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Thierry Small - signed a 4 year deal with Preston (p36)

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Comments

  • shirty5
    shirty5 Posts: 19,273
    In the England Under 21 squad
  • ct_addick
    ct_addick Posts: 4,341
    I personally think Small is a better player than Apter….real excitement when got on the ball towards the end of last season….more athletic than Apter as well….just my personal opinion 
  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 70,014
    Listed a defender, I imagine he'll be playing left wingback/fullback, so the competition in our squad is with Edwards.
  • thenewbie
    thenewbie Posts: 11,028
    ct_addick said:
    I personally think Small is a better player than Apter….real excitement when got on the ball towards the end of last season….more athletic than Apter as well….just my personal opinion 
    I think that Apter is more of a Jones type player though - Small is just a bit too maverick. Yes it was exciting but you didn't know if he was going to do something spectacular or manage to mess up something very basic (although probably in a spectacular way.)

    Nathan Jones (for better or worse) prefers players who are consistently a 6 or 7 out of 10 over one who could be either an 8 or a 4.
  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,673
    ct_addick said:
    I personally think Small is a better player than Apter….real excitement when got on the ball towards the end of last season….more athletic than Apter as well….just my personal opinion 
    Less end product though, in my opinion. Apter will score more goals than Small this season, in my opinion.
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 52,079
    ct_addick said:
    I personally think Small is a better player than Apter….real excitement when got on the ball towards the end of last season….more athletic than Apter as well….just my personal opinion 
    How many full games have you seen Apter play?
  • Laddick01
    Laddick01 Posts: 6,467
    Small was one of the best dribblers we’ve had at the club in the last 10 years. Really explosive and direct.

    His touch could often be inconsistent though, alongside his end product. If he did have that, he’d be a £30m+ player like Fatawu at Leicester.

    Apter isn’t as explosive, but from what we’ve seen so far appears to be very secure on the ball. Clean touch and some good crosses.

    Hard to fully compare at this stage. 
  • _uptheaddicks
    _uptheaddicks Posts: 156
    He's gone. He wanted out. He got it. 
  • EugenesAxe
    EugenesAxe Posts: 3,378
    Apter fights for the ball back more
  • NabySarr
    NabySarr Posts: 4,380
    ct_addick said:
    I personally think Small is a better player than Apter….real excitement when got on the ball towards the end of last season….more athletic than Apter as well….just my personal opinion 
    I think Apter is a better player for the role we played them in. If you were just signing a standard wing back for a 3-5-2 like Preston were then I think Small is better 

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  • paulsturgess
    paulsturgess Posts: 3,868
    It’s way too early to make a judgement on this
  • BalladMan
    BalladMan Posts: 1,146
    edited August 30
    Well done on the u21 call up Thierry. I choose to remember the fun times rather than moan about him taking the pay day 
  • golfaddick
    golfaddick Posts: 33,786
    ct_addick said:
    I personally think Small is a better player than Apter….real excitement when got on the ball towards the end of last season….more athletic than Apter as well….just my personal opinion 
    A better defender.....but not a better attacker / crosser or ability to score.
  • SDAddick
    SDAddick Posts: 14,481
    NabySarr said:
    ct_addick said:
    I personally think Small is a better player than Apter….real excitement when got on the ball towards the end of last season….more athletic than Apter as well….just my personal opinion 
    I think Apter is a better player for the role we played them in. If you were just signing a standard wing back for a 3-5-2 like Preston were then I think Small is better 
    This is kind of my thinking as well, except for the fact that we could use some LWB cover as well.

    That being said, Small has gone to PNE, started well, I believe he got an assist, and is now in the U21s. I think it's possible that he's one we look back on in 2-3 years and wonder how we could have let him go (I know we didn't let him, his contract ran out, but you get my point). But also, Josh Edwards is really bloody good defensively and decent going forward. 

    I wish we'd kept Small, with him we'd have a lot of strength in depth on the flanks. But Jones player or not, I don't think he wanted to be a backup and I doubt he was content staying on the right. So it's a move that made sense for the player. Just wish we could have found a way to keep him as he was fun. 
  • superclive98
    superclive98 Posts: 4,806
    I was absolutely gutted when Small chose not to sign for us, but I'm more than happy with Apter as his replacement.
  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 70,014
    Once he didn't renew his contract last summer, and instead had to be retained with the 1 year option, it was always likely he would go at the end of that year. Especially once he lost his place on the left to Josh Edwards, as he realised that whatever division we're in, NJ prefers Edwards in that position.
  • stoneroses19
    stoneroses19 Posts: 7,264
    The way Small drives forward and dribbles, he will look the better player from first look. 

    But from the few games seen so far, Apter is a more all round player, and dare I say it team player, as he looks up more to see the best options. 

    None of the above is a negative on either player and come end of the season, I'm certain both will have proved they are very good Championship level players (for now). 
  • ct_addick
    ct_addick Posts: 4,341
    Covered End said:
    ct_addick said:
    I personally think Small is a better player than Apter….real excitement when got on the ball towards the end of last season….more athletic than Apter as well….just my personal opinion 
    How many full games have you seen Apter play?
    3….live in the USA but have a Charlton TV season pass…..was home for four games last season….again personal opinion….hope it changes 
  • soapboxsam
    soapboxsam Posts: 23,239
    edited August 30
    Small in my opinion could develop into a top left sided attacking player* and will make many Premiership 20 man squads eventually as he can go past players on the inside or outside.
    With a manager who encourages him, then the assist against Leicester by TS will be the start of a fruitful season.

    *Whether Wingback, attacking back or left winger he will develop and by the Summer of 26 or the winter window 26/27 Thierry will be in demand. Plus the option of playing on the right when the cutting onto his strong left foot or going wide is still a weapon.

    Apter had a terrific debut, followed up with a solid game against City and as long as Ramsay has his back then he will develop just fine.

    We don't need to compare two different types of players who both do their best work in the opposition's half.

    Looking forward to Rob's link up play with Knibbs, Leaburn, Kelman etc.
  • Steven81
    Steven81 Posts: 1,025
    edited August 30
    Small has looked proper quality for Preston from the highlights I've seen soo far and been getting rave reviews from them he has made the step up easily.

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  • Six-a-bag-of-nuts
    Six-a-bag-of-nuts Posts: 8,133
    Steven81 said:
    Small has looked proper quality for Preston from the highlights I've seen soo far and been getting rave reviews from them he has made the step up easily.
    They should make the most of it, his agent is probably already looking at options.
  • Gribbo
    Gribbo Posts: 8,534
    edited August 30
    stoneroses19 said:
    The way Small drives forward and dribbles, he will look the better player from first look. 

    But from the few games seen so far, Apter is a more all round player, and dare I say it team player, as he looks up more to see the best options. 

    None of the above is a negative on either player and come end of the season, I'm certain both will have proved they are very good Championship level players (for now). 
    Spot on.

    Personally thought Small got a little overconfident in his shooting ability at times and took shots when there were clearly better options. It was almost as if, as soon as he got the ball -wherever he was on the pitch - there was only one thing / outcome on his mind: run towards the goal line and, when he couldn’t run any further, have a pop regardless.

    I was, and still am, a big fan of his, but noticed this creeping into his game more and more for us. At the moment (only seen him twice tbh), I reckon Apter looks the better player, imo
  • Steven81
    Steven81 Posts: 1,025
    Six-a-bag-of-nuts said:
    Steven81 said:
    Small has looked proper quality for Preston from the highlights I've seen soo far and been getting rave reviews from them he has made the step up easily.
    They should make the most of it, his agent is probably already looking at options.
    Yeah they should but didn't they get him on a four year contract ? Which is quids in if he does go regardless.
  • MarcusH26
    MarcusH26 Posts: 8,112
    Steven81 said:
    Six-a-bag-of-nuts said:
    Steven81 said:
    Small has looked proper quality for Preston from the highlights I've seen soo far and been getting rave reviews from them he has made the step up easily.
    They should make the most of it, his agent is probably already looking at options.
    Yeah they should but didn't they get him on a four year contract ? Which is quids in if he does go regardless.
    Yeah four year deal. Would not be surprised if he's only there a year and coupled with his England U21 callups if they turn that £200k training compensation into £4-6m 
  • fenaddick
    fenaddick Posts: 11,644
    Steven81 said:
    Small has looked proper quality for Preston from the highlights I've seen soo far and been getting rave reviews from them he has made the step up easily.
    You’re right of course but one of his issues was always consistency. I really hope it works for the lad and that he finds the consistency, finds his end product and gets the move his potential deserves. 

    I think Apter also has the potential to end up in the PL (why not with us eh?). Going off the first few games it looks like we’ve just nailed the the recruitment and we’re lucky enough to have had 3 fantastic players on the right (including Ramsay) recently 
  • paulsturgess
    paulsturgess Posts: 3,868
    Could really have done with him today 
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 52,079
    edited August 31
    I've seen Apter play 4 league games and it's impossible to say after 4 games whether Apter will be a better player for Charlton than Small was.
  • Gribbo
    Gribbo Posts: 8,534
    Covered End said:
    I've seen Apter play 4 league games and it's impossible to say after 4 games whether Apter will be a better player for Charlton than Small was.
    Also impossible to say he won't be 
  • wmcf123
    wmcf123 Posts: 5,837
    I’d rather have both in the squad .  Apter is better technically , Small is more athletic.  I don’t see this wing back role lasting for Apter - we need him higher up the pitch with less defensive responsibility , in my view .  
  • fenaddick
    fenaddick Posts: 11,644
    wmcf123 said:
    I’d rather have both in the squad .  Apter is better technically , Small is more athletic.  I don’t see this wing back role lasting for Apter - we need him higher up the pitch with less defensive responsibility , in my view .  
    Getting up the pitch is not an issue, in terms of touches on the ball he is the most attacking player we have 

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