Nicked this off Charlton Life - but an incredible 80 different players have made starts for Charlton since the Belgians took over in January 2014. Is this some sort of record? There are some real non entities in that list, but surely this points to a huge, wider problem. How on earth can you create a successful team with team spirit and camaraderie when you use so many players?
It's simple to be honest. Successes like JBG were because he was an *established* international whilst playing regularly in a top division, or in the cases of Bauer who are not recognised at international level they played consistently for their side in a top division. Diarra, though in the twilight of his career, had this and more. The rest - nothing. Cast offs, rejects, unfulfilled potential, cheap (in some cases). Nobodies of football. Any other shining lights have been players who were here before they arrived - Cousins, JJ (experience), Solly, Lookman, Gomez etc. Just imagine if we kept those core individuals, had the few positive signings and then more. Oh, and throw in a decent manager too I guess.
I remember that our team for the final day win against Hartlepool in 2012 was only two players different from the team which had started the season at home to Bournemouth - Hamer had come in for Elliot and Yann had replaced Hayes, both fairly early on in the season. But Roland knew better, of course. Who can ever forget the mighty Rhys Williams, the dazzling skills of Conor McAleny, the midfield general that was Christophe Lepoint or the striking prowess of Piotr Parzyszek? We truly are privileged to have such a visionary running our club.
It's not Rolands fault. It's the fault of all the other chairman who went against the grain and actually tried to sign good players, hire decent managers, and get on with their fans.
You are right. Katrien told us that Roly refuses to go along with 'that game' - you know, the one where you employ serious backroom staff like physios and scouts, and then let them do the job.
A select few from that list of 80: Tudgay Thuram Nego Koc Velijkovic Oneyewu Dmiitrovic Le Point Etheridge Ceballos McAleney Not to mention Roger Johnson, of course
LePoint easily my fave signing of the RD era. With his cult following, footballing 'skills' and the fact you had to pronounce his name as 'LePwaa' cracks me up to this day.
I think my two favourites from the Douche Era are Neil "Munchkin" Etheridge - the only keeper who worked as a stunt double on the Wizard of Oz. Who will ever forget his performance at Vicarage Road? The other is Rhys Williams - sort of summed up the best of our Rolls Royce scouting system - 1 game in 24 months, played out of position, bombed out after 3 games. Rhys has surprisingly now been released by M'Boro
Last seen on that famous day at Colchester, I seem to recall. Maybe he disappeared in Karel's laundry basket?
Coco; Nego,Johnson, Williams, Sarr; Ceballos, Le Point, Onyewu, Koc; Parsley, Vaz Te. Manager Carol Fry. Roland's Rovers (or rollovers) would definitely catch Blackpool up in the race to the bottom.
