We won't sign anyone better than May this window. We don't seem to have any interest in replacing CBT despite letting him go 6 months ago. We really struggled to score last season as it is... Can't wait to watch another mid table battle
To be fair, we have no interest in replacing CBT because we’re not playing with wingers any more. If we switch to a lb and lw during the game, it sounds like Small and Edwards can play both positions.
You may be right about the mid table battle, but I’m confident based on the players recruited, the better science department and the most qualified manager we’ve had in years that this will be the best season we’ve had in a while.
We lost JRS after the 22/23 season, didnt replace him / his goals and finished lower in 23/24.
We've lost CBT in 23/24, haven't replaced him /his goals (because we dont now play with wingers ?) and..........
We lost 11 games before CBT left
We only lost 3 games after CBT left. Sounds like we were better off without him.
I’m of course being deliberately provocative there but the point I’m making is that we didn’t need a like for like replacement because he wouldn’t have fit the system the manager wanted to play. Instead they brought in Thierry Small who was far more effective at being a wing back than CBT was.
I think it's more the replacements that worry me now and getting the right quality of players in that can make a real difference. Might have to be 2 quality strikers and a goalscoring No10 to bridge the gap in goals we're losing. Whoever comes in is going to have to hit the ground running.
Very hard to replace last seasons top goal scorer.
The bloke who was second got promoted.
3rd was Devante Cole (?). I suppose we could try bidding for him.
Or take a punt on someone who scored 11 goals in this league last season (his best ever).
I'm glad it's not my decision.
I think that sums it up quite well, it's a decision that's incredibly difficult but incredibly vital . That's why Scott and NJ are getting paid the big bucks to get this right.
I wouldn't mind Devante Cole actually as an option he's available on a free
We won't sign anyone better than May this window. We don't seem to have any interest in replacing CBT despite letting him go 6 months ago. We really struggled to score last season as it is... Can't wait to watch another mid table battle
To be fair, we have no interest in replacing CBT because we’re not playing with wingers any more. If we switch to a lb and lw during the game, it sounds like Small and Edwards can play both positions.
You may be right about the mid table battle, but I’m confident based on the players recruited, the better science department and the most qualified manager we’ve had in years that this will be the best season we’ve had in a while.
We lost JRS after the 22/23 season, didnt replace him / his goals and finished lower in 23/24.
We've lost CBT in 23/24, haven't replaced him /his goals (because we dont now play with wingers ?) and..........
We lost 11 games before CBT left
We only lost 3 games after CBT left. Sounds like we were better off without him.
I’m of course being deliberately provocative there but the point I’m making is that we didn’t need a like for like replacement because he wouldn’t have fit the system the manager wanted to play. Instead they brought in Thierry Small who was far more effective at being a wing back than CBT was.
But it's the goals we are missing. Losing JRS, then CBT.......and now Alfie
Yes we might not now be playing with wingers but that leaves a problem......
WHERE ARE THE GOALS GOING TO COME FROM.
Jeez......its not rocket science. We've now replaced goal scoring wingers with non-goal scoring wing backs. And now we are going to sell our top goalscorer.
And its not like we've signed players who can score the goals that we've lost over the last 18 months. I really do hope there is a plan there somewhere because I cant see it.
If Jones can not find a system that Alfie fits into then the Welsh windbag should go
I find it difficult to understand why Jones can't find a place in the team for a striker who gives 100% every game & more or less guarantees you 20+ goals a season.
Maybe that was why he was such a failure at Saints & Stoke
How many goals does he score with his head, or make clearances with his head? How many assists did he have? How good is he at winning the ball and holding it up to bring others into play? Well sorry, but you did ask.
It's clear why Jones doesn't want him starting games. Whether that will be the right decision no one knows. I'm not happy, but it may or may not be a good decision.
Yeah they said the same thing about Killer, all he does is score goals.
That 1985/86 promotion after he left the club to go to Gillingham must’ve never happened if moving on your top scorer is such a disaster…
Ha Ha are you for real ? Killer was way past his best at that point hence going to Gillingham FFS, slightly different from the Alfie May situation.
I think it's reasonable to assume Jones may have been told there is very little to spend on transfer fees unless you generate it yourself through sales.
The only fit player who could generate a "large enough"sale fee is Alfie May. So if the manager thinks he doesn't fit into the style of play and he doesn't really have the option to keep him as a squad player if he wants to pay fees for others ... Plus if May wants to be a regular starter .... I've no idea if it'll work out, I'll reserve judgement. But we sold Jenkinson, bought a load of replacements and got promoted.
It doesn’t matter how you dress it up, selling Alfie May, the best goalscorer in league 1, to another promotion chasing league 1 team is appalling business.
Not only are you assisting a promotion rival but on top of that, there is not one realistic replacement you can bring in that will be a better goal scorer than the best goalscorer in league 1.
It’s as simple as that.
Not sure why there can’t just be one season without us doing a Charlton and completely self sabotaging any chance we have of getting promoted out of this poxy league.
I didn’t want Alfie to go but if his family have been unable to settle here then I understand him moving to Huddersfield. Huddersfield to Doncaster 1hr 8min. Charlton to Doncaster 3hrs 10min.
He literally lived further away for a couple of years in Cheltenham, unless it’s quicker to get the Doncaster from there?
EXACTLY!!!!
She lived in Yorkshire with the two boys and he lived in Cheltenham. When they got here he was happy because he was seeing his kids more often and they were together as a proper family. They were really happy. So let’s not pin this whole scenario on his wife - she’s really supportive of Alfie.
If Alfie is moving it’s between him and the club
The club said he can go, so Alfie managed to get a move. Hopefully on a massive pay rise.
Do I think it's a terrible decision? Don't know. It depends on who else we bring in, and what formation Jones wants to play. I'm twitchy, but if it's Jones' decision, which seems to be the case rather than his hand being forced, then I can accept it.
750k is a fair price for a lower league goal scorer in his 30s, who's never played higher than L1, AND who can't play the lone striker role that so many managers now favour.
I think it's reasonable to assume Jones may have been told there is very little to spend on transfer fees unless you generate it yourself through sales.
The only fit player who could generate a "large enough"sale fee is Alfie May. So if the manager thinks he doesn't fit into the style of play and he doesn't really have the option to keep him as a squad player if he wants to pay fees for others ... Plus if May wants to be a regular starter .... I've no idea if it'll work out, I'll reserve judgement. But we sold Jenkinson, bought a load of replacements and got promoted.
I think now the term "trust the process" is quite pertinent
I'm enthused by the purchases we've made and I don't agree with selling Alfie (if we do)- but I do see some logic behind it. If we get promoted he'll be 32 - his value is never going to be as high as it is right now. We all know that. Another thing to consider is Alfie was late into the game. He didn't follow the "academy route" and so he maybe doesn't have the diligence Nathan likes in his players. He wants players that play in zones, not mavericks who drift about - which Alfie has a tendency to do. You can't argue it's not effective for him but I get the impression it infuriates Nathan. Factor in too that Alfie freely admitted to me he needed to be playing regularly and, it would seem, he either was told he wouldn't be a guaranteed starter or he figured it out for himself and so has been looking to move all summer. We just don't know but the allure of being near his wife's family, presumably being paid more, presumably picking up a nice slice of money for the transfer and working for a manager he really enjoyed. It all stacks up I suppose.
As much as the rumoured £750k fee seems light - it would be the 3rd largest League 1 to League 1 transfer fee ever (Mo Eisa (24) and our mate John Marquis (27) - both in 2019 the only ones higher) so when you look at it that way you can perhaps see some of the rationale behind it.
I'm just trying to see some light at the end of the tunnel here - I just hope it’s not a train coming at me!
PWR other posts. Entirely agree with the comments here, but if May wants to go &/or we are happy to lose to a promotion rival, it shouldn’t be for £750K. If he was a Peterborough player, no way would they be selling him for that, despite his age. Guaranteed goals should mean guaranteed top price.
JCH went for nothing.
Out of contract though, Alfie isn’t.
Precisely. They couldn't sell him/he refused to go, so they got nothing.
May has about three seasons left in top level football. His wife knew his job when they met.
Tell her to wait three years then they have the rest of their lives to spend up North.
The family thing IS bollocks. Sorry it just is.
You married a footballer! Ffs
So because she married a footballer, she automatically has to settle and be happy?
they have three young kids? Alfie is at work all day and away working all over the country. She is at home with the kids away from parents and friends but yet, how dare she want to be near home
but Alfie, rein your woman in!!!!! Stupid comment!!!!
I think it's reasonable to assume Jones may have been told there is very little to spend on transfer fees unless you generate it yourself through sales.
The only fit player who could generate a "large enough"sale fee is Alfie May. So if the manager thinks he doesn't fit into the style of play and he doesn't really have the option to keep him as a squad player if he wants to pay fees for others ... Plus if May wants to be a regular starter .... I've no idea if it'll work out, I'll reserve judgement. But we sold Jenkinson, bought a load of replacements and got promoted.
Selling Jenkinson was more of a "jam tomorrow" type sale of a talented youngster, where you get the fee because of his potential, rather than his worth to the first team at the moment.
If Jones just wanted the money, then I would imagine he's prefer to sell someone like Zach Mitchell, or even Leaburn if a club is happy to take the injury risk.
If Jones can not find a system that Alfie fits into then the Welsh windbag should go
I find it difficult to understand why Jones can't find a place in the team for a striker who gives 100% every game & more or less guarantees you 20+ goals a season.
Maybe that was why he was such a failure at Saints & Stoke
How many goals does he score with his head, or make clearances with his head?
Jesus....I've heard it all now.
That Simonsen bloke was crap. Too small, couldn't defend corners & couldn't out jump their 6ft 3 centre half. So glad we gave him back to Barcelona.
Haha
( He actually went back to Vejle BK his boyhood club)
It doesn’t matter how you dress it up, selling Alfie May, the best goalscorer in league 1, to another promotion chasing league 1 team is appalling business.
Not only are you assisting a promotion rival but on top of that, there is not one realistic replacement you can bring in that will be a better goal scorer than the best goalscorer in league 1.
It’s as simple as that.
Not sure why there can’t just be one season without us doing a Charlton and completely self sabotaging any chance we have of getting promoted out of this poxy league.
Because we're owned & run by idiots & this is now our level. People can LOL & call me negative but I seriously don't see us getting out of this division at least until we have owners who know what they're doing rather than letting a bunch of chancers basically appoint themselves as the SMT.
Didn't he move down this way to be closer to family?!
Only his brother .. his wife was from Doncaster and they still owned a house up there
Doncaster will still be there in two years time, an it’s hardly fecking Australia is it…. ? So don’t believe this the the driver. As said, he wanted to come here to get closer to his home roots.
I think it's reasonable to assume Jones may have been told there is very little to spend on transfer fees unless you generate it yourself through sales.
The only fit player who could generate a "large enough"sale fee is Alfie May. So if the manager thinks he doesn't fit into the style of play and he doesn't really have the option to keep him as a squad player if he wants to pay fees for others ... Plus if May wants to be a regular starter .... I've no idea if it'll work out, I'll reserve judgement. But we sold Jenkinson, bought a load of replacements and got promoted.
Selling Jenkinson was more of a "jam tomorrow" type sale of a talented youngster, where you get the fee because of his potential, rather than his worth to the first team at the moment.
If Jones just wanted the money, then I would imagine he's prefer to sell someone like Zach Mitchell, or even Leaburn if a club is happy to take the injury risk.
I doubt we'd get £750K for Zach Mitchell or an injured Leaburn. Even if we could get £750K for Leaburn, I'd assume Jones would prefer to keep him as he's big and will likely be worth more in a year or two. May will be worth less in a year or two.
If Jones can not find a system that Alfie fits into then the Welsh windbag should go
I find it difficult to understand why Jones can't find a place in the team for a striker who gives 100% every game & more or less guarantees you 20+ goals a season.
Maybe that was why he was such a failure at Saints & Stoke
How many goals does he score with his head, or make clearances with his head? How many assists did he have? How good is he at winning the ball and holding it up to bring others into play? Well sorry, but you did ask.
It's clear why Jones doesn't want him starting games. Whether that will be the right decision no one knows. I'm not happy, but it may or may not be a good decision.
Yeah they said the same thing about Killer, all he does is score goals.
That 1985/86 promotion after he left the club to go to Gillingham must’ve never happened if moving on your top scorer is such a disaster…
Ha Ha are you for real ? Killer was way past his best at that point hence going to Gillingham FFS, slightly different from the Alfie May situation.
It's really not that different - the club made a different decision to keep Hales for longer and got far less money for him than they could have. If the club made an optimal decision back then, they might've got some money for him 1-2 years before it was evident that he was past his best.
Alfie's percentage of shots on target over the last three seasons have steadily declined from 45% in 21/22, to 41% in 22/23, to 36% while with us. His on target shots last season from non-penalty situations amounted to roughly 13 expected goals but he got 17, likely through a combination of luck and bad goalkeeping. There are arguments to be made that Alfie, on the "wrong side" of 30, is already on a decline and the numbers are going to catch up with him at some point.
All that is to say it's still a massive risk and not one I would personally choose to make without a significant fee being received for him.
Alfies brother, and parents are in West Malling/Kings Hill area
Alfie was home for about an hour last week (Tuesday or Wednesday) and I heard him putting some stuff in the car. Then the kids and Lauren got in and they left and haven’t been home since so I was surprised to see him playing cricket in the area last weekend as I assumed they were up north.
their house is back on the market too so I figured last week this would be the outcome but didn’t want to say as it’s not my place.
they both loved it here and wanted to stay here but it wasn’t to be. I think there may be personal reasons playing a part in this too but that’s none of anyone’s business.
Okay, I’m not being funny but am I honestly the only one seeing how contradictory and ridiculous this is? Maybe I am I don’t know and maybe it’s because we live in a world where everyone wants to know more and more about things even if there isn’t anything more to know if it’s not to do with them. We’ve become a desperate society.
Saying it’s not anyone’s business whilst also telling everyone the name of his wife, where they live, where roughly his brother and parents live, previously uploading a photo of their home, saying they haven’t been back home for a week and whatever else over however long it’s been, whilst also saying you didn’t want to say as it’s not your place is simply an astounding level of hypocrisy and ignorance. Even if he wasn’t moving to Huddersfield, which it looks as though he is, I wouldn’t blame him he was instead looking to move away, even if you helped him find this place, as all of his business is aired on a fans forum. But it’s not anyone’s business 😅
Fully anticipate backlash from this and it’s important to keep to the topic I know, but deary me.
Honestly now, this forum is full of adults....players come and go! There is nothing that can be done and you might not like it but you have to get on with it.
We have to see what the club up there sleeve. It might surprise us.
Either way, I am sure NJ has a plan and for now, that's good enough for me.
What is all this snobbery about how an adult should feel over Charlton related activity?
I spend a ridiculous amount of money following and watching Charlton, players like May and Dobson make those drives and shit journies home a bit more bearable.
If people spend their hard earned, and are sacrificing their time and money to follow this club, it's perfectly acceptable for people to be pissed off when the club makes poor decisions.
This lethargic approach of 'crying' 'grown adults' 'bed wetters' etc is a complete piss take. It's fans who give a shit about the team venting, all the sniping is proper frustrating to read.
Yeah I have to say it's getting pretty tiresome that whenever people on this board show passion for the club or one of its players, they get accused of bed wetting, crying, not being a grown man, etc.
It's called having a passion. We're not armchair Man Utd fans. In Argentina, people cry when they score a goal!
If you prefer to support from a more distanced place, by all means, but I don't see any need to try and humiliate others fans who are more invested.
There’s nothing dispassionate about taking the opposite approach to all this. I have watched almost every Charlton men’s, women’s, youth games that I possibly can. I have plenty of passion for CAFC.
Regarding what @Braziliance about the club making “poor decisions”. On the surface it does seem bonkers, but no one knows yet whether it’s a poor decision or a stroke of genius. Would it still be a poor decision if we get promoted and Huddersfield don’t?
It’s been quite clear from March / April that Jones hasn’t fancied Alfie. We don’t know why and I doubt we ever will. But he is the manager and he will live with the consequences of his decisions.
Everyone six months ago hated the model of players being forced on a manager and wanted the manager to be able to choose his squad. Now we have a manager with the remit to do it and the same people are upset because the manager doesn’t want the striker every fan loves.
I doubt if Jones will last the season if we are not challenging.
Same. I think we’ll be up there, with or without Alfie.
Based on what? Can only be pure hope at this point surely, as the squad is nowhere near where it needs to be.
The fact we finished the season strong and signing some good players and just putting the right systems in place behind the scenes . I think it’s a good time to be following Charlton with or with Alfie May.
Are you on commission to write this unrelenting drivel in support of this joke SMT? Have some pride!
Do I think it's a terrible decision? Don't know. It depends on who else we bring in, and what formation Jones wants to play. I'm twitchy, but if it's Jones' decision, which seems to be the case rather than his hand being forced, then I can accept it.
750k is a fair price for a lower league goal scorer in his 30s, who's never played higher than L1, AND who can't play the lone striker role that so many managers now favour.
This about sums up my own take on it. It is not a decision I am particularly happy about nor would I honestly say I agree with it but I can see what the possible logic behind the idea is - even if I don't find it convincing personally.
Jones appears to be given the responsibility and authority that several previous coaches lacked and as such will sink or swim based on his own decisions. I can and do hope its the latter but the former remains a distinct possibility in my mind.
So, my landscape Gardner is good friends with Alfie May and his dad. What he told me earlier this week is that he’s off to Huddersfield but a fee hadn’t been agreed. The reason he’s off … and I don’t know how true this is but he doesn’t get on with Nathan Jones. Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just passing on what I was told
Is it because Alfie likes table tennis? I do worry about managers who can’t work with the best players because of their ego.
Comments
I think that sums it up quite well, it's a decision that's incredibly difficult but incredibly vital . That's why Scott and NJ are getting paid the big bucks to get this right.
I wouldn't mind Devante Cole actually as an option he's available on a free
Yes we might not now be playing with wingers but that leaves a problem......
WHERE ARE THE GOALS GOING TO COME FROM.
Jeez......its not rocket science. We've now replaced goal scoring wingers with non-goal scoring wing backs. And now we are going to sell our top goalscorer.
And its not like we've signed players who can score the goals that we've lost over the last 18 months. I really do hope there is a plan there somewhere because I cant see it.
Easy to say Alfie wanted to move back due to family reasons.
Total horse****.
The only fit player who could generate a "large enough"sale fee is Alfie May.
So if the manager thinks he doesn't fit into the style of play and he doesn't really have the option to keep him as a squad player if he wants to pay fees for others ...
Plus if May wants to be a regular starter ....
I've no idea if it'll work out, I'll reserve judgement.
But we sold Jenkinson, bought a load of replacements and got promoted.
Not only are you assisting a promotion rival but on top of that, there is not one realistic replacement you can bring in that will be a better goal scorer than the best goalscorer in league 1.
Do I think it's a terrible decision? Don't know. It depends on who else we bring in, and what formation Jones wants to play. I'm twitchy, but if it's Jones' decision, which seems to be the case rather than his hand being forced, then I can accept it.
750k is a fair price for a lower league goal scorer in his 30s, who's never played higher than L1, AND who can't play the lone striker role that so many managers now favour.
They couldn't sell him/he refused to go, so they got nothing.
they have three young kids? Alfie is at work all day and away working all over the country. She is at home with the kids away from parents and friends but yet, how dare she want to be near home
but Alfie, rein your woman in!!!!! Stupid comment!!!!
If Jones just wanted the money, then I would imagine he's prefer to sell someone like Zach Mitchell, or even Leaburn if a club is happy to take the injury risk.
( He actually went back to Vejle BK his boyhood club)
Even if we could get £750K for Leaburn, I'd assume Jones would prefer to keep him as he's big and will likely be worth more in a year or two. May will be worth less in a year or two.
Saying it’s not anyone’s business whilst also telling everyone the name of his wife, where they live, where roughly his brother and parents live, previously uploading a photo of their home, saying they haven’t been back home for a week and whatever else over however long it’s been, whilst also saying you didn’t want to say as it’s not your place is simply an astounding level of hypocrisy and ignorance. Even if he wasn’t moving to Huddersfield, which it looks as though he is, I wouldn’t blame him he was instead looking to move away, even if you helped him find this place, as all of his business is aired on a fans forum. But it’s not anyone’s business 😅
Fully anticipate backlash from this and it’s important to keep to the topic I know, but deary me.
Jones appears to be given the responsibility and authority that several previous coaches lacked and as such will sink or swim based on his own decisions. I can and do hope its the latter but the former remains a distinct possibility in my mind.