I'd rather bring in 2/3 permanent of real quality for next season rather than 5/6 crap frees and loans
I think you would have to pay a bit of a premium to sign people on long term deals. We ended up top heavy with center mids, and short in other areas but that was more down to arrogance and incompetence.
Of there is a different take over to the one that's pending they might want to bring their own manager in who might not fancy the players we have just signed. Alternatively there might be no take over and we could be lumbered with more long term contracts.
Fill the obvious gaps first, get safe, plan for next season from March.
We won't go down with what we have got, unless we have more injuries to key players. Or the 2 loans are recalled.
What's this obsession with bloody Ipswich, who cares about any players they sign, I don't...if, and it's a big IF and when we get going will be worth reading, hopefully 🤷♂️
Exactly. Ipswich in recent years always seem to sign about 20 players a season.
They've been a Third Division club all that time.
Despite buying 20 players a season they still managed to get a slower centre back partnership than Inniss and Lavelle in Woolfenden and Keogh. That takes some doing.
JRS's form drops off again, Kirk continues being Kirk, CBT picks up an injury and has to start his consistency from scratch again, the midfield trio of Dobson, Fraser and Morgan (that looked great a few weeks back) becomes shite again, Inniss continues his form of league one's best defender/ top serial killer and suddenly we're back flirting with a relegation battle.
Yes we've had two great back to back wins but let's not kid ourselves that we don't need much work to do this window.
Now, announce Bonne and the palace loanee we have/haven't signed 😊
What's this obsession with bloody Ipswich, who cares about any players they sign, I don't...if, and it's a big IF and when we get going will be worth reading, hopefully 🤷♂️
Exactly. Ipswich in recent years always seem to sign about 20 players a season.
They've been a Third Division club all that time.
They only started signing all the best L1 players last season…..& this year they are consequently looking nailed on for promotion.
I’d personally say their strategy has been a success.
Do think people are massively overplaying our chances of going down. We're crap but we aren't in the worst 4 teams in this tinpot league
We're a pretty poor side and have been amongst the worst teams of late. There are certainly teams with worse squads.
Our defence needs strengthening.
Yet we are still in touch of the play offs ….
We're 9 points off playoffs and coincidentally 9 off the relegation spots too. If mathematically that makes us "safe" then by the same logic we're not touching the play offs either.
Two weeks ago we were looking over our shoulders with genuine concern. We need to make sure that we are safe and home first and foremost, even if that means loans and freebies as a make-do.
What we know so far is that we are being punted around deepest darkest Texas in the hope that some people can raise £75k investment packages ( chicken feed in investment terms ) Our current owner is looking for a way out. Anyone that thinks we are going to be making any landmark signings are as delusional as our owner.
We’re 19pts off 50 which should be safety and have 19 games left. I’m probably going against the grain here, but do we need to bring anyone in? Providing Leaburn isn’t sold and doesn’t get injured, I think at most, we need a forward as cover.
Between the rest of the squad, even if we offload Stockley, Mansfield & Kirk for example, I think we have enough to stay up. This isn’t me advocating there’s an appropriate level of talent, it’s still massively off being able to get us out this division, but I would rather we don’t risk bringing in another Mansfield or Aneke in Jan, just for the sake of it, thus impacting next season.
For me, getting rid of a few like Stockley, JFC, Mansfield and Kirk would be a good window. We’re not going up. We’ve probably got enough in the tank to stay up. Why not shed some of the mediocrity that’s clogged up the squad and finally, do a proper plan for 23/24? Unless something really good comes along, I think any additions with contracts until the end of the season would be a risk
We have got 3 squad spaces free. We have no cover at left back, no viable alternative at center foward or winger if any of the front 3 get knack. Even if it's just 3 loans I want those spaces.
If JRS and Sessegnon were recalled and Leaburn flogged or injured we would be up shit street.
Mad that people are already trying to justify a transfer window if we sign no one at all.
We had a rubbish squad leftover from summer, if we sign no-one we enter february with it even worse.
This in spades.
We started the season light up front, and now with Aneke breaking down even before he steps on the pitch some people don't even mind if Stockley goes and not replaced !!!!
Jesus. Some people are mad and/or delusional. Do they not have memories of what happened last season when we were playing Kanu & Burstow for 6 weeks because Washington, Stockley AND Aneke were all out injured.
What happens in Feb 2and when Leaburn pulls his hammy & us out for 2 months. Oh Yes, we go back to playing JRS & DJ up front. That worked well didnt it.
I give up.
Keep your knickers on, who said he shouldn't be replaced?
I appreciate what Holden says but the longer it goes on without us signing the more worried I will get. Especially when the sales are happening such as JFC.
Totally agree. I thought we had learned the lesson of leaving our business until the last minute. Other clubs, Plymouth, Bolton, Barnsley etc seem to be able to sign players, why not us? Beginning to think we have been sold a pup.
@cafcfan1990 if you think getting rid of three or four players currently with our injuries makes sense without getting replacements in at the same time or you know what, BEFORE we let players go then in my opinion that is suicide.
The squad was light already.
JFC, Stockley, Mac (played yesterday!), Kirk - despite their limitations will all be needed between now and May to keep us in this division if we don't get replacements.
This is a tried and tested path we've been down before and why blind faith is installed I have no idea.
"Wait and see" "It's only X days into the window"
This has been trotted out for the last 3 windows.
We have every right to be sceptical of our owner!
Scott has already said that no one will be leaving until we had people through the door & only then would fringe players be let go.
@cafcfan1990 if you think getting rid of three or four players currently with our injuries makes sense without getting replacements in at the same time or you know what, BEFORE we let players go then in my opinion that is suicide.
The squad was light already.
JFC, Stockley, Mac (played yesterday!), Kirk - despite their limitations will all be needed between now and May to keep us in this division if we don't get replacements.
This is a tried and tested path we've been down before and why blind faith is installed I have no idea.
"Wait and see" "It's only X days into the window"
This has been trotted out for the last 3 windows.
We have every right to be sceptical of our owner!
Scott has already said that no one will be leaving until we had people through the door & only then would fringe players be let go.
No I didn't believe it either.
That’s not what was said. Scott said that there was no requirement for players to leave before signing someone. They were looking to move on fringe players.
Said we will be doing early business. No-one will leave until we have added to the squad Those that do leave will be fringe players only. There are funds to spend.
I have not watched Andy Scott's first interview, but this is apparently what he said::
1: There's four league matches in January, I would say if we don't have anyone in by the second match then it is not 'early'.
2: JFC has left, we have added no one.
3: No matter what people think if his ability, or if he should have played more, he was a fringe player.
4: Remains to be seen. But I think if funds were available we would have been able to bring someone in early, instead of waiting for prices to reduce.
Said we will be doing early business. No-one will leave until we have added to the squad Those that do leave will be fringe players only. There are funds to spend.
I have not watched Andy Scott's first interview, but this is apparently what he said::
1: There's four league matches in January, I would say if we don't have anyone in by the second match then it is not 'early'.
2: JFC has left, we have added no one.
3: No matter what people think if his ability, or if he should have played more, he was a fringe player.
4: Remains to be seen. But I think if funds were available we would have been able to bring someone in early, instead of waiting for prices to reduce.
Bringing people in and having funds avaliable aren't the same thing. I would be shocked if we spend a transfer fee. I would be shocked if we don't bring in at least 3.
Said we will be doing early business. No-one will leave until we have added to the squad Those that do leave will be fringe players only. There are funds to spend.
I have not watched Andy Scott's first interview, but this is apparently what he said::
1: There's four league matches in January, I would say if we don't have anyone in by the second match then it is not 'early'.
2: JFC has left, we have added no one.
3: No matter what people think if his ability, or if he should have played more, he was a fringe player.
4: Remains to be seen. But I think if funds were available we would have been able to bring someone in early, instead of waiting for prices to reduce.
Bringing people in and having funds avaliable aren't the same thing. I would be shocked if we spend a transfer fee. I would be shocked if we don't bring in at least 3.
3 in and 3 out? That won't help the overall position with the squad. We will end up either light at left back, centre forward or somewhere else - I would hazard a guess at wide midfield.
Kirk, DJ and Stockley out? All 3 on decent salaries and decent transfer fees. They'll be replaced with loans or free signings. Again I say,,,, I wouldn't be against Bonne or Wickham but Wickham on paper is not any better/safer bet than Aneke - the last half a season has been an anomaly and Bonne's goalscoring record is worse than Stockley's.
We are simply polishing turds and it'll mean we won't go down, but let's all be honest, we'll be way, way, way short of being able to put together a side for a promotion push next season. Which is what a club with the history, size and ambitions of Charlton should be doing, at the very least.....
Said we will be doing early business. No-one will leave until we have added to the squad Those that do leave will be fringe players only. There are funds to spend.
I have not watched Andy Scott's first interview, but this is apparently what he said::
1: There's four league matches in January, I would say if we don't have anyone in by the second match then it is not 'early'.
2: JFC has left, we have added no one.
3: No matter what people think if his ability, or if he should have played more, he was a fringe player.
4: Remains to be seen. But I think if funds were available we would have been able to bring someone in early, instead of waiting for prices to reduce.
Bringing people in and having funds avaliable aren't the same thing. I would be shocked if we spend a transfer fee. I would be shocked if we don't bring in at least 3.
I am pretty certain we will be bringing in players, firstly because it would be madness not to, and secondly there has been enough 'smoke' around this put out there to let you know deals are in the pipeline.
The quality of these players is the real question. Are the 'funds to spend' on transfer fees, signing on fees for frees, or has the wage budget been increased considerably etc
Comments
No name, just a forward player (could be a winger or a striker).
Of there is a different take over to the one that's pending they might want to bring their own manager in who might not fancy the players we have just signed. Alternatively there might be no take over and we could be lumbered with more long term contracts.
Fill the obvious gaps first, get safe, plan for next season from March.
We won't go down with what we have got, unless we have more injuries to key players. Or the 2 loans are recalled.
We will have more injuries. Its not impossible.
Yes we've had two great back to back wins but let's not kid ourselves that we don't need much work to do this window.
Now, announce Bonne and the palace loanee we have/haven't signed 😊
I’d personally say their strategy has been a success.
Our defence needs strengthening.
Two weeks ago we were looking over our shoulders with genuine concern. We need to make sure that we are safe and home first and foremost, even if that means loans and freebies as a make-do.
No I didn't believe it either.
1: There's four league matches in January, I would say if we don't have anyone in by the second match then it is not 'early'.
2: JFC has left, we have added no one.
3: No matter what people think if his ability, or if he should have played more, he was a fringe player.
4: Remains to be seen. But I think if funds were available we would have been able to bring someone in early, instead of waiting for prices to reduce.
Someone figure that one out.
Kirk, DJ and Stockley out? All 3 on decent salaries and decent transfer fees. They'll be replaced with loans or free signings. Again I say,,,, I wouldn't be against Bonne or Wickham but Wickham on paper is not any better/safer bet than Aneke - the last half a season has been an anomaly and Bonne's goalscoring record is worse than Stockley's.
We are simply polishing turds and it'll mean we won't go down, but let's all be honest, we'll be way, way, way short of being able to put together a side for a promotion push next season. Which is what a club with the history, size and ambitions of Charlton should be doing, at the very least.....
The quality of these players is the real question. Are the 'funds to spend' on transfer fees, signing on fees for frees, or has the wage budget been increased considerably etc