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Thoughts on Chris Solly not playing (Dec 20 - Page.6 signs for Ebbsfleet)

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  • I suspect there might be more to the knee issue than meets the eye. I've suspected it for a couple of years especially as his game time has been managed for so long.

    Granted, the above - as well as his years of service - is why I'm understanding of his position. Hell, I'm also understanding of Taylor's: would I take the "wrath" of a few thousand football fans at the age of 30 when I have a chance of securing long-term financial security? Yes. With Solly, if he's got a potential move elsewhere, also yes.

    But I'm incredibly disappointed in both of them - moreso Solly, depending on the knee situation. We all know Taylor is a shithouse, that he's a horrible bastard on the pitch, and loves the attention. So I'm not surprised in his "business decision" (to borrow a phrase from American football). Solly has never hidden for me, until now, and it's really gutting that this appears to be the end of his time at Charlton.
  • I wonder if Chris had been told by his mates Bowyer and Jacko that he's not getting a new contract earlier in the season and he's been feeling a little sore about that. It would probably hurt a lot more to hear that from people you are close to, particularly Jackson, so maybe his mentality is that if they don't want him he won't bother, and he'll look out for himself seeing as the club doesn't care about him. I think some people are going overboard with their judgment of Solly's abilities at this point. He's not the player he was before his injuries when you honestly thought he could go on to the Prem, but he's hardly become a complete Seaborne either. He's a decent backup and I think we're really going to miss him seeing as Adam Matthews struggles to play consecutive Saturdays, let alone two games a week for two months. If Matthews twangs something we're going to be left with right back options of Oshilaja and nothing during a relegation scrap. That might hurt us more than not having Taylor given we've got Bonne, Hemed, Green, Aneke and Davison as alternatives up front. It's all a very depressing time at Charlton
    NO WAY will we miss Solly more than Taylor. Taylor is a top quality Championship player who could possibly do a job for a lower PL side, whereas Solly is sadly nowadays a very ordinary RB, especially going forward as he doesn't have the engine needed to get up the pitch and back - the CL stat numbers tell a story, since his knee problems he has been bang average. Even 4 years ago in the relegation season, Riga brought in Motta ahead of him.
  • Be interested in how those happy to give him a pass feel if Matthews gets injured in the build up to the Hull game. 
    Oshilaja would be next in line
  • Chris solly a proper Charlton man, and I won’t forget before injuries he was very in demand and never went anywhere, he’s just down the pecking order now, basically not wanted by the club ( not offered a new contract ) so basically been told your surplus to demands as its not as if we can’t afford him - imo it’s a completely different situation - still quite shocking for a club man to behave like this but then that’s player power for you now it’s the way football is going.
  • Can't make sense of Solly's decision - very disappointing.


  • edited June 2020
    I am also  surprised by  Solly's decision, just does not seem the type to do this, from my limited time I have met him. Just does not seem  in his character?. Hope if this is the case Chris reflects on his decision, and plays his part. Hopefully we will hear from him as to why he has chosen  to do this. 
  • edited June 2020
    Be interested in how those happy to give him a pass feel if Matthews gets injured in the build up to the Hull game. 
    You are right. Clearly Solly is not the player he was but with 9 games between say 20th June and end July you need every player you have. Oshilaja can cover right back but if one or two of the centre backs are injured he is needed there also.
  • Be interested in how those happy to give him a pass feel if Matthews gets injured in the build up to the Hull game. 
    I'd then put Oshilaja there. Did more than ok in a couple of games that I saw him play there (televised Bristol City match especially). Solly is just not an attacking right back, and that is how LB wants us to play.
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  • cafctom said:
    Agreed that the perception of his 'decline' seems to be way overboard from some. Even when he has played this season he has been relatively consistent. It was just unfortunate for him that Adam Matthews came in, and he has a bit more pace to work with from a tactical standpoint.
    Solly hasn't been good enough for years. 

    In League One when a half decent side would turn up, I'd have to watch Solly backing off the guy running at him until he was playing the drums in the covered end.

    Matthews is a low championship/top league one standard and is miles ahead of Solly at this point.

    Sadly you are spot on.
  • Club captain, always gave his all, now refusing to play ball, as far as I am concerned as with Taylor ****k him. That’s all his links & history with the club gone and banished to the wind in my eyes, can’t get my head around this at all. 
  • edited June 2020
    I can’t get over the fact that no other club are announcing players won’t play, and yet our club captain in his testimonial season is saying he isn’t up for the battle. It’s gutting and more disappointing than Taylor’s (even if it will have less of an impact on our chances). In fact it’s even MORE galling he won’t play because the expectation upon him would likely have been less, he wouldn’t be required as often on the pitch so it just seems cowardly.
  • edited June 2020
    I’m let down by Solly as much as I am let down by Taylor.
    Of course it registers less as his contribution to our remaining games was going to be very much less significant but still as “club captain” and in his testimonial year it’s a slap in the face to every supporter and every one of his/their former team mates.
    Toothless scaredy cats the pair of them...
  • Really disappointed with Solly, possibly more than Taylor.

    Think he may struggle to get a decent contract somewhere tbh. Realistically there won’t be much money for declining right backs with dodgy knees who couldn’t make a poor squad that was filled with kids. In terms of his future career I actually think he’d be better to turn up now and contribute when asked to show what he’s still capable of on the pitch, Solly declining to play to avoid injury feels a bit gate-horse-bolty. 
  • I wonder if Chris had been told by his mates Bowyer and Jacko that he's not getting a new contract earlier in the season and he's been feeling a little sore about that. It would probably hurt a lot more to hear that from people you are close to, particularly Jackson, so maybe his mentality is that if they don't want him he won't bother, and he'll look out for himself seeing as the club doesn't care about him. I think some people are going overboard with their judgment of Solly's abilities at this point. He's not the player he was before his injuries when you honestly thought he could go on to the Prem, but he's hardly become a complete Seaborne either. He's a decent backup and I think we're really going to miss him seeing as Adam Matthews struggles to play consecutive Saturdays, let alone two games a week for two months. If Matthews twangs something we're going to be left with right back options of Oshilaja and nothing during a relegation scrap. That might hurt us more than not having Taylor given we've got Bonne, Hemed, Green, Aneke and Davison as alternatives up front. It's all a very depressing time at Charlton
    NO WAY will we miss Solly more than Taylor. Taylor is a top quality Championship player who could possibly do a job for a lower PL side, whereas Solly is sadly nowadays a very ordinary RB, especially going forward as he doesn't have the engine needed to get up the pitch and back - the CL stat numbers tell a story, since his knee problems he has been bang average. Even 4 years ago in the relegation season, Riga brought in Motta ahead of him.
    I think you've misinterpreted what I said. I'm not saying Solly is a better player than Taylor. The point I was making is that without Taylor, bad as that is, we've got five other players we can put up front who can play. If one of them goes down injured we can still put strikers on the pitch. Without Solly we have one proper senior right back who has a history of fitness and injury issues, and we're asking him to play a ridiculously full schedule. Remember that we're asking players who have barely kicked a ball since March to play twice a week for a few months. They're doing an insane schedule on pre-season fitness and there's a reason clubs are now allowed to make five subs in these games. The teams with the biggest squads who can rotate will prosper in this period, as will private hamstring injury specialists. You'll be able to hear one big collective twang at about 3.10pm when the football finally comes back, and Matthews is absolutely one of the candidates for being part of that. If he goes down injured we have to move our weakest centre half across to RB where he isn't as comfortable, which also reduces our options at centre half if there are injuries/suspensions there. Going into a game with square pegs in round holes at the back could hurt us more than missing a very good player who we do have alternatives for considering we're not exactly strong defensively anyway.
  • I can't see anyone signing him especially non-league.  Who has spare wages at the moment?  In the fifth and sixth tier most of the players are supremely fit so why waste their wages on someone who will not cope with the physicality week in week out?

    His brother had a serious leg break at Chatham Town, and he's managed and adapted to continue playing with a McGrath/King knee situation.  It's not right for me to judge someone without truly knowing the personal reasons.

    Having said that I have to go to work if my company demands and have done all through this pandemic.  Solly has been compensated way past his true economic value like nearly all footballers: Wages as a % of turnover at Charlton have been complete madness.  He's had 10-12 seasons with at least one maybe two long term contracts.  It was up to him to have paid for insurance to cover wages.  I know  people who do who are much less compensated.

    I'm loathe judging Solly but I have much less sympathy for him than Taylor.  We've all had sacrifices during this pandemic, usually involving not seeing our closest family members.  I've enjoyed watching Chris Solly develop but I struggle to see his justification in doing this.  If he has another two year league contract on the table then yes.  If not which appears likely he should be available.
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  • If he could have moved on to better things he would have , his knees prolly put the mockers on that .
    Nothing has been said so don’t want to slag him off too much but how lame can you get .
    Chris Solly , Charlton through and through- my arse ..... ooooerrrrr 
  • cafctom said:
    Agreed that the perception of his 'decline' seems to be way overboard from some. Even when he has played this season he has been relatively consistent. It was just unfortunate for him that Adam Matthews came in, and he has a bit more pace to work with from a tactical standpoint.
    Definitely agree with this. Still think he is a solid right back but Matthews is younger and better at this level. He hasn’t made the bench because it makes more sense for an Oshilaja or a Sarr to take up defensive spots because they can fill more than one position so he has been left in an unfortunate position.

    So much speculation on here though about him having the ump, talking to Taylor, wasn’t happy about Wembley, doesn’t get on with Bowyer etc etc. We all know the reasons for Lyle not playing but, until I hear Solly’s side of the story, I’m reserving judgement. But to be honest, even if his reasons are the same as Taylor’s, his 300+ appearance and blood sweat and tears during some truly shit times would be enough for a pass from me. 
  • I would love to hear from Chris to why he has decided not to play for the club anymore! As he has always said he would never leave Charlton. Now I can't see him making the hall of fame after this.
  • I am surprised by his decision not to play & I think that's wrong, but in terms of him leaving at the end of the season, could it not just be the case that he's as disillusioned by the laughing stock the club has become as the rest of us & has had enough. 

    Solly is Charlton through & through, but there's only so much you can take. Maybe he's reached breaking point & just wants to see out the remainder of his career somewhere more stable.
  • I am surprised by his decision not to play & I think that's wrong, but in terms of him leaving at the end of the season, could it not just be the case that he's as disillusioned by the laughing stock the club has become as the rest of us & has had enough. 

    Solly is Charlton through & through, but there's only so much you can take. Maybe he's reached breaking point & just wants to see out the remainder of his career somewhere more stable.
    Maybe Taylor feels the same.

    All is forgiven, Lyle!
  • No.  Footballers contracts are guaranteed and placed above all other debts in regards to bankruptcy.  He'll never now earn more than he has at Charlton.

    If he goes further down the pyramid he'll earn less and probably find an even less stable club:  I think it unlikely he'll find a club, and if he does he may be unlikely to lose his contracted money, but more likely to not be paid for extended periods and forced out through unethical means.    Not sure if he'll find a stable club.
  • Just a thought, but what if Solly was going to retire at the end of the season? With previous injuries he is more likely to aggravate them if not undergone proper training. He hasn't played much this season, will take him longer to get back up to speed on said knee to avoid injury.

    To be clear, I would've wanted all players available as per contracts but is he worried the injury may not hold up with this rushed restart.
  • Oshilaja is a much better option than Solly, clearly, and we still have Pratley covering the right centre-back position
  • If either Lyle or Solly were Page, I'd understand it. Especially if he had a club lined up. 

    I honestly think he would accept the extension and play the games though. 

    They're not though. Solly even unfit will get through 50-60% of games a season and Lyle has had ONE long lay off his entire career. 

    Page has been in an awful place the last couple of years and considering how decent he can be, it has been tragic to watch him break down time and time again. 
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