Alfie May- Progress at Birmingham

I’m probably best placed as Charlton striker analyser having called duds like izale McLeod , Macauley Bonne, Charlie Kirk , Gas Ahadme well beyond most started to remove their rose tinted glasses and saw the reality of the shitness that I see before most .
Alfie and Godden I was keen on both early on in their appearances and would prefer they were both here and in all honesty I can’t split them over a season but in a one off game I’d back Godden , a touch more class from this lad .
For the record I’m keen on Leaburn and Kanu is one who I hope turns out like Karlan  Grant , I wrongfully didn’t rate him 

MuttleyCAFC said:

Who would swap Godden for May now if offered the chance? I wouldn't in all honesty. Maybe one or two would but I think most wouldn't.

Personally no I wouldn't, thats not to denigrate May as a player but its completely obvious to anyone who is even remotely unbiased we are a better team this season without May. Yes thats not because of May per se but we don't know how he would do in this team hence obviously I'd pick Gooden.

I will say there is some revisionism from some fans about May who wasn't just a goal scorer but also very good in general play too. that said it's getting a bit bizarre the obsession with Alfie, Alfie wanted to leave and he got his wish. He literally recorded a video listing all the reasons he wanted to go and yet some of our fans refuse to believe, now though regardless what happens I feel Jones has been proven right in his decision to let May go as we are in fact a much MUCH better team without him and him moving has suited everyone.

The deliberate obtuseness some fans show is the reason I'm always hesitant to celebrate signing locl players like May or Inniss as it starts to cloud fans judgement because they have some kind of personal link to the players.

Alfie's all round game was very good but one thing he wasn't good at was winning headers against big defenders. He also wasn't slow but he wasn't lightning fast and didn't instinctively drift wide. This season our best partnership up front is between a poacher who wins a genuinely astonishing number of headers that he has no right getting near and a winger with incredible game-altering pace. That partnership gives us width, pushes opposition defences to play a bit deeper, capitalises on second balls in the box and lets us win the ball high when we do decide to send it forward in the air. Leaburn also wins a huge number of headers when he's rotated with Godden. Alfie wouldn't quite fit either role as well as the players we currently have; essentially TC is completely essential to the way we play and the bloke next to him has to be able to compete physically as well as offer goals. Alfie does one very well but not the other. I wouldn't swap what we have now without changing the system, but that's not a comment on May's ability so much as the kind of game he's suited to playing.

I have no wish to denigrate May. He was great for us last season and I am happy for him that he has got a great financial deal. We have to acknowledge that he was playing for Cheltenham the season before last and football is a short career. He is a player closer to the end of his career than the start. 

MrOneLung said:

Bailey said:

Garrymanilow said:

Scoham said:

I like Nathan Jones but he is a petty, petty man

Why? Go back and have a look at some of the posts on here. The majority of the posts are declaring that it was a mistake to let May go, it's gone very quiet now Godden has gone in front of May in the goal scoring charts. I've criticised Jones on numerous occasions but he's won the argument Gary, quite simply he was right and if he wants to crow about it then he has the right. 

How can you say quite simply he was right ?
May might have been on 20 goals with us by now. 

Well Alfie chose not to be here to prove he could so....

Radostanradical said:

Dazzler21 said:

MrOneLung said:

Bailey said:

Garrymanilow said:

Scoham said:

I like Nathan Jones but he is a petty, petty man

Why? Go back and have a look at some of the posts on here. The majority of the posts are declaring that it was a mistake to let May go, it's gone very quiet now Godden has gone in front of May in the goal scoring charts. I've criticised Jones on numerous occasions but he's won the argument Gary, quite simply he was right and if he wants to crow about it then he has the right. 

How can you say quite simply he was right ?
May might have been on 20 goals with us by now. 

Well Alfie chose not to be here to prove he could so....

No thats all lies, apart from the video where he lists all his reasons for CHOOSING to leave, what evidence does anyone have that he wasn't forced out ? He clearly was being threatened off camera.

Look, with all due respect, you are an interesting and articulate poster but you only joined a year ago. This forum was set up 18 years ago, and a lot of current posters were posting back then. Several of them have indicated as best they can without breaking confidences that NJ made it clear that he didn't rate Alfie, and this long before the season ended. And the supporting evidence for all to see is the record of selection over that period. Alfie was subbed and dropped altogether to an extent which obviously baffled even Curbs. Like any professional and not just in football, if a new boss comes along and shows he doesn't rate you (and by the nature of of football, it shows to the entire national football public) you easily find reasons to leave, not least when its obvious that employers elsewhere rate you enough to give you a pay rise. And when it comes to the video you keep banging on about, that's just the imperative of a modern professional footballer to do the right thing. What on earth would be the point, after securing a move which doubles your salary, of making a video wherein you say "You know, I wasn't planning on moving, but the manager obviously doesn't rate me". ?

There are coherent arguments being put by others e.g Garrymanilow just above that Jones had a system in mind form the start and Alfie doesn't fit that well. Increasingly such an argument is being borne out by results (whereas back in early December it bloody well wasn't). Your insistence on pretending that Alfie went because Alfie wanted to go is not just misguided - it actually diminishes Jones achievement in sticking to a system when it looked like a dud, and indeed the SMT and owners in not panicking, as many owners nowadays would have done.

PragueAddick said:

Radostanradical said:

Dazzler21 said:

MrOneLung said:

Bailey said:

Garrymanilow said:

Scoham said:

I like Nathan Jones but he is a petty, petty man

Why? Go back and have a look at some of the posts on here. The majority of the posts are declaring that it was a mistake to let May go, it's gone very quiet now Godden has gone in front of May in the goal scoring charts. I've criticised Jones on numerous occasions but he's won the argument Gary, quite simply he was right and if he wants to crow about it then he has the right. 

How can you say quite simply he was right ?
May might have been on 20 goals with us by now. 

Well Alfie chose not to be here to prove he could so....

No thats all lies, apart from the video where he lists all his reasons for CHOOSING to leave, what evidence does anyone have that he wasn't forced out ? He clearly was being threatened off camera.

Look, with all due respect, you are an interesting and articulate poster but you only joined a year ago. This forum was set up 18 years ago, and a lot of current posters were posting back then. Several of them have indicated as best they can without breaking confidences that NJ made it clear that he didn't rate Alfie, and this long before the season ended. And the supporting evidence for all to see is the record of selection over that period. Alfie was subbed and dropped altogether to an extent which obviously baffled even Curbs. Like any professional and not just in football, if a new boss comes along and shows he doesn't rate you (and by the nature of of football, it shows to the entire national football public) you easily find reasons to leave, not least when its obvious that employers elsewhere rate you enough to give you a pay rise. And when it comes to the video you keep banging on about, that's just the imperative of a modern professional footballer to do the right thing. What on earth would be the point, after securing a move which doubles your salary, of making a video wherein you say "You know, I wasn't planning on moving, but the manager obviously doesn't rate me". ?

There are coherent arguments being put by others e.g Garrymanilow just above that Jones had a system in mind form the start and Alfie doesn't fit that well. Increasingly such an argument is being borne out by results (whereas back in early December it bloody well wasn't). Your insistence on pretending that Alfie went because Alfie wanted to go is not just misguided - it actually diminishes Jones achievement in sticking to a system when it looked like a dud, and indeed the SMT and owners in not panicking, as many owners nowadays would have done.

Apologies I only read "Look, with all due respect, you are an interesting and articulate poster", I agree.

All jokes aside my response to your point about the video why make the video at all ? Also you have put the things I've previously said, it was clear Jones had a system in place and May didn't fit that. I agree, my point is at the people who act as if Jones forced May out of the club as if Jones would of played May every minute to the end of the season and Birmingham came in May would all of a sudden go "nah i'm okay here".

Your point about people being in the know and not breaking confidence, have you considered those with dissenting opinions are doing the very same ? 

Although, I still think it might not be as simple as that. I think Jones spotted what he felt were weaknesses in his game. I spotted them and a lot of fans would have too. That is when things were not going Alfie's way he played a bit for himself and I suspect Jones is a fan of players to stick to his system. That isn't to take away from Alfie's achievments in an underperforming team last season.

I would be surprised if Alfie didn't behave differently if Jones loved him. He isn't a Charlton fan and this was a once in a career opportunity, possibly, for him. I don't think any of us begrudge the lad that. I certainly don't and the fact Jones didn't fancy him and could bring in Godden who he did surely meant it was a deal that suited everybody, especially as we got good money for him.

Clearly when we were struggling earlier in the season, it become a story for us but since then it has ceased to be so.

Radostanradical said:

PragueAddick said:

Radostanradical said:

Dazzler21 said:

MrOneLung said:

Bailey said:

Garrymanilow said:

Scoham said:

I like Nathan Jones but he is a petty, petty man

Why? Go back and have a look at some of the posts on here. The majority of the posts are declaring that it was a mistake to let May go, it's gone very quiet now Godden has gone in front of May in the goal scoring charts. I've criticised Jones on numerous occasions but he's won the argument Gary, quite simply he was right and if he wants to crow about it then he has the right. 

How can you say quite simply he was right ?
May might have been on 20 goals with us by now. 

Well Alfie chose not to be here to prove he could so....

No thats all lies, apart from the video where he lists all his reasons for CHOOSING to leave, what evidence does anyone have that he wasn't forced out ? He clearly was being threatened off camera.

Look, with all due respect, you are an interesting and articulate poster but you only joined a year ago. This forum was set up 18 years ago, and a lot of current posters were posting back then. Several of them have indicated as best they can without breaking confidences that NJ made it clear that he didn't rate Alfie, and this long before the season ended. And the supporting evidence for all to see is the record of selection over that period. Alfie was subbed and dropped altogether to an extent which obviously baffled even Curbs. Like any professional and not just in football, if a new boss comes along and shows he doesn't rate you (and by the nature of of football, it shows to the entire national football public) you easily find reasons to leave, not least when its obvious that employers elsewhere rate you enough to give you a pay rise. And when it comes to the video you keep banging on about, that's just the imperative of a modern professional footballer to do the right thing. What on earth would be the point, after securing a move which doubles your salary, of making a video wherein you say "You know, I wasn't planning on moving, but the manager obviously doesn't rate me". ?

There are coherent arguments being put by others e.g Garrymanilow just above that Jones had a system in mind form the start and Alfie doesn't fit that well. Increasingly such an argument is being borne out by results (whereas back in early December it bloody well wasn't). Your insistence on pretending that Alfie went because Alfie wanted to go is not just misguided - it actually diminishes Jones achievement in sticking to a system when it looked like a dud, and indeed the SMT and owners in not panicking, as many owners nowadays would have done.

Apologies I only read "Look, with all due respect, you are an interesting and articulate poster", I agree.

All jokes aside my response to your point about the video why make the video at all ? Also you have put the things I've previously said, it was clear Jones had a system in place and May didn't fit that. I agree, my point is at the people who act as if Jones forced May out of the club as if Jones would of played May every minute to the end of the season and Birmingham came in May would all of a sudden go "nah i'm okay here".

Your point about people being in the know and not breaking confidence, have you considered those with dissenting opinions are doing the very same ? 

You’re re-writing history here a little bit. 

Radostanradical said:

MrBurns said:

sam3110 said:

A lot of talk about feeling sorry for him that he's not scoring now etc. 

He was here for 1 season, and whilst he scored a lot of goals in that season we finished closer to the bottom than the top.

Some people paint him up as this modern day Charlton legend, which is just bizarre

Godden is a better fit for our current team, and whilst we have a small chance of playing championship football next season, I reckon despite Birmingham going up, Alfie May will be in League 1 again regardless

Without him and his goals we would be playing League Two football right now 

We would of been relegated without Diego Poyet, shall we give him a call too ?

Diego Poyet was the fetch and carry midfielder (water carrier) that was so consistent from January onwards and was the catalyst for Charlton staying in the Championship; yet because of the nonsense of RD had to move on because he was on a basic contract. Wise guys at CAFC then made his time at West Ham difficult with the Andy Carroll tweets from years before and it was a slippery slope from there on. Footballers like all performers dont want to be called Donkeys (unless a male porn star !)


If cafc give Poyet a call now it will either to be Nathan's bodyguard 💪🏼or to be a football coach 😀

Radostanradical said:

Dazzler21 said:

MrOneLung said:

Bailey said:

Garrymanilow said:

Scoham said:

I like Nathan Jones but he is a petty, petty man

Why? Go back and have a look at some of the posts on here. The majority of the posts are declaring that it was a mistake to let May go, it's gone very quiet now Godden has gone in front of May in the goal scoring charts. I've criticised Jones on numerous occasions but he's won the argument Gary, quite simply he was right and if he wants to crow about it then he has the right. 

How can you say quite simply he was right ?
May might have been on 20 goals with us by now. 

Well Alfie chose not to be here to prove he could so....

No thats all lies, apart from the video where he lists all his reasons for CHOOSING to leave, what evidence does anyone have that he wasn't forced out ? He clearly was being threatened off camera.

In hindsight that video was really strange and a bit over dramatic - he was only here for a year! If it had been Dobbo then it might have made a bit more sense to me. Far better and longer serving legends of Charlton have moved on to pastures new over the years without the need for it. I dunno maybe it's just me?

Elthamaddick said:

Absolutely would not swap them now, Godden is a far better all round player - that's not to say I don't rate May, I do - but no way would I swap them

Why is it an either / or question. Why cant/couldn't we have both ?  

Imagine going into this season keeping May & having Godden instead of Ahadme. 

And I dont believe not having the transfer money for not selling May would have hampered bringing in Godden. 

Covered End said:

Radostanradical said:

se9addick said:

Radostanradical said:

PragueAddick said:

Radostanradical said:

Dazzler21 said:

MrOneLung said:

Bailey said:

Garrymanilow said:

Scoham said:

I like Nathan Jones but he is a petty, petty man

Why? Go back and have a look at some of the posts on here. The majority of the posts are declaring that it was a mistake to let May go, it's gone very quiet now Godden has gone in front of May in the goal scoring charts. I've criticised Jones on numerous occasions but he's won the argument Gary, quite simply he was right and if he wants to crow about it then he has the right. 

How can you say quite simply he was right ?
May might have been on 20 goals with us by now. 

Well Alfie chose not to be here to prove he could so....

No thats all lies, apart from the video where he lists all his reasons for CHOOSING to leave, what evidence does anyone have that he wasn't forced out ? He clearly was being threatened off camera.

Look, with all due respect, you are an interesting and articulate poster but you only joined a year ago. This forum was set up 18 years ago, and a lot of current posters were posting back then. Several of them have indicated as best they can without breaking confidences that NJ made it clear that he didn't rate Alfie, and this long before the season ended. And the supporting evidence for all to see is the record of selection over that period. Alfie was subbed and dropped altogether to an extent which obviously baffled even Curbs. Like any professional and not just in football, if a new boss comes along and shows he doesn't rate you (and by the nature of of football, it shows to the entire national football public) you easily find reasons to leave, not least when its obvious that employers elsewhere rate you enough to give you a pay rise. And when it comes to the video you keep banging on about, that's just the imperative of a modern professional footballer to do the right thing. What on earth would be the point, after securing a move which doubles your salary, of making a video wherein you say "You know, I wasn't planning on moving, but the manager obviously doesn't rate me". ?

There are coherent arguments being put by others e.g Garrymanilow just above that Jones had a system in mind form the start and Alfie doesn't fit that well. Increasingly such an argument is being borne out by results (whereas back in early December it bloody well wasn't). Your insistence on pretending that Alfie went because Alfie wanted to go is not just misguided - it actually diminishes Jones achievement in sticking to a system when it looked like a dud, and indeed the SMT and owners in not panicking, as many owners nowadays would have done.

Apologies I only read "Look, with all due respect, you are an interesting and articulate poster", I agree.

All jokes aside my response to your point about the video why make the video at all ? Also you have put the things I've previously said, it was clear Jones had a system in place and May didn't fit that. I agree, my point is at the people who act as if Jones forced May out of the club as if Jones would of played May every minute to the end of the season and Birmingham came in May would all of a sudden go "nah i'm okay here".

Your point about people being in the know and not breaking confidence, have you considered those with dissenting opinions are doing the very same ? 

You’re re-writing history here a little bit. 

1) May didn’t actually initially opt to move to Birmingham for a massive pay day, he was on his way to Huddersfield before Brum gazumped them;
2) Alfie didn’t force a move, nor do I really think he’s the type to down tools if he doesn’t get his way. The club accepted an offer from Huddersfield, presumably with Jones at least part of that decision making process. 

Well I'm not rewriting history because I haven't said either of those things. All I've said is that I don't believe he was forced out and he ultimately wanted to go.

As you know two separate things can both be correct.
You're simply playing with words to troll willing participants like me.
He wasn't forced out, but he knew Jones didn't "fancy him" because he had been told.
So May knew he was unlikely to be in the first team.
He knew Charlton were happy to sell him to fund alternative players.
Charlton accepted Huddersfield's final offer and May was told he could leave.
Brum gazumped Huddersfield after all parties had agreed the deal.

What do you mean trolling you literally said im re-writing history and used those two arguments as evidence when I've said neither ? I literally have already wrote what you say Jones not fancying him ?

I'm really not sure what your point is ?

Bailey said:

Garrymanilow said:

Scoham said:

I like Nathan Jones but he is a petty, petty man

Why? Go back and have a look at some of the posts on here. The majority of the posts are declaring that it was a mistake to let May go, it's gone very quiet now Godden has gone in front of May in the goal scoring charts. I've criticised Jones on numerous occasions but he's won the argument Gary, quite simply he was right and if he wants to crow about it then he has the right. 

Absolute nonsense, I was one of those declaring that it was a mistake to let the leading goal scorer in the division to leave.

The reason that it has gone very quiet is because it happened 8 fucking months ago, I'm sure that there's many who still think it was a mistake to sell him but aren't going to bang on about it for ever more.