TV seems to think that after yesterday's result we are sort of safe. I'm not so sure and think that we need 53 or 55 points to be sure of safety so another 6 to 8 points. Anyway, who of the current defensive unit should be retained for next season? Me, I think Solly will be sold for about £2m to £2.5m to generate cash and perhaps Wiggins if he has a good finish to the season at £1m+ I also think we may release Taylor, Mambo and Osbourne. The rest I feel will be retained/offered new contracts. Thoughts? AllHell
Only voted for Mambo, he has had time to break in the first team imo, not exactly set the world ablaze on loan either, Taylor can do a good back up job if we need, i'd always have 4 center backs at a club anyway incase of injuries and suspensions, and lets face it, Taylor is probably on the least out of all our defenders who are near the first team except for Evina.
Feely will be with us next season Tweaks, he's doing fine for the Dev squad this season. I only listed players with squad numbers Tweaks so I also ommitted (from the poll) Ajayi and Fox. We were going to sign Warren Feeney two years ago mate but nothing came of it Ted, we will need to free up some player budget over the summer so we will need to trim some players who will not be starters anymore to allow more Harriott's to come through. When he was a first year schollar Osbourne looked the real deal (really looked it!! Rufus standard) but since he broke his leg he has lost that spark, perhaps a new club may re-energise him? Reminds me of Davisson, prior to all those injuries the club had very high hopes for him indeed but the injuries took their toll and now he is playing non-league
Osbourne has lost his CB spot to Ajayi and Feely and is playing regularly at right-back in the u-21s because we don't have another one (assuming Cousins' future is in midfield). We don't have a reserve right-back in the first team either in that Wilson has to move back when Solly is out. Wilson is a natural right-back but also our best RM so that forces an unwelcome change there. And I don't think any of our more promising u-18s is a RB either (though I stand to be corrected)? Strange position to be in, as RB is usually an easy position to fill and we have had some great ones down the years, with Solly continuing that tradition. I agree with your valuations of Solly and Wiggins. Last summer their valuations would have been reversed but since then Wiggins got badly injured and (understandably) hasn't yet got his spark back, while the football world has belatedly woken up to what we have always known about Solly. More to the point, it we lose both of them we will go down next year for sure. Not sure if Dervite will want to go on playing fourth fiddle. I like him but he doesn't deserve to displace any of the other three. Left-footed CBs are usually in demand so he might get a good offer elsewhere. Mambo won't make the grade, I'm afraid. You can excuse skilful or light-weight players not impressing in the lower divisions but Mambo has no excuse.
Sorry, AllHell - yes, I meant Kevin Feely - and I think the players we choose to release, as opposed to the ones we can't say no to offers for, may depend on his progress. So, Mambo, Taylor and Osbourne to be turned loose. And regrettably, Solly and Wiggins to be sold.
No sure Eddie, I feel that Evina could do a good job at LB with Fox as back-up and Wilson could grow into RB if we can sign a RM to help out Greeny, Cousins could do a job as back-up at RB if needed.
I voted to keep Taylor rather than Dervite because I think he's a more reliable CB which is what this poll is about. Feely and Ajayi look good enough prospects to be 4&5th choice. I haven't seen Mambo for ages but the writing has been on the wall for too long for him to have any chance of a Charlton career.
We are only two players away from being relegation certs (and perhaps the same margin from being play-off contenders). I like and respect both Evina and Wilson as full-backs, but they would not be as good as Solly and Wiggins. That, and losing Wilson at RM, would be enough to condemn us, as margins are so tight in this division. If we have to rely on players like Green and Cousins for more than the odd cameo, we are surely doomed.
Unless we have replacements lined up or we receive an absolutely ridiculous offer, then I wouldn't let anyone go for the time being. Sure, it's ok to let their contracts run down and re-sign them if we can't get better (however, always the risk someone else might take them). I would hope that we are already watching potential signings and that we will make our moves early in the summer or sign players on pre-contract agreements - then it gives us plenty of time to decide who to get shot of. It's hard to say as a fan without knowing what salaries the players are on, as we don't know which players coming off the books will save the club the most revenue/free up wages.
