Keeper - a back up at least for Dillon. Ben Amos has been released by Bolton, and it would be great to get him back. Full back- Sign Ben Purrington Not sure Chris Solly is up to it. Djiksteel isn’t a Championship FB (yet), so cover needed. Centre half - A replacement for Bauer is sadly going to be necessary. Question marks about Pearcey in the Championship. Sarr should be ok. Midfield - Where do you start ? Pratley not good enough. Lapslie & Morgan squad players at best. Reeves likely to leave, ditto Fosu & Marshall. Cullen & Bielik a massive loss. Urgent requirement to sign up Aribo & Williams, but will need 3/4 new midfielders as well. Striker- Our biggest area of weakness in the Championship. Assume Lyle Taylor will be kept on an improved deal. Igor finished & Parker - for all of his hard work - simply not good enough. We need 2/3 new strikers. The boy Jamal Lowe from Portsmouth would be a great signing. In summary - we need to re-sign 5/6 of the players we currently fly have, release 7/8 more, and buy at least 7 new players.
All areas of the squad need improving. But midfield and upfront are the main ones. I feel that we need to bring in at least ten players.
Bit too early until we have Bowjack signed up - which should be motivation to do it today. I'd love to see Amos back, but Dill has won the starting shirt, and I can't see either of them opting for being on the bench. It'd be nice to imagine Bauer being won over by sunday, but I think his head is out the door now. Maybe Bow could convince him. I'd certainly try and keep Purrington, and I'd worry about Solly. Midfield needs rebuilding, Williams would probably stay if the deal is okay, as he seems happy, Arribo may feel he's been mucked about, and demand more than we can pay to stay. Up front, Taylor is a must. Parker isn't a striker - maybe a squad player. And we need new faces, someone like Grant who can work with Taylor.
When the alcohol wears off next week I’ll think about where we can strengthen, hope the ones who have the decision to make have a bit more urgency
Encouraging noises from Williams & Purrington that they want to come back next season. Josh Cullen must be considering whether he can break into West Ham’s team aged 23.
A number of Wets are saying that he is not good enough for them so should be sold to us .... they are suggesting £5m
If Bowyer is on holiday and doesn't know if he's here next season we're back in limbo. Considering the huge size of the rebuilding job this is incredible, but from the Belgian's point of view the later we sign players the more he saves in wages, which is top priority. Result.
People on the other site have quickly forgotten that we achieved promotion in spite of the owner, not because of him. “Roland pays the bills” says Jeddez & SR...yes....and hasn’t paid for a CEO in over a year ...
Roland pays the bills as late as he can get away with. Under him we have developed the reputation of bad payers. Anyone who sees the Belgian as some sort of benign philanthropist giving Charlton bags of money out of the goodness of his heart is in a minority you could count on one hand. He took more pleasure from the Blades' promotion than ours, if indeed he took any. Probably not, since Comms had to make up his congratulatory message for him.
he hasnt given us any money at all. he's loaned us it and riddled us with debt. he doesn't pay the bills, he loans that too. remember where the lookman money went. gomez, pope etc.. did we see any of that after they left? was it deducted from the debt? - no.
Two pieces of recognition for Charlton players today. 1. Conor Gallagher called up by England Under 21s 2. Dillon Phillips selected in the EFL Championship team of the week
I will always be sceptical of bringing in kids in the circumstances as with Gallagher. However, with the reports of him and my 30 minutes of watching the Fulham game, this lad is mustard.
I will put my neck out and say Gallagher will play for the England senior side. He is already better than Fabian Delph.
He's got the right coaches, Bowyer and Jacko then Lamps. He's scored four goals, I don't remember him missing a chance. Plus his natural enthusiasm, a fantastic prospect.