This squad can't compete

hoof_it_up_to_benty

As it stands we have a squad made up of demoralised players, unfit players, players well past their best and young players thrown into a situation they're not ready for

After the latest fiasco it would take a miracle to pull things together. No player of any worth would want to sign for us and the dreadful publicity surrounding the club will impact the work of the academy.

The value of RD's investment must be plummeting and once relegation is confirmed it will fall further.

It's hard to see how the rest of the season will pan out - how can you motivate this squad?

Godstone

Hard to argue with any of your points. Jose will no doubt do his best.

I'm not a fan of loan players but as players will not want to sign long term deals... 2 or 3 good loan players would be a good idea and they need to be paid well - preferably with a large bonus if we stay up.

Pedro45

I think you just confirmed that you can't. We will need to spend £2m each on 12 new players to avoid relegation. That ain't gonna happen, because a) they won't be available, and b) if they were, RD wouldn't finance it!

Realistically, we need to get some team spirit, led by Riga, back into the Club. KM being fired and replaced would give everyone a boost and the fans a little more onside. Then we have to get the players organised - defence, midfield, and attack - and more tactically aware (which the bench should be more now than with Carol). Then we need a massive dose of luck - ref's favouring us for a change, no suspensions, no injuries, and the oppo forwards misfiring and defenders slipping over, etc. Finally, we need three other clubs (out of Bolton, Bristol City, Rotherham, and MK Dons) to have very poor run-ins over the last 20 games. If we have all of that, we have a small chance of staying up.

Atletico Addick

Loans (and also dodgy short contracts) are also the work of the devil when you are relying on them for the core of your playing team. It's obvious as to why... they are ok to supplement a solid unit already, but nothing more than that. Unfortunately they are key to RD's plans, the whole way his plan works does not go hand in hand with a successful team, players moving about; being implemented too early.

Add in the fact there is no way you will want to work for your coaches when they are being swapped about for fun. Players like us, want stability in life.

This season we are down, I'm usually quite negative towards Charlton and from the most neutral viewpoint I can give us, we are down.. We will pick up injuries, we will also have a sale or two. We have too much work to do.

vff

Its Riga, the coaching team and senior members of the squad job to help motivate the players. What would help would be Duchatelet supporting his new head coach and helping to strengthen the squad in key areas. This would be central defence, creative attacking midfield, attack and the wings (presuming Lookman is going to be sold).

Riga needs to draw a line under what went before. The core of the squad needs to draw together round one aim, which is survival of Charlton in the Championship. If the squad show fight and passion then Charlton supporters will back them. There may be a remote chance.

If any of the players are not up for it, such as Vaz Te for example, they need to depart so Charlton can get someone who is up for the fight.

Its all a bit of a long shot given the squad deconstruction over the last 2 years but Riga may manage it but he won't be able to do it without the players support.