Vetokele was injured early and ruined him, thought he could've been premier league standard
Had a soft spot for that striker whose name I can't remember, missed the sitter against Millwall and stuffed his confidence. Was a workhorse and I always root for that kind of striker.
Tucudean. Had one game where he was like a compact Yann and then nothing
He had a few good games. His goal against Bolton is my shout for most underrated Charlton goal of the past decade
Like, the second touch here is unthinkable for the average Charlton player
Remember seeing Vetokele in a friendly at Pompey and away at Brighton where he absolutely ran Lewis Dunk ragged for 90 mins and thinking we had found a real superstar. Such a shame injuries impacted him so much.
- in any case, my nomination that fulfils the crap criteria is Lee Martin. Relatively crap for us but always looked like he'd do something quite exciting. Quite liked that.
Vetokele was injured early and ruined him, thought he could've been premier league standard
Had a soft spot for that striker whose name I can't remember, missed the sitter against Millwall and stuffed his confidence. Was a workhorse and I always root for that kind of striker.
Tucudean. Had one game where he was like a compact Yann and then nothing
He had a few good games. His goal against Bolton is my shout for most underrated Charlton goal of the past decade
His Charlton career would have been very different had he scored that goal vs. Millwall
Dorian Dervite was another one I liked. Picked him up as a former prodigy who hadn't been able to cut it at Spurs and Villarreal and figured he'd be a bit-part player at best. Felt a bit of a desperate signing for a team with no money but he started in midfield against Leeds when we were a bit in need of points and scored a banger for a 1-1 draw. He was great after that and popped up with some key goals. One in the 3-2 against Bolton when we'd been 2-0 down, a last minute winner against Bournemouth and one in the key 3-2 against Yeovil under Riga. All goals at points where we were looking like we were in trouble. I was really unhappy when we let him go to Bolton and his career declined after that
Dorian Dervite was another one I liked. Picked him up as a former prodigy who hadn't been able to cut it at Spurs and Villarreal and figured he'd be a bit-part player at best. Felt a bit of a desperate signing for a team with no money but he started in midfield against Leeds when we were a bit in need of points and scored a banger for a 1-1 draw. He was great after that and popped up with some key goals. One in the 3-2 against Bolton when we'd been 2-0 down, a last minute winner against Bournemouth and one in the key 3-2 against Yeovil under Riga. All goals at points where we were looking like we were in trouble. I was really unhappy when we let him go to Bolton and his career declined after that
The early RD era did, at least, provide us with a whole load of weird and wonderful players to get briefly attached to
Dorian Dervite was another one I liked. Picked him up as a former prodigy who hadn't been able to cut it at Spurs and Villarreal and figured he'd be a bit-part player at best. Felt a bit of a desperate signing for a team with no money but he started in midfield against Leeds when we were a bit in need of points and scored a banger for a 1-1 draw. He was great after that and popped up with some key goals. One in the 3-2 against Bolton when we'd been 2-0 down, a last minute winner against Bournemouth and one in the key 3-2 against Yeovil under Riga. All goals at points where we were looking like we were in trouble. I was really unhappy when we let him go to Bolton and his career declined after that
The early RD era did, at least, provide us with a whole load of weird and wonderful players to get briefly attached to
The weird thing is he was a Powell pick up in 2012/13 alongside Kerkar and Jordan Cook in a real desperation drive. He fit right in with the weird RD signings when they arrived though
Souleymane Diawara - described by Richard Murray, with more than a hint of a sneer, as “apparently the best centre half in the world you’ve never heard of” after he’d paid £3.7m for him.
Never thought he was given much of a chance to settle and only played 26 games (although that included 8 clean sheets). Went back to France, we made a loss, and went on to be transferred to Marseille for €7m two years later. Won the French cup 4 times, a record at the time.
Obviously he gets credit for the good times as well but a troubling amount of our current situation can be traced back to the ego trip Murray went on from the back end of Curbishley's time onward. I thought Diawara was rubbish for us but it definitely didn't help publicly shit talking the player you signed for the manager you hired
Souleymane Diawara - described by Richard Murray, with more than a hint of a sneer, as “apparently the best centre half in the world you’ve never heard of” after he’d paid £3.7m for him.
Never thought he was given much of a chance to settle and only played 26 games (although that included 8 clean sheets). Went back to France, we made a loss, and went on to be transferred to Marseille for €7m two years later. Won the French cup 4 times, a record at the time.
Souleymane Diawara - described by Richard Murray, with more than a hint of a sneer, as “apparently the best centre half in the world you’ve never heard of” after he’d paid £3.7m for him.
Never thought he was given much of a chance to settle and only played 26 games (although that included 8 clean sheets). Went back to France, we made a loss, and went on to be transferred to Marseille for €7m two years later. Won the French cup 4 times, a record at the time.
Souleymane Diawara - described by Richard Murray, with more than a hint of a sneer, as “apparently the best centre half in the world you’ve never heard of” after he’d paid £3.7m for him.
Never thought he was given much of a chance to settle and only played 26 games (although that included 8 clean sheets). Went back to France, we made a loss, and went on to be transferred to Marseille for €7m two years later. Won the French cup 4 times, a record at the time.
He was shit for us.
Knew it was not going well , made his debt in September wearing gloves.
My regret with Diarra is we were so crap at the time we weren't able to play him in midfield all the time. I know he was older but he could have still dictated a game if he'd had better players around him, but unfortunately we needed him a centre back. One of those players I can't believe played for us.
I loved Martin Pringle. I was about 8 years old when he signed for us and you got a lot less coverage of football back then, so if you'd asked me I would have told you Charlton had unearthed a genius. I think he scored 3 goals in his first 6 games and that was enough for me to be convinced he was a god. He scored...fewer after that and I was surprised when I first started coming on here to see he wasn't viewed particularly positively. It made me take the regrettable step of looking at his stats but 8 year old me is still at the wheel on that one I'm afraid. Pringle was great.
I've also got a lot of time for Rob Hulse who I think was a hugely significant part of us getting enough form together to not get cut adrift in our first Championship season under Powell. Got called a donkey plenty on here at the time but him coming into the team coincided with us losing 1 game in 10 and meant we actually had someone to be on the pitch while Yann, Fuller and Haynes traded off injuries with each other. He wasn't a brilliant player but he worked his arse off, held the ball up and made us a more difficult team to play against. Before that Cardiff game we were in serious trouble and worrying for Powell's future, but by the end of his loan we were looking alright again.
I echo your thoughts about Martin Pringle. At a time where the internet was still starting out getting updates and info on the new signings was very limited, especially to a 10 year old. I remember watching the Match of the Day highlights and asking my dad who this new guy was. Plus he scored a early on and I had found my new favourite player. The next season I asked for the Yellow away shirt with Pringle 14 on the back.
Didn’t pull up any trees but liked him. Can’t remember the game but remember him coming on as second half sub and scored the winner with a header, I think shortly after entering the field of play.
Didn’t pull up any trees but liked him. Can’t remember the game but remember him coming on as second half sub and scored the winner with a header, I think shortly after entering the field of play.
I thought Yoni scored 9 or 10 pens in a season with a 100% record. Decent on the ball but one paced and that really showed up when JJ played in midfield with him for a while. Buyens pulled back players when they went by him as he knew he wouldn't catch them. Took a few yellows in his time at CAFC.
Despite his short comings he was a class above anyone who plays in cafc's midfield now.
My regret with Diarra is we were so crap at the time we weren't able to play him in midfield all the time. I know he was older but he could have still dictated a game if he'd had better players around him, but unfortunately we needed him a centre back. One of those players I can't believe played for us.
I loved Martin Pringle. I was about 8 years old when he signed for us and you got a lot less coverage of football back then, so if you'd asked me I would have told you Charlton had unearthed a genius. I think he scored 3 goals in his first 6 games and that was enough for me to be convinced he was a god. He scored...fewer after that and I was surprised when I first started coming on here to see he wasn't viewed particularly positively. It made me take the regrettable step of looking at his stats but 8 year old me is still at the wheel on that one I'm afraid. Pringle was great.
I've also got a lot of time for Rob Hulse who I think was a hugely significant part of us getting enough form together to not get cut adrift in our first Championship season under Powell. Got called a donkey plenty on here at the time but him coming into the team coincided with us losing 1 game in 10 and meant we actually had someone to be on the pitch while Yann, Fuller and Haynes traded off injuries with each other. He wasn't a brilliant player but he worked his arse off, held the ball up and made us a more difficult team to play against. Before that Cardiff game we were in serious trouble and worrying for Powell's future, but by the end of his loan we were looking alright again.
I echo your thoughts about Martin Pringle. At a time where the internet was still starting out getting updates and info on the new signings was very limited, especially to a 10 year old. I remember watching the Match of the Day highlights and asking my dad who this new guy was. Plus he scored a early on and I had found my new favourite player. The next season I asked for the Yellow away shirt with Pringle 14 on the back.
Didn’t pull up any trees but liked him. Can’t remember the game but remember him coming on as second half sub and scored the winner with a header, I think shortly after entering the field of play.
Didn’t pull up any trees but liked him. Can’t remember the game but remember him coming on as second half sub and scored the winner with a header, I think shortly after entering the field of play.
Frederick Bulot i liked Paul Hayes, was gutted when he was dropped but his replacement wasn't bad 😂 Todorov was another whom i liked.
Builot was hopeless went away to the ( I think African cup) came back excellent but gone next season.
Frederick Bulot was average not hopeless but came back from playing for Gabon in the African nations tournament a more confident player and performed at a high level in the 2nd part of the 14/15 season for CAFC.
George Tucudean showed early promise for Charlton with that Bolton performance and I believe Derby from memory.
The main problem was as Igor Vetokele said to me when I chatted to him in Bromley was he couldn't read his flicks and lay offs which obviously meant he wasn't Igor's choice of partner. Just the 2 goals in 20 apps for CAFC for GT.
George Tucudean had to retire with his heart problem in 2020 at 29, which was a real shame as he had improved and became quite consistent with 10 caps for Romania. Retired with 89 goals in 272 app so about 1 in 3 which wasn't too shabby
I was at both Brighton and Brentford when Igor hit the back of the net and also in my local bookies when punters who I knew as Chelsea and Palace fans put money on Vetokele being the Championships top scorer! I didn't as I knew the Charlton curse would probably strike; I was at Rotherham when it did.
Oztumer had one of the best 45 minutes I've ever seen from a Charlton player, I can't remember who against though.
He was a bit crap for the rest of his time at Charlton but I'll always fondly remember that 45 mins where every flick, trick and turn was perfect. He was actually the Turkish Messi for that half.
Oztumer had one of the best 45 minutes I've ever seen from a Charlton player, I can't remember who against though.
He was a bit crap for the rest of his time at Charlton but I'll always fondly remember that 45 mins where every flick, trick and turn was perfect. He was actually the Turkish Messi for that half.
A yes Ralph Milne… apparently scored something like 20 goals in European football. Christ must have been on a Spain beach holiday with the kids, and the wife in goal.
Vetokele was injured early and ruined him, thought he could've been premier league standard
Had a soft spot for that striker whose name I can't remember, missed the sitter against Millwall and stuffed his confidence. Was a workhorse and I always root for that kind of striker.
Tucudean. Had one game where he was like a compact Yann and then nothing
He had a few good games. His goal against Bolton is my shout for most underrated Charlton goal of the past decade
Like, the second touch here is unthinkable for the average Charlton player
Rod Fanni. Played CB with Tex and was good. An absolute master of the Mortimer slide-tackle and come out with the ball at feet.
Marco Motta played a long way forward at RB because Fanni was so adept at covering. Which also pushed Gudmonsson further forward, where he could do damage. Very neat player, with lots of experience at the top level.
This was who I thought of. Sure, I wish he'd have put his foot through the ball sometimes, or even just once, but I always felt that he tried hard.
I actually liked Church as well, never really understood why he got quite so much hatred. Part of his problem was that Spongefoot is actually quite a funny nickname and it encouraged a bit more of a pile-on but I can think of a lot more good Church moments than I can a fair few other players. We were absolutely penniless when he played for us, putting out teams in 2014 that barely had any new players from what we had in 2012 and he really was the best we could get based on what we could afford, but he popped up with some important goals when we needed him to. Worth remembering as well that he was brought in as a backup striker for a front two of Yann and Sordell, but for reasons we now understand Sordell wasn't at it and Church was needed to play a lot more than he ever should have. I remember an equaliser against Barnsley when we'd been 2-0 down, the winner against Blackburn, the winner in a 3-2 against Reading, a goal in the rearranged Doncaster match when we were absolutely desperate for a win and the winners against Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday to get us to an FA Cup Quarter Final. For a player who was a proper check for change down the back of the sofa and see what we can get with it signing that's not a bad set of moments.
I remember him winning a crucial penalty at Cardiff (that Buyens converted) for the winning goal.
An interesting lineup, with Joe Gomez and Roger Johnson at CB, Lepoint in midfield, and Dmitrovic coming on at HT. And Russell Slade was the Cardiff manager!
Comments
Someone like Tucudean or Diawara are prime contenders
People mentioned the excellent Alexey Smertin on this thread. He was indisputably very good for us.
That was the moment where he sealed his doom
I thought Yoni scored 9 or 10 pens in a season with a 100% record. Decent on the ball but one paced and that really showed up when JJ played in midfield with him for a while. Buyens pulled back players when they went by him as he knew he wouldn't catch them. Took a few yellows in his time at CAFC.
Despite his short comings he was a class above anyone who plays in cafc's midfield now.
Frederick Bulot was average not hopeless but came back from playing for Gabon in the African nations tournament a more confident player and performed at a high level in the 2nd part of the 14/15 season for CAFC.
The main problem was as Igor Vetokele said to me when I chatted to him in Bromley was he couldn't read his flicks and lay offs which obviously meant he wasn't Igor's choice of partner. Just the 2 goals in 20 apps for CAFC for GT.
George Tucudean had to retire with his heart problem in 2020 at 29, which was a real shame as he had improved and became quite consistent with 10 caps for Romania. Retired with 89 goals in 272 app so about 1 in 3 which wasn't too shabby
I was at both Brighton and Brentford when Igor hit the back of the net and also in my local bookies when punters who I knew as Chelsea and Palace fans put money on Vetokele being the Championships top scorer! I didn't as I knew the Charlton curse would probably strike; I was at Rotherham when it did.
John Pender. Underrated, always put in a shift.
Fatty Garland. Loved the bloke.
A yes Ralph Milne… apparently scored something like 20 goals in European football. Christ must have been on a Spain beach holiday with the kids, and the wife in goal.
Marco Motta played a long way forward at RB because Fanni was so adept at covering. Which also pushed Gudmonsson further forward, where he could do damage. Very neat player, with lots of experience at the top level.
https://www.11v11.com/matches/cardiff-city-v-charlton-athletic-07-march-2015-312464/
An interesting lineup, with Joe Gomez and Roger Johnson at CB, Lepoint in midfield, and Dmitrovic coming on at HT. And Russell Slade was the Cardiff manager!