++Charlie Kelman signs on a 4 year deal++

I remember games in the Prem where we also didn't provide a single chance for Darren Bent.

RodneyCharltonTrotta said:

I thought some of his movement and turning looked great. He turned a defender early on in first half with the ball in the air and looked a natural footballer.

He's a talent I think and will make a good impact on this team and get us goals.

I think (hope?) that his initial issues are going to be working out exactly how to play in this team this style and getting that understanding - he looks to have the ability but maybe not quite found his feet yet.

Quiet debut but very few of us thought much of Godden for the first ten appearances.  

NJ said in his post-match interview that Charlie has played zero football. It did look like his legs wouldn't take him where he wanted to go. A few times he went to make a run in behind and just couldn't do it. 

I can't remember him running the channels much and thought he was fairly static. But TC playing so wide didn't help him. Strikers are about partnerships. 

We have options and I'm sure there will be a few permutations. 

I'd like to see Kelman and Tanto start together tomorrow night, as think they could be a great partnership. 

I'd like to preface this by saying I think he will be fine once fully up to speed, the team fully settles  he learns the team and adapts to his new role. 

But....

I refrained from saying this when he was linked as I didn't want to come across all Golfie about our shiney new toy. I got them impression he was the one signing we went for based off reputation and goal scored stats rather than where he fits into the system we play.

We play with one focal point central striker who has to be able to compete in the air and occupy CBs whether that be a physical presence like Miles or an all rouder like Godden. We also have a 2nd striker that is a hybrid winger role and expected to get wide a lot.

Charlie doesn't really fit either of these roles. He is best playing off a big man striker as he doesn't have the allround game to be that focal point but would be wasted out wide.

I think the plan is to try and turn him into a Godden type and I get the reasoning - he has the natural strikers instinct, that's the bit that can't be taught. Now let's teach him the all round bits to his game. I think he will get there but it won't be immediate. We need to be patient with him and in the meantime I don't think he should be first choice. 

When we get properly into rotation for the saturday-tuesday league games I hope it's TC with Leaburn and Tanto with Kelman. That way he has a more physical presence alongside him even if it is coming from a wider role. Still gives us an out ball and their defenders something to think about. Carey in the 10 could help as another physical presence.

Saturday the plan was clearly to use pace to run at Watfords defence, try and get in behind, balls into the channel's and stretch them. Watford saw it coming a mile away and sat off to prevent that from happening. 

If i remember correctly, it took Mendonca 4 games before he got his first goal. It's not like Kelmans had loads of opportunities and missed.

“He just needs Leaburn next to him”

Did Godden need Leaburn next to him? At less than 10% of the transfer fee…

I’d expect a 3m+ player to be able to get the job done without needing a particular player to be playing alongside them.

Again, not saying he won’t pick up and do better but I’m not having that excuse, now or in the future.

I’ve also had my doubts from when interest was first announced and bit my tongue, my Yank mate is desperate for him to do well, I hope I’m wrong. 

up_the_valley said:

If i remember correctly, it took Mendonca 4 games before he got his first goal. It's not like Kelmans had loads of opportunities and missed.

I agree in the sense that he should be given plenty of time before we judge .. but Mendonca, he is not .  That said, I was hugely impressed by Tanto last night and I think they could play together if we were willing to adapt our style slightly .  

NabySarr said:

So far we’ve used Kelman in the way we used Godden. He is not that player and I really hope we haven’t bought him to be that, I thought we were smarter than that now. 

If we use him next to Leaburn, Olaofe or Godden, then we will see the best of him. 

He also doesn’t look fit at all, he’s a player that runs the channels usually but we’ve barely seen any of that so far. He will probably start on Saturday but I think Leaburn or Olaofe would be much better options at the moment while Kelman is getting up to speed 

I don’t think he will start - it’s like playing with 10 men at the moment .  Wouldn’t be overly surprised to see TC and Olaofe.

edit : I qualify that by saying that he needs time - I’m not writing him off .  He needs to get fitter and if we want him to be the main man, we will have to shift our system 

He looks undercooked because he is, no pre season, no rhythm at the moment, but sure it’ll come together quiet soon