Sonny's greatest attribute is the space he finds. Some call it 'hiding' - but that's the fucking point of him. He finds pockets of space. That doesn't work if he's been tasked with playing in the middle of the meat grinder without anyone winning the ball for him
We've got ourselves a younger more athletic Luke Berry. That'll do for me.
The younger bit is certainly true, the "more athletic" maybe assumed but not yet proven - you'd certainly hope that Nathan Jones of all people is not signing players who won't put in the hard yards on the training ground.
I do very much agree that his best role is the same one previously occupied by Berry though and it will certainly be interesting to see if NJ sticks with the tried and tested veteran or takes a chance on the new model right out of the gates. I also wonder where this leaves Anderson - previously it was between his athleticism or Berry's better technique but Carey (on paper) seems to be a "best of both worlds" hybrid of the pair.
Sonny's greatest attribute is the space he finds. Some call it 'hiding' - but that's the fucking point of him. He finds pockets of space. That doesn't work if he's been tasked with playing in the middle of the meat grinder without anyone winning the ball for him
We've got ourselves a younger more athletic Luke Berry. That'll do for me.
The younger bit is certainly true, the "more athletic" maybe assumed but not yet proven
I would be shocked if Sonny Carey is less athletic than Luke Berry.
The initial teaser that the club put out by showing the back of his head was completely lost on me, because when his name and face was revealed I was still none the wiser. I noted in my normal cheerful way that he hadn't exactly been pulling up trees.
However, on closer inspection it appears the further his story goes the better it gets. It seems he really hit some form last season - probably at about the same time we did. The brilliant article highlighted by @fenaddick has put a bit more substance behind the man and I'm now feeling quite optimistic ... well you know ... not underwhelmed .
"I often wonder if I've not properly grown up. I always seem to have a favourite player who I can't see fault with and I will allow no criticism of. It's childish, it's like a teenage girl who elevates their boyband idol to demi-god status. As an adult, I should be capable of objectivity, instead of viewing things in such a one eyed way. Maybe I need to face up the fact I'm 40-something (I've reached the stage where I'm not actually sure without doing the maths) and this kind of pathetic fanboi act is at best sad and at worst, cringeworthy and perhaps even a bit creepy."
I'm really happy with this signing, I rated him every time I've seen him. He has finished the season with a real well timed purple patch. I'd say he is a tier 2 Kobie Mainoo as a loose comparison.
Now for Kiellor-Dunn, Wiredu and gods being good Donley on loan. I like the Peterbrough winger with the posh name too.
I'm really happy with this signing, I rated him every time I've seen him. He has finished the season with a real well timed purple patch. I'd say he is a tier 2 Kobie Mainoo as a loose comparison.
Now for Kiellor-Dunn, Wiredu and gods being good Donley on loan. I like the Peterbrough winger with the posh name too.
Feel like we’re overdue Wiredu being linked with us, one of those names that seems to pop up regularly throughout the year.
1 Charlie Wright 2Bob Curtis 3 Phil Warman 4 Alan Campbell 5Paul Went 6 Peter Reeves 7 Harry Gregory 8 Ray Tracey 9 Gordon Ridick? 10 Graham Moore 11 Keith Peacock
I don't think this will be the last midfielder we sign this window so for that reason I expect Jones to be named captain for next season as Docherty may well nt be a regular starter
Docherty will be captain next season …
As he's always late with the news I assume he's talking about 24/25 season, in which case ....... well done Ronnie !
Think this is a really interesting signing. His career trend is the right way, improves year on year. Higher pass accuracy and double the amount of passes than Berry, playing almost 350 minutes less. His shots on target to attempts reached just shy of 50% (improved year on year for 3 season) and maintains roughly a 1 in 3, goals to shots on target conversion rate. Question now is can he maintain that a division above and can he continue an upwards trend when there.
1 Charlie Wright 2Bob Curtis 3 Phil Warman Brian Kinsey4 Alan Campbell 5Paul Went 6 Peter Reeves 7 Harry Gregory 8 Ray Tracey 9 Gordon Ridick? Matt Tees10 Graham Moore 11 Keith Peacock
I admire any player who gets rejected early in his career and then battles his way up through non league. His determination to do this would not be lost on Jones and is just the sort of mentality and character he would be looking for. I already like him.
Blackpool couldn’t quite gatecrash the League One playoffs last season, but their end-of-season form shouldn't go unnoticed. Much of their improved performance level can be put down to increasingly impactful Sonny Carey. Cynics will say that Carey's influential displays coincided with his contract coming to an end and that he wasn't at the same level for the rest of his time at Bloomfield Road. That's the risk that Charlton are prepared to take. Carey is an easy on the eye, progressive ball carrier. He's positionally versatile and can adapt his game between a deep-lying central role to playing in the 10 to operating inverted from the left. Lots to like about this one.
Blackpool couldn’t quite gatecrash the League One playoffs last season, but their end-of-season form shouldn't go unnoticed. Much of their improved performance level can be put down to increasingly impactful Sonny Carey. Cynics will say that Carey's influential displays coincided with his contract coming to an end and that he wasn't at the same level for the rest of his time at Bloomfield Road. That's the risk that Charlton are prepared to take. Carey is an easy on the eye, progressive ball carrier. He's positionally versatile and can adapt his game between a deep-lying central role to playing in the 10 to operating inverted from the left. Lots to like about this one.
That's a pretty positive write up. Certainly Jones isn't going to be a coach to let anyone coast along and hopefully he maintains his recent form.
Haven't been on here since Friday and genuinely delighted to see that it's all arguing about calling players by numbers and whether that's dumb. It is! But everything is! Descriptions of players by position, number, talking about rigid formations is all reductive and stupid anyway because the game is more complex than it ever was. Thierry Small was a 2 for us. But also a 7. But also both and neither. Was Campbell our 11 or our 10 given he was our main creative threat and the likes of Berry and Anderson were more traditional 8s at the same time as Docherty. Coventry was our 4 or our 6 depending on how old you are and how European you are. If you're arguing about whether a player is a 4 or an 8 then congratulations on losing your mind. Players aren't constrained by these simplistic descriptions. They get assigned them for ease but it's all meaningless, like everything.
Bravo Garry, 👏🏻
Two years ago sitting around me were scouts, coaches and agents at Whyteleafe (near Purley) at a trials match for different young age groups. A 70 year old Scotsman now working for Hibernian would only say attacking midfielder, box to box or "Makelele" for the defensive midfielder.
Whereas a young guy who said he was a coach and did scouting for Stevenage was talking about numbers so much it was like an episode of Countdown by Rachel Riley 😍
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I do very much agree that his best role is the same one previously occupied by Berry though and it will certainly be interesting to see if NJ sticks with the tried and tested veteran or takes a chance on the new model right out of the gates. I also wonder where this leaves Anderson - previously it was between his athleticism or Berry's better technique but Carey (on paper) seems to be a "best of both worlds" hybrid of the pair.
Wouldn't mind if he could show that kind of form in the champ 😂
The initial teaser that the club put out by showing the back of his head was completely lost on me, because when his name and face was revealed I was still none the wiser. I noted in my normal cheerful way that he hadn't exactly been pulling up trees.
However, on closer inspection it appears the further his story goes the better it gets. It seems he really hit some form last season - probably at about the same time we did. The brilliant article highlighted by @fenaddick has put a bit more substance behind the man and I'm now feeling quite optimistic ... well you know ... not underwhelmed
Good luck to you Sonny Carey.
"I often wonder if I've not properly grown up. I always seem to have a favourite player who I can't see fault with and I will allow no criticism of. It's childish, it's like a teenage girl who elevates their boyband idol to demi-god status. As an adult, I should be capable of objectivity, instead of viewing things in such a one eyed way. Maybe I need to face up the fact I'm 40-something (I've reached the stage where I'm not actually sure without doing the maths) and this kind of pathetic fanboi act is at best sad and at worst, cringeworthy and perhaps even a bit creepy."
Found Blackpool's Leuth.
We were optimistic about Ahadme.
Now for Kiellor-Dunn, Wiredu and gods being good Donley on loan. I like the Peterbrough winger with the posh name too.
Question now is can he maintain that a division above and can he continue an upwards trend when there.
I already like him.
Sonny Carey (LW/AM) - [Blackpool - Charlton] - Free
Blackpool couldn’t quite gatecrash the League One playoffs last season, but their end-of-season form shouldn't go unnoticed. Much of their improved performance level can be put down to increasingly impactful Sonny Carey. Cynics will say that Carey's influential displays coincided with his contract coming to an end and that he wasn't at the same level for the rest of his time at Bloomfield Road. That's the risk that Charlton are prepared to take. Carey is an easy on the eye, progressive ball carrier. He's positionally versatile and can adapt his game between a deep-lying central role to playing in the 10 to operating inverted from the left. Lots to like about this one.
Bravo Garry, 👏🏻
Two years ago sitting around me were scouts, coaches and agents at Whyteleafe (near Purley) at a trials match for different young age groups. A 70 year old Scotsman now working for Hibernian would only say attacking midfielder, box to box or "Makelele" for the defensive midfielder.
Whereas a young guy who said he was a coach and did scouting for Stevenage was talking about numbers so much it was like an episode of Countdown by Rachel Riley 😍