I think this transfer window proves we don’t have rich benefactors . It’s a good window because we’ve strengthened and kept Lyle but I have my concerns that we couldn’t afford Maddison’s wages .
Maybe we wouldn’t pay his wages. Major restructuring in the summer. New wage structure etc. What we need right now is committed players, not a squabble about wages.
If Taylor gets injured or sulky, we’re in trouble.
If Lockyer gets injured or suspended, we’re in real trouble.
We’ve 6 loans but can only name 5 in a squad, so automatically have someone not even making the squad.
I’m not sure how we are going to manage that midfield in terms of getting players match fit, continuity, understanding and playing in a set formation when it’s going to have to be rotated so much to simply keep them happy? Those three loans wouldn’t have signed today if they weren’t promised a fair crack of game time, would they?.
How do you pick 4 / 5 out of:
Pratley Cullen Field Davis Smith Williams Oztumer McGeady Green Doughty Oshilaja Forster-Caskey Morgan
Thats not even considering
Lapslie Aneke Dempsey
Out of that midfield list, Pratley, Doughty, Oshilaja and JFC have also played in the back 4 or 5 this season. Green and McGeady could probably play as a second striker. And most of them have been hospital cases in the last 12 months!
Ok. Expected a couple of permanent signings. Not sure Smith was necessary but doubt he is costing much. Definitely expected another striker. If Taylor and Bonne are out at the same time we are in trouble.
The summer will be a complete rebuild what with six loaners and a fair few out of contract. Just hope MS and ESI are up to it.
I'll make a judgement on that when we actually manage to prise a player away from a club who are desperate to keep hold.
Not a player who had fallen out with his manager and was never going to be part of his plans. Or a youngster whose previous loan spell hadn't worked out and his parent club wanted to get him some game time somewhere, preferably close to where he was already settled.
No problem with having more midfielders, the ones we have have proven they cannot stay fit for long enough JW, JFC.
My main concern is ESI haven't paid for a permanent signing and there's question marks over the stadium and training ground, something doesn't add up for me.
Buying players in a January window just because you can is not good business imo.
Do think that between those involved (MS, LB and SG), they've just tried to get a solid squad together to see us safe this term. When you consider all the factors involved, current form and league position being the main 2, it must be virtually impossible convincing anyone decent to sign on a perm contract.
Reckon ESI need the benefit of the 6 months with regards to the ground / SL, and the closed season with regards to signings, before any valied opinion can be made.
Think we might just have done enough to stave off relegation and that is probably all that's required. Squads are built in July, seasons saved in January. The real test of ambition is what happens in the summer. I think the new owners set out to make a point that we aren't going to accept silly prices. That may be disappointing in the short term, I just hope it pays dividends when (if) we do start buying.
Not blown away but a workmanlike window. 3 new bodies ready to play on top of a returning squad of fit players. We are stronger tomorrow than the last 10 or so games. We will stay up.
Learned very early on in my working life to under promise and over deliver. Feel like today we were oversold.
A finer balance between enthused and rapid communication and real substance will hopefully exist herein.
Hard facts though in the cold light of day Duchatelet gone, Taylor and Bowyer here and some apparently capable signings through the door this month that will be an improvement in current ability, experience and readiness on our the valiant fledgling youngsters who have propped up our side and turned out some hearty performances in draws and narrow defeats the past couple of months.
Gallagher a huge blow but that's football.
Done and dusted now. Onwards and upwards we go and the evidence of the opening question will be answered in the coming weeks and months.
It amazes me that where we went through a stretch where we staffed the midfield with Pratley and a bunch of u23s (and didn’t win a single match) and people are complaining about having too much depth at midfield. What happens if Williams or Cullen reaggrevates their injuries. What happens if Pratley wears down towards the end of the season because of his age. I have no problems with any of the loans even if that means one or two of Field, Smith, Aneke, oz, etc is not in the squad on match day.
I would have liked to get a decent striker - if we did that, I don’t think there would be any risk of relegation. but that is hard to do in January. I think we have done enough to avoid relegation although it might be closer than we like.
people need to remember that Southall is a young chairman. I am sure he will learn his lesson about over promising. I rather have an engaged chairman who is passionate about Charlton even if he makes mistakes rather than the hands off apathy that we dealt with the last two ownership groups.
anyone who says good is really straining to accentuate the positive imo
OK. I was going to say good overall but apparently not.
I think it was realistic. Maddison looks like a p***k and Bostock is just a name but meh . A signing from Bristol Rovers is hardly a big time season saving signing, is it? A strong midfield will make all the difference and Bowyer does good team work it seems.
Looking forward to seeing Davis, and to see if Smith can show why he has been recruited and retained by Man City. with our returns I think we have a good battling team.
I think it was good considering ESI appear to have a cash flow problem but I agree with Lee, that we didn't sell Taylor and that is a big bonus. Let's not complain about having too many midfielders to pick from after playing an U20 midfield for a month ! Still confused about ESI and the beg, borrow and steal approach to this window but we have a squad who can finish strongly. Still a lot to understand about our new owners and how much their are prepared to fund the team ?
What I don't understand is we have six loans only five of which can be part of the matchday squad yet we're told Davis is out of contract at the end if the season at Brum.
Why isn't his a permanent short term transfer then so he can be part of the matchday squad along with the other five?
What I don't understand is we have six loans only five of which can be part of the matchday squad yet we're told Davis is out of contract at the end if the season at Brum.
Why isn't his a permanent short term transfer then so he can be part of the matchday squad along with the other five?
Maybe if he’s on loan then Birmingham pick up part if his salary, on a perm then we have to cover it all?
Have to be honest and say I know very little about any of the signings except McGeady.
Davis sounds like cover for Pratley, which I assume makes Field, now, more cover for Cullen.
Smith, I assume slots into Gallagher’s roll as the all action, more attack minded, box to box player.
We look over loaded for attacking mids with Green, McGeady, Williams, Oztumer, and Aneke, although we can now play with genuine width if we need too.
Up front Taylor, Bonne and Hemed with Green/Aneke as backup should be enough assuming a) they all stay fit b) Hemed starts to look sharper with more matches.
I’m glad we signed mostly midfielders as that was the area most stressed by the injury crisis. Hemed was hardly available at all before Christmas so, cliche that it is, is effectively a new signing.
My concern is that we haven’t adequately replaced Gallagher/Kayal. I know Kayal missed a lot of games but it’s my belief he was signed to play the roll that Gallagher ended up doing so well. I.e. energetic play, covering at lot of ground, and contributing with goals and assists. Smith hopefully brings some of this, but Davis sounds more defensive and McGeady is not going to cover the yards like that.
So for my mind, that leaves us short of having replaced Gallagher’s energy and goals. Perhaps that’s where Bowyer sees Doughty, but he hasn’t looked so comfortable centrally. If Smith is going to have play for those reasons, it means one if the more established loans will have to miss out. I suspect there’s only room for two of Green or McGeady or Field in the match day squad.
Average but MS dig himself a hole with all the hype. Still think we are light of quality up top. If LT gets injured for any length of time I think we will go down.
Agreed, that squad looks unbalanced to me.
I thought we had too many midfielders in August and of course they then all got injured, but surely that won't happen again?
Leko and Gallagher contributed much of our goal threat - 3rd and 4th in goals, 2nd and 3rd in assists, have we replaced this? We were definitely looking for a striker during the window, I can't believe that Bowyer 2 weeks ago especially wanted to sign 2 defensive midfielders?
The timing wasn't good as the new signings came in too late AND there are still several injured players, but it's disappointing that none of our younger players are out on loan in the EFL. Realistically the likes of Dempsey, Wiredu, Maloney (and maybe Morgan and Davison) will be nowhere near the first team, and at an age when they need regular adult football, and is the NL good enough?
The transfer window rules are ridiculous really, was it UEFA which banned emergency loans? Surely there should be dispensation for say L1 and L2 level clubs, so someone like Morgan could go to a decent club for a month or two, but could be recalled if necessary
What I don't understand is we have six loans only five of which can be part of the matchday squad yet we're told Davis is out of contract at the end if the season at Brum.
Why isn't his a permanent short term transfer then so he can be part of the matchday squad along with the other five?
Can it be turned into a permanent in the next week or two?
Attacking midfielders score goals given the chance. If we coldn't buy a proven striker a few good midfielders could cause enough anxiety for the oppo defence to swing those 1-1s to 2-1s and 0-1s to 1-1s. It's the Charlton way.
Comments
RB/RWB: Matthews Solly
RCB: Lockyer Oshilaja
LCB: Sarr Pearce
LB/LWB: Purrington Page
CDM: Pratley Field Davis
CM: Cullen JFC Smith Morgan
CAM: Williams Oztumer Aneke
Wingers: Green, Mcgeady, Doughty
ST: Taylor, Bonne, Hemed
Back up players: Lapslie, Davison, Dempsey, Vennings
I wonder if Smith will play as a wing back?
The summer will be a complete rebuild what with six loaners and a fair few out of contract. Just hope MS and ESI are up to it.
We are at risk of CB / CF injury but hoping the added strength in MF will see us across the line.
And at this stage of the 5-8 year plan, that's all we need to do.
And keeping Taylor is massive.
Would like JJ and Marshall to sign up now.
I did get caught up in the hype a little, so my expectations were artificially high, should have known better.
I'll make a judgement on that when we actually manage to prise a player away from a club who are desperate to keep hold.
Not a player who had fallen out with his manager and was never going to be part of his plans.
Or a youngster whose previous loan spell hadn't worked out and his parent club wanted to get him some game time somewhere, preferably close to where he was already settled.
My main concern is ESI haven't paid for a permanent signing and there's question marks over the stadium and training ground, something doesn't add up for me.
Do think that between those involved (MS, LB and SG), they've just tried to get a solid squad together to see us safe this term. When you consider all the factors involved, current form and league position being the main 2, it must be virtually impossible convincing anyone decent to sign on a perm contract.
Reckon ESI need the benefit of the 6 months with regards to the ground / SL, and the closed season with regards to signings, before any valied opinion can be made.
A finer balance between enthused and rapid communication and real substance will hopefully exist herein.
Hard facts though in the cold light of day Duchatelet gone, Taylor and Bowyer here and some apparently capable signings through the door this month that will be an improvement in current ability, experience and readiness on our the valiant fledgling youngsters who have propped up our side and turned out some hearty performances in draws and narrow defeats the past couple of months.
Gallagher a huge blow but that's football.
Done and dusted now. Onwards and upwards we go and the evidence of the opening question will be answered in the coming weeks and months.
people need to remember that Southall is a young chairman. I am sure he will learn his lesson about over promising. I rather have an engaged chairman who is passionate about Charlton even if he makes mistakes rather than the hands off apathy that we dealt with the last two ownership groups.
I think it was realistic. Maddison looks like a p***k and Bostock is just a name but meh . A signing from Bristol Rovers is hardly a big time season saving signing, is it? A strong midfield will make all the difference and Bowyer does good team work it seems.
Looking forward to seeing Davis, and to see if Smith can show why he has been recruited and retained by Man City. with our returns I think we have a good battling team.
This will do me til May.
Still confused about ESI and the beg, borrow and steal approach to this window but we have a squad who can finish strongly. Still a lot to understand about our new owners and how much their are prepared to fund the team ?
Why isn't his a permanent short term transfer then so he can be part of the matchday squad along with the other five?
Have to be honest and say I know very little about any of the signings except McGeady.
We look over loaded for attacking mids with Green, McGeady, Williams, Oztumer, and Aneke, although we can now play with genuine width if we need too.
I’m glad we signed mostly midfielders as that was the area most stressed by the injury crisis. Hemed was hardly available at all before Christmas so, cliche that it is, is effectively a new signing.
So for my mind, that leaves us short of having replaced Gallagher’s energy and goals. Perhaps that’s where Bowyer sees Doughty, but he hasn’t looked so comfortable centrally. If Smith is going to have play for those reasons, it means one if the more established loans will have to miss out. I suspect there’s only room for two of Green or McGeady or Field in the match day squad.
I thought we had too many midfielders in August and of course they then all got injured, but surely that won't happen again?
Leko and Gallagher contributed much of our goal threat - 3rd and 4th in goals, 2nd and 3rd in assists, have we replaced this? We were definitely looking for a striker during the window, I can't believe that Bowyer 2 weeks ago especially wanted to sign 2 defensive midfielders?
The transfer window rules are ridiculous really, was it UEFA which banned emergency loans? Surely there should be dispensation for say L1 and L2 level clubs, so someone like Morgan could go to a decent club for a month or two, but could be recalled if necessary