filled properly over the summer.
So yes it's reasonable to expect improvement over time...even at Charlton!
Having read it about 3 times, it actually reads more like it is off due to an injury.
The last paragraph was what was confusing me.
I agree. It sounds like he is going nowhere. The only way I see him coming to us is if he kicks up a real stink and refuses to play (which is highly unlikely given it is Charlton we are talking about!).
Never really post on here but read your comments daily. Just thought I'd try and clear this up as I speak Portuguese and when I read an article on Sarr from the Portuguese press a couple of days ago it said that he was staying in Portugal for tonight's game and then would sign for us on loan for the rest of the season. This suggests the deal is still on but the article I read is a couple of days old!
Just re-read the article and it says that Sporting wanted to use him tonight against V.Setubal (??) in the Cup and the deal will only become official after the game. Apparently there was an offer from Evian in France and other Spanish clubs. You could well be right though as this article was for the 26th and I've not read anything since.
As an aside, there are some interesting anomalies in the chart. Notice how the 13th of any month is a bit less popular? Also, look at the Christmas holiday bit. Apparently, this is because hospitals are less likely to induce on public holidays.
Now, back to Naby Sarr...
Both of my first 2 were born in November - it's no coincidence that we always used to go and get some tropical Winter's sun in February
Comments
January 31st is ranked 343 out of 366.
September 16th (my daughter's birthday) is top, while February 29th (unsurprisingly) is bottom, followed by December 25th.
http://www.tableau.com/public/gallery/how-common-your-birthday
As an aside, there are some interesting anomalies in the chart. Notice how the 13th of any month is a bit less popular?
Also, look at the Christmas holiday bit. Apparently, this is because hospitals are less likely to induce on public holidays.
Now, back to Naby Sarr...
There is one small problem with the "Championship experience" debate.
We go to one of those, and he says "Yes, I can do a job for you. It'll cost you 5 grand a week."
Alternatively, we go to someone like Baby Sarr, who says "I've never played in the Championship, but I helped my team win the U20 World Cup. I can do a job for you. It'll cost you 1 grand a week"
If it was YOUR money, which one would you sign?
The answer is quite simple really, you ask yourself about each player, 'can this man do the job that I require ? '. If the answer about both is yes, and you don't know anything that would stop him from doing so ( homesickness, age etc), you take the cheapest.
1) Hamer, Stephens and Kermorgant wouldn't sign another contract with us so they're gone anyway for this season
2) the spine is indeed important and for the first 15 games this season it consisted Henderson, Bikey, Ben Haim, Jackson/Cousins, Buyens with Vetokele + 1 up top. One can debate this but isn't it reasonable to suggest the spine is stronger?
3) I don't particularly rate Stephens and no one rated Hamer when it mattered. I'm afraid it's human nature for players to out perform in the last few months of their deals for they are playing for their next pay day. Sean Bartlett was a star when he first arrived on loan as he wanted a perm deal but later on not so good.
4) you don't mention Poyet and he's the one we have really missed - Coquelin helped and now perhaps Veljković will play the cdm role?
The squad and team evolves and we still need a number 9. At least the majority of the squad are with us for next season, perhaps 12 or 13 out of our best 18 players are on long term deals. They will have a years championship experience playing together and the gaps can and should be filled properly over the summer.
So yes it's reasonable to expect improvement over time...even at Charlton!
https://twitter.com/SportingCP_en
1) Deal off, Sporting Lisbon are short off fit CBs.
2) Sarr plays tonight - and then he can leave for Charlton.
No idea which is true
Having read it about 3 times, it actually reads more like it is off due to an injury.
The last paragraph was what was confusing me.
Who's Jim white is fanny Natalie sawyer
I've heard they're a bit tasty.
Unless we win...and win and win and win.......
From this Google Mangled article, it would suggest that Sarr coming in is agreed but dependent on Sporting loaning in another defender.
Also suggests that there is a clause in the loan contract regarding Sarr getting regular playing time.
Bruno Uvini apparently in talks with Sporting. This COULD lead to the departure of Sarr to Charlton after all? #CAFC #SCP