If we assume Bent is going, ditto the loanees, and we clear out the rubbish (Hreidarsson [past it unfortunately], Hasselbaink, Lisbie, Faye, El K [we HAVE to get rid to stop him over hitting long balls for the whole of next season as well] Rommedahl [I think he'll leave]), we could have a decent transfer budget and space in the squad.
I reckon we desperately need a keeper, a defensive midfielder and two strikers, plus a right back if Young goes.
I think Marcus will stay because I'm not sure who'd want him, and I'm hopimng Diawara will stay, so:
New player
Young/New player, Diawara, Bougherra, Thatcher
Ambrose/Thomas, Holland, New Signing, Thomas/Reid
plus Dickson, Marcus and 2 new strikers.
Where would everyone else consider the 'priority areas'?
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If Bent Stays (Darren not Marcus) I would say we only need one striker. The spine of the team will need looking at, particularly in centre midfield where we have been short for a few years now. A team with a strong spine will always do well, sort that out & we should be OK.
I think that we'll be left with a couple of centre backs, a left back (Thatcher) and maybe a Reid / Hughes central midfield combo...and then Marcus and Super Kev.... In short, I reckon we'll need a whole new team...arse.
lets get one thing right now, we will not be spending big money this summer. we did last year and are still paying for it, plus we will have a £20m+ shortfall to fill. Expect a few creative long-term loan deals, but don't expect big money signings.
We have to get realistic sadly.
I wouldn't mind betting that if Darren goes players may be part of any deal.
Will also need good keeper but pray that Carson may come back on loan...you never know.
When we went down last time we had a fairly youthful squad with even more good youngsters coming through, some money to spend and a squad full of hard working players who played for the shirt.
This time we have no money due to overspending and having to pay off and sign up managers last season. A lot of what I would call non-Charlton type players, which is exactly the type of player you need to get out of the Championship. As well as some old players that may not be up to it anymore. Also a youth system that for the last 8 or so years has failed to provide (in the eyes of the managers at the time anyway).
"Super" Martin Pringle was studio guest for the Swedish coverage of the Sheffield U game the other week. The poor bloke wasn't having too good an afternoon as Helsingborg were simultaneously being beaten at home (each goal scored flashes up on the screen).
Prings made some very telling comments about the heart having left the club - I think. I never realised he could speak Swedish.
David Healy, David Connolly, Michael Chopra, Nathan Ellington up front
Graham Kavanagh, Jason Koumas, Seyi Olofinjana in midfield
Darren Purse, Claude Davis, Curtis Davies, Nyron Nosworthy, George McCartney, Danny Shittu at the back
God knows in goal
Obviously not all of them - but that sort of player is what we should be aiming for.
At an absolute minimum we need a decent ball-winning centre midfielder (Walton will always be a liability) so I'd move heaven and earth to get Kavanagh - who I've always rated - to play alongside fat-arse Reid or (for the 28 or so games he won't play next year cos he'll be fucked) Holland.
Since El Kak would be useless in the championship and Diawara won't stay, we also need someone big and strong to play with Bougherra - my money would be on Shittu or Purse. We'll also need two full backs as Lukewarm will be joining the hamsters and Thatcher will spend more time suspended than he will playing, so maybe a swap deal for McCartney (provided he passes a medical) might be on the cards - he's an under-rated little player who reminds me of Mark Reid/Mark Bowen, both of whom were excellent full backs for us. Christ knows about Left Back - maybe Sankofa can fill in there, cos there's no way Hermann will be able to play a full season in the Chumpionship.
As for strikers - I'd love to believe Darren will stay, but can't see it, so we need two good quality championship forwards. Any of those listed would do a job at that level, my preference would be Healy or Chopra, both excellent at the lower level.
In goal, christ knows - at the moment I can only think of giving Randolph a go or (whisper it quietly...) Deeeeeeeeano
I'm looking forward to seeing kids like Ashton, Arter and the like get a run out next season.
midfielders - lee cook, matty jarvis, mullins, kightly (if wolves don't go up), scott sinclair, lee hendrie
defenders - billy jones
keepers - flahavan, myhill, richard wright
Hmmm. Interesting comment. If Wham stay up and decide to make it big with new fantastic players then maybe Pards will get to his battlestations and snap up their rejects. He can tell them to stop behaving like a baby, that last Christmas it wasn't his choice to leave, that he thinks they're really the young guns. I reckon these players will see that we've now turned a different corner and that we're now the club fantastic. Go for it Pards!
Leroy Ambrose - unfortunately I think there's no way we'd get Curtis Davies. And isn't McCartney a left back?
To hthose who've said we won't spend big money, by 'big money' I meant £8m-10m odd, which is big for the Championship - think we should get £12m minimum for Bent, £2m for Young, say £2m for others combined, so £16m, and I think we'd put at least half back in.
Len with respect Curtis Davies has far more better suitors than us after his signature. Claude Davis is not going to leave the PL unless Sheff Utd let him go.
For me I would sign
Scott Carson - he quite obviously wants to come - even if we got him on loan again - it wouldn't harm his England prospects IMHO
Sankofa is good enough for the CCC but we'd need a back up if Young goes. I honestly think Pardew will bring Konchesky back.
Centre half is where we are depserate - we need an horrible bastard there and Darren Purse would fit that bill, adam barrett at southend looked a good player a scored a few goals.
Players like Scott Sinclair (chelsea) chris eagles (man utd) lee cook (chelsea)
harewood i am convinced will be a charlton player nest season - not sure about Mullins he does'nt like us does after his Palace stint and I am sure he said as much once before when we were after him.
I'm sure I've read that Spurs and Man City are after Lee Cook though.