The problem with Deji is that he swings from one extreme to the other far too regularly for a defender. He's got the physical attributes and can sometimes be brilliant at centre back but then he'll suddenly flip, his brain will switch off and he'll give the ball away for no reason or get his positioning completely wrong and pass up a chance to the opposition. You really can't have that happening so regularly at centre back so he's far more suited to playing as a right back. He's not really a specialist there either though so he'll always be a back up in that position. He seems to have issues communicating with his defensive partners as well and definitely can't lead a backline. His level is the lower end of L1 and that's probably where he'll get a contract
Same as we've seen from Pearce, Famewo, Pratley, Gunter and less often Inniss.
The problem with Deji is that he swings from one extreme to the other far too regularly for a defender. He's got the physical attributes and can sometimes be brilliant at centre back but then he'll suddenly flip, his brain will switch off and he'll give the ball away for no reason or get his positioning completely wrong and pass up a chance to the opposition. You really can't have that happening so regularly at centre back so he's far more suited to playing as a right back. He's not really a specialist there either though so he'll always be a back up in that position. He seems to have issues communicating with his defensive partners as well and definitely can't lead a backline. His level is the lower end of L1 and that's probably where he'll get a contract
Same as we've seen from Pearce, Famewo, Pratley, Gunter and less often Inniss.
Two of whom are not CBs by trade and of those who are, Famewo is younger and has a much higher potential ceiling and Pearce is very much on the decline. We need a decent specialist CB as cover and Deji just isn't it. I'd be tempted to keep him around as RB cover potentially but I would like/hope that role will be taken by Gunter with a first choice in as replacement, so it's sayonara to Oshilaja sadly.
He goes with good wishes but I think we have to be aiming higher, even as backup.
The problem with Deji is that he swings from one extreme to the other far too regularly for a defender. He's got the physical attributes and can sometimes be brilliant at centre back but then he'll suddenly flip, his brain will switch off and he'll give the ball away for no reason or get his positioning completely wrong and pass up a chance to the opposition. You really can't have that happening so regularly at centre back so he's far more suited to playing as a right back. He's not really a specialist there either though so he'll always be a back up in that position. He seems to have issues communicating with his defensive partners as well and definitely can't lead a backline. His level is the lower end of L1 and that's probably where he'll get a contract
I wonder how he would have looked with either Famewo or Inniss?
For all Pearce's positive attributes as a captain I have never really been impressed with his organisation of a back 4. He has always looked better with someone talking to him, even Famewo does it. I always get the impression Pearce is the "junior partner" even when he is obviously more senior. When him and Oshilaja played together they both looked like they were waiting for someone else to take the lead. A bit like our midfield the result is less than the sum of the parts because the chemistry or balance isn't quite right?
Anyway water under the bridge now, will probably be the least surprising name on the released list.
I liked him better as a right back than centre back but there was no way that he would displace Matthews or Gunter.
Agreed but I think he'd have been a better bet than Gunter. Shouldn't be this way but Oshilaja was an easy choice to leave out, the guy with a hundred international caps not so much.
The problem with Deji is that he swings from one extreme to the other far too regularly for a defender. He's got the physical attributes and can sometimes be brilliant at centre back but then he'll suddenly flip, his brain will switch off and he'll give the ball away for no reason or get his positioning completely wrong and pass up a chance to the opposition. You really can't have that happening so regularly at centre back so he's far more suited to playing as a right back. He's not really a specialist there either though so he'll always be a back up in that position. He seems to have issues communicating with his defensive partners as well and definitely can't lead a backline. His level is the lower end of L1 and that's probably where he'll get a contract
Same as we've seen from Pearce, Famewo, Pratley, Gunter and less often Inniss.
Not really. Pearce is pretty past it now and that started to show this season, particularly when he was paired with Deji, but he's a formerly good player who can't do it anymore. Deji has never been able to do it at any consistent level and he should be at his peak right now. Every player makes mistakes, that's what pitches them at the level they're currently at, but Famewo and Inniss are streets ahead of Deji in terms of their ability to consistently do their job. The fact that Deji, an actual centre back, can have his performances compared with a 31 year old right back and a 36 year old centre mid playing out of position says it all really.
When Deji came back from injury he played in 12 games and we conceded 22 goals, lost 6, drew 3, won 3 and conceded at least 2 goals in 8 of those games (including a home game where we conceded 4). After he came out of the side we only lost one of our next 15 games, conceding only 11 goals, winning 8 and drawing 6. We conceded 2 goals in 3 of those games and never more than that. Obviously this wasn't all Deji's fault, but the noticeable improvement in Pearce when Famewo returned was reflected in our goals conceded column, and when Inniss came back after that we were visibly so much calmer at the back. There's a reason Bowyer dropped him, Jackson picked Pearce and Famewo over him and Adkins never used him; he's not a reliable centre back.
We thank Deji for his efforts and wish him well in his future career. Had his good games but there were always better players than him In which ever position he played.
We need to improve the quality of our squad by 30% so instead of 7th, First or Second is the target.
From what I understand Deji seems to be a good man to have in and around the dressing room.
I've always thought he was a far more capable at right back then in the centre of defence. Indeed, I'd be slightly worried if he was our CB cover next year.
Great guy, felt he just lacked the level we needed or required. Top pro who works hard and your find it hard to find a squad member who would say otherwise. Goodluck wherever he ends up.
Apparently he was a trouble maker at the end of his Wimbledon career. No sign of that with us. Overall in a Charlton shirt I would give him 6 out of 10. Not good enough if we want to push on but we’ve had a lot worse.
I thought he got MOM one week, or is my memory getting worse
He was great against Rochdale away. Unfortunately he was also pretty poor against Rochdale at home, Accrington and Peterborough and terrible against Gillingham and Blackpool. Similarly last season he was great against Hull and QPR after the restart and then got progressively worse to the end of the season.
Decent player who put in the effort but not good enough to be first choice centre back.
Might have done well at right back but never got a run there to find out.
Assuming he’ll be released it’s the right decision. If we always keep ok players on because they’re decent cover we’ll never improve. He’s exactly the sort of player we should release and replace with better, it’ll give Inniss better competition and make the squad stronger overall.
Decent player who put in the effort but not good enough to be first choice centre back.
Might have done well at right back but never got a run there to find out.
Assuming he’ll be released it’s the right decision. If we always keep ok players on because they’re decent cover we’ll never improve. He’s exactly the sort of player we should release and replace with better, it’ll give Inniss better competition and make the squad stronger overall.
Dodgy Deji. Nice guy and a trier, but not reliable enough and he did make regular hair-brained errors. He's more accident prone than Sarr, who got much more stick for it, but doesn't have the kind of redeeming skills that Sarr had.
Actually probably a good sub as he can play all across the back four, in an emergency, and you could justify picking him on the bench to allow you to select an additional attacking player - for example in recent games we could have had Deji on the bench instead of Gunter and Pearce, but come the next match you would probably start Gunter or Pearce ahead of Deji if Matthews, Innis, or Famewo were injured and Deji would be back on the bench.
I didn't mind him at right back when he played there, he was athletic enough, fairly comfortable on the ball, and he also has a decent cross on him, but he was always very much a "needs-must" signing. I think we should release him, but I hope he finds another club quickly and does well there.
I've defended Deji a lot this season. On a good day I feel he is capable of playing regularly in a promotion winning team. Unfortunately a bit like Sarr will be held back by his bad days and inconsistency. Personally I'd still keep him over Pearce as 4th choice CB (ideally I'd keep both and have 5 because of Inniss' injury problems) because I don't think Pearce is any better than him and Deji is younger and more versatile. I don't think a team with Deji starting 35 games gets promoted, but I think if he starts 10 games that's fine, he'll do a job and will make a couple of mistakes in that time. There's not many players who will play in League 1 next season who won't make mistakes.
Decent player who put in the effort but not good enough to be first choice centre back.
Might have done well at right back but never got a run there to find out.
Assuming he’ll be released it’s the right decision. If we always keep ok players on because they’re decent cover we’ll never improve. He’s exactly the sort of player we should release and replace with better, it’ll give Inniss better competition and make the squad stronger overall.
I agree with this but it's not going to be easy to get better. We don't have a bottomless pit of money and the priority has to be improving the side, not necessarily worrying about improving a squad player.
Although for clarity, if Adkins is like Bowyer and prefers to have a right/left footed combination, then I am absolutely in agreement that we cannot afford to have Inniss and Deji as the two right footed players. If Adkins is just happy to have 4 CB's fighting for the spots, I'd be content to sign two to compete with Inniss for first choice with Deji as 4th.
Terrible footballer. Cost us regularly over the last 2 seasons
He certainly wasn't good enough to play Championship football but costing us regular this season is harsh. Let's not forget that superb run he had in the side after Pratley was sent off at Hull. Put it this way, Bowyer got it wrong playing Pratley and Gunter over him.
Stats don’t lie he started 22 league games I think and we only won 4. Not good enough get rid
How is that a stat based on an individuals ability? Based on your reasoning not a single Sheffield Utd, West Brom or Fulham player is good enough to play in the Prem?
Comments
He goes with good wishes but I think we have to be aiming higher, even as backup.
For all Pearce's positive attributes as a captain I have never really been impressed with his organisation of a back 4. He has always looked better with someone talking to him, even Famewo does it. I always get the impression Pearce is the "junior partner" even when he is obviously more senior. When him and Oshilaja played together they both looked like they were waiting for someone else to take the lead. A bit like our midfield the result is less than the sum of the parts because the chemistry or balance isn't quite right?
Anyway water under the bridge now, will probably be the least surprising name on the released list.
Had his good games but there were always better players than him In which ever position he played.
We need to improve the quality of our squad by 30% so instead of 7th, First or Second is the target.
I've always thought he was a far more capable at right back then in the centre of defence. Indeed, I'd be slightly worried if he was our CB cover next year.
Has it been announced, I don't think so?
No one is chatting like Amos has left for example.
Assuming he’ll be released it’s the right decision. If we always keep ok players on because they’re decent cover we’ll never improve. He’s exactly the sort of player we should release and replace with better, it’ll give Inniss better competition and make the squad stronger overall.
Although for clarity, if Adkins is like Bowyer and prefers to have a right/left footed combination, then I am absolutely in agreement that we cannot afford to have Inniss and Deji as the two right footed players. If Adkins is just happy to have 4 CB's fighting for the spots, I'd be content to sign two to compete with Inniss for first choice with Deji as 4th.