If we only sign 7 players (including loanees) then I'll be throwing in the towel.
That would be deeply troubling given that in an ideal world we'd sign 6 defenders without even looking further up the pitch. I don't think we're likely to end up with 2 quality players in every position though. In the 2011/12 season we signed loads of players in a time when it was easier to do that on a smaller budget and we still didn't really cover ourselves that well. Hughes was signed as a backup RB but never played there and ended up being the cover for Stephens at CM because Pritchard was signed as a punt, Alonso was a practical joke and there wasn't any depth there. Francis was technically there as backup but he played 2 league cup games, was terrible in both and I reckon Powell would have put Keith Peacock in there before he played Francis in a league game. Solly played 44 league games that season and the only games he didn't play we used Morrison and Wiggins at RB where they were both very bad. We only had one proper left-sided midfielder in Jackson, who had just recovered from an achilles injury recently. We started the season with two first choice strikers and Paul Benson who Powell clearly didn't fancy. We added Yann at the end of September and then Haynes and Clarke in January but we spent the first half of the season short up front in terms of depth. Part of the situation was that the loan market was different then; when Jackson got injured we brought in Ephraim and then Lee Cook, Darel Russell came in to cover Stephens and N'Guessan was brought in to add a bit of life to the attack. The ability to make those signings in November and March meant you didn't have to worry so much about building the squad out fully but we were so lucky with injuries that season. 44 league games out of Solly! 45 out of Morrison and Wiggins with them only missing a dead rubber where we rotated the full 11 at the end of the season, no injuries to Taylor or Cort. Hamer, Hollands and BWP all playing over 40 league games, with Jackson only missing 9 games across the whole season despite some knocks and only missing games in small groups instead of large chunks. I think Yann missed one game through being unavailable.
That's the key for us this season to be honest, stop having these ridiculous injury lay-offs for our players. We had a fantastic back four in 11/12 and there was honestly one game where we were unable to field it by choice (we drew, it was awful. Green on the left, Pritch on the right, Wiggins at right back. Horrible use of my Tuesday). That was the basis of our success. In front of that we had one long-ish injury absence and nothing else. We were really lucky that season but it does go to show that you can get away with a lot in terms of squad building if you can keep your players fit.
Francis went on to play in the Championship and the Premiership while we wallowed in L1. On that basis Powell isnt the judge you think he is and neither are you.
I normally don't respond to your trollery but Francis was very bad for Charlton. He was then very good for Bournemouth. Some players just don't work out at certain clubs, Powell set a L1 points record that season (which resulted in promotion to the Championship one year ahead of Bournemouth and Francis) and then finished 3 points outside the Play-Offs the next season despite there being no further investment. I think he might have been alright at judging what that team did and didn't need. My judgment is entirely open for questioning though, crack on.
Vases on 2 league Cup performances with the crowd on his back yes but nobody judges a player like that. Francis ended up a consistent Premier perfomer. Your judgement is indeed inaccurate and flaky.
Your vases aside, Francis was done as a Charlton player at that point. He'd had a horrible time before and as you've pointed out had the crowd on his back. He just needed a change, the move was best for both parties and I'm genuinely happy he did well at Bournemouth. You'll notice (or not, apparently) I haven't really made any judgment on him as a player except for on his two performances in those matches, which were poor. I just pointed out that Powell didn't want to use him, which was true. We seemed to do alright without Simon Francis in that side though so I think I'll continue to view Powell as a decent judge of player.
A section of the crowd were on his back most of the time. You are the expert. You tell me. How come he was so successful at Bournemouth then ? Captain of a Premiership side.
You really are a weird little troll aren't you. Just bizarre.
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Dubai was going clear, and JR was so way back at 4.15 but now he on a charge with Cafc43 on the far rails.
I'm still not convinced until Ronnie Moore makes a late dash for ITK glory.
Looking forward to some juicy pin point crosses for stockley.
*chance this is an exaggeration.
Be interesting to see where the other Scott ends up.