one of those situations where he was probably a much better player than we saw but was never going to show his real form for us so best he moves on. Bit like BWP at South Coast Club, never showed any form for the Saints but has been fine since.
He's apparently started well down there (been apart of 4 clean sheets in 6 or 7 I believe). It didn't work out here, but I have no hard feelings for the guy. Do people think we need another RB as cover?
Glad all is working out for him, showed us what he is capable off against Reading but I feel he was lacking confidence. Good luck to the lad.
Definitely. Hughes is good cover as defensive midfield but too slow for RB and cannot overlap. Also Solly needs some competition. Don't get me wrong, I think Chris has done wonderfully well and deserves his place in our successful team, but I do think it is within the realms of possibility that we could find or afford a better RB. I believe the often uncritical admiration of Solly on this board is based on three things: Firstly, he is small for a full-back and fans often favour a smaller player and are unfairly critical of very large players. Secondly, his wonderful ability to retrieve what look like losing situations. You think the opposing winger is away and clear, then Solly somehow miraculously emerges with the ball heading in the opposite direction. Thirdly, he is one of our own. I have been replaying some of our recent games on Player and I see that most of the scoring chances conceded have come via our right flank. Opposing managers have always seen Solly as a possible weak link. Because of his tremendous battling spirit that has not usually given them the joy they were hoping for, but they can't all be wrong. I do think a better right-back (taller and/or faster and/or more experienced) wouldn't find himself in those last-ditch situations so often. Also Solly doesn't offer the sort of attacking threat that Wiggins does on the left. I expect stick from those of you who see Solly as the Carlos Alberto of S E London so I repeat that he is a very good player and well worth his place in the team. It is just that I think it is just possible that we could do better, and in the Championship might need to do better, whereas I cannot see us realistically improving on the team positions held by Kermorgant, Holland, Morrison, Wiggins or BWP. Maybe one of our bright juniors might develop to challenge Solly. In which case we just need an experienced player on the down in his career to cover the position for a season. Preferably not Butterfield, though.
I think teams attack down the left (our right) mainly because they know Green doesn't do enough to help out. Wiggins and JJ have built a wonderful relationship in the sense that when Wiggins goes forward, JJ is more than happy to sit and let him attack. He also isn't afraid to track back and help Wiggins double up on their man. Green is a more natural winger, so he does leave Chris vulnerable. I remember CP once saying ''teams often see Chris as a target, and when they start to attack him I just think that your wasting your time''.
I don't quite agree Eddie (though thats the wonders of a forum). I think Solly is probably the most impressive right-back in this league. We need back-up of course, but prefereably someone older, who could perhaps help out coaching and wouldn't be too fussed playing second-fiddle.
Solly is a good marker and tackler, which makes up for his small stature. Hughes is perfectly adequate cover, and then we have the likes of Jordan Cousins waiting in the wings, who can't be far off a first team game (maybe out on loan?)
That could well be true and still compatible with my opinion. Another Cort/Russell/Hughes/Euell you mean? Would need to be better than all of those at right-back otherwise no point in signing him. Maybe CP is planning to rely on Cort as cover at right-back? He preferred him there against Stevenage and although we lost, I don't think Cort didn't anything wrong. He is no quicker or better at passing than Hughes but his height comes in useful at the back post for corners and free-kicks at both ends.
Ironically I think Francis was ideal cover - so long as he was only going to play 3 or 4 games a season and be happy at that. But that would have been unfair to him.
Good riddance. One of the biggest sacks of s**t I've ever seen in a Charlton shirt. Having said that, I am pleased he's managing to earn a living playing elsewhere.
Ybab, I personally didn't feel comfortable with Francis covering. This may sound cruel but I feel safer with 10 men on the field than I do when Francis is playing. On many occasions he caused us to concede goals, rather than just a failure to stop them.
Grant basey just reminded us why we let him go, vs Wycombe this morning. Piss weak defending, Rhodes on a double already.