Of course, but you won't foist a 29 year old onto FHB if there are promising 19 and 17 years olds on the books. I am surprised he hasn't replaced Church with Sho-Silva as well. Seriously, keep updating your post, Billy, as players arrive and depart. Maybe RD will cash in on Pope and Wiggins this summer, enabling Charlton to fulfil your ambition of fielding a complete Academy generated First XI: Phillips Solly, Gomez or Osborne, Lennon, Fox Wilson, Cousins, Holmes-Dennis, Harriott Pigott, Sho-Silva. I know Crewe fielded such a side once. I believe the only occasion in League history?
So far the departing side of things has been pretty active............and Gomez is 17 years and 2 days, so he may soon have to be replaced in the starting 11. Actually I've been quite impressed by the recent improvement of his partner, Terrell Thomas. Could be a late developer.
Starting 11 in August will comprise 4/5 homegrown... Solly, Wiggins, Wilson, Cousins & Jackson And 5/6 Network euro trash ( names as yet unknown, see Moldovan phone book for more details) Very hard to imagine Diego Poyet taking a look at what is going on at CAFC right now and saying "yep, I want another three years of that".
On the face of it, we run the real risk of ending up like Crewe if our percieved view of RD's football 'pilosophy' is true. Fliteering between Leagues 1 & 2 while we act as a feeder team for bigger clubs with our youngsters.
Maybe being pessimistic, but I think Gomez is gone Pope Solly; Wood; Lennon; Wiggins; Wilson; Jacko; Cousins; Harriott; Pig; Church. Subs, Phillips; Fox; Thomas; Ansah; Reza; Gerard; Munn. Manager- Bob.
Pope; Solly;Lennon; Morro; Wiggins; Wilson;Cousins;Jacko;Harriott; Reza; Ventekole. Subs-Phillips. Nego, Osborne, Fox, Church Buyens, Pigott. I left out Gomez because I'm pessimistic about him signing.
gomez favourited my tweet last night when i asked him if he was pushing for the first team this year, might be a sign
Buyens will start because RD will tell Two Bob to pick him in every game. He wants his "Champions League starlet" to get maximum game time in order to be able to flog him on come January. I have just read Buyen's short interview on the O/S. For those who haven't seen it, he says: "I am delighted that Uncle Douche has given me this unique opportunity to swell his bank balance still further. The prostitutes in Greenwich are much nicer than those in Liege, although I prefer to do it in car rather than go back to brothel on Thamesmead Estate. That place not nice".
Updated following the flurry of activity: Pope Solly Ben Haim Morrison Wiggins Wilson Butyens Cousins Moussa Reza Ventekole * Harriott has lost his place - a sure sign that our squad is getting stronger
Better update this now... Pope Solly Bikey Morrison Wiggins Wilson Butyens Cousins Moussa Reza Ventekole Phillips, Gomez, Ben Hiam, Harriott, Gudmundsson, Jackson, Church. ...not sure this will be the final team or even the best but we are certainly covered on the left now, can't even get Fox in the squad!
I agree that looks our best line-up. Need Ghoochannejhad to play like he did in the World Cup, but that is a big ask. If not we are a striker short (and I would say two strikers short as most teams have at least four contenders for two striker spots). Also need a back-up 'keeper (maybe a loanee). Even with those added this line-up will struggle next season.
Reckon for me Bob Peeters will play his favoured 4-3-3 Formation so gonna go for Pope Solly - Bikey - Morrison - Wiggins Cousins - Buyens - Jackson Gudmundsson - Vetokele - Harriott Bench: Phillips... Fox / Gomez... Ben-Haim... Moussa... Wilson... Church... Ghoochannejhad
No goal threat there. Gudmundsson doesn't score many and Vetokele and Harriott lightweight. I could se the ball keep coming straight back. Moussa came to play. He won't want to be behind Jackson. And why leave out Wilson, our best player last season?
A big man to play up front is the key to this team working well. As eddie says, the ball needs to stick up top, otherwise it will just keep coming back.
Gudmundsson / Vetokele and Harriott have the pace to counter-attack and to run at Defences, you hear it countless times where Defender hate having players run at them because they're slow themselves and a pacy striker getting in behind them is their idea of a nightmare and either the Striker scores or is brought down as the Defender makes a desperate challenge resulting in a penalty What they want is a lump of a Striker to have a fight with, they want the ball to be lumped up field so it can then come straight back, a Defenders best attributes have to be heading the ball and tackling so when the ball gets lumped into the area they're either going to clear the ball or they're gonna be fouled themselves as in that situation they know how to draw the foul. Just look at the Goals we scored and created in the last handful of games last season (notably from Harriott and Sordell) when we passed and moved with the ball... thats been our problem for a number of years now we're too static on and off the ball, against Huddersfield (albeit we drew 0-0) and Watford when we went for the pass and move were probably two of our best performances of the season. Moussa has had a handful of matches in the Championship... If he came to Charlton (If any player came to Charlton) expecting to play then I dont want them at the club as a Footballer isnt bigger than the club and people can say once again that Jackson's legs have gone but in my opinion they havent and once again he was a crucial player last season for us, maybe not with the goals but in terms of Leadership there hasn't been a better Captain at the Valley since I've been going (Kinsella was a great Captain as a better player). In terms of Lawrie Wilson I'll agree that he was our best player last season (I voted for him to be Player of the Year) but that was a season where we only just survived Relegation... People talk on here about being ambitious, about wanting better and wanting to get higher than mid-table etc... unfortunately in my opinion Chris Solly is better @ Right-Back and Gudmundsson has better credentials on the Right of Midfield, at the end of the day Football is a harsh sport and still being that Wilson will have a huge impact and will be a great player this season but with our current signings... Peeters has one huge selection headache
