No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
Every season in league one is a failure. The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving. So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
Yes the Championship is our rightful place... Yes promotion would be the ideal scenario in one fowl swoop
I get that no one likes being at this level, and we want to get out of, but if we go from 16th to 10th / 8th this season, to 5th next season, to 2nd the following season... Or even 16th to 6th this season (ending in promotion), that is the definition of moving forward.
Promotion is the definition of moving forward. Anything else really isn't.
Could it be that the core of the squad has been kept, a core in a decent run of form and that we have added in places to keep that going. People need to chill a tad. I don't much about Gilbert but Boro seem to like him. Mcintyre was highly rated so not sure what happened but he can come here and find his feet again.
Either way, Berry needs competition and Gillesphey needs it especially as he is error prone, to put it politely.
Everyone though JRS was going to be bang average and look what happened there.
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
Every season in league one is a failure. The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving. So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
Yes the Championship is our rightful place... Yes promotion would be the ideal scenario in one fowl swoop
I get that no one likes being at this level, and we want to get out of, but if we go from 16th to 10th / 8th this season, to 5th next season, to 2nd the following season... Or even 16th to 6th this season (ending in promotion), that is the definition of moving forward.
Promotion is the definition of moving forward. Anything else really isn't.
I wanted us to strengthen the midfield by bringing in 3 players (not likely given the "one or two in" noises coming from the club): a creative attacking midfielder to compete with Berry, another wide player to compete with Small and TC and a hard tackling box to box midfielder to compete with Coventry and Docherty. Plus at least one of the new signings should be able to take a decent free-kick/corner. Also a left sided CB to compete with/replace the error prone Gillesphey.
So the glass is half empty as far as I'm concerned. Yes we've held on to our "stars" for now and we are playing a lot better now than earlier in the season but I think our midfield looks vulnerable against another tough in your face type midfield like Rotherham and if/when Docherty or Coventry get suspended or injured we are woefully short of cover in those positions.
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
Every season in league one is a failure. The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving. So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
Yes the Championship is our rightful place... Yes promotion would be the ideal scenario in one fowl swoop
I get that no one likes being at this level, and we want to get out of, but if we go from 16th to 10th / 8th this season, to 5th next season, to 2nd the following season... Or even 16th to 6th this season (ending in promotion), that is the definition of moving forward.
Promotion is the definition of moving forward. Anything else really isn't.
We'll have to agree to disagree there then
We have spent the last 5 seasons bouncing around in league one. Not once have we made the playoffs. So I see it as I see it. Anyway I'll leave it there rather than clog the thread up. Have a nice day and let's hope for a win on Saturday.
Can they just let us know who they're trying to sign now please?
I dont care if it doesnt go ahead or not... I mean it doesnt matter if its not a secret, as no other club can sneak in and sign him
I honestly doubt we have much competition for the players we are in for.
Unless their recruitment team also have a fetish for crocked and bit part players.
Let's face it, we can't compete with championship clubs or top end league one clubs for money or status. With league one we are probably top 6 on choice. Let's face it, we cleared out some of our unwanted players, and we signed 2 unwanted players for a couple of months.
January window has been more about not selling our jewels. Is that showing ambition?
Mate, we have a top4 budget by their own admission. We have also been told of their wealth and their ambition to get this club promoted.
I don't believe hanging on to players is ambitious, as they're under contract. Signing Lloyd Jones was a massive positive, fair play. But respectfully, as a Charlton fan, I have much higher hopes than us competing with Wycombe for the signature of a player already on our books.
I don't care about any players that left, they're all pants (excluding Terry Taylor), fair play for managing to get rid. That still doesn't change the fact those are all signings sanctioned by the same board.
Let's see who this last player is anyway, could change the field.
They do have
Personally I'm glad the owners are not being stupid and throwing money at it because it's not necessarily guaranteed to get you promoted, if they go steady enough and we get top 10 this year that's an achievement on last year then we can aim for promotion next year when Birmingham and likely Wrexham or Huddersfield will be gone, if we happen to get play offs this season that's a massive added bonus.
Sorry but that's a load of tosh. This season is the first in the last 3 that we've actually got a change of the play offs. What's the point of wasting that chance because Birmingham & Wrexham are in the division. What happens next season when Luton & Stoke are in it instead ? Wait another season ? Strike while the iron is hot. But no, let’s just be happy that we'll finish 10th so an improvement on last season.
That’s all great but no-one’s actually explained why that means anything like what you’ve said it means. Still waiting for the club statement that says we’re packing up for the year.
Last time we got promoted out of this division we replaced Karlan Grant with Josh Parker - and our results actually improved.
”Strike while the iron is hot … don’t waste a chance of top six” = “satisfy my whiny desires for today and sod whether it makes sense tomorrow”
2+2=5 ? That improvement was nothing to do with Josh Parker. He played 10 games and made no impression in 9 of them and half decent in the final.(Winning that free kick )He scored Zero goals. Karlan Grant would've ripped up League 1 over the last 4 months as Cullen, Bielik, and Aribo all kept improving as the season progressed. Bielik was getting scores of 5 in the 1st part of that season when he struggled at 1st at CB before having some excellent games in midfield and was sublime in the two 4-0 wins towards the business end when he scored a cracker. Other than the Final, Sarr was much better in the 2nd part of that play off winning season and Purrington and Dijksteel were both steady and strong as the season progressed.
Grant and Taylor would've both scored over 20, plus assists and I will go to my grave believing we would have grabbed the automatic last spot. Our only striker was Lyle Taylor baby on his own before he became persona non grata. Both young Davison and Parker were far short of being League 1 strikers. Honest players but poor at that level.
That argument I have heard before and as some one who saw many games that Parker played including that bad miss in front of the Covered end he was an honest but 2nd rate footballer who was Steve Gallen's 6th choice on his list of 5 !
If anyone believes that Josh Parker was anywhere near the player that Grant was then Football analysis isn't for you.
Callum, I like your optimism when the grumpy old men are in full swing but that statement in bold hides so many things I saw at the time.
???
I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said. We actively weakened ourselves that window - and our results improved. That was the point I was making.
Interesting to read the range of complete different views.
Personally it’s one of anticipated disappointment.
We are 7th and with 18 games to go in a battle for a play off place that realistically goes down to Rotherham in 15th place. That’s a LOT of teams in the running for effectively 3 places.
Does our business this month scream at you ‘We are going for it?’
I don’t think a single fan would answer ‘yes’ to that.
Anything can happen and there’s 54 points still on offer. I fear we have wasted an opportunity but what will be will be.
I also feel that, of any season, this feels like the one to really make a push for it. The quality of the league is poor and I have less fear about any side we’ll likely face if we made the playoffs than most other season.
If we had signed the lad from Sunderland we would have at least covered the three main positions that were identified by most of the posters on here. It is a shame they couldn't get it over the line because as a left footed winger he would offer something different.I would still like a keeper upgrade , but maybe that will happen in the summer.
Having not been aware of Gilbert or McIntyre , I reserve judgement . I have previously been positive about signings like Fraser , Ledley , Maddison and Watson only to be later disappointed. I accept that scouting is a lot more complex that just picking up players that had performed well against us and hope they prove to be assists.
On the outgoings.I hope that we made a profit on REG as selling to Orient wouldn't make sense overwise. With us ( for once ) having two excellent left footed full backs letting Edun leave seems sensible. Even Terry Taylor's departure has its advantages. It seems he played a key role and bagged an assist in the Cobblers win against our play off rivals Huddersfield on Saturday.
So what might be available in the free agent market?
Small wasn't on my radar last year. Could a similar scenario emerge this time?
In the Bow promotion season we had plenty of players on the fringes who played bit part roles but werent exactly considered first choice or on the bench unless we have a few injuries. Reeves made 32 appearances, Fosu 30, Morgan only came through later in the season and made 16, Ajose 16, Reeco H-F 12, Lapslie 32, Billy Clark 4 post injury before leaving in Jan, Ward 11 in a part season loan, JFC was on the bench at Wembley.
To get promoted you need a squad, to cover for injuries, loss of form and to have options to change things up. Its concerning that anyone not in the 18 has been shipped out. I think it means we are wedding ourselves to this system for the rest of the season and accepting we wont go up. Chance to give kids some game time from the bench and see how they get on and then build a promotion squad from a relatively blank slate in the summer.
If we do by some miracle escape any injuries in key positions and make the playoffs we could do alright over 3 one off games. But its the half of the season remaining that concerns me. Injury to a key player and it fully has the potential to go off the rails.
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
Every season in league one is a failure. The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving. So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
Yes the Championship is our rightful place... Yes promotion would be the ideal scenario in one fowl swoop
I get that no one likes being at this level, and we want to get out of, but if we go from 16th to 10th / 8th this season, to 5th next season, to 2nd the following season... Or even 16th to 6th this season (ending in promotion), that is the definition of moving forward.
Promotion is the definition of moving forward. Anything else really isn't.
Would you agree or disagree that Bolton, as losing play off finalists, had a better chance of getting promoted than us when the season started?
We'll need a big slice of luck with injuries to remain in play off contention I feel, but have a bit of momentum and perhaps we're due some. Feeling deflated but not in despair.
Funny how when we hit a bad spell everything is wrong from top to bottom, but when things are going better, then that's not the right time to analyse them. It's let's wait and see where we finish instead, not the argument used when we were lower half earlier in the season as it didn't suit the negative narrative then.
It's been a pretty crap window whichever way you spin it.
It’s a crap window of you need 4 or 5 players and either bring them in or fail to bring them in because basically that says you didn’t have a core team to build around and now you’ve got to go back to a pre-season mode and try to make a new team. Nathan found our core team two months ago. He then had surplus to need players he could move on or loan out for getting game time and he also needed to find something extra in two key positions. We didn’t need a striker, we’ve got plenty of them, we just needed to support them in attack with one of those new players. Hopefully he will work out and in which case it’s been an excellent window.
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
Every season in league one is a failure. The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving. So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
Yes the Championship is our rightful place... Yes promotion would be the ideal scenario in one fowl swoop
I get that no one likes being at this level, and we want to get out of, but if we go from 16th to 10th / 8th this season, to 5th next season, to 2nd the following season... Or even 16th to 6th this season (ending in promotion), that is the definition of moving forward.
Promotion is the definition of moving forward. Anything else really isn't.
Would you agree or disagree that Bolton, as losing play off finalists, had a better chance of getting promoted than us when the season started?
I predicted we would finish 10th. Hopefully we will finish higher but maybe not.
Regarding Bolton sometimes when a team loses a playoff it can knock the stuffing out of them and they lose some players and go backwards. Sometimes it gives them something to build on and they have a great next season.
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
Every season in league one is a failure. The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving. So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
Yes the Championship is our rightful place... Yes promotion would be the ideal scenario in one fowl swoop
I get that no one likes being at this level, and we want to get out of, but if we go from 16th to 10th / 8th this season, to 5th next season, to 2nd the following season... Or even 16th to 6th this season (ending in promotion), that is the definition of moving forward.
Just checking, are you assuming we don't win the play-offs when we finish fifth?
Yeah that sort of example would be losing in the Play-Offs - Like Bolton fans are expecting this season, if we were to fall into that scenario, this season, next season... I'd expect us to build on that position at the very least the following campaign.
Shame, I was excited about 5th next season and promotion to the prem the year after, but I've just been condemned to 2.5 more years in League 1.
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
Every season in league one is a failure. The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving. So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
Yes the Championship is our rightful place... Yes promotion would be the ideal scenario in one fowl swoop
I get that no one likes being at this level, and we want to get out of, but if we go from 16th to 10th / 8th this season, to 5th next season, to 2nd the following season... Or even 16th to 6th this season (ending in promotion), that is the definition of moving forward.
Promotion is the definition of moving forward. Anything else really isn't.
Would you agree or disagree that Bolton, as losing play off finalists, had a better chance of getting promoted than us when the season started?
I predicted we would finish 10th. Hopefully we will finish higher but maybe not.
Regarding Bolton sometimes when a team loses a playoff it can knock the stuffing out of them and they lose some players and go backwards. Sometimes it gives them something to build on and they have a great next season.
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
Every season in league one is a failure. The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving. So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
Yes the Championship is our rightful place... Yes promotion would be the ideal scenario in one fowl swoop
I get that no one likes being at this level, and we want to get out of, but if we go from 16th to 10th / 8th this season, to 5th next season, to 2nd the following season... Or even 16th to 6th this season (ending in promotion), that is the definition of moving forward.
Promotion is the definition of moving forward. Anything else really isn't.
Would you agree or disagree that Bolton, as losing play off finalists, had a better chance of getting promoted than us when the season started?
I predicted we would finish 10th. Hopefully we will finish higher but maybe not.
Regarding Bolton sometimes when a team loses a playoff it can knock the stuffing out of them and they lose some players and go backwards. Sometimes it gives them something to build on and they have a great next season.
I think the real deflation is that neither signing seems like an oven ready ‘let’s have a crack at promotion’ type signing - more with an eye on the future
When Lee Bowyer brought in Parker, probably like many others, I wasn’t impressed and for most of the games he played, to me, it looked like we were carrying him and for a striker I can’t recall if he actually scored or not but we did look like a team that would win games and as it turned out we were awesome and won at Wembley against an equally strong Sunderland side. Parker was clearly the last piece in the jigsaw puzzle.
Just over two months ago I’d have had no issues if Nathan went. I wouldn’t have been the only one. We just didn’t look like a team at times. We do now and a lot of that has come at the same time as we’ve been playing with a consistent team selection. Trimming the squad down and bringing in just two players in those positions just looks like the right thing to have done if we are going to give it a good go at challenging for promotion. One, or both of them, could be this season’s ‘Parker’.
You may be right - Gilbert was a priority position for me to improve on Berry - my next priority was a deputy for TC and small, then an upgrade on Gillesphey. It's the missing TC / Small deputy that will hurt us - everything else in the window makes sense unless Gilbert really can cover for them as well and / or Dixon and Kanu manage to 'help out'
In a way Small and TC are each other’s cover. You only need one of those in a team and that we’ve got one on each wing is incredible. What’s not great is we’ve not quite worked out how to exploit them and I think it’s been the absence of a natural attacking central midfielder that’s been the missing link. Having one gives us a diamond formation in the opposition goal area and options for where a pass/cross/shot can be made. At present the only option is quite often just to blast it either at the first defender or towards the opposite corner flag.
In a team with no midfield creativity , you need both TC and Small . The only reason we’ve picked up is having both of them .
I hoped we might go for it and push the boat out in the transfer window, with a couple of decent signings (they might prove to be good, but I’m yet to be convinced).
However I’m reminded that a year ago, we brought 4 defenders in the January transfer window, as we were shopping goals for fun, and in a downward trajectory heading for league 2.
So yes, whilst I’d have wished for more needed, and sexy signings, I am happy that we are chasing the playoffs, rather than heading into league 2.
If we fall short, we fall short, no amount of me jumping up and down, is going to change anything.
At some point there has got be accountability from the SMT towards the owners, they won’t put up with nonsense forever, so to sum it up, I’m disappointed, but chilled.
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
I’d suggest that most clubs most of the time have a natural level based on history, fan base, stadium although I’d concede the lines are becoming more blurred as money is everything but I’d say that Charltons natural level is Championship. Good seasons and poor seasons but basically Championship. For me anything less than that is under achievement. I’d say we’re currently failing and although I can do sod all to change things I find the situation as dire.
Interesting to read the range of complete different views.
Personally it’s one of anticipated disappointment.
We are 7th and with 18 games to go in a battle for a play off place that realistically goes down to Rotherham in 15th place. That’s a LOT of teams in the running for effectively 3 places.
Does our business this month scream at you ‘We are going for it?’
I don’t think a single fan would answer ‘yes’ to that.
Anything can happen and there’s 54 points still on offer. I fear we have wasted an opportunity but what will be will be.
Exactly what a lot of us have been saying including Golfie but I bet you won’t be accused of being negative or moaning
Interesting to read the range of complete different views.
Personally it’s one of anticipated disappointment.
We are 7th and with 18 games to go in a battle for a play off place that realistically goes down to Rotherham in 15th place. That’s a LOT of teams in the running for effectively 3 places.
Does our business this month scream at you ‘We are going for it?’
I don’t think a single fan would answer ‘yes’ to that.
Anything can happen and there’s 54 points still on offer. I fear we have wasted an opportunity but what will be will be.
Exactly what a lot of us have been saying including Golfie but I bet you won’t be accused of being negative or moaning
Probably because when most moan, they dont come out with absolute drivel or bullshit, I mean Golfie's latest complaint is that Gilbert has apparently never played 90-mins of Football before (He has), so is bound to be a problem.
If he's factual about things, I've got no issue with what he says, even if I might still debate it
Would have liked another attacking option in the TC role, as it doesn't
seem like Jones thinks Dixon is really going to play a part for the
first team this season.
That said I really thought we'd lose at least one of Leaburn, Jones or Small this window, so keeping them and bringing in a couple of loans is not the end of the world for me, providing the new players can actually contribute to the squad. The ones who have left were mostly rubbish or not getting a game, so if McIntyre and Gilbert can actually offer some competition then I think overall we're stronger. Big 'if' until we see them play though obviously...
I think the real deflation is that neither signing seems like an oven ready ‘let’s have a crack at promotion’ type signing - more with an eye on the future
When Lee Bowyer brought in Parker, probably like many others, I wasn’t impressed and for most of the games he played, to me, it looked like we were carrying him and for a striker I can’t recall if he actually scored or not but we did look like a team that would win games and as it turned out we were awesome and won at Wembley against an equally strong Sunderland side. Parker was clearly the last piece in the jigsaw puzzle.
Just over two months ago I’d have had no issues if Nathan went. I wouldn’t have been the only one. We just didn’t look like a team at times. We do now and a lot of that has come at the same time as we’ve been playing with a consistent team selection. Trimming the squad down and bringing in just two players in those positions just looks like the right thing to have done if we are going to give it a good go at challenging for promotion. One, or both of them, could be this season’s ‘Parker’.
You may be right - Gilbert was a priority position for me to improve on Berry - my next priority was a deputy for TC and small, then an upgrade on Gillesphey. It's the missing TC / Small deputy that will hurt us - everything else in the window makes sense unless Gilbert really can cover for them as well and / or Dixon and Kanu manage to 'help out'
In a way Small and TC are each other’s cover. You only need one of those in a team and that we’ve got one on each wing is incredible. What’s not great is we’ve not quite worked out how to exploit them and I think it’s been the absence of a natural attacking central midfielder that’s been the missing link. Having one gives us a diamond formation in the opposition goal area and options for where a pass/cross/shot can be made. At present the only option is quite often just to blast it either at the first defender or towards the opposite corner flag.
In a team with no midfield creativity , you need both TC and Small . The only reason we’ve picked up is having both of them .
Then it’s a good job we added a creative midfielder yesterday then
I thought it was a very good window. We now have back up for the much maligned Gillesphey and a little bit of pressure applied for him to keep his place. Got rid of Campbell, Edun and REG and Pottts, none of whom were on the smallest of wages, considering where they came from. Now have a proper replacement for Luke Berry, rather than bringing on Karoy Anderson and changing the shape. Loaned out the young players in Assimwe and Mitchell, and gave Taylor game time at Northampton, all needed to be playing first team football, not just spending time at the training ground with no prospect of playing.. Lastly, didn't lose Small, Leaburn or Tyreece Campbell. Yeah I'm happy with that.
I'm in this boat
Me too cant believe the negativity on here of course a winger and a defensive midfield cover would had been good but keeping our sought after players and enhancing positions we were light in, overall I am happy with the window and think we will make the play offs
It's not been an impressive window, but I'm not convinced it needed to be. We have lost no-one that is important to the run we've been on since the Crawley debacle, we have gained in the one area we agreed we needed. If we maintain our form we will hit the playoffs, and I see no reason we'll go back to the dross we saw for months at the start of the season. We're never going to catch automatics. I'm angry at why it took so long to get it right this season, but as critical as I am of Jones over that, I'm equally impressed that the recent run we've looked more capable of creating a play off challenging side than anything since Bowyer. Success now looks like play-offs. Win, and we need to invest in the summer to survive. Lose, or miss out, and we need to invest to have a full season against an inevitably weaker League One. Either way, I'd say the summer is the time to build. Anything done in January would've been a stop gap at best, and I repeat: lost no one I care about losing, looks like we've filled the gap that needs filling. Just need some luck with injuries.
Comments
Anything else really isn't.
People need to chill a tad. I don't much about Gilbert but Boro seem to like him. Mcintyre was highly rated so not sure what happened but he can come here and find his feet again.
Either way, Berry needs competition and Gillesphey needs it especially as he is error prone, to put it politely.
Everyone though JRS was going to be bang average and look what happened there.
Give them a chance.
So the glass is half empty as far as I'm concerned. Yes we've held on to our "stars" for now and we are playing a lot better now than earlier in the season but I think our midfield looks vulnerable against another tough in your face type midfield like Rotherham and if/when Docherty or Coventry get suspended or injured we are woefully short of cover in those positions.
Not once have we made the playoffs.
So I see it as I see it.
Anyway I'll leave it there rather than clog the thread up.
Have a nice day and let's hope for a win on Saturday.
I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said. We actively weakened ourselves that window - and our results improved. That was the point I was making.
The parallels between that Jan window thread and this one are obvious https://forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/83865/charlton-l1-january-2019-transfer-rumours-ed-deadline-day-starts-p98/p140
If we had signed the lad from Sunderland we would have at least covered the three main positions that were identified by most of the posters on here. It is a shame they couldn't get it over the line because as a left footed winger he would offer something different.I would still like a keeper upgrade , but maybe that will happen in the summer.
Having not been aware of Gilbert or McIntyre , I reserve judgement . I have previously been positive about signings like Fraser , Ledley , Maddison and Watson only to be later disappointed. I accept that scouting is a lot more complex that just picking up players that had performed well against us and hope they prove to be assists.
On the outgoings.I hope that we made a profit on REG as selling to Orient wouldn't make sense overwise. With us ( for once ) having two excellent left footed full backs letting Edun leave seems sensible. Even Terry Taylor's departure has its advantages. It seems he played a key role and bagged an assist in the Cobblers win against our play off rivals Huddersfield on Saturday.
So what might be available in the free agent market?
Small wasn't on my radar last year. Could a similar scenario emerge this time?
To get promoted you need a squad, to cover for injuries, loss of form and to have options to change things up. Its concerning that anyone not in the 18 has been shipped out. I think it means we are wedding ourselves to this system for the rest of the season and accepting we wont go up. Chance to give kids some game time from the bench and see how they get on and then build a promotion squad from a relatively blank slate in the summer.
If we do by some miracle escape any injuries in key positions and make the playoffs we could do alright over 3 one off games. But its the half of the season remaining that concerns me. Injury to a key player and it fully has the potential to go off the rails.
Funny how when we hit a bad spell everything is wrong from top to bottom, but when things are going better, then that's not the right time to analyse them. It's let's wait and see where we finish instead, not the argument used when we were lower half earlier in the season as it didn't suit the negative narrative then.
Hopefully we will finish higher but maybe not.
Regarding Bolton sometimes when a team loses a playoff it can knock the stuffing out of them and they lose some players and go backwards.
Sometimes it gives them something to build on and they have a great next season.
Works both ways sometimes.
However I’m reminded that a year ago, we brought 4 defenders in the January transfer window, as we were shopping goals for fun, and in a downward trajectory heading for league 2.
So yes, whilst I’d have wished for more needed, and sexy signings, I am happy that we are chasing the playoffs, rather than heading into league 2.
If we fall short, we fall short, no amount of me jumping up and down, is going to change anything.
At some point there has got be accountability from the SMT towards the owners, they won’t put up with nonsense forever, so to sum it up, I’m disappointed, but chilled.
Btw Brad, i watched it, i dont think you smell of piss mate, just wanted to put that out there, great reply as well btw
If he's factual about things, I've got no issue with what he says, even if I might still debate it
Thanks for saying I don't smell of piss mate, means a lot.
I'm angry at why it took so long to get it right this season, but as critical as I am of Jones over that, I'm equally impressed that the recent run we've looked more capable of creating a play off challenging side than anything since Bowyer. Success now looks like play-offs. Win, and we need to invest in the summer to survive. Lose, or miss out, and we need to invest to have a full season against an inevitably weaker League One. Either way, I'd say the summer is the time to build. Anything done in January would've been a stop gap at best, and I repeat: lost no one I care about losing, looks like we've filled the gap that needs filling.
Just need some luck with injuries.