We have a half decent squad so we have made progress but still a bit light up front. Adkins has enough to work with and we're moving in the right direction.
Decent window and we've spent some cash, but if Purrington or Stockley get injured we are stuffed
Possibly, but it would depend on when they were injured, as there’s always the January window.
Also, strikes me that Gunter may be improving in that LB position, and I remember Magennis getting injured and we picked up a four one away win. Stockley may be better than Josh, but he’s less influential than Lyle Taylor. Wiith our more new improved midfield I think we’ll be creating more chance and getting more players into the box. Of course continuing the optimistic vibe, we may pick up a free agent left back, we’ll see. The birds are singing etc etc.
Decent window and we've spent some cash, but if Purrington or Stockley get injured we are stuffed
Possibly, but it would depend on when they were injured, as there’s always the January window.
Also, strikes me that Gunter may be improving in that LB position, and I remember Magennis getting injured and we picked up a four one away win. Stockley may be better than Josh, but he’s less influential than Lyle Taylor. Wiith our more new improved midfield I think we’ll be creating more chance and getting more players into the box. Of course continuing the optimistic vibe, we may pick up a free agent left back, we’ll see.
We have options now in midfield and hopefully they can also contribute with goals. Things are looking brighter.
I would add, I don’t think any of us should feel let down by the business done. Yes TS made some outlandish statements about blowing the league away but he never promised crazy spending. We’ve paid actual transfer fees for several players and, if the rumoured fees are correct, it could tott up to over £1 million. I don’t care what anyone says - that’s a stament of intent. We have haven’t spent that kind of money for seasons and seasons.
None of us know for sure if there was a last minute increase in budget or not but, even if there was, I see that as a positive because it shows that there’s a willingness to learn and adapt. It means the intent was always there, and perhaps it was just over optimism on what was needed to be spent to get what we need rather than penny pinching.
We may or may not get promoted this season. We may or may not have got this transfer window right in the end. But we are clearly now a million miles from being allowed to die the slow painful death under Roland.
All I want from an owner is to run the club as a football club, run it sensibly but not solely to try and make money, and to aspire to take the club to bigger and better things while adhering to that ideal of preserving its future. I do believe the things TS has done this window, even if it hasn’t been perfect, demonstrate he’s trying to be that kind of good owner. We should be very happy to have that.
Great post Exiled. Word for word sums up how I feel.
Decent window and we've spent some cash, but if Purrington or Stockley get injured we are stuffed
Possibly, but it would depend on when they were injured, as there’s always the January window.
Also, strikes me that Gunter may be improving in that LB position, and I remember Magennis getting injured and we picked up a four one away win. Stockley may be better than Josh, but he’s less influential than Lyle Taylor. Wiith our more new improved midfield I think we’ll be creating more chance and getting more players into the box. Of course continuing the optimistic vibe, we may pick up a free agent left back, we’ll see. The birds are singing etc etc.
Not in the way Adkins wants to set up. But he may just have to accept he can’t play that way without Stockley, if the worst happens.
The recruitment team have brought in players of quality on a tight budget. The owner has backed them and maintained his long-term plan to build the club. I feel confident the group of players we now have will give a good account of themselves against most of the teams in this division. Eighteen months or so ago we were facing extinction. I am more than happy.
Decent window and we've spent some cash, but if Purrington or Stockley get injured we are stuffed
Possibly, but it would depend on when they were injured, as there’s always the January window.
Also, strikes me that Gunter may be improving in that LB position, and I remember Magennis getting injured and we picked up a four one away win. Stockley may be better than Josh, but he’s less influential than Lyle Taylor. Wiith our more new improved midfield I think we’ll be creating more chance and getting more players into the box. Of course continuing the optimistic vibe, we may pick up a free agent left back, we’ll see. The birds are singing etc etc.
Need someone to hold up the ball and bring the midfield into play for them to score goals... Leko isnt going to do that. With Stockley this team looks very dangerous, without him, i'm not sure that the ball will stick
Would be no bad thing not to get too stuck in the rut of only playing one way, as per the game without Magennis which was probably the best performance of the season if my memory isn’t playing tricks on me.
Agree that the Wigan defeat might have been a blessing in disguise in terms of recruitment, after the Oxford and MK away defeats. Felt that at the time.
Good window, good squad. congrats Recruitment team, NA and TS. Automatic promotion here we come. COYR
Why is this liked so much? Good window my arse
I think it is has now been a good window. It hadn't been when the season started. We are in the promotion race and anyone that thinks otherwise is simply unhappy for other reasons, nothing to do with Charlton. COYR & thanks to Thomas Sandgaard & the team.
Personally I think this view is massively skewed by us winning on Sat. Suspect you (and others) would be saying very different had we played bad on Sat and lost.
But we didn't play bad or lose on Saturday, did we?
You could equally say that peoples views had been skewed onto a downer because we hadn't played well or won up until then.
Both statements have credibility, which is why its important to take a balanced view.
A few weeks back the general consensus that we were "5 or 6 bodies short". I don't think anyone was arguing against that.
We've now signed 5 or 6 extra bodies and whilst we can all debate about the positions or the quality of the individuals, there's surely no argument that both the first XI and the squad as a whole are stronger now than they were a couple of weeks ago.
So on that respect it's been a "good" window, and certainly not the total disaster some of the usual suspects were predicting (and possibly even hoping for, bizarrely!)
Fair point. Had a long day and probably chatting shite. Personally I’m cautiously happy with the signings, but don’t think you can ever say someone is a good or bad signing until seeing some proof one way or another.
Yet we've been told since June that the window has been a disaster.
For me it's a 7.5/10.
Leko not as good as Aneke but impact off the bench with his pace and strength. Lavalle (The Valley in French) is the CB we needed. Not sure he can play LB but as I was told yesterday they half expected Kerr to be nicked and had Sam lined up too.
Lee is a very good signing. Arter was a very good player but is he still? Lavelle a young talent and a leader.
Can only have 20 players (not a restriction Powell had) not counting kids and keepers so will have to hope no major injuries and the kids/stiffs step up like last night.
And yes LB options are not ideal and if Stockley is out we'll have to change our game but we have Connor, Leko, Lee and maybe even Davison. We DO have other strikers!
I dont think anyone can now say we dont have enough firepower ! DJ, Kirk, CBT, Leko ! other teams will be terrified by that lot.
Midfield also looking really strong with plenty of options. Yes it would have been decent to get another LB in but you cant have everything and I know Gunter got some stick but imo he didnt do much wrong.
Lavelle will be a great signing and adds to an already decent backline.
Do we think there is method behind all of our loans being linked to the club in one way or another , Akin , Leko and Arter were here before and Lee has family links , perhaps the management think that they may be more interested in the club improving rather than just seeing out a loan spell ?
Very good window, would say 2 signings away from excellent, 3 from perfect.
Yesterday’s dealings look very good . I suspect they’ve looked at this as a 2 year rebuild - we are, imo, a striker away from promotion
A two year rebuilt may well happen. We need to play attractive but winning football.
I hinted at this by saying my 5 year plan was being where Millwall or Preston are now and having progressed not only on the field but kept our better youngsters; Deji and Burstow who in my opinion and I'm sure in the coaches and Management of CAFC, will play higher than League 1.
The biggest problem for Charlton fans/critics is the mindset that we have a right to be in the Championship; We Don't.
We now have a combination of Journeymen, youngsters and players that have played at their peak in the premier and Championship.
Steve Gallen, Ged Roddy, JJ, Jason and with Thomas Sandgaard backing we have assembled a squad that will give us a chance of top 6. Gallen alone will have thousands of contacts in football and I have seen how it works lower down the Pyramid.
My mantra stays the same. Relationships and link up play with variety will determine if we get to the promise land of the Championship.
I dont think anyone can now say we dont have enough firepower ! DJ, Kirk, CBT, Leko ! other teams will be terrified by that lot.
Midfield also looking really strong with plenty of options. Yes it would have been decent to get another LB in but you cant have everything and I know Gunter got some stick but imo he didnt do much wrong.
Lavelle will be a great signing and adds to an already decent backline.
Whats not to like ?
If only we had a decent centre forward who wins everything thing in the air to go along with that lot we’d be laughing! 😉
Well Leko is the icing on the cake. I'm off to bed very very happy and I sympathise with everyone who still think we need 5/6 players etc etc. Well done TS, SG & the team, you played a blinder.
What a night! An entertaining 6-1 win as the precursor to further excitement. Then late doors voulez-vous! (Get it?)
I dont think anyone can now say we dont have enough firepower ! DJ, Kirk, CBT, Leko ! other teams will be terrified by that lot.
Midfield also looking really strong with plenty of options. Yes it would have been decent to get another LB in but you cant have everything and I know Gunter got some stick but imo he didnt do much wrong.
Lavelle will be a great signing and adds to an already decent backline.
Whats not to like ?
If only we had a decent centre forward who wins everything thing in the air to go along with that lot we’d be laughing! 😉
Plus the variety of a pass on the deck to a goal scoring Attacking midfielder ?
Elliott Lee you may never have a better chance to finish top scorer at Cafc if you stay fit.
Just my opinion but if the ball is on or around the deck Lee and Davidson are the best strikers of a football. Stockley is supreme in the air and a great leader of the attack.
The forwards will improve with better service and in the players that have now been brought into the club, plus the eventual return of Gilbey and Forster Caskey, we should see an improvement in the performances.
I think you have to judge the window as a whole and compare it to the squad that finished last season. Which in my opinion should have got in the play offs. If we had stopped the rot at the start of February, not March, we would have done. In that time we beat Hull, Sunderland and Lincoln and drew with Oxford. So there would have been a chance we could have won the play offs.
Dobson and Clare are good replacements for Pratley and Shinnie, what they aren't is replacements for JFC and Gilbey. We have now addressed that with Arter and Lee. Better late than never.
Millar has been replaced by Kirk, very different type of player and time will tell of its an up grade or not but he is our player on a long contract.
Smith never played and has been replaced by Leko, in a different role but one we needed.
Deji mk1 has been replaced by a younger player on a long term contract. Looks like a significant upgrade.
Maatsen replaced by CBT, who obviously can't play left back but as IM was nearly always played as a winger under Adkins it's not a massive down grade.
Amos and Mcgivilray toss a coin and take your pick. Very different types of keepers but probably only a fag paper between them.
How the hell do you replace Aneke? I have no idea. Probably the truth is you can't.
The big criticism from me isn't the lack of left back now, nor that extra striker or even no back up keeper. It's JFC got injured in April and we only replaced him on deadline day. Gilbey has been out since the start of preseason and we didn't replace him until about 5 days ago. Purrington is/was injured before the season stated and that could have been a quick, cheap fix.
I'll give it a 9 for were we ended up but a 6 for how we got there.
Not sure the thinking behind not signing a left back. It throws the whole balance of the team out of kilter for me. The rest of the team / squad looks to me like if things gel, then we could claw ourselves back into top six contention but not signing that player looks very risky to me. Free agents still out there. Anyone we should be on the phone to ?
Too early to judge the transfer business or close this thread as we now have a rumour of two free transfers lined up. 😃
I wonder just how good our U18's are. Maybe 1-2 years away from first team? If so this season could be big for the club, find a way to be promoted and if the likes of Beadle, Burstow, Elerwre, Kanu etc come good maybe with some of our signings we have a core to not only compete in the Championship but either give it a go or sell for significant sums. If we stay down they will all be off in the blink of an eye.
Didn't read the whole thread but scored the window 7.5/10
Read on and Golfie had scored the window 7.5/10
I need a lie down.
Ha ha, I do find it unusual after spending weeks complaining about not buying the players Ipswich and Wigan were buying, and leaving to it the last minute etc... he goes and scores it the same score I have.
I said I would wait until the transfer window 'slammed shut' before I made judgement on how I think it went - and overall I am very happy.
If I could change anything it would probably have been to have brought in one less midfielder/winger and got a left back instead, and off-loaded Schwartz for another striker.
All in all though I feel like Adkins has the tools to mount a very serious challenge this year.
This squad would have got promotion last season (based on the quality of division one last year). This year however the league has more big clubs (Bolton, Sheff Weds etc), clubs that have been building / progressing for years and are now promotion contenders (Oxford) and new big spenders (Ipswich & Wigan) that have spent at a level that has rarely been seen in this league.....making the challenge of promotion alot tougher.
The good news though is that after yesterday we DO now have a squad that can compete (which we didn't at the start of the season)...so its all to play for!
Can't see Ronnie being included in the 22 man squad to be honest. It's a shame as I thought this season we would get to see the real Ronnie Schwartz but unfortunately not
Comments
If it’s true that we’re after two free agents they’ll presumably be two of a GK, LB and striker.
Of course continuing the optimistic vibe, we may pick up a free agent left back, we’ll see. The birds are singing etc etc.
The owner has backed them and maintained his long-term plan to build the club.
I feel confident the group of players we now have will give a good account of themselves against most of the teams in this division.
Eighteen months or so ago we were facing extinction.
I am more than happy.
Need someone to hold up the ball and bring the midfield into play for them to score goals... Leko isnt going to do that. With Stockley this team looks very dangerous, without him, i'm not sure that the ball will stick
For me it's a 7.5/10.
Leko not as good as Aneke but impact off the bench with his pace and strength.
Lavalle (The Valley in French) is the CB we needed. Not sure he can play LB but as I was told yesterday they half expected Kerr to be nicked and had Sam lined up too.
Lee is a very good signing. Arter was a very good player but is he still? Lavelle a young talent and a leader.
Can only have 20 players (not a restriction Powell had) not counting kids and keepers so will have to hope no major injuries and the kids/stiffs step up like last night.
And yes LB options are not ideal and if Stockley is out we'll have to change our game but we have Connor, Leko, Lee and maybe even Davison. We DO have other strikers!
Now the players have to deliver.
Over to you Nigel
Up the Addicks.
Midfield also looking really strong with plenty of options. Yes it would have been decent to get another LB in but you cant have everything and I know Gunter got some stick but imo he didnt do much wrong.
Lavelle will be a great signing and adds to an already decent backline.
Whats not to like ?
A two year rebuilt may well happen. We need to play attractive but winning football.
I hinted at this by saying my 5 year plan was being where Millwall or Preston are now and having progressed not only on the field but kept our better youngsters; Deji and Burstow who in my opinion and I'm sure in the coaches and Management of CAFC, will play higher than League 1.
The biggest problem for Charlton fans/critics is the mindset that we have a right to be in the Championship; We Don't.
We now have a combination of Journeymen, youngsters and players that have played at their peak in the premier and Championship.
Steve Gallen, Ged Roddy, JJ, Jason and with Thomas Sandgaard backing we have assembled a squad that will give us a chance of top 6. Gallen alone will have thousands of contacts in football and I have seen how it works lower down the Pyramid.
My mantra stays the same. Relationships and link up play with variety will determine if we get to the promise land of the Championship.
Read on and Golfie had scored the window 7.5/10
I need a lie down.
Plus the variety of a pass on the deck to a goal scoring Attacking midfielder ?
Elliott Lee you may never have a better chance to finish top scorer at Cafc if you stay fit.
Just my opinion but if the ball is on or around the deck Lee and Davidson are the best strikers of a football. Stockley is supreme in the air and a great leader of the attack.
Dobson and Clare are good replacements for Pratley and Shinnie, what they aren't is replacements for JFC and Gilbey. We have now addressed that with Arter and Lee. Better late than never.
Millar has been replaced by Kirk, very different type of player and time will tell of its an up grade or not but he is our player on a long contract.
Smith never played and has been replaced by Leko, in a different role but one we needed.
Deji mk1 has been replaced by a younger player on a long term contract. Looks like a significant upgrade.
Maatsen replaced by CBT, who obviously can't play left back but as IM was nearly always played as a winger under Adkins it's not a massive down grade.
Amos and Mcgivilray toss a coin and take your pick. Very different types of keepers but probably only a fag paper between them.
How the hell do you replace Aneke? I have no idea. Probably the truth is you can't.
The big criticism from me isn't the lack of left back now, nor that extra striker or even no back up keeper. It's JFC got injured in April and we only replaced him on deadline day. Gilbey has been out since the start of preseason and we didn't replace him until about 5 days ago. Purrington is/was injured before the season stated and that could have been a quick, cheap fix.
I'll give it a 9 for were we ended up but a 6 for how we got there.
I wonder just how good our U18's are. Maybe 1-2 years away from first team? If so this season could be big for the club, find a way to be promoted and if the likes of Beadle, Burstow, Elerwre, Kanu etc come good maybe with some of our signings we have a core to not only compete in the Championship but either give it a go or sell for significant sums. If we stay down they will all be off in the blink of an eye.
I said I would wait until the transfer window 'slammed shut' before I made judgement on how I think it went - and overall I am very happy.
If I could change anything it would probably have been to have brought in one less midfielder/winger and got a left back instead, and off-loaded Schwartz for another striker.
All in all though I feel like Adkins has the tools to mount a very serious challenge this year.
The good news though is that after yesterday we DO now have a squad that can compete (which we didn't at the start of the season)...so its all to play for!
a midfield 3 of Arter , Lee and Gilbey - is as good as anything in League 1
a forward line of Stockley , Leko and Washington will get goals.
and thats not mentioning Kirk , DJ , Ronnie, Davison, Clare, Dobson , JFC , Albie , Watson.
Very positive and yes i still think Ronnie will come good this season.