Started this thread not as a knee jerk reaction to the last two results but as a considered analysis of our season so far. Firstly I have no critisism to make of SCP. In my view he is the man to take us forward. Off the back of last seasons fantastic success there was not the investment in the team that I was hoping for and I suspect that was also true for Chris Powell. We are doing ok with what we have and our league position is in my view about right. This is the starting point. Where and how do we move forward from here. It was always the case that some of our players would thrive and others would fail the step up. It seems that the cull has already started with the disappearance of last seasons stalwarts, Hollands and the sidelining of BWP. In my view there is further pruning of recent favourites to be done unpalatable as that might be. Staying loyal to players is important but not at the expense of the overall well being of the team and club.
I am assuming that there will be funds made available in January and hopefully again in the summer. In my view it would be sensible to spend only enough this window to secure our Championship status with real rebuilding taking place at the end of the season. That does not alter the players that we need to consider as no longer part of next seasons future. I think the club needs to be ruthless. There are younger players like Cook, Bover and Harriot that are obviously still developing and I have not included this group and others in my own personal cull. Sadly I think we need to progressively replace Jackson, Kermorgant, Haynes, Kerkar, Green, Clarke,Taylor, Hughes, BWP, Hollands, Sullivan. I don't think any of those are going to take us into the top group of Championship clubs which is where we should be looking. I suspect that cases could be made for several of these based upon the players alongside them but on the whole I think this group is rightly so most at risk. Will the funds be available for this monumental change ? Well it's happened once.
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We need to change our style rather than our players.
Get the ball down on the floor and play.
Players like Yann have so much more to offer than challenging for headers.
CP can drill it into the players surely.
The mans got great feet and a good touch.
Yes, players come and go and we need to improve the squad as and when we can.
But "dead wood"? Most of those players are honest pros who played a vital role in a record breaking season. Some respect due for that and just because these are human beings.
I would question the assumption we'll have money to spend in January or next summer but that's for another thread.
So what if it is a expression "everyone understands". Use a better one that isn't so insulting and dismissive. Don't criticise me for your inability to express yourself without using a tired innappropriate cliche.
The players you listed were mostly not just "honest pros" but CHAMPIONS a few months ago.
For you they are now "dead wood", for me they are still champions regardless of whether I think they deserve to be in the current team or not.
A radical and rapid turnover of players is usual at most clubs nowadays, it is 'the modern way'. Our current squad is too big and lacks variety and quality, yet has done moderately well in a tough division .
I would like to see us go the Aston Villa/ Lambert, Liverpool/Rodgers route. Play the promising home grown youngsters REGULARLY and try to sign young promising players. The latter is part of the Powell philosophy yet he is loath to give any home grown young players a chance in the first team. If the youngsters are not up to it, move them on. This of course is a long term strategy. I know how fickle is the Charlton crowd. Many would not stand for a couple of seasons of struggle and development, far too many want glory NOW. And there is Powell's and the management's dilemma. In an era of instant gratification, there is far too little patience amongst fans and pundits. Jobs and careers are at risk unless 'growth' and 'development' are not only obvious, but almost instantaneous.
The obvious departures that could happen are Solly and Stephens, with the possibility of Hamer. I would only expect 1 of those 3 at the most to go in January.
If we get bids in I would not be unhappy to see Clarke, Hollands, BWP, Taylor, Sullivan, Green, Waggy in January and sadly Jackson in the summer. One of the keys though is that players only go if we can get others in that add to the squad. We do not want situations like when Abbot and Sodje went and we did not have adequate cover.
Either way I don't think January is the time to be doing major amounts of business, let's consolidate this season and then kick on in the summer.
Top post shooters hill
Evolution, not revolution.
I dont post a lot as i dont feel i can add much that has often already been said.
In the spirit of this thread though this site is becoming as predictable as a bad cliche. Starting to feel it could learn a thing or two from twitter.
Agreed.