Not one desperate loan for a premier league kid, all of our loans are experienced players. That to me is a really positive sign
Wouldn’t say a positive sign, just a clear change in strategy.
The one benefit is we have taken in players on loan that other clubs simply want off their books, or out the building. There will be less pressure / agreement from their host club to get them game time than there would from clubs shipping out their youngsters for experience. So Adkins hasn’t just brought in experience, he has control on how and how frequent they are played.
Reasonably happy with how things have turned out……I think the 7.5 score that has been banded around is about right. It’s so hard to take that we aren’t as much of an attraction to the next level of player up the scale that we might otherwise have gone after. I have a feeling that it was largely due to personal terms that we weren’t able to bring in some on our wish list, although that’s rather stating the obvious. Very interesting times ahead, true we’ve already put ourselves on the back foot as far as automatic promotion is concerned but I am confident that (initially anyway), the playoffs are well within our reach. The question of the left back situation has hung around repeatedly over the last month or so but I think in Purrington we have a very able ‘go to’ player, who is now back in full training and should be ready to go quite soon. Personally I have always liked him and look forward to his return. Sit back and watch the fun!
Some people questioning Purrington's ability at LB.
Sure, he's not the marauding attacking full back/wingback that perhaps is missing as an option from the squad.
But he's very good at keeping the shape of the defence.
Remember back in 2018/19 after Page was injured, our defence was being pulled all over the place and it was costing us plenty of points?
After Purrington was signed, the defence settled down and was a major factor as we found form to push for promotion.
He may have his limitations, but Purrington's own strength is that he's a very decent defensive fullback at League One level - as he proved in our 2018/19 promotion team.
Granted, but we signed Kirk who is proven to be much more effective/productive when he has an attacking/overlapping FB behind him.
For me it's not a question of Purrington's ability but his suitability for the system/team as a whole. There's a time and place for steady Eddie solid defending full backs for sure, I'm just not sure this is either.
Mixed feelings from me. Problem is that I really thought we would see a major rebuild along the lines of the Varney/Powell 2011 extravaganza. Then I really thought it was going to be dreadful. So it’s much worse than I’d originally hoped but much better than I had subsequently feared.
I'm feeling positive overall with how the window has turned out.
Lavelle is a great signing and will give us some protection with Innis being just a little bit fragile. We all know that the extended sidelining of Innis and Famewo last season cost us a quaranteed play-off place and possibly an outright.
With Lee, Kirk and Leko we have a far more potent attacking threat to support Stockley. Add a fit Purrington and a healthy Gilbey and it looks promising. There is also the chance of a breakthrough from the under 23s Deji, Davison (looked good last night) and possibly Burstow who looks a real talent.
With a fair wind, more than our usual luck with injuries, and a canny January window could see us right up there challenging for promotion. NA looks like being in a strong position with a lot of competition for places.
Mixed feelings from me. Problem is that I really thought we would see a major rebuild along the lines of the Varney/Powell 2011 extravaganza. Then I really thought it was going to be dreadful. So it’s much worse than I’d originally hoped but much better than I had subsequently feared.
Didn’t someone once say something along the lines of not getting too high with the highs or too low with the lows…
Not one desperate loan for a premier league kid, all of our loans are experienced players. That to me is a really positive sign
Wouldn’t say a positive sign, just a clear change in strategy.
The one benefit is we have taken in players on loan that other clubs simply want off their books, or out the building. There will be less pressure / agreement from their host club to get them game time than there would from clubs shipping out their youngsters for experience. So Adkins hasn’t just brought in experience, he has control on how and how frequent they are played.
Agreed, and not all the previous FAPL kid loans were “desperate”, going back from Maatsen, who in context was excellent, we’ve had Gallagher, Bielik, Cullen and Jay da Silva. Chelsea have about 200 players out on loan, it’s a good idea to tap into that opportunity as much as possible, none of them let us down so far. I seem to remember some Man City loan kids causing us grief with some north west clubs last season too.
Some people questioning Purrington's ability at LB.
Sure, he's not the marauding attacking full back/wingback that perhaps is missing as an option from the squad.
But he's very good at keeping the shape of the defence.
Remember back in 2018/19 after Page was injured, our defence was being pulled all over the place and it was costing us plenty of points?
After Purrington was signed, the defence settled down and was a major factor as we found form to push for promotion.
He may have his limitations, but Purrington's own strength is that he's a very decent defensive fullback at League One level - as he proved in our 2018/19 promotion team.
I frequently see things like "He plays simple passes to the winger... He keeps the shape... He defends his post..." But those are the minimum you would expect out of a competent full-back.
The frequent criticism is that he is very basic. But that's also the praise given in his defense... That he does the basics. So I think we're all in agreement somewhere. He doesn't have anything else to his game and does the basics to a decent enough level.
I would just hope that we could have good players and not ones that are "decent enough."
In my opinion... Great window. Strong team. Spent well over £1,000,000 signing young, talented, motivated players on long term contracts. Also signed players with links to CAFC (Lee, Arter, Leko & Clare) and signed natural leaders and players of the season (Lavelle Kirk & MacG). I also think the temperament of the players we've brought in has been well thought through.
Whats not to like? Yes, we might be a LB or a ST short, but I reckon we might dip into the free transfer market to plug whatever minute holes there might be.
Finally, a sensible window, not one where our sole target is to bring In 'bodies.'
Wow we spent a million. I will go Charlton and support the team as Always but I'm not expecting us to be anywhere near the play-offs. I think this is a below average squad. I hope I am wrong I honestly do. Playing some youngsters through the season will keep me interested and then mount a challenge next season. I'm not in a rush for promotion like others
I agree re. not rushing - however would you not agree this window is a step in the right direction though, a solid base on which to build?
Yes I'd agree we are building. I've no problem with that. But this squad compared to Sheff Wd, Sunderland,Ipswich even Oxford, we won't be challenging
Way too early to make that prediction. We don't know enough about Lavelle. Dobson and Clare need to improve, but made that first step tonight. We don't know what Leko or Arter we're getting either. I'd also predict few people know much about other League 1 squads in too much depth. Oxford look to have a very decent side but a lot of unknowns beyond that.
2 injuries and we are screwed mate
I think that puts us in the same position as 90% of the teams in the division though. In terms of pure numbers, most teams seem to have made roughly the same amount of signings as we have so I can't imagine that it's only Charlton facing potential injury crises.
We're coming out of a pandemic which as badly affected football clubs everywhere. Barcelona were holding a fire sale today! With this and the squad cap, like you say a lot of clubs in exactly the same position. We'll need a bit of luck but we added players today, it's slightly unbalanced but could have been a lot worse.
I am.not so sure we are out of this pandemic with 33,000 a day infected and 100 deaths a day and a lot of resistance to vaccine in some sections plus people so untiring to wear masks on public transport.
I didn't say we were out of it. But with fans allowed back in the ground, then it is getting back to normal for football clubs with increased revenue. Of course another lockdown changes that. However, despite this being the thread to discuss almost everything, it's definitively not to discuss Covid and restrictions.
It has to be seen if we are coming out of it and the reasons are as I said. You mentioned the pandemic first and now you want it not discussed. Why is that 🤔. It a forum after all.
there is a separate thread for all things covid related.
In my opinion... Great window. Strong team. Spent well over £1,000,000 signing young, talented, motivated players on long term contracts. Also signed players with links to CAFC (Lee, Arter, Leko & Clare) and signed natural leaders and players of the season (Lavelle Kirk & MacG). I also think the temperament of the players we've brought in has been well thought through.
Whats not to like? Yes, we might be a LB or a ST short, but I reckon we might dip into the free transfer market to plug whatever minute holes there might be.
Finally, a sensible window, not one where our sole target is to bring In 'bodies.'
Wow we spent a million. I will go Charlton and support the team as Always but I'm not expecting us to be anywhere near the play-offs. I think this is a below average squad. I hope I am wrong I honestly do. Playing some youngsters through the season will keep me interested and then mount a challenge next season. I'm not in a rush for promotion like others
I agree re. not rushing - however would you not agree this window is a step in the right direction though, a solid base on which to build?
Yes I'd agree we are building. I've no problem with that. But this squad compared to Sheff Wd, Sunderland,Ipswich even Oxford, we won't be challenging
Way too early to make that prediction. We don't know enough about Lavelle. Dobson and Clare need to improve, but made that first step tonight. We don't know what Leko or Arter we're getting either. I'd also predict few people know much about other League 1 squads in too much depth. Oxford look to have a very decent side but a lot of unknowns beyond that.
2 injuries and we are screwed mate
I think that puts us in the same position as 90% of the teams in the division though. In terms of pure numbers, most teams seem to have made roughly the same amount of signings as we have so I can't imagine that it's only Charlton facing potential injury crises.
We're coming out of a pandemic which as badly affected football clubs everywhere. Barcelona were holding a fire sale today! With this and the squad cap, like you say a lot of clubs in exactly the same position. We'll need a bit of luck but we added players today, it's slightly unbalanced but could have been a lot worse.
I am.not so sure we are out of this pandemic with 33,000 a day infected and 100 deaths a day and a lot of resistance to vaccine in some sections plus people so untiring to wear masks on public transport.
I didn't say we were out of it. But with fans allowed back in the ground, then it is getting back to normal for football clubs with increased revenue. Of course another lockdown changes that. However, despite this being the thread to discuss almost everything, it's definitively not to discuss Covid and restrictions.
It has to be seen if we are coming out of it and the reasons are as I said. You mentioned the pandemic first and now you want it not discussed. Why is that 🤔. It a forum after all.
I never said it shouldn't be discussed on the forum did I? I said this isn't the thread to do so. There's a whole thread for it so if you want to discuss people wearing masks, not wearing masks or using them to hold their alcoholic beverages then that's the place to do it. I mentioned the pandemic in relation to football clubs and the impact it's had on revenue and consequently budgets for clubs around the world. Dave from Number 42 refusing to have the vaccine doesn't need to come into the conversation.
Some people questioning Purrington's ability at LB.
Sure, he's not the marauding attacking full back/wingback that perhaps is missing as an option from the squad.
But he's very good at keeping the shape of the defence.
Remember back in 2018/19 after Page was injured, our defence was being pulled all over the place and it was costing us plenty of points?
After Purrington was signed, the defence settled down and was a major factor as we found form to push for promotion.
He may have his limitations, but Purrington's own strength is that he's a very decent defensive fullback at League One level - as he proved in our 2018/19 promotion team.
Granted, but we signed Kirk who is proven to be much more effective/productive when he has an attacking/overlapping FB behind him.
For me it's not a question of Purrington's ability but his suitability for the system/team as a whole. There's a time and place for steady Eddie solid defending full backs for sure, I'm just not sure this is either.
I wouldn't argue against what you say here. Maybe Kirk could be more effective with an overlapping full back ...... but that's not Purrington's fault.
That's down to the manager to either bring in an attacking fullback. Or change the system to get the best out of the players he does have.
Purrington is nowhere near bad as such. In many games his caution or instructions have been to pass back or square for safety when on the ball. But he is capable of overlapping or advancing, can put a ball in, and has been known to appear at the far post and score a goal. Defending per se I am not able to analyse that well. Against a super right winger he is probably less capable than Matthews on the other side. He is young enough to learn from experience and be guided by good management and coaching, and he doesn’t seem too dim to learn team play or shape. His throw ins are better than Gunter’s.
As an aside, we have a veritable smorgasbord of midfielders now, I wonder where or if a fit again Gilby would fit in, let alone Aaron Henry or @Leuth’s mate Vennings.
People saying that Purrington is not a marauding speedy full back well neither is Matthews & he doesn’t get the same criticism at all. What we do have Imo is two solid league one fullbacks!
I’m slightly disappointed we didn’t get Simms (Ex Southampton) but happy enough with the players we brought in that position
I didn't post it on here but on Monday I did see a Range Rover type car with the number plate S1MCY driving not far (3 miles?) from the training ground. I'm sure it was just a coincidence...
Window ended up good i would say - i'm reliably informed that TS spent £2m on transfer fees, loan fees and agents fees and we were trying to buy Leko as well but couldn't agree fee - something that might happen further down the line - i'd like to see a big ovation for TS when he next attends the Valley
As has been stated already, TS probably doubled (or close to doubled) his budget on the fly. He genuinely cares, and he genuinely wants to be liked as well, both of which will serve us well
Window ended up good i would say - i'm reliably informed that TS spent £2m on transfer fees, loan fees and agents fees and we were trying to buy Leko as well but couldn't agree fee - something that might happen further down the line - i'd like to see a big ovation for TS when he next attends the Valley
I'll absolutely second that!! Sorry I can't be at The Valley to personally contribute to a big ovation for TS following from this apparently very productive transfer window!
I'm not convinced that he suddenly doubled the budget as wasn't the plan always to buy quite a few close to the end of the window? It may have cost us some points but i'm genuinely excited to see some of the pace and 'ballers' that we've brought in to compliment what we had - looks a good blend to me.
I'm not convinced that he suddenly doubled the budget as wasn't the plan always to buy quite a few close to the end of the window? It may have cost us some points but i'm genuinely excited to see some of the pace and 'ballers' that we've brought in to compliment what we had - looks a good blend to me.
Fair - but I suspect it was raised. 2m in the end you say? I sense it may have been 1.5 at first. We won't know unless TS says I guess.
In my opinion... Great window. Strong team. Spent well over £1,000,000 signing young, talented, motivated players on long term contracts. Also signed players with links to CAFC (Lee, Arter, Leko & Clare) and signed natural leaders and players of the season (Lavelle Kirk & MacG). I also think the temperament of the players we've brought in has been well thought through.
Whats not to like? Yes, we might be a LB or a ST short, but I reckon we might dip into the free transfer market to plug whatever minute holes there might be.
Finally, a sensible window, not one where our sole target is to bring In 'bodies.'
Wow we spent a million. I will go Charlton and support the team as Always but I'm not expecting us to be anywhere near the play-offs. I think this is a below average squad. I hope I am wrong I honestly do. Playing some youngsters through the season will keep me interested and then mount a challenge next season. I'm not in a rush for promotion like others
I agree re. not rushing - however would you not agree this window is a step in the right direction though, a solid base on which to build?
Yes I'd agree we are building. I've no problem with that. But this squad compared to Sheff Wd, Sunderland,Ipswich even Oxford, we won't be challenging
Way too early to make that prediction. We don't know enough about Lavelle. Dobson and Clare need to improve, but made that first step tonight. We don't know what Leko or Arter we're getting either. I'd also predict few people know much about other League 1 squads in too much depth. Oxford look to have a very decent side but a lot of unknowns beyond that.
2 injuries and we are screwed mate
I think that puts us in the same position as 90% of the teams in the division though. In terms of pure numbers, most teams seem to have made roughly the same amount of signings as we have so I can't imagine that it's only Charlton facing potential injury crises.
We're coming out of a pandemic which as badly affected football clubs everywhere. Barcelona were holding a fire sale today! With this and the squad cap, like you say a lot of clubs in exactly the same position. We'll need a bit of luck but we added players today, it's slightly unbalanced but could have been a lot worse.
I am.not so sure we are out of this pandemic with 33,000 a day infected and 100 deaths a day and a lot of resistance to vaccine in some sections plus people so untiring to wear masks on public transport.
I didn't say we were out of it. But with fans allowed back in the ground, then it is getting back to normal for football clubs with increased revenue. Of course another lockdown changes that. However, despite this being the thread to discuss almost everything, it's definitively not to discuss Covid and restrictions.
It has to be seen if we are coming out of it and the reasons are as I said. You mentioned the pandemic first and now you want it not discussed. Why is that 🤔. It a forum after all.
You’d start an argument in an empty room . Give it a rest man .
I'm not convinced that he suddenly doubled the budget as wasn't the plan always to buy quite a few close to the end of the window? It may have cost us some points but i'm genuinely excited to see some of the pace and 'ballers' that we've brought in to compliment what we had - looks a good blend to me.
Fair - but I suspect it was raised. 2m in the end you say? I sense it may have been 1.5 at first. We won't know unless TS says I guess.
I think Arter and Lee were the unbudgeted or rebudgeted players.
It seemed early on that we were missing out on players who went from leagues 1 and 2 to the Championship.
That suggested to me that we were always planning to spend but just not enough for the market we thought we were in. We misjudged that market and also didn't realise how much Ipswich and Wigan would distort the league 1 market.
So the expectations were set high for some fans and maybe even for Adkins and weren't delivered early on, at least.
There is a danger that the "perceived wisdom" has shifted from "he's skint" to "he's playing moneyball" to now "he upped the budget late on due to results" when there is not a whole lot of evidence to back up any of those positions fully. There is also some evidence that we'd expected do business late all along bit that could also be making a virtue out of a necessity.
The truth, as usual, is probably somewhere in between the extremes.
He's not skint but he's not going to spend, spend, spend.
He's not playing moneyball but he knows that buy low, sell high is a business concept that works in every business. He wants sustainable and affordable growth because while he's not skint or a liar he's not an oil state either.
He, and possibly Roddy, may have been over ambitious and they might well have tweeked the budget but did they really double it?
Comments
The one benefit is we have taken in players on loan that other clubs simply want off their books, or out the building. There will be less pressure / agreement from their host club to get them game time than there would from clubs shipping out their youngsters for experience. So Adkins hasn’t just brought in experience, he has control on how and how frequent they are played.
It’s so hard to take that we aren’t as much of an attraction to the next level of player up the scale that we might otherwise have gone after. I have a feeling that it was largely due to personal terms that we weren’t able to bring in some on our wish list, although that’s rather stating the obvious.
Very interesting times ahead, true we’ve already put ourselves on the back foot as far as automatic promotion is concerned but I am confident that (initially anyway), the playoffs are well within our reach.
The question of the left back situation has hung around repeatedly over the last month or so but I think in Purrington we have a very able ‘go to’ player, who is now back in full training and should be ready to go quite soon. Personally I have always liked him and look forward to his return.
Sit back and watch the fun!
For me it's not a question of Purrington's ability but his suitability for the system/team as a whole. There's a time and place for steady Eddie solid defending full backs for sure, I'm just not sure this is either.
The frequent criticism is that he is very basic. But that's also the praise given in his defense... That he does the basics. So I think we're all in agreement somewhere. He doesn't have anything else to his game and does the basics to a decent enough level.
I would just hope that we could have good players and not ones that are "decent enough."
That's down to the manager to either bring in an attacking fullback.
Or change the system to get the best out of the players he does have.
In many games his caution or instructions have been to pass back or square for safety when on the ball. But he is capable of overlapping or advancing, can put a ball in, and has been known to appear at the far post and score a goal. Defending per se I am not able to analyse that well. Against a super right winger he is probably less capable than Matthews on the other side.
He is young enough to learn from experience and be guided by good management and coaching, and he doesn’t seem too dim to learn team play or shape.
His throw ins are better than Gunter’s.
As an aside, we have a veritable smorgasbord of midfielders now, I wonder where or if a fit again Gilby would fit in, let alone Aaron Henry or @Leuth’s mate Vennings.
After working past midnight last night and getting home much later, I wouldn't begrudge Nigel Adkins a day off today?
That suggested to me that we were always planning to spend but just not enough for the market we thought we were in. We misjudged that market and also didn't realise how much Ipswich and Wigan would distort the league 1 market.
So the expectations were set high for some fans and maybe even for Adkins and weren't delivered early on, at least.
There is a danger that the "perceived wisdom" has shifted from "he's skint" to "he's playing moneyball" to now "he upped the budget late on due to results" when there is not a whole lot of evidence to back up any of those positions fully. There is also some evidence that we'd expected do business late all along bit that could also be making a virtue out of a necessity.
The truth, as usual, is probably somewhere in between the extremes.
He's not skint but he's not going to spend, spend, spend.
He's not playing moneyball but he knows that buy low, sell high is a business concept that works in every business. He wants sustainable and affordable growth because while he's not skint or a liar he's not an oil state either.
He, and possibly Roddy, may have been over ambitious and they might well have tweeked the budget but did they really double it?