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Michael Appleton - March 2025 appointed Shrewsbury manager (p124)
Comments
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Nigel PearsonNorth Lower Neil said:
Pip Guardiola.SELR_addicks said:Is he the best manager with a fruit in his name though?
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The people saying this probably won’t be there anyway. I’m sure it will be sung by all at Stevenage next weekendIAgree said:Not my first or even second choice, but I can’t remember a more unfair, un Charlton and hostile response and some of the comments are just plain old nasty and frankly ignorant. He has been built into a figure of ridicule over his less than photogenic qualities and demonised by some on here.
He does have relevant experience and has had success at clubs where he’s been backed by owners - I don’t count the Blackpool job because they were past redemption. He may well not turn this about but let’s all remember why we are in this situation and that the last four owners have run the club into the ground.
As for not chanting Appletons Red Army….Words fail me. Have we descended so far?5 -
Some of the CL members are getting on a bit and anyone under age 30 looks like a young playerSDAddick said:
Using under 21 as the benchmark:golfaddick said:
Do you know that for a fact or did you just swallow the blurb the club put out ?NabySarr said:Positives:
Works well with young players and we have a young squad
Gets good loans from PL teams as they trust him to develop their youngsters (not really a positive for now but for future transfer windows)
Of course he has to work with young players......that's all we have. And until January he'll have no influence on bringing in any loans. And after that no real scope unless a couple go back. He w9nt really have a say about player incomings until June next year. And then he'll have plenty of options as we have the usual 10-12 player churn.
Isted-26
AMB-24
Jones-27
TT-27
Hector-31
Ness-21 Young player
Assimwe-18 Young player
T Watson-26 ("Watson 26" bring back some bad memories)
Edun-25
Dobbo-25
Camara-26
May-30
Fraser-28
Leaburn-19 Young player
Taylor-22
Abankwah-19 Young Player
Kirk-25
McGrandles-27
T. Campbell-19 Young Player
Aneke-30
CBT-25
L Watson-22
Deji-20 next week Young player
C. Campbell-20 Young Player
Chin-20 Young player
Kanu-18 Young player
Tedic-23
Anderson-18 Young player
There are some young players in the squad, but it's by no means "the only players we have." Just because Holden decided to start five teenagers a couple of weeks ago doesn't mean that's what our squad is made up of. Also, looking at those young players, Chin won't make many league matchday squads, I think Deji and Kanu will struggle to make the squad. I wonder if it will be two from three of Assimwe, Watson, and Abankwah, which would mean another 18 year old missing out.
What you're left with is some young players, some predigious, like Miles and TC, to a lesser extent (at this moment) Anderson and Asiimwe (could maybe put Ness in there). C Campbell has looked very good since joining. Ness is still younger and less experienced than many realize. But I would say about half of our young players are on the fringes of the squad.
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I could see Miles playing the 10, his close ball retention is good and he allows others into the game, gives time for the other 3 to find routes.NabySarr said:
Leaburn isn’t a number 10. If he wants to set us up in his favoured formation then Leaburn will have to play on the right or he will have to leave out one of May or Leaburn.Braziliance said:Got a feeling he will play 4231 in his first game for us
Watson Jones Hector Edun
Taylor Dobson
T.Campbell Leaburn CBT
May
An argument for C.Campbell in there cause he's had a good start for us (despite my Wolves mate saying he's shocking) and seems very composed on the ball.
Could also make a case for a few others, especially Camara in the double pivot if he's back fit by then.
Either way on the face of it, that team looks good enough to get a result, let's see if he can earn his paycheque
I would have the same personnel (other than Asiimwe in for Watson, who won’t be fit) but actually play people in their best positions and play 4-4-2 with Campbell on the right and Leaburn up top. I think Appleton has played it on occasion so I’m hoping he looks at the squad and picks the best formation for it, rather than trying to make us fit his 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 and end up not getting the best out of Leaburn and/or May
I would have said May but I feel like he is more clinical than Leaburn so we want him in that forward position.
Either way I think Miles is versatile enough to play any of the 4 roles, just think his physical presence will come in handy a bit further back where we have been struggling to keep the ball as much2 -
He's the new manager. Let's back him for now.
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was decent when he captained england but not sure what he knows about football2
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How many number 10s are there of Miles physical stature in world football? He isn’t a number 10, not technical, agile or creative enough for that role. He’s a striker that can do a job out wide from the bench because he’s quick enough with fresh legs, but really he is just a striker. You want that physical presence up top, we should be playing Leaburn and May as a 2 which is one of my main worries about Appleton. I can already see him playing 1 of them up front, the other out of position or on the bench and not using what could be the best front 2 in the leagueBraziliance said:
I could see Miles playing the 10, his close ball retention is good and he allows others into the game, gives time for the other 3 to find routes.NabySarr said:
Leaburn isn’t a number 10. If he wants to set us up in his favoured formation then Leaburn will have to play on the right or he will have to leave out one of May or Leaburn.Braziliance said:Got a feeling he will play 4231 in his first game for us
Watson Jones Hector Edun
Taylor Dobson
T.Campbell Leaburn CBT
May
An argument for C.Campbell in there cause he's had a good start for us (despite my Wolves mate saying he's shocking) and seems very composed on the ball.
Could also make a case for a few others, especially Camara in the double pivot if he's back fit by then.
Either way on the face of it, that team looks good enough to get a result, let's see if he can earn his paycheque
I would have the same personnel (other than Asiimwe in for Watson, who won’t be fit) but actually play people in their best positions and play 4-4-2 with Campbell on the right and Leaburn up top. I think Appleton has played it on occasion so I’m hoping he looks at the squad and picks the best formation for it, rather than trying to make us fit his 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 and end up not getting the best out of Leaburn and/or May
I would have said May but I feel like he is more clinical than Leaburn so we want him in that forward position.
Either way I think Miles is versatile enough to play any of the 4 roles, just think his physical presence will come in handy a bit further back where we have been struggling to keep the ball as much4 -
I genuinely think these owners are taking the proverbial .1
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I’m completely underwhelmed with this appointment, shows a complete lack of ambition, and season over already to me.
If MA can get us keeping clean sheets and winning heavily against opponents we should be thrashing, I’ll be won over, good luck Michael.0 -
His dilemma will be how long does he sign a lease for on his new digs.Too long and it will wipe out his pay off and too short he will be flaffing about trying to find somewhere to live when we are in the middle of Saturday Tuesday fixtures and no spare time 😉0
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Sod this malarkey, I’m putting some Quo on.2
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It's become a joke on here but I know a Forest fan who follows Lincoln, asked him about Appleton he said:
- Had one very good season when they got to the L1 playoff final. Relied on two loans who were far too good for L1, Morgan Rogers and Brennan Johnson, both attacking players and were at least Championship standard.
- Played good football but a lot of people weren't convinced by him.
- Came in for half a season after Cowley left and lambasted everything the Cowley brothers had done, didn't make himself popular.
- Got lucky the second season, couldn't back it up, talk of player unrest.
- Had testicular cancer which would have been a difficult time.
- Might be ok but didn't do well at Blackpool, a lot of same noises came out that he was a bit of knob.
For me it's not an exciting appointment but there's potential with this squad. We have goals and creativity in us, big if but if we improve defensively it's still possible to have a good season.7 -
Welcome Michael and the best of luck.I’m neither disappointed or impressed. This whole club is just a bit meh now.See you at the Valley on the 23rd!0
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Is that one of the valley 14 chips?Lewis Coaches said:Can’t wait for these words from Appleton to appear on web-site .
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So the cheap option would be to keep him while he servers his notice and not sack his coaches as well?billysboots said:
No-one knows what holdens contract said . Didn’t Jacko have one where he could get shoved with a low payment if fell below a certain place in the league ? For all we know Holden may have been on a three month notice.Cafc43v3r said:
Including sacking Holden 6 months into a 3 month contract? The cheap option would have been to mot sack him.billysboots said:
the only one I can think of is binning “addicts to victory “ everything else has the cheap option .SELR_addicks said:Would love to know if there has been a single positive decision this 'new ownership' has made since buying our club.
Been one uninspiring move after the next. Proper tinpot stuff.0 -
The new owners are useless...
We have had lots of managers ....
All clueless ...
We are in trouble ...
No one else can help .....
They hire Michael Appleton ....
Everyone knows they should have hired the A-Team!
They would have got the ground back from Roland. As payment they would only want a 10% share in the club.
But no .... the new owners are so stupid, they didn't meet Mr Li at the Chinese Laundry! Idiots!2 -
Down down?Mendonca In Asdas said:Sod this malarkey, I’m putting some Quo on.5 -
Let's give Appleton a chance .
Judge him after 10 games .
COYR2 -
Mendonca In Asdas said:Sod this malarkey, I’m putting some Quo on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azSuT1UG9oQ
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To be fair, I'm not too bothered what other 10s look like or do. As far as his technicality and agility go we must be watching the wrong player because Miles is definitely technically gifted for a player of his size and he is no slouch. Not trying to overhype him but he is far more than just a quick set of fresh legs and has a very high ceiling from what I've seen so far.NabySarr said:
How many number 10s are there of Miles physical stature in world football? He isn’t a number 10, not technical, agile or creative enough for that role. He’s a striker that can do a job out wide from the bench because he’s quick enough with fresh legs, but really he is just a striker. You want that physical presence up top, we should be playing Leaburn and May as a 2 which is one of my main worries about Appleton. I can already see him playing 1 of them up front, the other out of position or on the bench and not using what could be the best front 2 in the leagueBraziliance said:
I could see Miles playing the 10, his close ball retention is good and he allows others into the game, gives time for the other 3 to find routes.NabySarr said:
Leaburn isn’t a number 10. If he wants to set us up in his favoured formation then Leaburn will have to play on the right or he will have to leave out one of May or Leaburn.Braziliance said:Got a feeling he will play 4231 in his first game for us
Watson Jones Hector Edun
Taylor Dobson
T.Campbell Leaburn CBT
May
An argument for C.Campbell in there cause he's had a good start for us (despite my Wolves mate saying he's shocking) and seems very composed on the ball.
Could also make a case for a few others, especially Camara in the double pivot if he's back fit by then.
Either way on the face of it, that team looks good enough to get a result, let's see if he can earn his paycheque
I would have the same personnel (other than Asiimwe in for Watson, who won’t be fit) but actually play people in their best positions and play 4-4-2 with Campbell on the right and Leaburn up top. I think Appleton has played it on occasion so I’m hoping he looks at the squad and picks the best formation for it, rather than trying to make us fit his 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 and end up not getting the best out of Leaburn and/or May
I would have said May but I feel like he is more clinical than Leaburn so we want him in that forward position.
Either way I think Miles is versatile enough to play any of the 4 roles, just think his physical presence will come in handy a bit further back where we have been struggling to keep the ball as much
I don't see him dislodging Alf as that's the main man and we have better options out wide so I'd like to see him playing behind Alfie where I'm sure his hold up play will allow it to work. I am not saying he's gonna be Bernardo Silva and start threading passes and turning with ease, just more so if the ball gets to him in that part of the pitch he will hang on to it and bring others into the game. Think more second striker than a 10 then but either way just behind Alf.
One way or another Appleton will start them both I imagine. Be daft not to.
The real competition atm is the wingers, who gets the nod out of the Campbell's. For me it's Tyreece all day, think he's so dangerous when he's running with the ball and like Corey completely fearless2 - Sponsored links:
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I had a lovely day at work, went for beer with my work friends, got home and had a nice cup of tea. Then had a good afternoon/evening sleep.I hadn’t looked at the internet since this morning.Good old Charlton, even manage to put a downer on my weekend when they are not playing.6
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Football wise well it’s not the most inspiring choice but we are a busted flush as a club when it comes to managers getting the sack every 6-9 months.
A lot of people think twice before joining us
As a head coach he can only work with he has been given. If the January window is a poor one then that falls on Scott as much as it will fall on Appleton1 -
Sacked by xmas.3
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It's not the most inspiring list is it.NabySarr said:
You’ve picked out 2 that didn’t play much and were only there for half a season. The rest now play at least at the same level and others at a higher level. Gotts is the only one that went down a level after working with Appleton.Chunes said:
Not sure how much they can claim these are elite loanees and he helped them develop...? Some of these players are now at the likes of Barrow, Lincoln and Forest Green Rovers. Others are still in the U23's or out on loan. I feel like we've had better loanees than this list.NabySarr said:
In fact here is something I read earlier this week from NTT20 substack on which clubs get the best loan players. So from a neutral before the club even appointed him. I’m definitely not one to swallow club bullshit, I just know a bit about football outside of just the Charlton bubblegolfaddick said:
Do you know that for a fact or did you just swallow the blurb the club put out ?NabySarr said:Positives:
Works well with young players and we have a young squad
Gets good loans from PL teams as they trust him to develop their youngsters (not really a positive for now but for future transfer windows)
Of course he has to work with young players......that's all we have. And until January he'll have no influence on bringing in any loans. And after that no real scope unless a couple go back. He w9nt really have a say about player incomings until June next year. And then he'll have plenty of options as we have the usual 10-12 player churn.Some, you already know about. Michael Appleton’s reputation for developing loanees is well-founded. His peak in that regard was 2020/21, when loanees Brennan Johnson (19 upon arrival), Morgan Rogers (18) and TJ Eyoma (20) helped his Lincoln side to reach the League One play-off final, which they’d ultimately lose to Blackpool. In their first-ever loan spells, Johnson started 41 league games and Eyoma 37, with Rogers making 26 line-ups despite joining only in January. Callum Morton(20) and Robbie Gotts (20) also pitched in as upstart temps, while on-loan Alex Palmer played 48 matches in nets, but he was 24 so he’s effectively dead to us.
Rogers and Johnson, in particular, catapulted themselves into the limelight as well as the Imps into a play-off final: the former earned an upper-Championship loan and the latter went straight into Nottingham Forest’s first team, then to the Premier League, then to Tottenham. How do you like them, Apples?
After that, it wasn’t surprising that football’s self-anointed royalty trusted Appleton to handle their crown jewels. Manchester City, the mutual beneficiaries of Rogers’ impressive Imps spell, gave him Lewis Fiorini (19) at Lincoln and again at Blackpool, following Appleton’s appointment there in 2022, and also sent Rogers to Bloomfield Road shortly before the loan whisperer was sacked. Arsenal endowed Appleton with 18-year-olds Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Lincoln) and Charlie Patino (Blackpool), and Liverpool handed 21-year-old Rhys Williams to his Tangerines for a time. Wherever Appleton turns up next, we can expect some elite prospects to follow.
This NTT20 stuff is starting to get on my nerves a bit. I like the two guys and their content but remember it's just the opinions of two blokes.Yes we got better loans, but that’s because we are a better club with more money. It’s more highlighting that the Man City’s, Arsenals, Liverpools etc trust Appleton with their players because he’s a good coach and has a good record with young player’s development
Brennan Johnson: Tottenham
Morgan Rogers: Middlesborough
TJ Eyoma: Lincoln
Callum Morton: Forest Green Rovers
Robbie Gotts: Barrow
Lewis Fiorini: Man City U23s
Brooke Norton-Cuffy: Millwall
Charlie Patino: Swansea
Rhys Williams: Aberdeen
I don't think it's unfair to say, on balance, they don't often send him their good talent.3 -
No, that french fry is a clue that the Valley is going to be sponsored and renamed the Ronald McDonald Hospice for Injured Clowns.Mendonca In Asdas said:
Is that one of the valley 14 chips?Lewis Coaches said:Can’t wait for these words from Appleton to appear on web-site .0 -
For a striker of his size he is brilliant technically and agile, but that doesn’t mean he can play number 10 as it’s a completely different position and skillset required. That’s the reason there aren’t any that look like him and he’s probably never played there. What you are describing is basically a 4-4-2 then which is how I think Appleton should set us up until Fraser and Camara return.Braziliance said:
To be fair, I'm not too bothered what other 10s look like or do. As far as his technicality and agility go we must be watching the wrong player because Miles is definitely technically gifted for a player of his size and he is no slouch. Not trying to overhype him but he is far more than just a quick set of fresh legs and has a very high ceiling from what I've seen so far.NabySarr said:
How many number 10s are there of Miles physical stature in world football? He isn’t a number 10, not technical, agile or creative enough for that role. He’s a striker that can do a job out wide from the bench because he’s quick enough with fresh legs, but really he is just a striker. You want that physical presence up top, we should be playing Leaburn and May as a 2 which is one of my main worries about Appleton. I can already see him playing 1 of them up front, the other out of position or on the bench and not using what could be the best front 2 in the leagueBraziliance said:
I could see Miles playing the 10, his close ball retention is good and he allows others into the game, gives time for the other 3 to find routes.NabySarr said:
Leaburn isn’t a number 10. If he wants to set us up in his favoured formation then Leaburn will have to play on the right or he will have to leave out one of May or Leaburn.Braziliance said:Got a feeling he will play 4231 in his first game for us
Watson Jones Hector Edun
Taylor Dobson
T.Campbell Leaburn CBT
May
An argument for C.Campbell in there cause he's had a good start for us (despite my Wolves mate saying he's shocking) and seems very composed on the ball.
Could also make a case for a few others, especially Camara in the double pivot if he's back fit by then.
Either way on the face of it, that team looks good enough to get a result, let's see if he can earn his paycheque
I would have the same personnel (other than Asiimwe in for Watson, who won’t be fit) but actually play people in their best positions and play 4-4-2 with Campbell on the right and Leaburn up top. I think Appleton has played it on occasion so I’m hoping he looks at the squad and picks the best formation for it, rather than trying to make us fit his 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 and end up not getting the best out of Leaburn and/or May
I would have said May but I feel like he is more clinical than Leaburn so we want him in that forward position.
Either way I think Miles is versatile enough to play any of the 4 roles, just think his physical presence will come in handy a bit further back where we have been struggling to keep the ball as much
I don't see him dislodging Alf as that's the main man and we have better options out wide so I'd like to see him playing behind Alfie where I'm sure his hold up play will allow it to work. I am not saying he's gonna be Bernardo Silva and start threading passes and turning with ease, just more so if the ball gets to him in that part of the pitch he will hang on to it and bring others into the game. Think more second striker than a 10 then but either way just behind Alf.
One way or another Appleton will start them both I imagine. Be daft not to.
The real competition atm is the wingers, who gets the nod out of the Campbell's. For me it's Tyreece all day, think he's so dangerous when he's running with the ball and like Corey completely fearlessAs for the wingers, Tyreece Campbell isn’t better than Chen Campbell, not even close. Chem has already shown to be more reliable in possession and have more consistent end product than him in just 1 and a half league games. If we were playing 4-2-3-1 then Tyreece would be on the right, but that’s because Chem would be the number 10 like he has been against fleetwood and Oxford. But if Leaburn and May are through the middle so it’s between the 2 Campbells, then Chem should definitely get the nod, he has more assists in 1 and half league games for us than Tyreece has in his career!0 -
Had a blinding week in Salzburg , Austria, what is it about this club, that are really good at underdelivering time and time again.charltonkeston said:I had a lovely day at work, went for beer with my work friends, got home and had a nice cup of tea. Then had a good afternoon/evening sleep.I hadn’t looked at the internet since this morning.Good old Charlton, even manage to put a downer on my weekend when they are not playing.2 -
Poor Scott Fraser, just coming back from injury and now being cross questioned on the hiring of the head coach and the salary as part of that.The Prince-e-Paul said:Would love for Scott Fraser to answer this question.
Was Appleton the best manager available, or the only manager that would take the job, at the salary on offer?
We know (as does the footballing world) there is no money to be made in tier 3 & 4 football, so the owners must be in it for the fun. see Wrexham. Whatever the new guys invested is lost. Any more investment will also be lost. Get used to it.6 -
This is, admittedly, relatable.Covered End said:
Some of the CL members are getting on a bit and anyone under age 30 looks like a young playerSDAddick said:
Using under 21 as the benchmark:golfaddick said:
Do you know that for a fact or did you just swallow the blurb the club put out ?NabySarr said:Positives:
Works well with young players and we have a young squad
Gets good loans from PL teams as they trust him to develop their youngsters (not really a positive for now but for future transfer windows)
Of course he has to work with young players......that's all we have. And until January he'll have no influence on bringing in any loans. And after that no real scope unless a couple go back. He w9nt really have a say about player incomings until June next year. And then he'll have plenty of options as we have the usual 10-12 player churn.
Isted-26
AMB-24
Jones-27
TT-27
Hector-31
Ness-21 Young player
Assimwe-18 Young player
T Watson-26 ("Watson 26" bring back some bad memories)
Edun-25
Dobbo-25
Camara-26
May-30
Fraser-28
Leaburn-19 Young player
Taylor-22
Abankwah-19 Young Player
Kirk-25
McGrandles-27
T. Campbell-19 Young Player
Aneke-30
CBT-25
L Watson-22
Deji-20 next week Young player
C. Campbell-20 Young Player
Chin-20 Young player
Kanu-18 Young player
Tedic-23
Anderson-18 Young player
There are some young players in the squad, but it's by no means "the only players we have." Just because Holden decided to start five teenagers a couple of weeks ago doesn't mean that's what our squad is made up of. Also, looking at those young players, Chin won't make many league matchday squads, I think Deji and Kanu will struggle to make the squad. I wonder if it will be two from three of Assimwe, Watson, and Abankwah, which would mean another 18 year old missing out.
What you're left with is some young players, some predigious, like Miles and TC, to a lesser extent (at this moment) Anderson and Asiimwe (could maybe put Ness in there). C Campbell has looked very good since joining. Ness is still younger and less experienced than many realize. But I would say about half of our young players are on the fringes of the squad.0 -
A post that sums it up for me so yes, I agree 😉IAgree said:Not my first or even second choice, but I can’t remember a more unfair, un Charlton and hostile response and some of the comments are just plain old nasty and frankly ignorant. He has been built into a figure of ridicule over his less than photogenic qualities and demonised by some on here.
He does have relevant experience and has had success at clubs where he’s been backed by owners - I don’t count the Blackpool job because they were past redemption. He may well not turn this about but let’s all remember why we are in this situation and that the last four owners have run the club into the ground.
As for not chanting Appletons Red Army….Words fail me. Have we descended so far?
Best ignore those who've taken against him for non footballing reasons. His L1 record and experience make him a sensible choice. Fans are fickle anyway and most will warm to him if he wins games as sure as night follows day. A few never will though.
I don't think the appointment itself is such an embarrassment, but the overly negative reaction to it by some is.
Have the SMT played a blinder here I wonder as nothing they do in future could be as badly received by fans whose expectations are now so low that he has every chance of bettering them. I wish him and us well and hope he does.7
