Simple question.... are we now safe on 57 points? If yes then should we now try for the play-offs OR should we try and blood some youngsters for next season? AllHell
Absolutely safe. After the Cardiff game, let's start seeing some of the promising youngsters at least sitting on the bench.
We must send our 2 loanees back, there's no point in having them. Forget the play-offs. Get some of our under-21's on the bench- Feely, Fox, Jordan and Azeez for a start.
No point now and there never was any point. Even had we been involved in a relegation battle, which looked quite possible only a very few weeks ago, would you have wanted Gower and Obika alongside you in the trenches? I wouldn't have. You are very generous with other people's money. While I don't think there is any realistic chance of our reaching the play-offs, if we did it would generate some much needed income. And which player would turn his back on the chance of playing at Wembley? You are rabid about throwing these youngsters into the deep end. You campaigned for months for the Good Doctor to play Harriott, and look how that turned out. Err ... scrub that last sentence. But there was a difference with Harriott. Our only other genuine left-winger is Kerkar, and there was always a chance that Harriott would be better than him. In other words he is in the team because he is the best player for that position, not because he is young and "promising". Interesting how Cousins is not on your short-list. A year ago he would have been favoured to be the first to establish himself in the first-team squad.
I think until we see the Cardiff result we shouldnt ignore the possibility of the PlayOffs... Apart from our game on Tuesday the others (Bolton, Forest and Leicester) all have tough run-ins so we do have an outside chance. I think we should try to avoid them though as dont think the current squad is quite ready and all a season in the Premiership would do is advertise the likes of Solly and Wiggins meaning we'd probably end up back where we started when we were last relegated from that division. Should we lose to Cardiff then I completely agree with everyone else... Lets see someone Youngsters on the bench (Fox for sure getting an opportunity for the amount of times he's been on the bench this year)
We beat Cardiff then we have every chance of making the playoffs. People saying we are only safe when mathematically confirmed well the same applies for the playoffs we are only out of the race for the playoffs when mathematically confirmed and until we have nothing to play for I would refrain from blooding youngsters
Agree and we should keep nursing Andy Hughes who has made such a difference these last four games. Should we also be thinking whether there are any more heavily blooded players that we should see returning to fight for the cause (Wagstaff and Cort come to mind)
Well said, Belvedere. I see my movement to resist unnecessary playing of youngsters is gathering momentum. (Strangely, it's actually doing better than my campaign to make Kerkar Player of the Year). If we can enrol a few more we can surge round to ForestHillBilly's house with pitchforks and torches and teach him a lesson. (Any one know his address? I think it might be in Forest Hill). I am all for playing a youngster on merit. Harriott is playing because he is our best LM (what the dinosaurs call OL). I am less convinced that Azeez is better than either Kermit or Fuller, or that Fox is better than Wiggins (or even better than Evina). When Parker and Konchesky played they were in the team on merit, not as a schoolboys' treat. There is also the issue of upsetting the players who are currently in the team and doing so well. Yesterday CP played the same XI for the first time for ages (first time this season?). We saw the result. I am by no means a fanatic for "never change a winning team". I think there can be many good reasons to do just that, but I see no virtue in doing so in this case. For most of this season CP hasn't had a clue what his best team is, either which players or which formation. Now he has hit on a winning formula (whether by expertise or luck) let's not rock the boat just yet and not give a slap in the face to players who are giving us 100% on the pitch at present. Of course, if the player himself or the medical staff feels that he needs a rest, that is a different matter. But the players most likely to be replaced (Wiggins by Fox), and Fuller or Kermit (by Azeez) are not long back from injuries. As long as they are 100% fit to play they are improving and making up for lost time. Agreed, except that I didn't notice we were nursing him. He is starting and playing all or most of the matches. I am amazed they are asking him to do this, but I guess he is experienced enough to know when he is overdoing it. I wouldn't be surprised to see him left out tomorrow though, maybe for Hollands, otherwise switch Pritchard inside and play Wilson. Incidentally, in all our excitement about the result, I haven't noticed a single comment that Stephens wasn't even named on the bench. Have even his faithful supporters here thrown in the towel? That's another good point. Before playing youngsters, what about those who are now left out through no fault of their own? Wagstaff came in (for three matches, was it?) and did well. OK, Harriott may be better on the left side, but how would Waggy feel if another youngster jumped the queue when he (Waggy) deserved a chance? Same for Green and Stephens (if they and CP are still on speaking terms). Same for Cort, Evina, Taylor and (maybe) Haynes (if fit).
I'm a traditionalist- I believe in the famous Charlton end-of-season slump. A dash for the play-offs just wouldn't be the Charlton we all know and love.
We are leaving it a bit late this season. Only four games to go. Well, three really, because losing away to the runaway leaders would hardly contribute evidence of a slump.
On the note of Stephens on the weekend, he announced on twitter that he had a dodgy hamstring so couldn't play
I'm fine with whatever team Mr Powell chooses to play. He's better at picking the team than me. I hope those arguing for inclusing more 'kids' are OK with worse results for the last 4 matches
I've suggested 4 "kids" who could appear on the bench. I also suggested playing Hughesy about 3 weeks ago and no-one agreed with me then either!
Harriott is a youngster who hasn't done too badly since his inclusion......... believe me...... CalMessi wasn't head and shoulders above his other U18 team mates Jonjo was head and shoulders above and that U18 team also included Solly!
I understand Nick Pope returns from his loan soon so I'll add him to that list. In fact I'd give him a start. No disrespect to Hamer but Button blew his chance, and Pope comes under consideration as no.2. There won't be any risk, believe me.
