While I suppose any signing is encouraging, am I alone in thinking Phillips could of stepped up to first choice this year, thus enabling more money to be spent strengthening the team in midfield? I saw him play a lot for Cheltenham last year and he always looked class, albeit at a lower standard. I haven't seen any of the friendlies, has he done anything to suggest that he couldn't of been our first choice keeper?
We are owned by a Billionaire. We can still spend money strengthening the team in midfield if he chooses.
But we are run by an arsehole who has targets and only cares about herself.
While I suppose any signing is encouraging, am I alone in thinking Phillips could of stepped up to first choice this year, thus enabling more money to be spent strengthening the team in midfield? I saw him play a lot for Cheltenham last year and he always looked class, albeit at a lower standard. I haven't seen any of the friendlies, has he done anything to suggest that he couldn't of been our first choice keeper?
Why risk someone 'stepping up' when we can sign someone that is 100% too good for this league ?.
We need at least 3 in that midfield. Jackson, Crofts, Ba, Kashi, Foley will not create goals.
Jackson might, but he would get over-run. Kashi again when fit could be useful. but i do agree we need at least 2 in the midfield who can create, today's the day....
We need at least 3 in that midfield. Jackson, Crofts, Ba, Kashi, Foley will not create goals.
Jackson might, but he would get over-run. Kashi again when fit could be useful. but i do agree we need at least 2 in the midfield who can create, today's the day....
I can see that Perhaps Slade wants a midfield that breaks up the opposition play first and foremost giving us a lot of possession. It might well mean that from midfield the ball is either very quickly got wide or knocked into Novak.
I would like a creative attacking midfielder brought in but it's not an easy find or always essential in league one. In Lookman, assuming he stays and with Novak and Ajose I think we can create enough chances if the midfield get decent possession.
I understand what people are saying about Phillips being a risk and that we are being run by a billionaire so we can afford an experienced keeper. My point is however that if Douchbag or Meire have decided there is only a small finite amount of resources to be spent, then playing Phillips would be a lesser risk than playing without a decent midfield.
I understand what people are saying about Phillips being a risk and that we are being run by a billionaire so we can afford an experienced keeper. My point is however that if Douchbag or Meire have decided there is only a small finite amount of resources to be spent, then playing Phillips would be a lesser risk than playing without a decent midfield.
Disagree. Having a GK who has lost confidence would be a disaster.
The midfield we have is not exactly how I would want it to be but it will function and will be far from the worst in the division.
Signing an experienced GK was our number one priority.
I understand what people are saying about Phillips being a risk and that we are being run by a billionaire so we can afford an experienced keeper. My point is however that if Douchbag or Meire have decided there is only a small finite amount of resources to be spent, then playing Phillips would be a lesser risk than playing without a decent midfield.
We have purged half our squad and supposedly got good money for Pope, if thy decide we have no money it's because they are cunts.. Not because we signed a keeper
*Gudmundssons assists. I'm not sure Holmes will be capable of that.
This. Keeping it down to only 11 assists in a whole season could be tricky if we've now got 3 new players that supposedly scored more goals last season than our championship level squad got between them
Links with both Norwich & Swindon, what with Ajose & now Rudd, there could be some legs on this one. Charlton midfield could definitely do with some more legs. Not sure if he fits the creative midfielder needed to tee up chances for AJose as Wikki doesn't mention assists.
Links with both Norwich & Swindon, what with Ajose & now Rudd, there could be some legs on this one. Charlton midfield could definitely do with some more legs.
(Not sure if he fits the creative midfielder needed to tee up chances for AJose).
Get a grip man!! Didn't we have Scot Carson when we got relegated. A good keeper doesn't get promotion alone, it helps if the 10 in front do their job as well......
Links with both Norwich & Swindon, what with Ajose & now Rudd, there could be some legs on this one. Charlton midfield could definitely do with some more legs. Not sure if he fits the creative midfielder needed to tee up chances for AJose as Wikki doesn't mention assists.
133 appearances - 128 in league one (2 goals).
Swindon player of the year, 2012/13, 2013/14 - that's a good sign.
Can't say I've seen him play. Going on Transfer Market and his goals record, he isn't a goal getter and according to TM is a Defensive Midfielder first and foremost. Not at home to have a look at FIFA.
I don't think that defensive midfield is an area where we're particularly weak. We have Crofts, and when fit Diarra (given he's still suffering from the hairline fracture it's really pain management with him), and Kashi. Plus, I think JJ should be coached to play there. RCC potentially coming in, along with Djiksteel, also play roughly in that role. My point being, I think we're are far more lacking for midfielders with a range of passing and the ability to create and possibly score goals than we are for "spoilers."
I suspect that Slade, playing a flat 4-4-2, will want two engine room midfielders who can play as spoilers. The objective will be to either go back to front quickly, or try to get it to wingers to create something. The problem is, we don't have any creative players who can play centrally (Harriott and Lookman both have), and I'm not entirely convinced that Harriott and Holmes are the types to make something out of nothing. I think Lookman has that ability, but I don't know if 1) he'll still be here Sept. 1 and 2) if we should place that much expectation on a soon-to-be 19 year old.
Furthermore, in Fox and Solly we don't have the best of overlapping fullbacks who are genuinely dangerous going forward and who can create the 2-v-1 situations on the flanks to really cause teams dangers. Foley, if signed, wouldn't fall into that category either and I think THD needs to work on strength, defensive positioning, and cutting out errors before he can be trusted week-on-week.
Time will tell. Given the quality he brings, I think Rudd is a good signing. Hopefully bringing in one more keeper allows us to send Phillips out on loan, which would be best for his development at this point. But, in looking at our team and in the pre-season performances, I think we should be focusing on the attacking side of the game when it comes to transfers.
Louis Thompson, not his brother, Nathan, who his 25 as to Louis, 21, Louis has at least played pretty consistently in League One for Swindon over the last 2 years, no idea of how good he is or the type of creative / forward playing midfielder / or decent wide midfield that Charlton need. Welsh Under 21, so probably knows Morgan Fox as well.
Edit - @SDAddick says that Louis Thompson is another defensive midfielder.
Comments
I would like a creative attacking midfielder brought in but it's not an easy find or always essential in league one. In Lookman, assuming he stays and with Novak and Ajose I think we can create enough chances if the midfield get decent possession.
The midfield we have is not exactly how I would want it to be but it will function and will be far from the worst in the division.
Signing an experienced GK was our number one priority.
We have purged half our squad and supposedly got good money for Pope, if thy decide we have no money it's because they are cunts.. Not because we signed a keeper
We are a third tier club now. Forget the likes of Gudmundsson for the time being.
Links with both Norwich & Swindon, what with Ajose & now Rudd, there could be some legs on this one. Charlton midfield could definitely do with some more legs. Not sure if he fits the creative midfielder needed to tee up chances for AJose as Wikki doesn't mention assists.
133 appearances - 128 in league one (2 goals).
Swindon player of the year, 2012/13, 2013/14 -
Unfortunately, that's Nathan Thompson brother of
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Thompson.
Nathan is his brother - 75 appearances - 2 goals, Welsh Under 21.
No idea if Louis Thompson is any good but the Swindon / Norwich connection holds.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Thompson
http://www.transfermarkt.com/louis-thompson/profil/spieler/207771
I don't think that defensive midfield is an area where we're particularly weak. We have Crofts, and when fit Diarra (given he's still suffering from the hairline fracture it's really pain management with him), and Kashi. Plus, I think JJ should be coached to play there. RCC potentially coming in, along with Djiksteel, also play roughly in that role. My point being, I think we're are far more lacking for midfielders with a range of passing and the ability to create and possibly score goals than we are for "spoilers."
I suspect that Slade, playing a flat 4-4-2, will want two engine room midfielders who can play as spoilers. The objective will be to either go back to front quickly, or try to get it to wingers to create something. The problem is, we don't have any creative players who can play centrally (Harriott and Lookman both have), and I'm not entirely convinced that Harriott and Holmes are the types to make something out of nothing. I think Lookman has that ability, but I don't know if 1) he'll still be here Sept. 1 and 2) if we should place that much expectation on a soon-to-be 19 year old.
Furthermore, in Fox and Solly we don't have the best of overlapping fullbacks who are genuinely dangerous going forward and who can create the 2-v-1 situations on the flanks to really cause teams dangers. Foley, if signed, wouldn't fall into that category either and I think THD needs to work on strength, defensive positioning, and cutting out errors before he can be trusted week-on-week.
Time will tell. Given the quality he brings, I think Rudd is a good signing. Hopefully bringing in one more keeper allows us to send Phillips out on loan, which would be best for his development at this point. But, in looking at our team and in the pre-season performances, I think we should be focusing on the attacking side of the game when it comes to transfers.
Edit - @SDAddick says that Louis Thompson is another defensive midfielder.
Bit off the pace today !