I actually take a degree of hope from the fact that aside from JRS every one of our signings has come from relatively nothing until about a day or so before.
Given comments from both Gardner and Gallen I am less concerned* about whether we're looking for more signings than I was at a similar point last year.
Though lightning is unlikely to strike twice, Kermorgant signed when that season was already underway so it's possible that we can see a transformative signing even now.
*Which is NOT to say I'm not bothered at all as there are still questions of who, and whether they are good enough.
If only there was a thread to discuss Sandgaard’s ownership.
Then we could use this thread to discuss transfer rumours rather than going over the same ground again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again.
I have been saying this for many years and I think a lot of people just view the issue from their own perspective. But what I have been saying is that the most important Charlton fans are the fickle ones and the ones who are not Charlton fans yet. Those that would go religiously in League 2 or the national league are to be commended but they are not important at all because they will eat any crap they are given.
The question is always, can we find more of these easily pleased people and I think there is no evidence that it is possible. A club which has a natural home in the Championship can only lose money and over time fans in the lower leagues. If we become an established league one club that will become our natural place and sadly over the last decade, that seems to be where we are settling. That isn't Sandgaard's fault but it is important we remove the chains of League One sooner rather than later and that is where we have a problem if he is incapable of doing so.
The problem with initiatives to increase fans is not just the plan behind them but the importance that everything else aligns alongside them. Airman was part of the club when it had very ambitious targets which some may have felt were impossible, but what they had alongside a great plan was a club on the up under a terrific manager. And we got promoted to the Premier League.
It worries me when we are told it is possible to double or even triple revenue in League One. It is pie in the sky and just another ridiculous thing to add to the list. We have Airman, who some might have said was over optimistic about what could be done with Target 10,000 and Traget 20,000 telling us there is no plan and indeed I can't see one like so many other little things that add up to a big thing - preventing us getting promoted from a division that is sucking the blood out of us like a leech.
It worries me when I hear stories of chaos within the club, it worries me when I see a team start last season with no goals in it and the owner leading it out playing his song, it worries me when the owner tries to change the name of the women's team to Ladies when they don't want it, it worries me when we had a strikers crisis last season which cost us a lot of points and we go into this with fewer strikers, it worries me when the owner seems to think that the U-23s will solve our issues when you can't bank on it, it happens when and if it happens. It worries when I see stories about a staff member issue that the owner doesn't seem to want to address, it worries me when Jacko was sacked without being given a proper chance and whilst Garner seems to be potentially decent, he has to line up with the system he signed up to like Adkins did. I believe Jacko was sacked because he didn't. It worries me when Sandgaard talks crap and I appreciate I should learn to see around some of it but he has got to me. It also worries me when we seem to have money to waste on players but none to spend on glaring needs.
If I am supposed to be happy about all that because we are, and indeed we are, playing some more attractive football, then sorry I can't feel it at all.I look at the past and it makes me worry about the future. I look at an owner who I think is out of his depth but he thinks he is a genius. Some think it is a certainty we will get the striker we need but I am concerned that whilst it is blindingly obvious we need one, maybe two, we haven't got him yet and are very likely not to get him at all.
I would’ve much preferred Andrew Barclay as owner as he would’ve appointed Varney as CEO and we would’ve had experienced management going forward. It didn’t happen because he wanted the Valley and TG, he didn’t want to invest in someone else’s assets. Varney himself persuaded TS to buy Charlton and TS fought pretty hard against the crooks to secure our future. For that I will always be grateful. But it wasn’t a sound business decision and if he made that mistake he’s going to make other mistakes going forward. TS is probably realising that his exit strategy isn’t a great option, all he has in assets is a right to play in this league and some players under contract. He can’t fully invest in the academy (which could be a big revenue stream) as he doesn’t own the ground. I wouldn’t be mad at TS, he’s actually done us a favour and saved the club for now. I’d been angry at Roland, he is the reason the club is stalled and can’t realise it’s potential.
JFC and Gilbey both off the books would help a lot in being able to bring in a striker IMO
I think that would be a bit of a mistake letting them both go! Injuries or players out of form, then leaves us short in middle of the park.
Let one go, fine - certainly not both
With the way we got over run towards the end of the game in midfield on Saturday I’d have both of them in the 18 tomorrow. They might want to let one go towards end of the month but think we need them both this week
If only there was a thread to discuss Sandgaard’s ownership.
Then we could use this thread to discuss transfer rumours rather than going over the same ground again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again.
Thought that thread was redundant given it’s title and the fact the season has started . Anyway, Muttley needed some moral support.
If we sell Kirk, I hope we do get a replacement. Else we'll simply be moving Payne into a position that might not be his strength.
Maybe see a good forward in and Leaburn can be 3rd choice for the wide forward role (playing wide always easier than central when breaking into a team).
Signing a striker is always a punt in to the unknown.Remember Paul Gorman,getting rave reports for non league sides came to us and did not do very well,Andy Jones,great at Port Vale,came to us in div 1 and hardly scored.Clive Mendonca enough said.So we have to take a chance on someone,I liked Stockton,good movement,Good hold up play,i believe he is 28,how old was Clive when he came to us.
Of course I did call out, admittedly different issues, with Southall when a lot of you lot were still cheering him and blowing smoke up his arse. I love Charlton like the rest of you and have my opinions right or wrong.
Absolutely fair comment, as were your earlier ones. Unfortunately there are now so many posters on here who see any expression of doubt about TS as an act of treason that discussion just gets shut down.
There’s plenty of criticism, and I don’t think it gets shut or shouted down unless it’s overly personal.
My feelings about Sandgaard are similar to my feelings about Stockley. He’s quite a good owner in the same way that Stockley is quite a good striker. Means well, decent fella, and he’s probably heading in the right direction (like Stockley, boom boom), but whether or not he has the wherewithal to get us promoted is a different matter.
Fair enough if we’re being quite literal, but on the last page I was told ‘you yourself only ever say negative stuff and never comment on the positive stuff’ and ‘you yourself express constant criticism’. These are two completely false statements (and everyone’s posts are available to read if you’ve got a spare day!). I am sceptical about Sandgaard, but have been balanced in what I say about him, so painting me as entirely negative is just an attempt to misrepresent me and undermine the credibility of what I say. So no, you don’t get shouted down, but there are other ways of stifling criticism.
Important we take at least 4 points from the two home games this week, although obviously we want 6.
If we're contending with other league one clubs for a premier league loan close to the deadline, then a good start may help swing the balance. If we're stuck on 5 points from 5 games and look like the season will be a struggle, that might deter a club from loaning us a player over (lets say for example) a Pompey or Peterborough.
I have been saying this for many years and I think a lot of people just view the issue from their own perspective. But what I have been saying is that the most important Charlton fans are the fickle ones and the ones who are not Charlton fans yet. Those that would go religiously in League 2 or the national league are to be commended but they are not important at all because they will eat any crap they are given.
The question is always, can we find more of these easily pleased people and I think there is no evidence that it is possible. A club which has a natural home in the Championship can only lose money and over time fans in the lower leagues. If we become an established league one club that will become our natural place and sadly over the last decade, that seems to be where we are settling. That isn't Sandgaard's fault but it is important we remove the chains of League One sooner rather than later and that is where we have a problem if he is incapable of doing so.
The problem with initiatives to increase fans is not just the plan behind them but the importance that everything else aligns alongside them. Airman was part of the club when it had very ambitious targets which some may have felt were impossible, but what they had alongside a great plan was a club on the up under a terrific manager. And we got promoted to the Premier League.
It worries me when we are told it is possible to double or even triple revenue in League One. It is pie in the sky and just another ridiculous thing to add to the list. We have Airman, who some might have said was over optimistic about what could be done with Target 10,000 and Traget 20,000 telling us there is no plan and indeed I can't see one like so many other little things that add up to a big thing - preventing us getting promoted from a division that is sucking the blood out of us like a leech.
It worries me when I hear stories of chaos within the club, it worries me when I see a team start last season with no goals in it and the owner leading it out playing his song, it worries me when the owner tries to change the name of the women's team to Ladies when they don't want it, it worries me when we had a strikers crisis last season which cost us a lot of points and we go into this with fewer strikers, it worries me when the owner seems to think that the U-23s will solve our issues when you can't bank on it, it happens when and if it happens. It worries when I see stories about a staff member issue that the owner doesn't seem to want to address, it worries me when Jacko was sacked without being given a proper chance and whilst Garner seems to be potentially decent, he has to line up with the system he signed up to like Adkins did. I believe Jacko was sacked because he didn't. It worries me when Sandgaard talks crap and I appreciate I should learn to see around some of it but he has got to me. It also worries me when we seem to have money to waste on players but none to spend on glaring needs.
If I am supposed to be happy about all that because we are, and indeed we are, playing some more attractive football, then sorry I can't feel it at all.I look at the past and it makes me worry about the future. I look at an owner who I think is out of his depth but he thinks he is a genius. Some think it is a certainty we will get the striker we need but I am concerned that whilst it is blindingly obvious we need one, maybe two, we haven't got him yet and are very likely not to get him at all.
I suspect for long serviing suffering fans who have been going since the 60s/70s this view resonates for a lot of us.
It certainly does with me. I remember a slogan/picture after we got back to the Valley of a football with the Valley written on it being handed to a person in a red shirt saying "Now don't lose it ever again". Well guess what, we have less than 30 years later and royalty fucked up all the hard work Curbishley and Murray did.
So I still go, it will forever be in my blood, but I despair at the way we have been run in recent years, exacerbated by the success of our neighbours. We should never have allowed it to happen and imo, with the way football success is now largely governed by financial muscle, I don't see a way back to the Premier league for us.
So to the stat bearing happy clappers it is not negativity, it is saying it how it is, and how people see it. Despite getting dogs abuse, I wasn't wrong when I said we would get relegated in 2020.
Overtime you get to know, have that feeling about things. I will wait until 1 September re this season re this team. I am excited at the progress to date, but losing that game Saturday instinctively told me, that without strengthening, we are short of a promotion bid.
What actually has made me even less patient is before Saturday I thought we were way off. I now think we are not that far off so I am worried that gap won't be bridged because it is fundamental to our success. I always thought it all hinged on Garner and he is showing signs he might have something about him. Which is a great development. See what Bowyer did with Douchebag. Sandgaard needs to back him but will he?
Mendonca was 29, but had also scored 59 goals in 3 or 4 seasons at Grimsby, which is nearly as many as Stockton has scored in his career since 2011
Maybe. But players like Stockton, McKirdy, our old mate Ajose (the one season wonders) .......... suddenly caught fire for a reason: their team was set up to exploit the particular abilities and strengths of the player or the player found himself in the ideal gameplan for him. Once they scored a few goals, belief and confidence does the rest.
You can even add Lyle Taylor to that list. He never made much impact as a goalscorer until he went to Wimbledon and the team was set up for him to score goals. Same really at Charlton.
The other thing: players like Taylor and Stockton not only have vision, decent ability and 1st touch, they are experienced wily old sods who've learned to wind up and distract opponents. McKirdy at Swindon also apparently. We all saw what Taylor got up to playing at Charlton; and we saw Stockton's antics and gamesmanship when we played Morecambe last season.
On the other hand, if the team set up doesn't work for them, they flop ...... think Ajose at Charlton, Taylor at Forest. If you think back, you can probably remember many others that came with a good reputation but flopped.
Yesterday I wrote that Portsmouth had signed Colby Bishop who had now scored 4 goals plus Joe Pigott...and basically why didn't we......
The response was I was sent within 2 minutes. I was told I was weird.
What is weird about noting how many decent strikers have been available but not been looked . Stanley have sold 2 good strikers starting in January. We bought Aneke..
Just what are Gallen and Co looking at ?
Signing any striker is a gamble. If they have a decent record then could say more likely to have a decent season but it isnt guaranteed. Its 3 games in and Bishop has started well...plenty of time for that form to peter out. His best record in professional football is 10 a season in the league. Solid but it isnt "sign this man now" form.
Yesterday I wrote that Portsmouth had signed Colby Bishop who had now scored 4 goals plus Joe Pigott...and basically why didn't we......
The response was I was sent within 2 minutes. I was told I was weird.
What is weird about noting how many decent strikers have been available but not been looked . Stanley have sold 2 good strikers starting in January. We bought Aneke..
Yesterday I wrote that Portsmouth had signed Colby Bishop who had now scored 4 goals plus Joe Pigott...and basically why didn't we......
The response was I was sent within 2 minutes. I was told I was weird.
What is weird about noting how many decent strikers have been available but not been looked . Stanley have sold 2 good strikers starting in January. We bought Aneke..
Just what are Gallen and Co looking at ?
Players that fit our system players that the manager wants players that are within budget players that are available players that are interested in joining us players That can be sold for a profit players that are different to what we have
i don't think pigott would tick too many of the above. Bishop, not sure if he was on our radar, but going on his start to life at portsmouth, his goals could have been one of the missing parts to our jigsaw
Comments
Given comments from both Gardner and Gallen I am less concerned* about whether we're looking for more signings than I was at a similar point last year.
Though lightning is unlikely to strike twice, Kermorgant signed when that season was already underway so it's possible that we can see a transformative signing even now.
*Which is NOT to say I'm not bothered at all as there are still questions of who, and whether they are good enough.
Then we could use this thread to discuss transfer rumours rather than going over the same ground again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again.
There, thread back on track.
Maybe see a good forward in and Leaburn can be 3rd choice for the wide forward role (playing wide always easier than central when breaking into a team).
I am sceptical about Sandgaard, but have been balanced in what I say about him, so painting me as entirely negative is just an attempt to misrepresent me and undermine the credibility of what I say. So no, you don’t get shouted down, but there are other ways of stifling criticism.
If we're contending with other league one clubs for a premier league loan close to the deadline, then a good start may help swing the balance. If we're stuck on 5 points from 5 games and look like the season will be a struggle, that might deter a club from loaning us a player over (lets say for example) a Pompey or Peterborough.
It certainly does with me. I remember a slogan/picture after we got back to the Valley of a football with the Valley written on it being handed to a person in a red shirt saying "Now don't lose it ever again". Well guess what, we have less than 30 years later and royalty fucked up all the hard work Curbishley and Murray did.
So I still go, it will forever be in my blood, but I despair at the way we have been run in recent years, exacerbated by the success of our neighbours. We should never have allowed it to happen and imo, with the way football success is now largely governed by financial muscle, I don't see a way back to the Premier league for us.
So to the stat bearing happy clappers it is not negativity, it is saying it how it is, and how people see it. Despite getting dogs abuse, I wasn't wrong when I said we would get relegated in 2020.
Overtime you get to know, have that feeling about things. I will wait until 1 September re this season re this team. I am excited at the progress to date, but losing that game Saturday instinctively told me, that without strengthening, we are short of a promotion bid.
(it was, you’re right)
You can even add Lyle Taylor to that list. He never made much impact as a goalscorer until he went to Wimbledon and the team was set up for him to score goals. Same really at Charlton.
The other thing: players like Taylor and Stockton not only have vision, decent ability and 1st touch, they are experienced wily old sods who've learned to wind up and distract opponents. McKirdy at Swindon also apparently. We all saw what Taylor got up to playing at Charlton; and we saw Stockton's antics and gamesmanship when we played Morecambe last season.
On the other hand, if the team set up doesn't work for them, they flop ...... think Ajose at Charlton, Taylor at Forest.
If you think back, you can probably remember many others that came with a good reputation but flopped.
System fit is going to be the thing, Stockley the jury is out, so the next signing is important to fit.
He fits into ours in our build up - but at the cost of his lack of goals.
System fit is everything.
players that the manager wants
players that are within budget
players that are available
players that are interested in joining us
players That can be sold for a profit
players that are different to what we have
i don't think pigott would tick too many of the above. Bishop, not sure if he was on our radar, but going on his start to life at portsmouth, his goals could have been one of the missing parts to our jigsaw