I think the comparisons to Bielik and Cullen are a little unfair. We didn’t really know much about either before they were loaned in and both have now pushed on in their careers. We have time to bring in Premier League club loans, but they have to be the right fit for this level and not Levitt and Smith standard.
Also Cullen came to us in league 1 on 30th August and Bielik on 16th August. Surely that’s proof we still have time to bring in some very strong premier league loans to perform well for us this season.
Morgan showed a bit more than the other midfielders on Saturday (though his final ball continues to disappoint).
I suspect people are putting his name at the forefront though as there’s maybe a little more hope/expectation on him, considering he’s a youth product we’ve known for a few years and expected big things of.
That, and the fact he’s been given the number 10 shirt - which is a bit of a concern.
Morgan showed a bit more than the other midfielders on Saturday (though his final ball continues to disappoint).
I suspect people are putting his name at the forefront though as there’s maybe a little more hope/expectation on him, considering he’s a youth product we’ve known for a few years and expected big things of.
That, and the fact he’s been given the number 10 shirt - which is a bit of a concern.
Far, far to much has been made of this. Its hardly the Man United 7 or something. The last 5 or so seasons its been warn buy someone that hardly played for 1 season, Billy Clarke, Josh Parker and Nicky Ajose!
I was always confused when Clare signed - a bit part player at Oxford didn’t really stand out as building a promotion winning side. It would make sense if a top league one midfielder were to arrive and he becomes a squad player / cover.
It makes some sort of sense in that he is young, ish, and can improve. He was probably perceived to be under valued by his current club. He has got "something about him" but he is far from the finished article.
Reminds me, a bit, of Bonne in terms of where he is at.
He’s nearly 25 and whilst players have been late developers before, he isn’t that young.
Personally I was just hoping we would have a centre of midfield that is (in league one terms) a bit more wow this year.
Last two promotions we have had from this level:
1) Hollands, Stephens, Jackson etc
2) Cullen, Bielik, Aribo
I think we are agreed we need out of this league pronto and it doesn’t feel like we are at this level in midfield so far at all.
I think most of us agree with that, strangely sandgaard doesn't seem to be that bothered. I'm sure he wants promotion but it seems he either can't or won't fund us to the required level that we need to be at.
Morgan was a one man midfield against Wimbledon as well and he never hid and the best passes were from him as well as some shockers, but despite the boy having talent, he has some weak parts of his game which could still stop him making it, he needs another midfielder taking responsibility. I would like to see Albie play in the same team as Charlie Kirk who at least will be a moving target to find.
Nigel said DJ didn't get a kick ? How can that happen when surely in training and tactics the idea is in transition you want DJ to be the main man to counter attack ? Anyone see Moura for Spurs yesterday with his runs; obviously DJ and Moura are light years away from each other but so are Oxford defenders from Man city defenders. Poor display from the whole team including management. Lower mid table performance because we are so behind in having players near their optimum. Yet again the loans will make or break our season unless we can get another couple of transfers over the line ASAP.
I never give abuse to individual players, managers on line or at games, I leave that to others, but constructed criticism and praise is the diet of a forum and long may that last.
Morgan showed a bit more than the other midfielders on Saturday (though his final ball continues to disappoint).
I suspect people are putting his name at the forefront though as there’s maybe a little more hope/expectation on him, considering he’s a youth product we’ve known for a few years and expected big things of.
That, and the fact he’s been given the number 10 shirt - which is a bit of a concern.
Far, far to much has been made of this. Its hardly the Man United 7 or something. The last 5 or so seasons its been warn buy someone that hardly played for 1 season, Billy Clarke, Josh Parker and Nicky Ajose!
Clarke and Ajose were both signed to be starters, Clarke was until his injury. Parker too, was a regular. I don't think too much has been made of it all to be honest. But of course if you have a decent squad it's not the end of the world because every season every club has someone playing more or less than anticipated at the start of the season anyway.
Listening to Oxford commentary, briefly at half-time, they mentioned our ineffective midfield and cited Clare as carrying on from his dreadful performances at Oxford, and expected nothing less from him. Surely if their commentators, i.e ex-players, like ours on Charlton Live, can pick up on and see what little someone brings, why can't our recruitment team. Or was it a case of we need players on the cheap and so get anyone in that's on-the-money.
Much has been said by Thomas about only buying quality, but that's questionable when we look at our squad. A clear out was needed in the summer but man for man, this squad cannot be held up as better in each vacated position, than a team that finished outside of the playoffs last term.
Thomas quote of us due to add more depth beyond the first 11 can only mean less quality than those already on the teamsheet, thus the squad we have now is the best we can expect this season. Whether they go on to perform better than in recent weeks, we can only hope, but quality tends to shine through over 46 games.
I am grateful for almost everything Thomas has said and done, but his quote of storming the league appear to be based on his belief that employing a great manager for any business will bring great results, regardless of their budget. There are some Hollywood-esque stories of such success, like Eddie Howe with Bournemouth, sadly in football those come around once in a generation (or less). Still I dare to dream.
Listening to Oxford commentary, briefly at half-time, they mentioned our ineffective midfield and cited Clare as carrying on from his dreadful performances at Oxford, and expected nothing less from him. Surely if their commentators, i.e ex-players, like ours on Charlton Live, can pick up on and see what little someone brings, why can't our recruitment team. Or was it a case of we need players on the cheap and so get anyone in that's on-the-money.
Much has been said by Thomas about only buying quality, but that's questionable when we look at our squad. A clear out was needed in the summer but man for man, this squad cannot be held up as better in each vacated position, than a team that finished outside of the playoffs last term.
Thomas quote of us due to add more depth beyond the first 11 can only mean less quality than those already on the teamsheet, thus the squad we have now is the best we can expect this season. Whether they go on to perform better than in recent weeks, we can only hope, but quality tends to shine through over 46 games.
I am grateful for almost everything Thomas has said and done, but his quote of storming the league appear to be based on his belief that employing a great manager for any business will bring great results, regardless of their budget. There are some Hollywood-esque stories of such success, like Eddie Howe with Bournemouth, sadly in football those come around once in a generation (or less). Still I dare to dream.
If we got Clare purely because he was cheap wouldn't we of had to pay a fee and at least match his wages at Oxford?
Wouldn't a free agent, Dempsey or Vennings been much cheaper?
Havn’t been impressed by Clare so far. Early days but looked out of his depth Saturday
Oxford just had him sussed, former player, they knew how to play him presumably better than we did on the day, too early to write him off after a couple of games.
Clare: A player wanting to move on gets slagged off on his quick appearance back at the club he left ! The reception Holmes and Grant got was embarrassing and crass at Cafc on their returns but it appears to be mandatory after professional players leave a club.
A quiet start for Clare but would like to think Gallen, Adkins, Jason and JJ have used their network of trusted scouts and coaches and they feel Clare can do a good Job for Cafc. He shouldn't be written off after 3 matches and two in the League.
Clare: A player wanting to move on gets slagged off on his quick appearance back at the club he left ! The reception Holmes and Grant got was embarrassing and crass at Cafc on their returns but it appears to be mandatory after professional players leave a club.
A quiet start for Clare but would like to think Gallen, Adkins, Jason and JJ have used their network of trusted scouts and coaches and they feel Clare can do a good Job for Cafc. He shouldn't be written off after 3 matches and two in the League.
Especially when he had a lively second half against Sheffield in first game.
Clare: A player wanting to move on gets slagged off on his quick appearance back at the club he left ! The reception Holmes and Grant got was embarrassing and crass at Cafc on their returns but it appears to be mandatory after professional players leave a club.
A quiet start for Clare but would like to think Gallen, Adkins, Jason and JJ have used their network of trusted scouts and coaches and they feel Clare can do a good Job for Cafc. He shouldn't be written off after 3 matches and two in the League.
Especially when he had a lively second half against Sheffield in first game.
Clare’s lively second half vs Sheffield Wednesday has all the makings to rival Oztumer’s lively first half vs Nottingham Forest
Clare: A player wanting to move on gets slagged off on his quick appearance back at the club he left ! The reception Holmes and Grant got was embarrassing and crass at Cafc on their returns but it appears to be mandatory after professional players leave a club.
A quiet start for Clare but would like to think Gallen, Adkins, Jason and JJ have used their network of trusted scouts and coaches and they feel Clare can do a good Job for Cafc. He shouldn't be written off after 3 matches and two in the League.
Especially when he had a lively second half against Sheffield in first game.
Clare’s lively second half vs Sheffield Wednesday has all the makings to rival Oztumer’s lively first half vs Nottingham Forest
Personally, I think Clare will be a better player for us than Oztumer was.
Clare: A player wanting to move on gets slagged off on his quick appearance back at the club he left ! The reception Holmes and Grant got was embarrassing and crass at Cafc on their returns but it appears to be mandatory after professional players leave a club.
A quiet start for Clare but would like to think Gallen, Adkins, Jason and JJ have used their network of trusted scouts and coaches and they feel Clare can do a good Job for Cafc. He shouldn't be written off after 3 matches and two in the League.
Especially when he had a lively second half against Sheffield in first game.
Clare’s lively second half vs Sheffield Wednesday has all the makings to rival Oztumer’s lively first half vs Nottingham Forest
Personally, I think Clare will be a better player for us than Oztumer was.
Clare: A player wanting to move on gets slagged off on his quick appearance back at the club he left ! The reception Holmes and Grant got was embarrassing and crass at Cafc on their returns but it appears to be mandatory after professional players leave a club.
A quiet start for Clare but would like to think Gallen, Adkins, Jason and JJ have used their network of trusted scouts and coaches and they feel Clare can do a good Job for Cafc. He shouldn't be written off after 3 matches and two in the League.
Especially when he had a lively second half against Sheffield in first game.
Clare’s lively second half vs Sheffield Wednesday has all the makings to rival Oztumer’s lively first half vs Nottingham Forest
Personally, I think Clare will be a better player for us than Oztumer was.
It's barely possible to be worse.
Good point. But some people here seem to have written him off already.
Clare: A player wanting to move on gets slagged off on his quick appearance back at the club he left ! The reception Holmes and Grant got was embarrassing and crass at Cafc on their returns but it appears to be mandatory after professional players leave a club.
A quiet start for Clare but would like to think Gallen, Adkins, Jason and JJ have used their network of trusted scouts and coaches and they feel Clare can do a good Job for Cafc. He shouldn't be written off after 3 matches and two in the League.
Especially when he had a lively second half against Sheffield in first game.
Clare’s lively second half vs Sheffield Wednesday has all the makings to rival Oztumer’s lively first half vs Nottingham Forest
Personally, I think Clare will be a better player for us than Oztumer was.
Absolutely.
For the record, I think it’s a good bit of business. His athleticism is major asset and he’s got all the attributes to be a fantastic squad player.
I personally haven’t seen anything to make me believe he’s capable of starting every week in a side fighting for promotion.
Who knows, if he scores the winner tomorrow he’ll be the best thing since sliced bread.
Clare: A player wanting to move on gets slagged off on his quick appearance back at the club he left ! The reception Holmes and Grant got was embarrassing and crass at Cafc on their returns but it appears to be mandatory after professional players leave a club.
A quiet start for Clare but would like to think Gallen, Adkins, Jason and JJ have used their network of trusted scouts and coaches and they feel Clare can do a good Job for Cafc. He shouldn't be written off after 3 matches and two in the League.
Especially when he had a lively second half against Sheffield in first game.
I was lucky, as I was at a local FA cup game and only saw the second half against Sheff Wed but thought Clare looked mobile and a step up on Pratley was last season.
He has struggled in the two games since but the team just aren't Gelling at present so difficult to jettison him just yet but having Competition with Gilbey and the X factor midfielder we are bringing in( are you making up a rumour Sam ?) then hopefully he improves as our squad/team improve.
Hoping that mid week we could play something like this...
MacGillivary
Matthews Innis Famewo Gunter
Dobson Clare
Washington DJ Kirk
Stockley
Innis, Famewo, Gunter, Kirk & possibly Stockley are the only players I'd keep if I harboured any aspirations of promotion from this division THIS year.
Hoping that mid week we could play something like this...
MacGillivary
Matthews Innis Famewo Gunter
Dobson Clare
Washington DJ Kirk
Stockley
Innis, Famewo, Gunter, Kirk & possibly Stockley are the only players I'd keep if I harboured any aspirations of promotion from this division THIS year.
More than a bit harsh on Washington who has been the best player across the 2 games so far
Hoping that mid week we could play something like this...
MacGillivary
Matthews Innis Famewo Gunter
Dobson Clare
Washington DJ Kick
Stockley
Innis, Famewo, Gunter, Kirk & possibly Stockley are the only players I'd keep if I harboured any aspirations of promotion from this division THIS year.
More than a bit harsh on Washington who has been the best player across the 2 games so far
That’s hardly a ringing endorsement, we have been crap so far.
If we don’t want to come straight back down, we need much better than Washington.
Washington is decent and you can’t fault his personality or application, but he’s not starting XI in an automatic promotion winning side decent, IMHO. If we’re serious about getting up automatically, or even finishing high up in the playoff places; I don’t think he should be starting the majority of games. We’ve had worse, for sure, and I do like him, but he wouldn’t have got in either of our two most recent promotion winning teams as anything other than a sub.
Washington is decent and you can’t fault his personality or application, but he’s not starting XI in an automatic promotion winning side decent, IMHO. If we’re serious about getting up automatically, or even finishing high up in the playoff places; I don’t think he should be starting the majority of games. We’ve had worse, for sure, and I do like him, but he wouldn’t have got in either of our two most recent promotion winning teams as anything other than a sub.
I agree, although he would have got in ahead of Parker but not Grant.
Comments
I suspect people are putting his name at the forefront though as there’s maybe a little more hope/expectation on him, considering he’s a youth product we’ve known for a few years and expected big things of.
Nigel said DJ didn't get a kick ?
How can that happen when surely in training and tactics the idea is in transition you want DJ to be the main man to counter attack ? Anyone see Moura for Spurs yesterday with his runs; obviously DJ and Moura are light years away from each other but so are Oxford defenders from Man city defenders.
Poor display from the whole team including management. Lower mid table performance because we are so behind in having players near their optimum. Yet again the loans will make or break our season unless we can get another couple of transfers over the line ASAP.
I never give abuse to individual players, managers on line or at games, I leave that to others, but constructed criticism and praise is the diet of a forum and long may that last.
Much has been said by Thomas about only buying quality, but that's questionable when we look at our squad. A clear out was needed in the summer but man for man, this squad cannot be held up as better in each vacated position, than a team that finished outside of the playoffs last term.
Thomas quote of us due to add more depth beyond the first 11 can only mean less quality than those already on the teamsheet, thus the squad we have now is the best we can expect this season. Whether they go on to perform better than in recent weeks, we can only hope, but quality tends to shine through over 46 games.
I am grateful for almost everything Thomas has said and done, but his quote of storming the league appear to be based on his belief that employing a great manager for any business will bring great results, regardless of their budget. There are some Hollywood-esque stories of such success, like Eddie Howe with Bournemouth, sadly in football those come around once in a generation (or less). Still I dare to dream.
Wouldn't a free agent, Dempsey or Vennings been much cheaper?
A player wanting to move on gets slagged off on his quick appearance back at the club he left ! The reception Holmes and Grant got was embarrassing and crass at Cafc on their returns but it appears to be mandatory after professional players leave a club.
A quiet start for Clare but would like to think Gallen, Adkins, Jason and JJ have used their network of trusted scouts and coaches and they feel Clare can do a good Job for Cafc. He shouldn't be written off after 3 matches and two in the League.
I was lucky, as I was at a local FA cup game and only saw the second half against Sheff Wed but thought Clare looked mobile and a step up on Pratley was last season.
He has struggled in the two games since but the team just aren't Gelling at present so difficult to jettison him just yet but having Competition with Gilbey and the X factor midfielder we are bringing in( are you making up a rumour Sam ?) then hopefully he improves as our squad/team improve.
If we don’t want to come straight back down, we need much better than Washington.
games. We’ve had worse, for sure, and I do like him, but he wouldn’t have got in either of our two most recent promotion winning teams as anything other than a sub.