We seem to be confusing having anyone at a position rather than having quality at a position. Let’s see what happens.
Which free agent left back would you have signed?
Would have been helpful if there had just been a window in which you could sign or loan players in.
Clearly we decided Souare is a better option than anyone we could get on loan, whether it’s down to ability and/or value for money.
Cheap basically. Fine but let's not beat around the bush. There's a high risk he's a bust and not worth having due to his injury 2 years ago.
How do you know he is cheap without knowing what salary he will be on? If you do know then please enlighten the rest of us. While you are at let us know what other options were being considered and how much we were offering them and perhaps we could all have a proper debate as to whether he was a cheap option or not. The fact you thought his injury was 2 years ago suggests you know very little at all and it was just another one of your negative comments to seek attention.
Given that, before his injury, he was playing at a much higher level and doing so very well indeed means that taking a chance on him is not the massive gamble that some believe IMHO.
With the reports of him making waves in training, I am starting to think that he could be a cult-hero for the club in waiting. I like the sound of what I hear and can imagine him being a really exciting player to watch, with plenty of speed, aggression and skill; what's not to like?
Just had a chat with my Palace neighbour, he said that he would love the pre accident Pape back in their team right now.
Obviously has a lot of talent. Fingers crossed that he can find it again for him and Charlton.
Move.
I moved 250 miles away from The Valley and 6 months later I see his bleedin kid cycling around the village in a stripey top! You can guess how pissed I was.
Needed a back up lefback got a backup leftback. Nothing to get carried away with, nothing to cry over.
Pre accident this guy was too good for a league one team. No doubt. Post accident who knows. He won’t have lost his football brain and I doubt he will have lost his technical ability. What’s in question is the ability for his body to recover enough to be an athlete again. If his body doesn’t fold then he’ll be first choice without doubt.
We seem to be confusing having anyone at a position rather than having quality at a position. Let’s see what happens.
Which free agent left back would you have signed?
Would have been helpful if there had just been a window in which you could sign or loan players in.
Clearly we decided Souare is a better option than anyone we could get on loan, whether it’s down to ability and/or value for money.
Cheap basically. Fine but let's not beat around the bush. There's a high risk he's a bust and not worth having due to his injury 2 years ago.
His injury was in 2016. He was playing regularly for Troyes until Covid closed down the French League
You moaned about Ged Roddy stopping a LB coming in order to fast track his son but now you're moaning we went for a cheap option. We're a league one club, all our signings are cheap options.
He might be a huge flop but so might be Lee, Arter, Lavelle, Leko, Dobson, Clare, Henderson or Kirk. That's football, every signing is a risk.
Totally agree……..we have to accept that some of the new signings we will be disappointed with and some will surpass our expectations. As you say…..”That’s football, every signing is a risk.” Particularly when you are in the accursed 3rd tier.
Needed a back up lefback got a backup leftback. Nothing to get carried away with, nothing to cry over.
Pre accident this guy was too good for a league one team. No doubt. Post accident who knows. He won’t have lost his football brain and I doubt he will have lost his technical ability. What’s in question is the ability for his body to recover enough to be an athlete again. If his body doesn’t fold then he’ll be first choice without doubt.
Joe Ledley was a top class international midfielder earlier in his career, indeed he would have played alongside Souare, but he was a shadow of that when he joined us...
All played last year, all are younger, all signed for L1 clubs, all were available for free and all have higher market values. I think we just signed the only L1 left back who did not play last year for a club. And also the oldest. I believe all of the above would have been better free transfers if we did not wait til the end of the window (and after) to starting filling our roster.
All played last year, all are younger, all signed for L1 clubs, all were available for free and all have higher market values. I think we just signed the only L1 left back who did not play last year for a club. And also the oldest. I believe all of the above would have been better free transfers if we did not wait til the end of the window (and after) to starting filling our roster.
I assume they all signed to be first choice at their new clubs?
We prioritised other positions which suggests we only wanted competition/cover for Purrington, not someone to be guaranteed first choice (like Stockley and Kirk are in their positions). I think that’s the main difference here.
It’s a gamble given his lack of game time in recent years and like you I’d have preferred a younger longer term signing, but he shouldn’t be written off due to his age (31 isn’t that old in football) or his market value (a made up number on a website where age is probably a big factor).
He’s been on trial so we’ve had time to assess his current level and fitness. If the main thing he’s lost since his accident is a bit of pace then he can still be a success for us. You don’t play regularly in the Prem and Ligue 1 without having the technical ability and intelligence to compete.
All played last year, all are younger, all signed for L1 clubs, all were available for free and all have higher market values. I think we just signed the only L1 left back who did not play last year for a club. And also the oldest. I believe all of the above would have been better free transfers if we did not wait til the end of the window (and after) to starting filling our roster.
All played last year, all are younger, all signed for L1 clubs, all were available for free and all have higher market values. I think we just signed the only L1 left back who did not play last year for a club. And also the oldest. I believe all of the above would have been better free transfers if we did not wait til the end of the window (and after) to starting filling our roster.
“Are you Collin in disguise”
I would guess Colin thinks Souare is a quality signing.
All played last year, all are younger, all signed for L1 clubs, all were available for free and all have higher market values. I think we just signed the only L1 left back who did not play last year for a club. And also the oldest. I believe all of the above would have been better free transfers if we did not wait til the end of the window (and after) to starting filling our roster.
Maybe it's felt we don't need any of those when we have Ben Purrington, 25, Charlton.
Makes sense to bring in an experienced player as competition. Of those listed by you, I think Ogilvie is the only upgrade on Purrington.
All played last year, all are younger, all signed for L1 clubs, all were available for free and all have higher market values. I think we just signed the only L1 left back who did not play last year for a club. And also the oldest. I believe all of the above would have been better free transfers if we did not wait til the end of the window (and after) to starting filling our roster.
Just goes to show that you cant please all the people all the time lol If the recruitment team think he is worth signing that's good enough for me. Good luck and a big welcome hopefully you do great for us
We would be naïve to believe that Souare is anywhere near the player that played for Palace pre injury . If he was then he wouldn't be thinking of signing for us in League One .
Unfashionably on here I am happy with Gunter and Matthews as options at Right Back , I now believe we have an equal option on the left . Once the Saturday / Tuesday cycle begins we will need the extra cover .
We seem to be confusing having anyone at a position rather than having quality at a position. Let’s see what happens.
Which free agent left back would you have signed?
Would have been helpful if there had just been a window in which you could sign or loan players in.
Clearly we decided Souare is a better option than anyone we could get on loan, whether it’s down to ability and/or value for money.
Cheap basically. Fine but let's not beat around the bush. There's a high risk he's a bust and not worth having due to his injury 2 years ago.
Would you pay first team wages for a left back who will be cover, unless he really impresses? If we wanted a first choice it would been a higher priority.
I think NA rates Purrington more than most and get the impression he wants full backs who are solid defensively, rather than naturally very attacking but inconsistent like Maatsen. One reason is perhaps having more freedom to use attacking wingers on each side.
I wouldn't really say there's any proof of that due to how late he came in and the focus on the next season. Purrington was going to be his player and Maatsen wasn't.
Anyway, lets hope it pays off, Purrington comes back soon and doesn't get injured again.
It’s only a guess based on the limited time he’s managed the club, I agree there isn’t any proof.
However I feel if he really needed a different style full back it would be have been a high priority as it would be key to his style of play. There’s probably a lot quick young Prem full backs available for loan out there, it’s the style most of them are at that level.
And many are very good getting forward, but not so dependable defensively.
Be interesting to see if Pape makes the bench in the next few games. I don’t how he can’t be too far from fitness. He had a pre season with Palace U23’s and trained with us for a couple of weeks. Must have passed our medical. I doubt we would be offering any contract to a player that hadn’t proved a high level of fitness, Didn’t we blow out a couple of Medical’s already this season ? if not quite match sharp. Looking forward to this guy showing what he’s got.
All played last year, all are younger, all signed for L1 clubs, all were available for free and all have higher market values. I think we just signed the only L1 left back who did not play last year for a club. And also the oldest. I believe all of the above would have been better free transfers if we did not wait til the end of the window (and after) to starting filling our roster.
Maybe it's felt we don't need any of those when we have Ben Purrington, 25, Charlton.
Makes sense to bring in an experienced player as competition. Of those listed by you, I think Ogilvie is the only upgrade on Purrington.
Does not need to be an upgrade on Purrington, just an upgrade on Souare.
All played last year, all are younger, all signed for L1 clubs, all were available for free and all have higher market values. I think we just signed the only L1 left back who did not play last year for a club. And also the oldest. I believe all of the above would have been better free transfers if we did not wait til the end of the window (and after) to starting filling our roster.
Maybe it's felt we don't need any of those when we have Ben Purrington, 25, Charlton.
Makes sense to bring in an experienced player as competition. Of those listed by you, I think Ogilvie is the only upgrade on Purrington.
Does not need to be an upgrade on Purrington, just an upgrade on Souare.
Eh? You're judging the player before he's kicked a ball at this level.
I'm not sure why you feel you have to dig the club out on this one. I am almost certain the player will prove the doubters wrong.
The club have taken an educated gamble on a player that under normal circumstances would be top end Championship or even still playing Premier league. Will it come off ? Who knows but the manager, coaching staff and medical team have had a good look and decided he’s worth the gamble. Can’t see any possible reason for any criticism here.
All played last year, all are younger, all signed for L1 clubs, all were available for free and all have higher market values. I think we just signed the only L1 left back who did not play last year for a club. And also the oldest. I believe all of the above would have been better free transfers if we did not wait til the end of the window (and after) to starting filling our roster.
Maybe it's felt we don't need any of those when we have Ben Purrington, 25, Charlton.
Makes sense to bring in an experienced player as competition. Of those listed by you, I think Ogilvie is the only upgrade on Purrington.
Does not need to be an upgrade on Purrington, just an upgrade on Souare.
Yes they do need to be an upgrade on Purrington if they are going to be first choice. I can't see any of those signing knowing they will be back-up/second choice.
Souare on the other hand knows he needs to prove himself and earn a place on merit.
All played last year, all are younger, all signed for L1 clubs, all were available for free and all have higher market values. I think we just signed the only L1 left back who did not play last year for a club. And also the oldest. I believe all of the above would have been better free transfers if we did not wait til the end of the window (and after) to starting filling our roster.
Maybe it's felt we don't need any of those when we have Ben Purrington, 25, Charlton.
Makes sense to bring in an experienced player as competition. Of those listed by you, I think Ogilvie is the only upgrade on Purrington.
Does not need to be an upgrade on Purrington, just an upgrade on Souare.
When people make comments like this I have to bow to their superior knowledge. If I made up a list I would have to base it on seeing a player once or twice a season against Charlton as I really haven't got the time or the inclination to travel the country looking at LBs from other.clubs, on several occasions, in order to base an opinion on whether they are better than a player I certainly haven't seen in a live game at all.
You see this what happens when people become emboldened by nobody challenging their earlier nonsense. However it does become extremely tiresome.
NapaAddick said:
We seem to be confusing having anyone at a position rather than having quality at a position. Let’s see what happens.
Which free agent left back would you have signed?
Declan John, age 25, from Swansea
Tom O'Connor, 22, Southampton
Reece James, 26, Blackpool
Max Clark, 25, Hull
Connor Ogilvie, 22, Portsmouth
Brendan Galloway, 25, Luton
All played last year, all are younger, all signed for L1 clubs, all were available for free and all have higher market values. I think we just signed the only L1 left back who did not play last year for a club. And also the oldest. I believe all of the above would have been better free transfers if we did not wait til the end of the window (and after) to starting filling our roster.
Well it is all about opinions but I have to say this is a very broad mix of abilities and experiences from which to assert their collective ability to contribute would be any greater than Souare let alone offer greater market value.
It is also a very one dimensional approach. I regret it contains a few inaccuracies and lacks any understanding of nuances which in effect have been completely overlooked.
1. Declan John first signed for Bolton in last seasons January window with a view to a permanent signing. He joined permanently in June and registered for them on the 1st day of the Transfer window.
2. Tom O’Connor I viewed with some interest but he is a hybrid midfield & left back. Spending more time in midfield which is where has made all four of his appearances for Burton.
3. Reece James moved to Blackpool who are a Championship club and again in all 4 appearances this season has played in Midfield
4. Max Clark at best mirrors Souare with no appearances last season having returned from a modest international career in the Eredevise after 2 Seasons in League 2.
In all honesty I suggest 90% of us had never heard him. This is what comes from « spreadsheet management » On a 1yr deal with a 1 yr option he appears to have stayed close to his domestic roots.
The only reason I knew the name was because of our supposed interest in George Long and Reece Burke at Hull who were both known to Nigel Adkins.
5. Brendan Galloway has been injured for the past 2 seasons playing 1 game and signed for Plymouth on a 6 month deal.
I could have added a different 6 names but it would add nothing to the debate.
Connor Ogilvie is an anomaly. Viewed by many as THE free transfer left back target for half of League 1 and allegedly a few Championship clubs I suspect he would have been the choice of many on this board, particularly when we had reportedly shown interest in Graham, Tucker, Dempsey, Bonham, Oliver all of whom were his team mates last season.
The reported challenge for us and half of League 1 and a few Championship clubs appears to have been HIS allegedly very strong preference to play at CB. To this point he has started on the bench, played one game in midfield and 2LB
Interestingly he did not commit to Portsmouth, who had earlier bought the young left back from Bromley and already had the competent Brown, until early August.
It might have finally come down to just how much clubs were prepared to invest in a left back but interestingly none of Ipswich, Wigan or Sunderland ultimately saw him as a priority.
How it works out with Portsmouth we will all have to see. Portsmouth may simply have « pulled a flanker « because I am not sure he is the Central Defender he thinks he is and for consistent game time will have to settle for left back at which he is good.
Finally there is the very simple matter of options as opposed to opinions.
We acquired Arter and Leko on loan. Had Arter fallen through or Leko been signed on a permanent basis then there would have been capacity to bring in a PL emerging Left Back on Loan. I listed a further 3 names elsewhere. I have seen none of the play.
Napa have you seen a single one of the players you name at all let alone 2,3,4 times?
Ultimately it was a matter of priority. Did the club rate securing Arter and Leko on the loan terms we could agree over securing a young left back?
Comments
With the reports of him making waves in training, I am starting to think that he could be a cult-hero for the club in waiting. I like the sound of what I hear and can imagine him being a really exciting player to watch, with plenty of speed, aggression and skill; what's not to like?
Can't wait until we unleash the Pape Monster!
Obviously has a lot of talent. Fingers crossed that he can find it again for him and Charlton.
https://youtu.be/fCTpVKAILl0
https://youtu.be/vZGgaxYSuqs
As you say…..”That’s football, every signing is a risk.”
Particularly when you are in the accursed 3rd tier.
Declan John, age 25, from Swansea
Tom O'Connor, 22, Southampton
Reece James, 26, Blackpool
Brendan Galloway, 25, Luton
We prioritised other positions which suggests we only wanted competition/cover for Purrington, not someone to be guaranteed first choice (like Stockley and Kirk are in their positions). I think that’s the main difference here.
It’s a gamble given his lack of game time in recent years and like you I’d have preferred a younger longer term signing, but he shouldn’t be written off due to his age (31 isn’t that old in football) or his market value (a made up number on a website where age is probably a big factor).
He’s been on trial so we’ve had time to assess his current level and fitness. If the main thing he’s lost since his accident is a bit of pace then he can still be a success for us. You don’t play regularly in the Prem and Ligue 1 without having the technical ability and intelligence to compete.
Makes sense to bring in an experienced player as competition. Of those listed by you, I think Ogilvie is the only upgrade on Purrington.
If the recruitment team think he is worth signing that's good enough for me. Good luck and a big welcome hopefully you do great for us
Unfashionably on here I am happy with Gunter and Matthews as options at Right Back , I now believe we have an equal option on the left . Once the Saturday / Tuesday cycle begins we will need the extra cover .
Purrington is dependable defensively.
Can't remember a similar number in recent years, if at all.
https://www.cafc.co.uk/valley-pass/video-player?widgets[stream-amg][content_id]=0_4bdlhvfg
I'm not sure why you feel you have to dig the club out on this one. I am almost certain the player will prove the doubters wrong.
Souare on the other hand knows he needs to prove himself and earn a place on merit.
It might have finally come down to just how much clubs were prepared to invest in a left back but interestingly none of Ipswich, Wigan or Sunderland ultimately saw him as a priority.
We acquired Arter and Leko on loan. Had Arter fallen through or Leko been signed on a permanent basis then there would have been capacity to bring in a PL emerging Left Back on Loan. I listed a further 3 names elsewhere. I have seen none of the play.
Napa have you seen a single one of the players you name at all let alone 2,3,4 times?
Ultimately it was a matter of priority. Did the club rate securing Arter and Leko on the loan terms we could agree over securing a young left back?