Great news. The Play off final reminded us that different games call for different players and Pearce was a huge part of us winning that game. Sarr is great for the games where we will look to dominate position or need an alternative option for creating chances, but his head can go when the pressure's on and that's where Pearce really thrives. There's a slightly silly narrative that comes through sometimes that because Pearce isn't hitting 70 yard through balls he may as well not have feet but he's a tidy footballer and an excellent, committed defender. Really glad he's sticking around
Not his biggest fan, but obviously good news. Hope he's the first of many. Still don't even like the fact that JFC got a one year extension, but that's where we are now as a club.
As others have said, hope Taylor and Dijksteel follow. Would also like to see Sarr extend his stay. I think he started to show last year what he's capable of. Even if you don't rate the players, longer contracts help lock in their sell-on value should it come to that. So for me, I'm not convinced that at this stage of his career Pearce is going to consistently be a Championship level center half (for the upcoming season, yes). But if we stay up and get to next summer and think we can improve on him (or anyone, Sarr, Taylor, Dijksteel, etc.), we ensure a fee.
Forster-Caskey only got a one year deal because of his ACL last year though
Hate to say but I think thats sensible from the club as if we give him longer and he breaks down again (not recovering this time) then we're wasting wages
Would love it if we could tie Sarr down to a new deal; he's surely our highest earner now and will be a big problem on the budget Spreadsheet, if we lose him at the end of the season (If Roland is still in charge) then hopefully it gives us a bit more on transfers.. If though we can get him to sign a new deal now on lower terms it surely means we get to keep Sarr and use a bit more on transfers now
We’re going to have our backs to the wall for most of next season and Pearce’s leadership and battling qualities will be very important. We also, at present, only have 15 players.
The real test, however, will be getting Taylor and Dijksteel to sign extensions - and also to sign contracts without minuscule transfer fee release clauses. I’m not holding my breath under this dreadful owner.
Really pleased with this. I’m aware there’s been serious interest from another club and tbh, I was expecting him to leave.
We are not overflowing with experience and I suspect even less so once we’ve brought in the loans, so good to have another senior head and a leader in the squad
Spot on. We do not want to be losing more players from last year.
Am I the only one thinking that people are being a little harsh on Pearce? I thought him and Lockyer were fine when we had a fully fit squad, it's only recently that he's made a couple of errors and all of a sudden he's no where near good enough.
The defense has looked woeful as we have had no midfield at all, the opposition just attack at will and we're massively out numbered, all game, every game.
Am I the only one thinking that people are being a little harsh on Pearce? I thought him and Lockyer were fine when we had a fully fit squad, it's only recently that he's made a couple of errors and all of a sudden he's no where near good enough.
I just don't think he's first choice Championship quality. Happy to have hm and Deji ready to step in, but still think we need someone to come in and partner Lockyer.
But if we are going to be in a relegation scrap, I don't think many can say Pearce won't be ready for battle!
The midfield protection was weakening due to the midfielders being over played, now injuries and suspensions have made it worse. Pearce is not the quickest but his best game was up against the best striker in the league at Fulham, which was an old school defender attacker battle which he thrived.
Once the squad is back fully fit and the protection is back, Pearce will not be exposed as half as much.
Once the squad is back fully fit and the protection is back, Pearce will not be exposed as half as much.
And there is the situation .... Pearce is generally capable in a full strength side - but with a makeshift midfield and on the counter his vulnerabilities can be quickly exposed.
He's our warrior, leader and organiser and he can still a do a good job with the right people around him to cover the weaknesses in his game.
I think he would be fine alongside a quick partner behind a first choice midfield. Problem is Lockyer looks so more subtle and clinical in comparison, but Pearce is by no means as bad as some make out
Bowyer wants us to play out the back, and the simple fact is Pearce does not have the skill set to do that part of the game. This issue was not as glaring when Cullen was in the team and could either pass or dribble the ball out from the back for us.
I definitely believe we should play 4 at the back, but do you drop Pearce for Sarr who can help us build attacks from the back, but it prone to a howler. Or do you stick with the more defensively reliable Pearce, but then potentially concede possession easier.
His style of defending is now outdated. You can't get away with tugging a player's shirt a yard away from him.
Pearce only does that, when his opponent is slipping away from him - he's not now really quick enough for the Championship. But if team mates can help compensate, then his other qualities are invaluable.
Pearce is clearly suffering in form and confidence much like the rest of the team.
But as others have said it was only a few weeks ago he put in a real fighting display at Fulham. Ability wise he's not nosedived in just a few weeks, it's more the midfield not providing the support it was which is hurting Pearce.
Also, he shouldn't have been expected to play so much by now as Sarr really ought to have nailed down his place in the team by now.
Sarr is out of contract at the end of the season and I can't see him being offered a new contract so there's definitely value in Pearce being contracted until 2021 but I do feel we need a new LCB in January good enough to upgrade on Pearce and Sarr no youngsters on loan.
I don't think he has been that bad. As I watched last night I thought to myself, if only all our team had the passion, desire and bravery of Pearce, Lockyer ,Solly etc we would be fine.
Always laugh that the same people that say "I just want to see 11 players who give everything for the shirt and want to play for Charlton" then often critisise those that do.
If the likes of Leko and Sarr had half of Pearce's desire to win they would be PL regulars by now
Midfield is not helping him out whatsoever. One moment yesterday, Huddersfield had a goal kick, made two ground passes and had the ball on the edge of our box. That’s not acceptable. The lack of midfield and quality we have available is exposing the defence far too much and that’s why we are getting over run, unable to support the attackers, who are having to drop back into midfield meaning Bonne is even more isolated, nothing sticks and there is no protection other than Pratley who can’t do it all on his own. Gallagher is an excellent young player, but doesn’t have the discipline to be playing in a two man midfield but he has to because we have no other option. All of these contribute to the failings in defence. It puts so much pressure on them it makes their jobs so much harder.
Think he's limited at this level in any regard of ball-playing and he grabs shirts far too often but people are judging and marking him ludicrously harshly for yesterday. Think he basically did his job well.
His style of defending is now outdated. You can't get away with tugging a player's shirt a yard away from him.
Pearce only does that, when his opponent is slipping away from him - he's not now really quick enough for the Championship. But if team mates can help compensate, then his other qualities are invaluable.
That's not quite true, at least a couple of times in the last 2 games he was penalised for tugging the shirt when his opponent was facing away from goal in a non threatening position. Was absolutely no need for him to do it.
Considering we conceded in first minute at Middlesbrough and the last of three added minutes yesterday, the defence actually held firm for 180 minutes!
Pearcey has been a bit shaky recently, as has most of our defence, Dillion has been all right, but he can’t keep clean sheets all by himself.
Cullen and Field are big losses in my opinion, adding extra protection to our defence and breaking down attacks,you only notice what they do when they are not there.
I know some don’t rate Field, but he does put his body on the line a lot and block a lot of shots.
We are severely lacking creativity in midfield / dictating the play in midfield, hence the Naby cross field passes a lot, and because we’re not attacking and keeping the ball in the opponents third very much, moves break down easily, and there’s only so much pressure you can take defensively.
When I saw Pearce, Lockyer and Sarr starting at home yesterday, it showed me that Bowyer and Jacko , did not have ability in our midfield to dominate and dictate the game.
We are in a horrible run of form, the takeover can’t come soon enough, I’m not saving it will be a silver bullet, and everything will be all right, but the longer it drags on, the less chance there is of fixing the squad in January, and that is my real concern, keep the faith and let’s not turn on each other.
Pearce, Solly, Pratley, Purrington. All solid players who will do a good job if the rest of the team can offer what they don't - pace, skill, goals etc. Put them alongside too many inexperienced or inconsistent players and it exposes their weaknesses.
None of them are the answer longer term, but they'll all play a part this season. Just as the likes of Pritchard, Wilson, Wagstaff, Cort, Hughes etc did in Powell's squad.
To me Pearce has some strengths and some weaknesses, he is good at what he is good at. He has played most of his football at lower championship and top of league 1 level, which is about right IMO.
I am not really critical about his physical short comings, lack of pace, shirt pulling and being a tad slow. What I am critical of is where he lacks as a captain, leader and organiser. We have all seen very average players who can marshal a back 4, hold a line and talk others through a game. Pearce can't.
I can live with his short comings but he isn't John Terry or Tony Adams either.
To me Pearce has some strengths and some weaknesses, he is good at what he is good at. He has played most of his football at lower championship and top of league 1 level, which is about right IMO.
I am not really critical about his physical short comings, lack of pace, shirt pulling and being a tad slow. What I am critical of is where he lacks as a captain, leader and organiser. We have all seen very average players who can marshal a back 4, hold a line and talk others through a game. Pearce can't.
I can live with his short comings but he isn't John Terry or Tony Adams either.
Games tend to be won and lost in midfield. Win the midfield battle and your defence has an easy time. Lose the midfield battle and your defence is put under a lot of pressure. With our midfield decimated by injuries it's no wonder the defence is making more mistakes. Once our midfield is up and running the defence will be fine.
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How true I don't know.
Hate to say but I think thats sensible from the club as if we give him longer and he breaks down again (not recovering this time) then we're wasting wages
Would love it if we could tie Sarr down to a new deal; he's surely our highest earner now and will be a big problem on the budget Spreadsheet, if we lose him at the end of the season (If Roland is still in charge) then hopefully it gives us a bit more on transfers.. If though we can get him to sign a new deal now on lower terms it surely means we get to keep Sarr and use a bit more on transfers now
The real test, however, will be getting Taylor and Dijksteel to sign extensions - and also to sign contracts without minuscule transfer fee release clauses. I’m not holding my breath under this dreadful owner.
But if we are going to be in a relegation scrap, I don't think many can say Pearce won't be ready for battle!
Once the squad is back fully fit and the protection is back, Pearce will not be exposed as half as much.
He's our warrior, leader and organiser and he can still a do a good job with the right people around him to cover the weaknesses in his game.
I definitely believe we should play 4 at the back, but do you drop Pearce for Sarr who can help us build attacks from the back, but it prone to a howler. Or do you stick with the more defensively reliable Pearce, but then potentially concede possession easier.
But as others have said it was only a few weeks ago he put in a real fighting display at Fulham. Ability wise he's not nosedived in just a few weeks, it's more the midfield not providing the support it was which is hurting Pearce.
Also, he shouldn't have been expected to play so much by now as Sarr really ought to have nailed down his place in the team by now.
Sarr is out of contract at the end of the season and I can't see him being offered a new contract so there's definitely value in Pearce being contracted until 2021 but I do feel we need a new LCB in January good enough to upgrade on Pearce and Sarr no youngsters on loan.
Always laugh that the same people that say "I just want to see 11 players who give everything for the shirt and want to play for Charlton" then often critisise those that do.
If the likes of Leko and Sarr had half of Pearce's desire to win they would be PL regulars by now
Cullen and Field are big losses in my opinion, adding extra protection to our defence and breaking down attacks,you only notice what they do when they are not there.
I know some don’t rate Field, but he does put his body on the line a lot and block a lot of shots.
We are severely lacking creativity in midfield / dictating the play in midfield, hence the Naby cross field passes a lot, and because we’re not attacking and keeping the ball in the opponents third very much, moves break down easily, and there’s only so much pressure you can take defensively.
When I saw Pearce, Lockyer and Sarr starting at home yesterday, it showed me that Bowyer and Jacko , did not have ability in our midfield to dominate and dictate the game.
We are in a horrible run of form, the takeover can’t come soon enough, I’m not saving it will be a silver bullet, and everything will be all right, but the longer it drags on, the less chance there is of fixing the squad in January, and that is my real concern, keep the faith and let’s not turn on each other.
None of them are the answer longer term, but they'll all play a part this season. Just as the likes of Pritchard, Wilson, Wagstaff, Cort, Hughes etc did in Powell's squad.
I am not really critical about his physical short comings, lack of pace, shirt pulling and being a tad slow. What I am critical of is where he lacks as a captain, leader and organiser. We have all seen very average players who can marshal a back 4, hold a line and talk others through a game. Pearce can't.
I can live with his short comings but he isn't John Terry or Tony Adams either.
Win the midfield battle and your defence has an easy time.
Lose the midfield battle and your defence is put under a lot of pressure.
With our midfield decimated by injuries it's no wonder the defence is making more mistakes.
Once our midfield is up and running the defence will be fine.