+++ Luke Chambers Signs On Loan From Liverpool+++

sam3110 said:

It's how we've always played under Jones, an inverted wingback on one side and a marauding winger/wingback on the other. Even Josh Edwards would drift inside a lot, with TC peeling out wide left. 

When we've tried it with a more attacking left back, we switched to Ramsay or Bree on the right and they played deeper and narrower

Agreed and I think it is likely that it's partly down to instructions. I do think the point still stands though that he's not managed to offer really anything attacking wise since Leicester (unless I'm forgetting something). Edwards still gets forward to put balls in, in a less marauding and more traditional LB way, and you do want that for some balance. He's shown he has a wicked delivery so I have been a bit disappointed at how that output has dropped off 

Not a massive fan of his but he does a job and makes us look a lot more balanced. Hoping LWB will be a priority in the summer as well as Edwards hopefully having a full pre season, but wouldn’t really want it to be chambers, would want some one more physical and better in the air (can we dream of a left sided harry clarke?)

He's definitely improved us but I don't think he's quite at the level yet - which is totally understandable. He has clear quality on the ball but physically lacking.

The tricky thing will be finding someone that is happy to be a rotation player, ideally one that can play LWB and LCB. It's unlikely to be a loan, as most teams won't want their youngsters sent to a team where they aren't the number one option. So have to assume it'll either be a younger 'project', perhaps from abroad, or an experienced player happy with a smaller role. Perhaps slightly unrealistic, but might even need both as we have to improve our depth.

Either way, I can't wait for Edwards to be back! Brilliant player.

Crispywood said:

He’s been 100x better than TC/Hernandez in that role so he’s done his job. I’d like to keep him permanent because he’s a young upcoming player and is out of contract in 15 months time. Whether he wants to be back up to Edwards though is a different story 

I'd like to keep him too and if he's ambitious enough to push Josh for the LWB spot that'd be great.
I wonder too whether he could develop into a LCB (back-up) too....... when I look at Amari'i he's better with the ball on the ground rather than in the air........?
And let's face it, good left-footed players are quite rare...... as we found to our cost with Josh and Amari'i both crocked........ so better the devil we know...... unless we have a next-season incoming U21 from the academy? 

He’s done exactly what we needed, given us balance, which allows us to function as a team, I think some are being slightly over critical about him. If people are saying give TC the benefit of doubt because of his age, then it should apply with Chambers, possibly even more so as TC has had shitloads of 1st team action. He’s learning on the job and hasn’t been that bad.IMO.

elbiglad said:

He's definitely improved us but I don't think he's quite at the level yet - which is totally understandable. He has clear quality on the ball but physically lacking.

The tricky thing will be finding someone that is happy to be a rotation player, ideally one that can play LWB and LCB. It's unlikely to be a loan, as most teams won't want their youngsters sent to a team where they aren't the number one option. So have to assume it'll either be a younger 'project', perhaps from abroad, or an experienced player happy with a smaller role. Perhaps slightly unrealistic, but might even need both as we have to improve our depth.

Either way, I can't wait for Edwards to be back! Brilliant player.

And this is the problem with another loan...

Liverpool will expect him to play. But Josh Edwards is the better all round player.

And let's not forget Josh's long throw, as we've finally been taking advantage of them.

Croydon

Thought he was poor today. I wouldn't look to bring him back again next season personally. There's surely better options out there I’ve

He was no better, no worse than anyone else. I am concerned about him defensively but I like the way he plays the ball forward into midfield and does get forward. It’s worth taking into account that before joining us he had a bad injury and hadn’t played for ages. He’s also young and very inexperienced. He’s also played two games in four days and played the majority of the game in each. As I said he wasn’t the worst of them out there today.

I think he has been a decent loan for us myself in that position? Especially given our injuries on that side.
Certainly not at the level needed yet. A bit physically underwhelming and not strong enough defensively. Some unnecessary shirt pulls and fouls being given away as he gets caught out?
I cannot see how he will ever be at Prem level? Not quick or strong enough but he is young and can bulk up.
Maybe Liverpool will let him go after watching him play this season but can't see us paying enough for a project LWB as back up to Edwards?
They might give us another 6 month loan next season though?

MarcusH26 said:

Can't see Liverpool wanting him to be a backup to Josh assuming Josh's recovery goes to plan. Looks a tidy enough player though, could see a newly promoted side next season bringing him in on loan who can play him every week. 

Sadly is the right answer.

Suppose you are in charge of Liverpool loans. You've kept him on your books as there is still some hope he might break into the first team or more likely you hope you can sell him for a decent fee. For either option he has got to be playing regularly where he goes on loan so you can monitor his development and/or put him in the shop window.

There's no way you accept an offer from Charlton which says he will be our back up left back if our first choice gets injured or needs a rest.

Ps FWIW I think he will go on and have a decent career somewhere.

Chambers will have 12 months left on his deal, and he will be 22 next season. There’s no way he ever makes it at Liverpool so they won’t extend his deal so they’re probably going to sell him this summer to try and make a bit of cash. Like to see what we did with Coventry try and pick him up cheap but throw a big sell on in the deal 

MickeyBennett said:

Garrymanilow said:

Josh Edwards played 7 games this season before getting a bad injury and then having a setback with that injury that has meant he's missed almost the entire season. Aside from the fact that it will be a long road back for him to return to match fitness at Championship level, we need to move away from the idea of having backups to players who aren't anywhere near as good. You could just about get away with it at L1 level as long as it's not for too long but we need to be looking at a LWB who is at the level of or better than Edwards this summer. If we can get Chambers on loan or sign him at a good price then we should and he should be competing with Edwards not acting as his understudy. Edwards looked good at this level for 7 games but we don't know what he's going to be like when he gets back and we need to be prepared for that with another good player

Exactly. Season went off the boil when we were forced to play Campbell at LWB alongside Gillesphey at LCB. We need two good, 1st team options at both RWB and LWB because these positions are so critical to how we play. If we get this right in summer alongside an improvement at number 8 we will be a top half team.

Oh - and we need to score more goals!

CharltonManor1966 said:

MickeyBennett said:

Garrymanilow said:

Josh Edwards played 7 games this season before getting a bad injury and then having a setback with that injury that has meant he's missed almost the entire season. Aside from the fact that it will be a long road back for him to return to match fitness at Championship level, we need to move away from the idea of having backups to players who aren't anywhere near as good. You could just about get away with it at L1 level as long as it's not for too long but we need to be looking at a LWB who is at the level of or better than Edwards this summer. If we can get Chambers on loan or sign him at a good price then we should and he should be competing with Edwards not acting as his understudy. Edwards looked good at this level for 7 games but we don't know what he's going to be like when he gets back and we need to be prepared for that with another good player

Exactly. Season went off the boil when we were forced to play Campbell at LWB alongside Gillesphey at LCB. We need two good, 1st team options at both RWB and LWB because these positions are so critical to how we play. If we get this right in summer alongside an improvement at number 8 we will be a top half team.

Oh - and we need to score more goals!

I think that would come with more creativity in midfield and threats on both wings.

That said, in an ideal world I would ship out TC and replace with a better option for winger/ 2nd striker role

I think he looked a little bit weak physically at first but is improving that at a rate of knots.

Billy_Mix said:

Chambers has been our least bad option at left(wing)back since his arrival.
But that bar is low: playing Amari Bell out wide means we're exposed in the middle, Ramsay is a fish out of water on the left, odd that we haven't seen Fevrier utilised there on his natural side.
It looks like fulltime men's football has come as a mighty shock to Luke
He hasn't offered much going forward
His passing is ropey
He isn't strong defensively
He is getting better which is hopeful
When Docherty has not started LC has been exposed
If Josh Edwards recovers in time for next season, we'll still need another in this position
I'd be surprised if it were Luke Chambers

Chambers is a good passes of the ball as you would expect coming through the Liverpool youth team. 
At Liverpool he would be encouraged to get forward but it's difficult at Charlton when TC is not the easiest player to pass the ball to or overlap as when Tyreece loses the ball you end up out of position. 
Excellent ball for the Dykes goal in our win and Luke will be a decent Championship player but just needs to get more experience at the dark arts of defending and a tad stronger.

I would want Luke at a more 'fluid' *side than CAFC under Nathan if I was Chamber's agent. 

Charlton need Josh Edwards and another left footed wing back if we are to keep playing the 3 at the back which works well for us and wing backs for 26/27 Season.

No Premier team would want their loanees not to be playing so if Edwards is fit in early August then we will have the long search for another left footed LWB.

I would like Luke back as with Bell as the LCB he will improve with games especially if we can be looking for more forward passes and movement down the flank.

* Nathan has mentioned being fluid but didn't give Apter another game despite whipping in a good cross when coming on as sub that the defender put in his own net.
The lack of minutes and I'm not surprised he wanted a loan away.
Apter and Carey seemed to be on the same wavelength but obviously Apter's strength lay on having the ball at his feet and creating. He was never going to be a RWB when his Video reel just showed him being pro active on the ball in the opponents half not defending his own area !