I’d be interested to know if no-longer-a-goer Nombe is because his valuation has sky rocketed, or because the owners suddenly realise it’s rather expensive actually running a crappy football club and we’re now looking at loans or frees?
Would they still offer £500k now, like they supposedly did six weeks ago when we seemed to be more active?
I reckon Nombe was a replacement for Leaburn who had interest before he got injured. Leaburn got injured so suddenly we didn’t have the money anymore.
Honestly think that might be it for our attack. Looking at Chem’s physical profile I think he will play up front in our 3-5-2 and then obviously be an option wide for when we go 4-3-3
Leaburn May Chem Campbell Kanu Aneke Tyreece Campbell
I can’t see us adding another option to that. If we improve the rest of the team then I think that would be fine as an attacking line up, but I don’t have faith we will address our defensive weaknesses more than signing one more wing back so that will probably leave us not quite good enough overall
That Nombe “bid” of 500k screams of being one that they knew would be knocked back but they just wanted something positive to leak to the fans. That kind of move has got Methven written all over it
The bid was made by TS and Gallen before new owners took over .. so no it has not
Honestly think that might be it for our attack. Looking at Chem’s physical profile I think he will play up front in our 3-5-2 and then obviously be an option wide for when we go 4-3-3
Leaburn May Chem Campbell Kanu Aneke Tyreece Campbell
I can’t see us adding another option to that. If we improve the rest of the team then I think that would be fine as an attacking line up, but I don’t have faith we will address our defensive weaknesses more than signing one more wing back so that will probably leave us not quite good enough overall
I can see another one coming in, I think we're still short a physical player to backup Leaburn (not Aneke) and Kirk and DJ to depart to make the room.
Dabo in and ideally a Bielik style centre back/midfielder and that would probably cover most bases.
Honestly think that might be it for our attack. Looking at Chem’s physical profile I think he will play up front in our 3-5-2 and then obviously be an option wide for when we go 4-3-3
Leaburn May Chem Campbell Kanu Aneke Tyreece Campbell
I can’t see us adding another option to that. If we improve the rest of the team then I think that would be fine as an attacking line up, but I don’t have faith we will address our defensive weaknesses more than signing one more wing back so that will probably leave us not quite good enough overall
I can see another one coming in, I think we're still short a physical player to backup Leaburn (not Aneke) and Kirk and DJ to depart to make the room.
Dabo in and ideally a Bielik style centre back/midfielder and that would probably cover most bases.
I think Holden prefers mobility to physicality. The ideal is obviously Leaburn who has both, but that is incredibly difficult to find at this level. Chem Campbell is 6ft1 and mobile, we were interested in Nombe who is similar (mobile but still decent size/strength). I know everyone has been saying we need a target man but I’m not sure that’s what we have been after, they need to be bigger than May and Kanu but the profile we look for seems to be more about mobility.
I hope I’m wrong and we land Ladapo still but I’m not expecting it. Maybe Cosgrove might still come in to be a bit of a plan B option but then we’ve got lots of players which again Holden has said before he’s not really a fan of having too many players
Outside of the attack I think we need a CB (ideally left footed), wing back (Dabo) and then a creative/attacking midfielder (goodbye Payne)
Weird to sign another winger if we want to play 3-5-2. Please don’t let this be the striker
If it is, it has massive Andre Green vibes
That was my first thought as well, we've signed a winger to play CF.
I still don't understand the construction of this squad. We spent all pre season playing 3-5-2 in the first half, sometimes switched to 4-3-3. Played 3-5-2 in the first game, and then I believe we've started 4-3-3 all three games since then.
Signed Alfie May and he is not a striker who can play on his own up front. And at the moment we don't really have a striker who can partner him (we will when Miles comes back).
Also, when we play 4-3-3 we have CBT on the left, one of the best wingers in the league. Behind him we have Campbell, who looked very promising on the left last year. In terms of natural RWs, we have...no one. So while Chem Campbell can play anywhere, we now have three wingers who prefer to be on the left, four if you include Kirk.
He looked a good player playing for Wycombe against us last season, so I don't mind the signing in a vacuum, but I still don't understand how the pieces of this squad fit together.
Honestly think that might be it for our attack. Looking at Chem’s physical profile I think he will play up front in our 3-5-2 and then obviously be an option wide for when we go 4-3-3
Leaburn 19 years old May can't play up front on his own Chem Campbell unknown quantity as a specialist striker Kanu 18 years old Aneke I don't need to comment Tyreece Campbell a winger.
I can’t see us adding another option to that. If we improve the rest of the team then I think that would be fine as an attacking line up, but I don’t have faith we will address our defensive weaknesses more than signing one more wing back so that will probably leave us not quite good enough overall
If we don't add to that we will struggle.
If we signed May to play in a 433 we need our heads testing. We being the SMT.
Weird to sign another winger if we want to play 3-5-2. Please don’t let this be the striker
If it is, it has massive Andre Green vibes
That was my first thought as well, we've signed a winger to play CF.
I still don't understand the construction of this squad. We spent all pre season playing 3-5-2 in the first half, sometimes switched to 4-3-3. Played 3-5-2 in the first game, and then I believe we've started 4-3-3 all three games since then.
Signed Alfie May and he is not a striker who can play on his own up front. And at the moment we don't really have a striker who can partner him (we will when Miles comes back).
Also, when we play 4-3-3 we have CBT on the left, one of the best wingers in the league. Behind him we have Campbell, who looked very promising on the left last year. In terms of natural RWs, we have...no one. So while Chem Campbell can play anywhere, we now have three wingers who prefer to be on the left, four if you include Kirk.
He looked a good player playing for Wycombe against us last season, so I don't mind the signing in a vacuum, but I still don't understand how the pieces of this squad fit together.
It’s looking a bit like a good player became available and we decided we’d bring him in as he’ll strengthen us after the bad start, injuries and fans growing frustration.
Saying that Bowyer was similar in wanting mobile strikers, before Green we had Leko playing that role where although he was inconsistent was more successful.
Cosgrove is also a strange one considering how Holden seems to want us to play. Maybe he’s not a top target given he’s more similar to Stockley - a slower and traditional target man isn’t what you need if you want mobile energetic players who can press high up the pitch.
People are worrying about the lack of cafc activity but it has been a very quiet
week
for all clubs.
The reality is, at this stage of the window every player’s agent will be telling the players on their books to hold off from signing any offer they receive this week until deadline day in case a higher offer is made at the last min on 1st Sept.
Shame it's been a month since we signed anyone.
It has gone well past a joke now. I wonder how many other clubs have not signed a player in the past four weeks.
Something smells.
I'm surprised you can smell it all the way from Brazil 🤭.
Interestingly our article describes him as a “20 year old Playmaker”. Could this be our answer to signing someone to push Fraser? Not like for like obviously but could Campbell operate behind May and Leaburn with Dobson and Camara behind him? It’s attacking stuff but that is how Holden supposedly wants to play, and a solid back 3 behind it would help (haha!)
Interestingly our article describes him as a “20 year old Playmaker”. Could this be our answer to signing someone to push Fraser? Not like for like obviously but could Campbell operate behind May and Leaburn with Dobson and Camara behind him? It’s attacking stuff but that is how Holden supposedly wants to play, and a solid back 3 behind it would help (haha!)
Taylor is another player who can do the defensive work in midfield, if we want to play Campbell ahead of 2 workhorse midfielders.
Indeed that was the problem on Saturday, as we had 3 workhorses in midfield.
Weird to sign another winger if we want to play 3-5-2. Please don’t let this be the striker
If it is, it has massive Andre Green vibes
That was my first thought as well, we've signed a winger to play CF.
I still don't understand the construction of this squad. We spent all pre season playing 3-5-2 in the first half, sometimes switched to 4-3-3. Played 3-5-2 in the first game, and then I believe we've started 4-3-3 all three games since then.
Signed Alfie May and he is not a striker who can play on his own up front. And at the moment we don't really have a striker who can partner him (we will when Miles comes back).
Also, when we play 4-3-3 we have CBT on the left, one of the best wingers in the league. Behind him we have Campbell, who looked very promising on the left last year. In terms of natural RWs, we have...no one. So while Chem Campbell can play anywhere, we now have three wingers who prefer to be on the left, four if you include Kirk.
He looked a good player playing for Wycombe against us last season, so I don't mind the signing in a vacuum, but I still don't understand how the pieces of this squad fit together.
It’s looking a bit like a good player became available and we decided we’d bring him in as he’ll strengthen us after the bad start, injuries and fans growing frustration.
Saying that Bowyer was similar in wanting mobile strikers, before Green we had Leko playing that role where although he was inconsistent was more successful.
Cosgrove is also a strange one considering how Holden seems to want us to play. Maybe he’s not a top target given he’s more similar to Stockley - a slower and traditional target man isn’t what you need if you want mobile energetic players who can press high up the pitch.
Yes and I get that if Kirk and DJ go you do start to look a little light in squad depth.
To me, the Cogrove one makes sense given how much lumping it forward Holden has the side doing. Just hoping to hit May in the channels or for him to get in behind hasn't been too successful, so may as well have a big man for him to play off of I guess. But you're absolutely right, we got rid of Stockley six months ago and Stockley and May would have been a very good partnership. That being said, Stockley has scored three and set up three in 20 league games since then, so I wonder if getting rid of Stockley was more about getting rid of Stockley than anything else.
Anyway, my complaint for years has not been lack of money spent, it's been the lack of a coherent plan for building a squad year on year. This window there seems to be confusion within the same window.
Never pleasing people… we sign a someone who is decent, highly rated.
Played in the premier league, had a decent loan at the end of the season in League One, but it isn’t enough..
Holden has already proven this year we are not going to stick to the same formation, it is a signing that gives us options, from the start or from the bench to change the game.
I expect 1 free in (Dabo) 2 or 3 loans and maybe one more fee being paid if the right deal can be agreed.
For me, our biggest issue is, we don’t really have an identity of the style of play, and that falls on the manager!
Let’s see where we are at the end of October, before we start to turn!
Weird to sign another winger if we want to play 3-5-2. Please don’t let this be the striker
If it is, it has massive Andre Green vibes
That was my first thought as well, we've signed a winger to play CF.
I still don't understand the construction of this squad. We spent all pre season playing 3-5-2 in the first half, sometimes switched to 4-3-3. Played 3-5-2 in the first game, and then I believe we've started 4-3-3 all three games since then.
Signed Alfie May and he is not a striker who can play on his own up front. And at the moment we don't really have a striker who can partner him (we will when Miles comes back).
Also, when we play 4-3-3 we have CBT on the left, one of the best wingers in the league. Behind him we have Campbell, who looked very promising on the left last year. In terms of natural RWs, we have...no one. So while Chem Campbell can play anywhere, we now have three wingers who prefer to be on the left, four if you include Kirk.
He looked a good player playing for Wycombe against us last season, so I don't mind the signing in a vacuum, but I still don't understand how the pieces of this squad fit together.
It’s looking a bit like a good player became available and we decided we’d bring him in as he’ll strengthen us after the bad start, injuries and fans growing frustration.
Saying that Bowyer was similar in wanting mobile strikers, before Green we had Leko playing that role where although he was inconsistent was more successful.
Cosgrove is also a strange one considering how Holden seems to want us to play. Maybe he’s not a top target given he’s more similar to Stockley - a slower and traditional target man isn’t what you need if you want mobile energetic players who can press high up the pitch.
Yes and I get that if Kirk and DJ go you do start to look a little light in squad depth.
To me, the Cogrove one makes sense given how much lumping it forward Holden has the side doing. Just hoping to hit May in the channels or for him to get in behind hasn't been too successful, so may as well have a big man for him to play off of I guess. But you're absolutely right, we got rid of Stockley six months ago and Stockley and May would have been a very good partnership. That being said, Stockley has scored three and set up three in 20 league games since then, so I wonder if getting rid of Stockley was more about getting rid of Stockley than anything else.
Anyway, my complaint for years has not been lack of money spent, it's been the lack of a coherent plan for building a squad year on year. This window there seems to be confusion within the same window.
It wouldn’t have been a very good partnership because Stockley is shit. He wasn’t winning anything in the air last season and that’s all he was good for.
Weird to sign another winger if we want to play 3-5-2. Please don’t let this be the striker
If it is, it has massive Andre Green vibes
That was my first thought as well, we've signed a winger to play CF.
I still don't understand the construction of this squad. We spent all pre season playing 3-5-2 in the first half, sometimes switched to 4-3-3. Played 3-5-2 in the first game, and then I believe we've started 4-3-3 all three games since then.
Signed Alfie May and he is not a striker who can play on his own up front. And at the moment we don't really have a striker who can partner him (we will when Miles comes back).
Also, when we play 4-3-3 we have CBT on the left, one of the best wingers in the league. Behind him we have Campbell, who looked very promising on the left last year. In terms of natural RWs, we have...no one. So while Chem Campbell can play anywhere, we now have three wingers who prefer to be on the left, four if you include Kirk.
He looked a good player playing for Wycombe against us last season, so I don't mind the signing in a vacuum, but I still don't understand how the pieces of this squad fit together.
It’s looking a bit like a good player became available and we decided we’d bring him in as he’ll strengthen us after the bad start, injuries and fans growing frustration.
Saying that Bowyer was similar in wanting mobile strikers, before Green we had Leko playing that role where although he was inconsistent was more successful.
Cosgrove is also a strange one considering how Holden seems to want us to play. Maybe he’s not a top target given he’s more similar to Stockley - a slower and traditional target man isn’t what you need if you want mobile energetic players who can press high up the pitch.
Yes and I get that if Kirk and DJ go you do start to look a little light in squad depth.
To me, the Cogrove one makes sense given how much lumping it forward Holden has the side doing. Just hoping to hit May in the channels or for him to get in behind hasn't been too successful, so may as well have a big man for him to play off of I guess. But you're absolutely right, we got rid of Stockley six months ago and Stockley and May would have been a very good partnership. That being said, Stockley has scored three and set up three in 20 league games since then, so I wonder if getting rid of Stockley was more about getting rid of Stockley than anything else.
Anyway, my complaint for years has not been lack of money spent, it's been the lack of a coherent plan for building a squad year on year. This window there seems to be confusion within the same window.
Stockley had to go, for whatever reason he’s not the player he was and his scoring record at Fleetwood only confirms that even more.
Striker and a right back now and unless we offload more then I think that will be it which is fine - not bothered about a ‘style of play’ - pick a team to win the match in front of you - close down sometimes (not using the word press), sit off (not using low block) sometimes and go into the channels and route one sometimes - mix it up and don’t push about with it at the back too long and bore everybody to death - oh and try and find somebody with a cross would be a bonus
Striker and a right back now and unless we offload more then I think that will be it which is fine - not bothered about a ‘style of play’ - pick a team to win the match in front of you - close down sometimes (not using the word press), sit off (not using low block) sometimes and go into the channels and route one sometimes - mix it up and don’t push about with it at the back too long and bore everybody to death - oh and try and find somebody with a cross would be a bonus
Still think we need another decent centre half as I have my doubts as to whether what we've got will consistently keep the clean sheets we need to get anywhere near where we want to be?
Wouldn't mind an old experienced head up front to balance out the abundance of youth we've already got.
Weird to sign another winger if we want to play 3-5-2. Please don’t let this be the striker
If it is, it has massive Andre Green vibes
That was my first thought as well, we've signed a winger to play CF.
I still don't understand the construction of this squad. We spent all pre season playing 3-5-2 in the first half, sometimes switched to 4-3-3. Played 3-5-2 in the first game, and then I believe we've started 4-3-3 all three games since then.
Signed Alfie May and he is not a striker who can play on his own up front. And at the moment we don't really have a striker who can partner him (we will when Miles comes back).
Also, when we play 4-3-3 we have CBT on the left, one of the best wingers in the league. Behind him we have Campbell, who looked very promising on the left last year. In terms of natural RWs, we have...no one. So while Chem Campbell can play anywhere, we now have three wingers who prefer to be on the left, four if you include Kirk.
He looked a good player playing for Wycombe against us last season, so I don't mind the signing in a vacuum, but I still don't understand how the pieces of this squad fit together.
It’s looking a bit like a good player became available and we decided we’d bring him in as he’ll strengthen us after the bad start, injuries and fans growing frustration.
Saying that Bowyer was similar in wanting mobile strikers, before Green we had Leko playing that role where although he was inconsistent was more successful.
Cosgrove is also a strange one considering how Holden seems to want us to play. Maybe he’s not a top target given he’s more similar to Stockley - a slower and traditional target man isn’t what you need if you want mobile energetic players who can press high up the pitch.
Yes and I get that if Kirk and DJ go you do start to look a little light in squad depth.
To me, the Cogrove one makes sense given how much lumping it forward Holden has the side doing. Just hoping to hit May in the channels or for him to get in behind hasn't been too successful, so may as well have a big man for him to play off of I guess. But you're absolutely right, we got rid of Stockley six months ago and Stockley and May would have been a very good partnership. That being said, Stockley has scored three and set up three in 20 league games since then, so I wonder if getting rid of Stockley was more about getting rid of Stockley than anything else.
Anyway, my complaint for years has not been lack of money spent, it's been the lack of a coherent plan for building a squad year on year. This window there seems to be confusion within the same window.
Do you think the lumping it foward is by design?
I said the same under Adkins if it was deliberate we would be better at it. IMO it's a symptom of lack of confidence, options and ability. Not necessarily of the person doing the lumping. I also think more often than not its the same for our opposition. A good "lump it" or hoofball team, I am thinking 80s Wimbledon or John Becks Cambridge would do well in this league because the opposition wouldn't know how to deal with it.
People moan about hoofball but I have never seen a Charlton team actively really try and do it. It's really not the same thing as going long because you don't have any options or are playing with fear.
Never pleasing people… we sign a someone who is decent, highly rated.
Played in the premier league, had a decent loan at the end of the season in League One, but it isn’t enough..
Holden has already proven this year we are not going to stick to the same formation, it is a signing that gives us options, from the start or from the bench to change the game.
I expect 1 free in (Dabo) 2 or 3 loans and maybe one more fee being paid if the right deal can be agreed.
For me, our biggest issue is, we don’t really have an identity of the style of play, and that falls on the manager!
Let’s see where we are at the end of October, before we start to turn!
Is that away of saying Leaburn and other new incomings will by than have the understanding of one another?
Enough bodies up top now. Get that defence sorted now with a dominating centre half in on loan and we may be up there this season.
I wonder if we could look at Scott Dann - Free Agent having left Reading , probably local and experienced Centre Back could do a job for a season at League 1 level.
Enough bodies up top now. Get that defence sorted now with a dominating centre half in on loan and we may be up there this season.
I wonder if we could look at Scott Dann - Free Agent having left Reading , probably local and experienced Centre Back could do a job for a season at League 1 level.
I think our player budget is reaching its limits unfortunately. Think we’re close to being done.
Never pleasing people… we sign a someone who is decent, highly rated.
Played in the premier league, had a decent loan at the end of the season in League One, but it isn’t enough..
Holden has already proven this year we are not going to stick to the same formation, it is a signing that gives us options, from the start or from the bench to change the game.
I expect 1 free in (Dabo) 2 or 3 loans and maybe one more fee being paid if the right deal can be agreed.
For me, our biggest issue is, we don’t really have an identity of the style of play, and that falls on the manager!
Let’s see where we are at the end of October, before we start to turn!
Not sure it does. He’s not been given the tools yet so it’s hard to show an identity/style of play when you haven’t got the players you want yet. I think he’s got a clear idea of how he wants us to play but we can only see small bits of it at the moment because we don’t have enough players
Comments
allows us to change things around a bit
Talking about some Quiz masterminds!
Dabodabodabodabodoabo
May
Chem Campbell
Kanu
Aneke
Tyreece Campbell
I can’t see us adding another option to that. If we improve the rest of the team then I think that would be fine as an attacking line up, but I don’t have faith we will address our defensive weaknesses more than signing one more wing back so that will probably leave us not quite good enough overall
Dabo in and ideally a Bielik style centre back/midfielder and that would probably cover most bases.
Outside of the attack I think we need a CB (ideally left footed), wing back (Dabo) and then a creative/attacking midfielder (goodbye Payne)
Good option but not really what we need. Sounds like a square peg for a round hole.
I still don't understand the construction of this squad. We spent all pre season playing 3-5-2 in the first half, sometimes switched to 4-3-3. Played 3-5-2 in the first game, and then I believe we've started 4-3-3 all three games since then.
Signed Alfie May and he is not a striker who can play on his own up front. And at the moment we don't really have a striker who can partner him (we will when Miles comes back).
Also, when we play 4-3-3 we have CBT on the left, one of the best wingers in the league. Behind him we have Campbell, who looked very promising on the left last year. In terms of natural RWs, we have...no one. So while Chem Campbell can play anywhere, we now have three wingers who prefer to be on the left, four if you include Kirk.
He looked a good player playing for Wycombe against us last season, so I don't mind the signing in a vacuum, but I still don't understand how the pieces of this squad fit together.
If we signed May to play in a 433 we need our heads testing. We being the SMT.
Saying that Bowyer was similar in wanting mobile strikers, before Green we had Leko playing that role where although he was inconsistent was more successful.
Cosgrove is also a strange one considering how Holden seems to want us to play. Maybe he’s not a top target given he’s more similar to Stockley - a slower and traditional target man isn’t what you need if you want mobile energetic players who can press high up the pitch.
Indeed that was the problem on Saturday, as we had 3 workhorses in midfield.
To me, the Cogrove one makes sense given how much lumping it forward Holden has the side doing. Just hoping to hit May in the channels or for him to get in behind hasn't been too successful, so may as well have a big man for him to play off of I guess. But you're absolutely right, we got rid of Stockley six months ago and Stockley and May would have been a very good partnership. That being said, Stockley has scored three and set up three in 20 league games since then, so I wonder if getting rid of Stockley was more about getting rid of Stockley than anything else.
Anyway, my complaint for years has not been lack of money spent, it's been the lack of a coherent plan for building a squad year on year. This window there seems to be confusion within the same window.
Dabo + Forward and preferably a real quality CB but don't think we'll be seeing another of those in.
Holden has already proven this year we are not going to stick to the same formation, it is a signing that gives us options, from the start or from the bench to change the game.
I expect 1 free in (Dabo) 2 or 3 loans and maybe one more fee being paid if the right deal can be agreed.
For me, our biggest issue is, we don’t really have an identity of the style of play, and that falls on the manager!
Wouldn't mind an old experienced head up front to balance out the abundance of youth we've already got.
I said the same under Adkins if it was deliberate we would be better at it. IMO it's a symptom of lack of confidence, options and ability. Not necessarily of the person doing the lumping. I also think more often than not its the same for our opposition. A good "lump it" or hoofball team, I am thinking 80s Wimbledon or John Becks Cambridge would do well in this league because the opposition wouldn't know how to deal with it.
People moan about hoofball but I have never seen a Charlton team actively really try and do it. It's really not the same thing as going long because you don't have any options or are playing with fear.