Pre cursor to this post is I love Powell and what he's done and I support him fully, especially some of his pitch side clothing choices. Here is my question though, do we feel is really a long term success option? I hope so, but one part of chrissys methodology that will be of great interest going forward is his constant search for 'players that improve the squad' at each transfer window/opportunity. With best of respect, if we get promoted next season will we then sign another group of players that suit the level, then add more quality and slowly move players out every 12 months or so. I realise the time hasn't shown this in full just yet, but it's very much the Sven route at Leicester also. Example, we get up, Wiggins is playing great, but we sign another left back that 'improves the squad' wiggins is reserve and Evina never makes it. The same for pretty much everyone. An experienced right back to replace Solly, prem drop outs moving into the midfield etc etc. Doe you think Powell will continue a life of revolution or can he settle into evolutionary? This is not a moan, an observation of a possible future. I like what we've done so far, we're getting a very big squad which will probably get even bigger
i think we have a good solid championship team but not a complete squad ,a bit more tinkering yet , if 2 full championship seasons is enough before a prem push it means an entire new squad within 3 years is needed so a few in and a few out has to be the way for now i think as long as its not to unsettling and not to many in a window.
I know by listening to Slaters interview on Charlton Live that there will be little movement of players in the summer - maybe a couple in/out. He was quite adamant in his views that the current squad was put together looking for Champs quality players - and therefore wouldnt need a lot of changes should we get promoted. So, what you see now will more than likely be pretty much what you will see next season , with maybe a midfielder and attacker brought in- dont think you need to tinker with the defence !
I think the majority of this current team will operate well in the championship. Some squad players will go if we get promoted (I suspect Waggy, Alonso, Hughes, Evina ) as they won't be up to championship standard. Others who have been signed with an eye on the championship (Clarke, Russell) may turn out not to be good enough. Otherwise I think the bulk of this team will step up. For some (Hayes, Kermogant Stephens) I actually think the championship will be easier than league 1 as they will have more time and are intelligent players. We will obviously add some experience. And we need to be aware that some players are in their early 30s and will naturally move on. I think there will be a fairly natural evolution. CP is in for the long haul unless the wheels come off.
I don't really understand the point you are making. Are you suggesting CP will be (too?) reliant on bringing in new players each season instead of improving the players we already have? Or to take it a step further (perhaps way beyond anything you were getting at), that he is great at spotting talent at affordable prices but not so good at developing it? Two of our partial disappointments this season (and I wouldn't put it as strong as "weak links") have been Green and Wagstaff, and one of our regular posters (sorry, I forget who) has suggested they are being badly coached or instructed. He went on to say that Harriott is being guided down the same blind alley. On the other hand, the two players who have most exceeded our expectations are Solly and Wiggins, and it is perhaps no coincidence that CP was a player who continued to develop as a full-back (able to play on either flank) all his long career after a fairly modest start (as his belated caps for England would suggest) so he has obviously thought long and hard about the position of full-back. Or have I totally missed your point?
There can't possibly be another summer like last one with 20-odd new players coming in. I wouldn't be unhappy or surprised if 8 of our present team started in the team next season- The back 4, Stephens, Jackson, BWP and Kermit.
Not too much confidence in Hamer then (the David de Gea of Div One)? I would add Hollands to your list, though I fear someone will have snapped up Wiggins by then as good left-backs are almost as hard to find as reliable goalscorers. Hollands started brilliantly then fell away a bit when presented with triplets. Getting your home life and sleep patterns back on track after a bombshell like that is not a one-month job. He is still one of the best midfielders in Division One and there is more to come. That is not to say that others might not blossom at the higher level even if they have not impressed there previously, such as Haynes and Russell, if they are playing for a happy and settled team.
I am not so certain that the wholesale changes are likely to come about. This team will perform better in the championship when they should get more time on the ball and be underestimated. I also think that we may see some of the "investment" players making an appearance in the different environment. CP wouldn't have invested in some of the players who haven't made an appearance if they didn't feature in future plans. These may be players that would get clogged of the field against rochdale or tranmere but could find a niche in the çhampionship against the Readings of this world. I'm not smart enough to know which ones they are, but we wouldn't have acquired the likes of Evina, Bover and smith (all out on loan not cut from the wagebill) just to add to the managers ego. There is a plan here and I like to think that it has the initials cp in the bottom left hand corner. I hope I'm not sounding to deluded here.
Some good stuff, my point is whether we know what Powells reaction will be at each chance. I do hope that the squad gets its chance should promotion come. I know there are certain circumstances however I just wonder in the back of my mind how much player development will come through as each time Powell has had a chance he has signed another upgrade/squad player. I definitely agree the team has the quality and I do hope we see things settle down, my fear comes for our youth and graduates like Chris Solly Eddie, sorry I wasn't too clear, revolution being the signing of a whole we squad and evolution being bringing those players through and developing them.
You can invest as much as you like in a youth system but when push comes to shove if the manager does not think a player is good enough (as Parky did not think Solly was good enough) to justify his place on a Saturday it ends there. I see one of my tips for the top, Nick Pope, has just extended his contract, which I find encouraging.
