No money was spent from the Pope transfer. How long did Garner say we’re not getting a striker? All of a sudden we need one and we was pissing about with Bonne with no plan B. If we get injuries up top or defensively we’re going to fall very short.
We won’t be challenging for promotion in comparison to the likes of Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth, Derby etc who have actually spent some money.
This club can’t afford to stay a League one club forever!!!
I've lost complete faith in the ITK'ers, don't blame you guys but it's clear your sources know fuck all (including Martin Sandgaard)
People can be in the know about whats potentially happening in the background
But until it happens a lot can change - No wonder less and less people on here are sharing information they're aware of, if they're gonna get stick when it doesnt happen
Hmmm.
Might be worth checking what Martin actually told several Lifers at last night's game.
Sounded to me as though he was 100% certain of his facts on the transfer front.
Now IF he was a bona fide employee at our club, he might have found that his salary had suddenly become "too rich" in the current economic climate ( at CAFC )
Until the Contract is signed any number of things can happen
Martin is a twat for thinking he was 100% certain, but until its on the O/S anyone is an idiot for believing that.
It should always be appreciated if a Lifer passes on the information they've heard, but again it should never be taken as gospel and those who pass the information on should never be moaned at until its on the OS
I was clearly referring to the naivety of the owner's son , NOT the reports of his words last night.
According to you, there appears to be a number of idiots on the site that you monitor....
None of us was born yesterday , you know....
You sure about that... Good number of people are trying to act like it, you know...
You really have got it in for me tonight, FA.
I'd charge you with reading back over every post in this lengthy & ultimately disappointing thread and tell me whether there are more Lifers questioning the merits & backing of our owner at this crucial time of the new season, than there are those confident that he has it all in hand.
I'm not saying that some comments about the lack of incoming are a touch OTT but I'm sure you might agree that the football supporter is an emotional being and the wellbeing of his/her/it's football club is very high on their list of priorities. This is why we spend our hard earned on tickets, travel, even hospitality in some cases and all we ask is honesty & a degree of success year on year in return. Emotions are bound to run high tonight based on the hopes we had just 24 hours ago following conversations with the owner's son... who is an adult with a "decent" CV , we are led to believe, and not a young man in his first job.
It would be an almost impossible task to forget those positive, exciting words uttered by out "Great Dane" when he first arrived in SE7 & although time getting to know him has somewhat dampened our hopes ( and dreams) , there will always be huge disappointment when things appear to be on a knife edge - even on a downward trajectory. With just ONE senior striker in the matchday squad , a highly promising Young Gun who those ITK state must not be overplayed plus an injury prone player whose ability to play a full game even when fit is doubtful, I suggest respectfully that you surely cannot be happy with that state of affairs. Ben Garner will need to be a magician of the highest order if he is to have any chance of conjuring enough goals from this line up to get us in the top 6 come May. I wish him well, of course & hope that somehow he will succeed.
Disappointed, concerned, angry plus the feeling of being misled - those are inevitably some of the emotions felt as the window slams shut with some expressing these feelings better than others. The old chestnut regarding "doing the transfer business " early has come back to haunt us again even though it appeared that lessons had been learned.
If it wasn't clear that TS is anxious to cut costs in any way possible, then the redundancy of Olly Groome should have made even the most sceptical of fans think again. The price of matchday tickets when announced, in itself, should have been a warning of his modus operandi but his lack of experience in the Beautiful Game plus his determination to do it his way should have been a distinct warning ...but some are determined not to question anything, it seems.
So, yes, I can fully understand why some of our Lifers might come across as less than level headed tonight.
It's called being an Addick - and wanting the best for our football club.
Now read back my original comment in this particular thread of quotes.
The very first line... "I've lost complete faith in the ITK'ers" is what I was replying to
My post in reply, which you needlessly decided to jump onboard was defending my fellow Addicks, as I dont like to see the likes of those who have provided information on this thread pulled up, when they're simply passing on what they've heard, if I translated DDOUBLEE's comments incorrectly then I apologise to him.
And yes I find OTT posts from grown adults idiotic, I understand emotion during an actual match, but not something like a Transfer - If that word offends people, then there really are some delicate characters in the world, especially given the insults that get thrown around by fans when a game doesnt go in their favour.
Let's be honest. We didn't appoint a manager until 8th June even though I firmly believe Sandgaard knew he wanted to change managers months before that. We were totally lethargic. There was no coherent plan. It won't ruin a season but it will immediately put us at a critical and fundamentally unnecessary disadvantage which we then need to work out how to overcome - especially when you factor in the high degree of squad churn and the total change in footballing style between JJ and Garner.
I'd like to get the odds on us struggling up front in the first half of the season and then forced by a combination of Aneke's injuries, deadline day disappointment and fan pressure; we decide to lash £400k at the nearest forward that moves and is available in lower L1/L2 - might work out/might not but it will be overpaying and a rush job compared to what long term, sustainable and strategic recruitment elongated throughout an entire summer would achieve.
We've spent decent fees in all Sandgaard's January windows so far (Schwartz, Aneke, Fraser) - I make it a reasonable likelihood.
Breaking even in this league for a club our size is less plausible than the plotlines of most Disney films. I don't want reckless spending but if the incumbents do not understand that they won't get into a viable break even territory (Championship) without sensible speculation to get there, or don't want to - please can they just come out and admit it.
Whilst busy navel gazing at matter's Charlton yesterday, I paid little attention to what was happening at other Club's. If there are a number of players under contract for the remainder of this season who are unwanted by their Club and don't want to be there, eg Bonne, is it not possible some could become free agents if a mutual agreement can be reached to cancel their contracts. Don't know how many might be in this boat, but if we move too quickly 🤣 we might miss out on those who become available.
They have to be released, so, unattached during the window in order to sign outside of it as a free.
Speculating about Stockton and May for the last few days and ending up with Bonne is like wanting a Sega Mega Drive for Christmas and ending up with a satsuma from the living room fruit bowl.
We are probably 1-2 seasons off of having a number of academy players ready to compete consistently at this level and higher. That's a really exciting prospect, especially with Garner bringing them into his system.
The worry for me now, given the model we seem to be falling into, is whether we'll be at to keep hold of them for any time (Garner included) and whether we'll get real value based on their potential if we do sell.
If we're looking to make short term savings, I think there's a risk of losing young talents before they realise their potential for the club, both in a football sense and financially.
It's unfair on Garner. He's shown that he deserves to be backed since day 1 pre season.
Anybody who is now referencing the free agent list is just either deluded or fibbing to themselves. Getting a player in without any pre season was not part of any frikkin plan.
Promise 2 signings in areas we are short. It's the same old story with the reality leading to overworked players and injuries.
Airman has some good material for the typewriter this week and quite rightly!
Have to say I’m not really on board with the Garner will have to ‘perform a miracle’ discourse to get us out of this league.
Think it does a disservice to the talent we have in our squad, in our youth, and his ability as a manager. From what I’ve seen this season I think we are still going to be very competitive this year, and it will be that talent, hard work and good coaching that get us promoted - if it does happen.
The miracle will be keeping Aneke fit, and not having any other big injuries/suspensions in the squad. We are Inniss being injured, and a CB then getting suspended away from potentially having to overuse a youth player in a tough run of fixtures.
We have a decent first XI but the lack of depth in the squad for a 50+ game season will kill us. Injuries are already mounting and we didn’t strengthen either of the priority areas yesterday. The owner has now said that the plan is to go and see if we can sign players that have been on the sofa for three months and haven’t been able to get a deal anywhere else.
If Garner gets us up this season - given that there are five or six very decent teams and another five or six fairly decent teams also with that aim - and he will indeed have worked a miracle.
I doubt Airman enjoys any of this. He is a supporter like the rest of us. He just calls things for what they are and that makes him unpopular with some.
Buy an expensive car but don't bother with a spare tyre or breakdown cover as they cost a lot and you might not need them.
Yet again Sandgaard over promises and under delivers.
And I don't just mean Thomas.
Martin was telling all and sundry, it seems, on Wednesday night about McG turning down a move to Wrexham and that Clare was available for £2m plus we were after this and that. Did he learn nothing from the Washington fiasco?
Meanwhile, Thomas was giving unnecessary updates on the OS before the window had closed.
Yes, deals fall through, yes, every team's fans (bar Forest) always want one more signing than they get but while this is a decent squad and can, bar the injuries already plaguing it, compete it has obvious weaknesses, acknowledged by TS in his latest vanity statement, that haven't been addressed.
The whole break even mantra is nonsense as it's based as much on increasing income as reducing costs but the club just lost its third biggest sponsor (Sandgaard’s words) in Robots DAO, an ill thought out and damaging deal that smacked of desperation and lack of diligence anyway.
Fill the Valley. Admirable but unrealistic especially given the ticket prices so that just leaves cuts in spending.
And the only place where significant savings can be made, because it is by far the biggest area of spending, is player costs.
And if you cut player spending then you end up with a half decent squad but without experienced cover up front or on one side of defence relying on very promising but as yet untested kids to fill the gaps.
Which is where we are, sadly but unnecessarily, now.
Supporting Charlton has rarely been easy and this is not the worst team or the worst situation even in this century but it is still bloody depressing when you realise how close we could be with just a little less conversation and a little more, positive, action, please.
Agree totally. A frustrating end to the window but it is what it is.
The good thing with needing pace up front is we shouldn’t end up with another Leon Best/Ricardo Vaz Te type who we thought didn’t need to be quick to do a job as a target man. We’ve cleared out the older players who’s legs and/or hunger has gone, need to avoid bringing one or two in and wasting budget that could be better spent in January.
Interesting Gallen says he’s already spoken to some free agents.
Recent events have lowered supporter expectations and confidence in Thomas Sandgaard and the lamentable end to this window is likely to prove a tipping point for many.
It’s a tremendous shame, with so many talented young players coming through, but I believe his plan to halve the losses and break even over the next 12 and 24 months is based upon selling them off as and when offers are received. He certainly won’t be “filling the Valley” with premium ticket pricing, whilst the deal with Generous Robots DAO has sullied the reputation of the club. It’s all very sad.
I would rather see us wait until January and get someone we actually want in than take a punt on a free agent out of desperation to just get anybody in/to save face.
All that talk about data, about lists of players and targets they've been working on for months, about being well-prepared for transfer windows now and it gets to deadline day and all they've got is former player Macauley Bonne. It really is farcical.
think he massively underestimated the costs and expectations of the club
I cant see the current squad getting a top 6 finish - so another league 1 mid table finish i think is on the cards, crowd numbers will dwindle as apart from st holders people wont pay £30 for boring football with nothing to gain
I would rather see us wait until January and get someone we actually want in than take a punt on a free agent out of desperation to just get anybody in/to save face.
Nothing to stop us signing a free agent on a contract until January though.
Whilst busy navel gazing at matter's Charlton yesterday, I paid little attention to what was happening at other Club's. If there are a number of players under contract for the remainder of this season who are unwanted by their Club and don't want to be there, eg Bonne, is it not possible some could become free agents if a mutual agreement can be reached to cancel their contracts. Don't know how many might be in this boat, but if we move too quickly 🤣 we might miss out on those who become available.
They have to be released, so, unattached during the window in order to sign outside of it as a free.
So the small pond we're fishing in now won't get restocked 🎣
Frustrating end as I was confident, we would get a CB and
forward and no hiding it does leave us short. I hope we don’t panic and just
sign frees unless a short-term deal to January, so we does not prevent us looking
in January.
I hope we get lucky with injuries and Garner and the players
can keep us in the mix until January when hopefully we have things in place to get
in straight away.
Overall a positive window and the start of what looks like a
plan/strategy just let down at the end.
I doubt Airman enjoys any of this. He is a supporter like the rest of us. He just calls things for what they are and that makes him unpopular with some.
I think he would attack any owner regardless to aid his agenda.
All that talk about data, about lists of players and targets they've been working on for months, about being well-prepared for transfer windows now and it gets to deadline day and all they've got is former player Macauley Bonne. It really is farcical.
This is really the story - we talk about data and sign two very promising loanees from the PL, three players from the manager’s former club and two others who will have been well known on the scouting circuit, neither of whom have yet pulled up any trees or are likely to do so at this stage of their career. What does Martin do again?
I’m not defending Gallen, but at least he has a football background. He can’t perform miracles if the owner can’t or won’t pay.
Wollacott and the two loanees look good. The others we’ll have to see about over the course of the season.
Comments
No money was spent from the Pope transfer. How long did Garner say we’re not getting a striker? All of a sudden we need one and we was pissing about with Bonne with no plan B. If we get injuries up top or defensively we’re going to fall very short.
We won’t be challenging for promotion in comparison to the likes of Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth, Derby etc who have actually spent some money.
This club can’t afford to stay a League one club forever!!!
The very first line... "I've lost complete faith in the ITK'ers" is what I was replying to
My post in reply, which you needlessly decided to jump onboard was defending my fellow Addicks, as I dont like to see the likes of those who have provided information on this thread pulled up, when they're simply passing on what they've heard, if I translated DDOUBLEE's comments incorrectly then I apologise to him.
And yes I find OTT posts from grown adults idiotic, I understand emotion during an actual match, but not something like a Transfer - If that word offends people, then there really are some delicate characters in the world, especially given the insults that get thrown around by fans when a game doesnt go in their favour.
I'd like to get the odds on us struggling up front in the first half of the season and then forced by a combination of Aneke's injuries, deadline day disappointment and fan pressure; we decide to lash £400k at the nearest forward that moves and is available in lower L1/L2 - might work out/might not but it will be overpaying and a rush job compared to what long term, sustainable and strategic recruitment elongated throughout an entire summer would achieve.
We've spent decent fees in all Sandgaard's January windows so far (Schwartz, Aneke, Fraser) - I make it a reasonable likelihood.
Breaking even in this league for a club our size is less plausible than the plotlines of most Disney films. I don't want reckless spending but if the incumbents do not understand that they won't get into a viable break even territory (Championship) without sensible speculation to get there, or don't want to - please can they just come out and admit it.
They have to be released, so, unattached during the window in order to sign outside of it as a free.
Come on you free transfers! You’ve got this.
The worry for me now, given the model we seem to be falling into, is whether we'll be at to keep hold of them for any time (Garner included) and whether we'll get real value based on their potential if we do sell.
If we're looking to make short term savings, I think there's a risk of losing young talents before they realise their potential for the club, both in a football sense and financially.
Anybody who is now referencing the free agent list is just either deluded or fibbing to themselves. Getting a player in without any pre season was not part of any frikkin plan.
Promise 2 signings in areas we are short. It's the same old story with the reality leading to overworked players and injuries.
Airman has some good material for the typewriter this week and quite rightly!
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/statistik/vertragslosespieler
Interesting Gallen says he’s already spoken to some free agents.
It’s a tremendous shame, with so many talented young players coming through, but I believe his plan to halve the losses and break even over the next 12 and 24 months is based upon selling them off as and when offers are received. He certainly won’t be “filling the Valley” with premium ticket pricing, whilst the deal with Generous Robots DAO has sullied the reputation of the club. It’s all very sad.
Eyes and smile 😁
think he massively underestimated the costs and expectations of the club
I cant see the current squad getting a top 6 finish - so another league 1 mid table finish i think is on the cards, crowd numbers will dwindle as apart from st holders people wont pay £30 for boring football with nothing to gain
Frustrating end as I was confident, we would get a CB and forward and no hiding it does leave us short. I hope we don’t panic and just sign frees unless a short-term deal to January, so we does not prevent us looking in January.
I hope we get lucky with injuries and Garner and the players can keep us in the mix until January when hopefully we have things in place to get in straight away.
Overall a positive window and the start of what looks like a plan/strategy just let down at the end.
You can make some pretty decent teams out of that list!
Karius
Wisdom Mangala Reid Rose
Costa
I’m not defending Gallen, but at least he has a football background. He can’t perform miracles if the owner can’t or won’t pay.