The January window is traditionally the worse to do business in. With new owners who are "reputedly" wealthy it was always going to be difficult since the prices of players to acquire was always going to be beyond their worth. The players agents would also likely to be asking for wages that would unbalance our wage structure thus leading to our existing players being a little disillusioned - not good for a team ethos.By doing what has been done we are more than capable of staying up with this squad and then renegotiating in the summer when a more realistic market will exist, with players being released or are out of contract and the better players in the league below us sèeking to improve their position with a stable football club. Some of the championship teams around us may end up having overspent in this window and, if not promoted will have an FFP problem when their accounts are released. The massives taking on Connor Wickham's salary and all of Bristol City and Brentford's signings come to mind. I am satisfied that, within reason, Southall, Gallen and Bowyer have done well by the club. They may have had to waive some of their targets goodbye because of over ambitious or greedy agents but we will live to fight another day this summer. It looks like our best signing may well have been prudence from East Street.
Evaluate this window without trying to shoehorn a reference to Roland in and it's as weak a window as you could possibly hope for from a team that's apparently got a super rich backer and a chairman who blew a lot of smoke up his own arse and everyone lapped it up.
I mean, ESI have invested barely any money whatsoever because he's not bought the freehold of The Valley or Sparrows Lane and instead acquired the liabilities... BUT on the positive side HE has posted the club badge onto his instagram account, which is more important I'm sure you'll agree.
Ultimately if we stay up, the season is a success. It will be an absolute slog. So let's hope The Valley is rocking tomorrow.
Matt says it all in the video. This window was about getting in players who could hit the ground running, McGeady and Smith have points to prove and will be hungry. Davis is a proven Champ player and very decent. This window was not about throwing money at players who were overpriced and taking a risk for 12 to 18 months. This window was about the now, summer will be about the future.
Matt also said he was fending off bids for Lyle up to 2 hours ago. I'm sure other chairman were doing the same for their key assets. I'm positive he tried to get a big signing over the line, but he ran into the same problems that other clubs ran in to in regards to Lyle
Given the position we are in, today's business seems reasonable enough. No idea if Davis and Smith will be any good for us but I trust Bows and Gallen.
I appreciate having a chairman who communicates with fans, but I found him a bit embarrassing today. That's just me, I know others feel differently.
Still cant believe we spent no money either and it was just loans
Loans aren't free.
Not free but not necessarily much more expensive then the three who have left in our breakeven budget, now swollen by a Fosu sell-on. Clearly we have signed who we could get rather than our preferred targets, which doesn’t mean they won’t do a job.
You say clearly, Green was done very early so we clearly wanted him.
Bow has always spoken of how much he rates McGeady, so we clearly wanted him.
Sure Smith and Davis were unexpected but I believe we wanted those first two for sure.
Green, I’ll concede. The rest, I don’t think so. But let’s see how they get on. I don’t buy the “we were fine in August so we’d have been in the top half but for injuries” line because you can find plenty of other examples of promoted teams starting well and fading as opponents work them out. This season was always going to be a struggle because we are trying to operate as Burton Albion, which is hard to do in the Championship. Hopefully the quality of Bowyer and Taylor (and a few others) sees us through.
I agree, August was a false dawn. Our September and October form is probably a better indication of where we were as a side before the injuries really devastated us, safe from relegation but not threatening the playoff places.
I would like to add that the January transfer window can be a bit like an auction.
Lots of frustrated comments that we've only got Green in on loan (yes I'm frustrated as well).
But most clubs and players are still mid auction and are waiting for higher bids.
The majority of deals happens when the auction is coming to a close ie in the last few days and specifically on the final day.
Surely we all know this if we're honest ?
I posted this on the 15th January. The auction/poker is coming to a close.
So as I suggested the signings mainly all happened right at the end of the window and all those panicking for the last 3 weeks should have shown more patience.
Bowyer signed. Taylor still here. No one sold or loaned. Leko injured and Gallagher taken back out of our control. 4 loan signings which should ensure we can name a fully fit 18, with options from the bench. I'd give that a 7.5/10. Just could have done with another striker.
Ok Southall got overly enthusiastic, but would I rather him than Duchatelet & Meire ? Yes I would. Please let's not forget ex-director David White commented very recently that he had spoken to Southall and was supportive of him and his colleagues.
We get to see HE tomorrow, hopefully before we can take 3 points or at least 1 from Barnsley.
I'm happy with that and any proper Charlton fan should be as well.
Still cant believe we spent no money either and it was just loans
Loans aren't free.
Not free but not necessarily much more expensive then the three who have left in our breakeven budget, now swollen by a Fosu sell-on. Clearly we have signed who we could get rather than our preferred targets, which doesn’t mean they won’t do a job.
You say clearly, Green was done very early so we clearly wanted him.
Bow has always spoken of how much he rates McGeady, so we clearly wanted him.
Sure Smith and Davis were unexpected but I believe we wanted those first two for sure.
Green, I’ll concede. The rest, I don’t think so. But let’s see how they get on. I don’t buy the “we were fine in August so we’d have been in the top half but for injuries” line because you can find plenty of other examples of promoted teams starting well and fading as opponents work them out. This season was always going to be a struggle because we are trying to operate as Burton Albion, which is hard to do in the Championship. Hopefully the quality of Bowyer and Taylor (and a few others) sees us through.
Some fair points made, but many of those sides didn't have our injury crisis.
I don't fully believe we'd be in the playoffs. But I do believe we'd be top half of the table still without the ridiculous injury count.
Not too worried about not signing Maddison. On talent alone yes, but if the wages weren't good enough fine. I'd be happy as with the last fair few windows if we'd get James Henry. He scores similar amounts in third tier, but proven in the champ to cross and assist in the top ranks.
How Bowyer plays 3 CFs work, but you need lot's of midfielders and some of them need to fill defensive holes. Tomorrow is the test.
The squad has pretty much the same make up as it did at the end of the last window. Plus Matthew, Oztumer and McGeady.
That's obviously by design. I said then I thought we were a striker and and top center half short. Possibly still are.
The midfield injuries we had were unbelievable really.
If MS hadn't banged on about it I would be pleased, but not over joyed, with that window.
As a whole window 7/10 Compared to what MS banged on about 4/10
Perhaps there was ‘one that got away’? That would explain the tweets.
However, I suspect if Matt is still around in ten years he’ll be far more circumspect.
I think if it had happened in silence, or under Roland, a lot more people would be a lot more positive.
I am not disappointed in the deals, per say, more against what we were led to believe was possible.
Now MS needs to get the contracts for the "assets" sorted, remember Bowyer said that 18 months ago. MS has already said its a priority let's see if he can deliver.
Honestly cannot understand the concern about getting loans in - we need players for right away, we will build in the Summer for next year, but we need to stay up first, and quality loans achieve that without tying us to future contracts.
I reckon we have done well and I certainly appreciate MS's enthusiasm - I mean, how long have we had to put up with apathetic owners? It is quite the breathe of fresh air.
That alone means that I am very happy and that we will stay up.
Now we also have a stronger midfield, I have no doubts whatsoever.
Bring on the summer.........I have feeling that that is when it will get very interesting and we will know where our club is going in the next few years.
I’m not even sure the whole Maddison thing was entirely genuine. Bit of back scratching going on between McAnthony and his old mate Southall.
Southall gets some fan brownie points by appearing to be interested in signing him,... when he never really was ( what happened to that £2.5million?)
And McAnthony sees the premium go up and draws a few in. Which seems to have failed spectacularly.
I have said for years that something like this could possibly happen between chairman.
Chairman 1 wants his fans to think his club is going to be active in the transfer market.
Chairman 2 wants his fans to think that although they haven't got any money to spend they can at least keep hold of the players they have.
Chairmen agree to put out a story that Chairman 1 has bid £xxx for a certain player belonging to Chairman 2 but Chairman 2 is adamant that said player is going nowhere. Nothing happens & player stays. Chairman 1 tells his fans......."I did the best I could, but they wouldn't budge". Chairman 2 says to his fans....."I stood up to them & didnt sell".
I’m not even sure the whole Maddison thing was entirely genuine. Bit of back scratching going on between McAnthony and his old mate Southall.
Southall gets some fan brownie points by appearing to be interested in signing him,... when he never really was ( what happened to that £2.5million?)
And McAnthony sees the premium go up and draws a few in. Which seems to have failed spectacularly.
I have said for years that something like this could possibly happen between chairman.
Chairman 1 wants his fans to think his club is going to be active in the transfer market.
Chairman 2 wants his fans to think that although they haven't got any money to spend they can at least keep hold of the players they have.
Chairmen agree to put out a story that Chairman 1 has bid £xxx for a certain player belonging to Chairman 2 but Chairman 2 is adamant that said player is going nowhere. Nothing happens & player stays. Chairman 1 tells his fans......."I did the best I could, but they wouldn't budge". Chairman 2 says to his fans....."I stood up to them & didnt sell".
Win/win.
Can we all give it a rest with the conspiracy theories. This isn't House of Cards.
I’m not even sure the whole Maddison thing was entirely genuine. Bit of back scratching going on between McAnthony and his old mate Southall.
Southall gets some fan brownie points by appearing to be interested in signing him,... when he never really was ( what happened to that £2.5million?)
And McAnthony sees the premium go up and draws a few in. Which seems to have failed spectacularly.
It's like talking to a brick wall. Honestly must be the 3rd or 4th time i've seen you post about this 2.5m bid for Maddison.
WE DID NOT BID 2.5M. For a league one player out of contract in 5 months time. If we had, do you really think he'd have ended up going to Hull for a 'loan fee'.
Absolute moaners in here... 4 in and keeping Taylor is decent and should see us stay up... It stops the juniors playing... And with people coming back from injury we've got a good sniff at getting the wins we need to stay up...
We couldn't get players earlier because they were over priced, as the deadline approaches the prices plummet, pretty simple stuff.
We decided to not pay over the odds, that's all that's happened.
Absolute moaners in here... 4 in and keeping Taylor is decent and should see us stay up... It stops the juniors playing... And with people coming back from injury we've got a good sniff at getting the wins we need to stay up...
We couldn't get players earlier because they were over priced, as the deadline approaches the prices plummet, pretty simple stuff.
We decided to not pay over the odds, that's all that's happened.
That’s the positive way of looking at it and I am delighted bowyer and Taylor are still here. However , this window shows that nothing much has really changed. Jury very much out until the summer window shuts
I'm fairly happy with the signings but I don't see keeping Taylor as some kind of massive accomplishment. Selling him was unthinkable. Our Championship status is worth more than a few million quid.
You don't get brownie points for a common sense decision that anyone (including every single one of us) could see.
Comments
Some of the championship teams around us may end up having overspent in this window and, if not promoted will have an FFP problem when their accounts are released. The massives taking on Connor Wickham's salary and all of Bristol City and Brentford's signings come to mind.
I am satisfied that, within reason, Southall, Gallen and Bowyer have done well by the club. They may have had to waive some of their targets goodbye because of over ambitious or greedy agents but we will live to fight another day this summer. It looks like our best signing may well have been prudence from East Street.
I mean, ESI have invested barely any money whatsoever because he's not bought the freehold of The Valley or Sparrows Lane and instead acquired the liabilities... BUT on the positive side HE has posted the club badge onto his instagram account, which is more important I'm sure you'll agree.
Ultimately if we stay up, the season is a success. It will be an absolute slog. So let's hope The Valley is rocking tomorrow.
Matt says it all in the video. This window was about getting in players who could hit the ground running, McGeady and Smith have points to prove and will be hungry. Davis is a proven Champ player and very decent. This window was not about throwing money at players who were overpriced and taking a risk for 12 to 18 months. This window was about the now, summer will be about the future.
Matt also said he was fending off bids for Lyle up to 2 hours ago. I'm sure other chairman were doing the same for their key assets. I'm positive he tried to get a big signing over the line, but he ran into the same problems that other clubs ran in to in regards to Lyle
I appreciate having a chairman who communicates with fans, but I found him a bit embarrassing today. That's just me, I know others feel differently.
Bowyer signed.
Taylor still here.
No one sold or loaned.
Leko injured and Gallagher taken back out of our control.
4 loan signings which should ensure we can name a fully fit 18, with options from the bench.
I'd give that a 7.5/10. Just could have done with another striker.
Ok Southall got overly enthusiastic, but would I rather him than Duchatelet & Meire ?
Yes I would.
Please let's not forget ex-director David White commented very recently that he had spoken to Southall and was supportive of him and his colleagues.
We get to see HE tomorrow, hopefully before we can take 3 points or at least 1 from Barnsley.
I'm happy with that and any proper Charlton fan should be as well.
Bit of back scratching going on between McAnthony and his old mate Southall.
Southall gets some fan brownie points by appearing to be interested in signing him,... when he never really was ( what happened to that £2.5million?)
And McAnthony sees the premium go up and draws a few in. Which seems to have failed spectacularly.
I don't fully believe we'd be in the playoffs. But I do believe we'd be top half of the table still without the ridiculous injury count.
How Bowyer plays 3 CFs work, but you need lot's of midfielders and some of them need to fill defensive holes. Tomorrow is the test.
I am not disappointed in the deals, per say, more against what we were led to believe was possible.
Now MS needs to get the contracts for the "assets" sorted, remember Bowyer said that 18 months ago. MS has already said its a priority let's see if he can deliver.
I reckon we have done well and I certainly appreciate MS's enthusiasm - I mean, how long have we had to put up with apathetic owners? It is quite the breathe of fresh air.
That alone means that I am very happy and that we will stay up.
Now we also have a stronger midfield, I have no doubts whatsoever.
Bring on the summer.........I have feeling that that is when it will get very interesting and we will know where our club is going in the next few years.
Chairman 1 wants his fans to think his club is going to be active in the transfer market.
Chairman 2 wants his fans to think that although they haven't got any money to spend they can at least keep hold of the players they have.
Chairmen agree to put out a story that Chairman 1 has bid £xxx for a certain player belonging to Chairman 2 but Chairman 2 is adamant that said player is going nowhere. Nothing happens & player stays. Chairman 1 tells his fans......."I did the best I could, but they wouldn't budge". Chairman 2 says to his fans....."I stood up to them & didnt sell".
Win/win.
Please rearrange these four words into a well know phrase or sentence.
Climax. Anti. What. A.
I think it depends on how important your best player is to your Season goal. No one at the club has claimed that is anything other than staying up.
WE DID NOT BID 2.5M. For a league one player out of contract in 5 months time. If we had, do you really think he'd have ended up going to Hull for a 'loan fee'.
Maddison was not signing a new contract at Peterborough and was not going to play for them ever again. I bet they took whatever they could get.
We couldn't get players earlier because they were over priced, as the deadline approaches the prices plummet, pretty simple stuff.
We decided to not pay over the odds, that's all that's happened.
Gallagher - Mcgeady
Kayal - Smith
Ledley - Davis
Haven't lost any numbers to the squad and Smith and Davis should be more reliable options due to not being injured or Ledley.
Not an amazing window but not a disaster either.
You don't get brownie points for a common sense decision that anyone (including every single one of us) could see.