So two more, albeit expected, but still exciting signing’s rolling into The Valley today.
As most have mentioned, not a great deal really known about Dale Stephens. Born in Bolton and played much of his fledgling career in the North West. He spent the latter part of last season on loan at Southampton playing six times for the saints.
Danny Green has been much lauded by Charlton supporters, anticipating his arrival, as an exciting prospect. He is proven to both be able to get forward and score and make goals from the midfield.
Scoring 14 times and setting up 13 in 2009-10 season and then in League One scoring 11 times and creating 12 goals. All of this over the course of 49 and 43 league appearances respectively.
What has struck me about all of Sir Chris’s signings during the pre season is the relative youthfulness of the players, over previous recent seasons signings have generally had the look of a quick fix. With the hope of a quick and fast impact. This looks much more like there is a longer term game plan.
Pretty exciting!
Without wanting to be a damp squib though if you take a look at who we have brought in,
Hayes, Striker
Danny Holland’s, Alonsohohohoh, Danny Green, Dale Stephens and Bradley Pritchard, All midfielders.
And John Sullivan.
It suddenly becomes very apparent the almost desperate need to bolster and improve the backline.
When you look at what we may or may not have currently. Full backs are Francis, Youga, the other new boy, Evina and Solly.
One would guess that Youga may well not be staying and his career may well be on the out due to his long term injury. Whilst Jackson can play, and indeed was originally signed to cover, left back – if he does stay I’d rather see him in the (now pleasantly crowded midfield).
In the centre of defence we are potentially left with Llera, Doherty, Fortune, Mambo and Dailly. General consensus tends to point to Doherty and Dailly being released (not the end of the world as both are now almost certainly too old to have a major impact on a promotion challenge). Fortune it looks unfortunately is out of contract, injured long term, so can be ruled out. Again this leaves us a bit thin on the ground with Llera (this could be the season I think he really shines) and Mambo as the only two current out and out centre backs.
I fully expect two full backs and two centre backs to be delivered by the management and board in due course.
Eight and nine, if my fingers are correct.
ReplyDeleteYou are. I forgot the other rookie goalkeeper. Perhaps it was because he's so young and more of a youth player that I'd unintentionally missed him when counting. (or it could be my awful mental arithmetic?) probably a bit of both.
ReplyDeleteInfact, should read nine and ten in that case. Doh!
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