Young will be playing at the Riverside next year after Middlesbrough coughed up 2.5 million for him. He was always consistent but never outstanding, so I find it hard to be sad at his departure. I'm not sure it's the right move for Luke though. Middlesbrough have the look of relegation candidates about them, now that they've lost their idol, Viduka. Anyway, I am now eagerly anticipating getting a look at Yassin ( insert correct spelling of that French fullback here) in the friendly at Priestfield tommorow. Certainly Pards seems to think that the kid is a ready made replacement for Young.
Walton has also departed: he's gone for 200,000 to QPR. I trust Pards' judgement, and he obviously thought that he wasn't much cop, but the news puts another black mark against Dowie's name, since he bought him for double that fee this time last year and he never even played in a first team competitive game.
Dean - not the Chelsea winger but the ex-Barnet midfielder - Sinclair has penned a contract after a trial in which he impressed Pardew. Apparently he's got a great engine, but no technique. Sounds like a certain Bulgarian to me. Anyway, he scored against Man Utd so he must be good ;)!
Just think, we could build a team full of players from lower leagues that have scored against Premiership giants in cup competitions - we've already got Varney. We'd be unstoppable.
Mullins? Apparently we're still after him. I, for one, would be ecstatic if we could sign Hayden, I think he would boss the midfield in the Championship and, for the million or so being quoted, he would be a snip.
McLeod would prefer a move to The Valley according to a number of sources. Well, we'll see, but I think that if we were going to sign him we would have done so a few weeks ago.
Friday 27 July 2007
Friday 20 July 2007
Romm's Gone! 'Bout bloody time...
Cast your minds back to Sunday the 5th of December 2004... I speak, of course, about the South London derby that ended one-nil to Charlton, courtesy of a last gasp winner from Dennis. This was supposed to be the moment that the speedy winger finally found his feet in the premiership after disappointing previously. Alas, it wasn't to be, as he continued to put in shoddy performances week in, week out until the end of his first season. But, I thought, plenty of players fail to make an impact in their first year in this physically competitive league, so I was willing to give Romm a second season.
No good. Rommedahl remains the same light-weight, work-shy, lily-livered, money-guzzling waste of space today, as he was the day he joined. All pace, no purpose.
Just six goals, none of which came at The Valley, from sixty seven largely pointless performances speaks for itself. Dennis, my boy, you will not be missed.
2.5 million for Young and 0.5 million for Rommedahl gives us some money to help fill the midfield chasm and to buy Mcleod aswell- fingers crossed.
Up the Addicks.
No good. Rommedahl remains the same light-weight, work-shy, lily-livered, money-guzzling waste of space today, as he was the day he joined. All pace, no purpose.
Just six goals, none of which came at The Valley, from sixty seven largely pointless performances speaks for itself. Dennis, my boy, you will not be missed.
2.5 million for Young and 0.5 million for Rommedahl gives us some money to help fill the midfield chasm and to buy Mcleod aswell- fingers crossed.
Up the Addicks.
Midfield Minefield
We're getting a bit worried about our midfield vacuum. Or perhaps it's more of a feather duster. We certainly lack a strong ballwinner -- Pards doesn't seem to rate Walton -- and, should Andy Reid get injured, we won't have much in the way of match-winning creative flair either. If true, rumours that Lloyd Sam is going on loan to Kilmarnock and that Jody Morris will not be taken on (good -- there's no way he's a Charlton player) create additional vacancies in our midfield. As the market gradually clears -- Clemence to Leicester etc. -- our options are narrowing all the time.
It would certainly do nothing to solve the ball-winning problem (is Mullins waiting in the wings? Or, sing it softly, Song?), but I am casting my eyes in the direction of Claus. All right, he's a luxury player, but what luxury! OK, he's injury-prone, but he could spend much of his time relaxing on the bench. To our own cost, we know that Claus is a player who can turn a game on its head in a few moments, coming off the bench. So far as I am aware, he's still a free agent. Let's go get him!
Stop press: Luke Young is said to be on his way to Middlesbrough. Is he sure that's wise?
It would certainly do nothing to solve the ball-winning problem (is Mullins waiting in the wings? Or, sing it softly, Song?), but I am casting my eyes in the direction of Claus. All right, he's a luxury player, but what luxury! OK, he's injury-prone, but he could spend much of his time relaxing on the bench. To our own cost, we know that Claus is a player who can turn a game on its head in a few moments, coming off the bench. So far as I am aware, he's still a free agent. Let's go get him!
Stop press: Luke Young is said to be on his way to Middlesbrough. Is he sure that's wise?
Tuesday 17 July 2007
Transfer Update
The MK Dons star striker is having a medical today at Charlton, or so it seems.
According to a number of sources- mostly close to the Dons- the forward, who has scored sixty goals in the past three seasons, albeit in lower leagues, is set to sign in a deal with a fee as high as 1.7 million.
Meanwhile, Sinclair and Sahar look to be going elsewhere after all, largely because Chelsea thought that they would not be given a regular starting berth anyway. I am not too disappointed about this, as I don't think we should be signing loaners.
We have still not landed a midfield player, and with each day that goes by I get more and more worried that we will be signing Morris on a permanent basis.
Rommedahl and Young's respective sagas draw on with Villa, Brum, and Everton the contenders for Young's signature, which is thought to be worth 3 million. While Getafe are the lucky boys who are going to actually pay money (up to 1.5 million) to get Romm, beating competition from, well, no-one to sign the so-called footballer.
According to a number of sources- mostly close to the Dons- the forward, who has scored sixty goals in the past three seasons, albeit in lower leagues, is set to sign in a deal with a fee as high as 1.7 million.
Meanwhile, Sinclair and Sahar look to be going elsewhere after all, largely because Chelsea thought that they would not be given a regular starting berth anyway. I am not too disappointed about this, as I don't think we should be signing loaners.
We have still not landed a midfield player, and with each day that goes by I get more and more worried that we will be signing Morris on a permanent basis.
Rommedahl and Young's respective sagas draw on with Villa, Brum, and Everton the contenders for Young's signature, which is thought to be worth 3 million. While Getafe are the lucky boys who are going to actually pay money (up to 1.5 million) to get Romm, beating competition from, well, no-one to sign the so-called footballer.
Thursday 12 July 2007
In Pards We Trust
I realized something today: when it comes to future signings, and in the meantime the decision over the three trialists -- Pederson, Morris and Sinclair -- I trust Pards 99.9%.
Any signing we make I will view as a good one, simply because he signed them.
And any one we pass up on I will consider a bullet dodged, as long as it was Super Al's decision.
This is a good situation to be in: Pardew can do no wrong (for the moment at least).
As the squad stands, given the inevitable departure of Young (ah, well) and the imminent exit of Romm (yay) this would be my line-up for the first game of the season:
Weaver
Yassin Diawara Bougherra Thatcher
Ambrose Holland Reid Thomas
Todorov Varney
Subs: Randolph, McCarthy, Walton, Christensen, Iwelumo
Any signing we make I will view as a good one, simply because he signed them.
And any one we pass up on I will consider a bullet dodged, as long as it was Super Al's decision.
This is a good situation to be in: Pardew can do no wrong (for the moment at least).
As the squad stands, given the inevitable departure of Young (ah, well) and the imminent exit of Romm (yay) this would be my line-up for the first game of the season:
Weaver
Yassin Diawara Bougherra Thatcher
Ambrose Holland Reid Thomas
Todorov Varney
Subs: Randolph, McCarthy, Walton, Christensen, Iwelumo
Monday 9 July 2007
How much of a Charlton fan are You?-- Find Out.
With pre-season dragging on, most Charlton fans start becoming restless as players return to training. I, for one, can't wait for the 11th of August when we face Scunthorpe. But are we all as keen as we think we are? Answer the following questions and find out.
Do you...
1) go to more than 10 games a season, including friendlies and cup games?
2) 15?
3) what about 20?
4) own a replica home shirt?
5) own an away shirt?
6) have the Official Web-site bookmarked in your favourites?
7) go to away games even if they are north of Birmingham?
Did you...
8) go to the games throughout the 70s and 80s?
9) help de-weeding (is that a word?) The Valley?
10) buy shares in the club to help with the finances?
If you scored nine or ten: you are a diehard fan.
If you scored five, six or seven: you are a loyal fan.
If you scored four or below: you are probably a Johnny Come Lately.
If you scored zero: you are surely wondering who Charlton Athletic are, and why you are on this blog. You are now checking the site address and realizing you made a mistake when typing in 'apeantics.blogspot.com'.
Up the Addicks.
Do you...
1) go to more than 10 games a season, including friendlies and cup games?
2) 15?
3) what about 20?
4) own a replica home shirt?
5) own an away shirt?
6) have the Official Web-site bookmarked in your favourites?
7) go to away games even if they are north of Birmingham?
Did you...
8) go to the games throughout the 70s and 80s?
9) help de-weeding (is that a word?) The Valley?
10) buy shares in the club to help with the finances?
If you scored nine or ten: you are a diehard fan.
If you scored five, six or seven: you are a loyal fan.
If you scored four or below: you are probably a Johnny Come Lately.
If you scored zero: you are surely wondering who Charlton Athletic are, and why you are on this blog. You are now checking the site address and realizing you made a mistake when typing in 'apeantics.blogspot.com'.
Up the Addicks.
Transfer Updates
With Jody Morris' transfer to the Valley still not announced, the weekend's other rumours have also not been confirmed as of 5 o'clock Monday afternoon.
Mullins was mentioned. For 1 million I thought that this would have been a good signing, he could hold the midfield perhaps, allowing Reidy to dictate in the attacking third. Mullins is a good championship player, but if we sign championship players then we will possibly become a championship club.
Young striker Sahar's impending loan to The Valley has still not gone through, but his Chelsea teammate Scott Sinclair should arrive at Charlton in the near future after Super Al beat a host of championship clubs to win his signature. The promising winger will probably join up with the squad at the same time as Sahar does -- probably the 10th.
And who's on the way out? Young has been linked with Villa again and will be leaving for 4 million- maybe; Thomas is going to Man City for 1 million- supposedly; and Youga has gone on loan to Scunthorpe -- definitely. Oh, and Lisbie is being tracked by Reading -- unluckily (for Reading.)
Please note that the preceding rumours are probably invented by journos with an idle few minutes and itchy fingers, and are most likely a load of rubbish. Therefore, please refrain from suing when (errr... I mean 'if') none of the above happens.
Up the Addicks.
Mullins was mentioned. For 1 million I thought that this would have been a good signing, he could hold the midfield perhaps, allowing Reidy to dictate in the attacking third. Mullins is a good championship player, but if we sign championship players then we will possibly become a championship club.
Young striker Sahar's impending loan to The Valley has still not gone through, but his Chelsea teammate Scott Sinclair should arrive at Charlton in the near future after Super Al beat a host of championship clubs to win his signature. The promising winger will probably join up with the squad at the same time as Sahar does -- probably the 10th.
And who's on the way out? Young has been linked with Villa again and will be leaving for 4 million- maybe; Thomas is going to Man City for 1 million- supposedly; and Youga has gone on loan to Scunthorpe -- definitely. Oh, and Lisbie is being tracked by Reading -- unluckily (for Reading.)
Please note that the preceding rumours are probably invented by journos with an idle few minutes and itchy fingers, and are most likely a load of rubbish. Therefore, please refrain from suing when (errr... I mean 'if') none of the above happens.
Up the Addicks.
Saturday 7 July 2007
Football hooliganism comes to The Valley
The word is that Jody Morris has put pen to paper (really?) and signed for Charlton. When he first emerged at Chelsea, he looked a promising and moderately talented attacking midfield player, but it wasn't long before his career entered a thuggish decline. An allegedly extravagant late night refuelling habit and a prodigious liberality with fist, mouth and nut accompanied him through a drift down the leagues, ending in the humiliation of a free transfer from the Spanners.
Surely it's time to take stock and pull yourself together, Jody. Get off your knees, stand up and be a real man. Oh... you are standing up.
Ben Thatcher, Jody Morris; who's next?-- Kevin Muscat? Ouch! Looks like we'll be watching Charlton from behind the sofa next season.
This blog, for one, can't say it's pleased to meet you, Jody.
Thursday 5 July 2007
Jynx
On Wednesday, I bemoaned Charlton's inability to sign a striker. Minutes later an announcement on the official website stated that we had landed Todorov on a free transfer. The blogger's jynx. Wait a minute...
...Obviously Charlton need to be looking into signing world class players. It is an outrage that we are not being linked with the likes of Totti or Kaka, as such signings would be a phenomenal boost to the club's promotion chances.
There, that should do it...
Anyway, Todorov seems like a good signing- although I would have preffered Eastwood- and last time he was playing in the second tier he was prolific for Portsmouth. Meanwhile, Nicky Weaver has also joined on a free and if you look on New York Addick's blog, you can see a video courtesy of YouTube, which seems to show that Weaver could be pretty useful. Weaver is what we needed: an experienced keeper who will provide compitition for Randolph between the sticks.
On free transfers, both signings seem decent enough.
Up the Addicks.
...Obviously Charlton need to be looking into signing world class players. It is an outrage that we are not being linked with the likes of Totti or Kaka, as such signings would be a phenomenal boost to the club's promotion chances.
There, that should do it...
Anyway, Todorov seems like a good signing- although I would have preffered Eastwood- and last time he was playing in the second tier he was prolific for Portsmouth. Meanwhile, Nicky Weaver has also joined on a free and if you look on New York Addick's blog, you can see a video courtesy of YouTube, which seems to show that Weaver could be pretty useful. Weaver is what we needed: an experienced keeper who will provide compitition for Randolph between the sticks.
On free transfers, both signings seem decent enough.
Up the Addicks.
Wednesday 4 July 2007
So Where's Our Striker Then?
What's wrong with Charlton?
First there was Roberts and Charlton were hot on the trail of the Blackburn stricker. What came of it? Nothing...
Then there was Earnshaw and Charlton were on the brink of signing the Norwich star Did it happen? No...
Then there was Sahar and we had apparently secured the services on loan of the Chelsea starlet. Yet for some reason: nothing on the official website...
Then there was Todorov and Charlton had agreed a one year deal with the Bulgarian international. So where's the news story on the bleedin' website then.
And Eastwood, well, it looks like he's gone an' buggered off to Wolves. Readers, this is the final straw. Wolves.
Heads have got to roll. Either there is something wrong with Charlton that somehow repels players when they are just about to sign on the dotted line, or the official website is just being plain lazy (in the case of Sahar perhaps) and not posting the news. Whichever one it is, things aren't looking good.
Wait, who am I kidding? Nothing is wrong with Charlton. I know what the real problem is: the stupid strikers. They are obviously so over-awed by the magnificence of our club that they feel like they just ain't good enough for us. Never mind.
First there was Roberts and Charlton were hot on the trail of the Blackburn stricker. What came of it? Nothing...
Then there was Earnshaw and Charlton were on the brink of signing the Norwich star Did it happen? No...
Then there was Sahar and we had apparently secured the services on loan of the Chelsea starlet. Yet for some reason: nothing on the official website...
Then there was Todorov and Charlton had agreed a one year deal with the Bulgarian international. So where's the news story on the bleedin' website then.
And Eastwood, well, it looks like he's gone an' buggered off to Wolves. Readers, this is the final straw. Wolves.
Heads have got to roll. Either there is something wrong with Charlton that somehow repels players when they are just about to sign on the dotted line, or the official website is just being plain lazy (in the case of Sahar perhaps) and not posting the news. Whichever one it is, things aren't looking good.
Wait, who am I kidding? Nothing is wrong with Charlton. I know what the real problem is: the stupid strikers. They are obviously so over-awed by the magnificence of our club that they feel like they just ain't good enough for us. Never mind.
Sunday 1 July 2007
Fayeding Away?
Following yesterday's announcement by Charlton that 28 year old 'wunderkid' Kevin Lisbie has been released, it seems that Amady Faye will be next to leave, with Birmingham reportedly after him.
For a short while at the beginning of last season, Faye looked awesome, the answer. By mid-season we were wondering what on earth the question could have been. Miserably misplaced passes, an apparent lack of stamina and will; he seemed barely interested. Do we think he will display more energy and commitment in the Championship? Probably not.
Faye's departure, and presuming Youngy and Romm are also on their way out, would see our wage bill reduced dramatically ahead of the new season, which without all the Sky money is very important.But it would leave a huge gap in midfield for us to fill with a reduced budget. Who's out there, within our price range, in the young, talented and hungry mould, good enough to win the Championship and grow into the Premiership? Offhand, no-one. It's a worry.
On the other hand, who are we to stand in the way of good ol' Brucy's legendary prowess in the transfer market and his burning desire to have a cumbersome, cross-eyed midfield maestro with a dodgy motor in his ranks?
For a short while at the beginning of last season, Faye looked awesome, the answer. By mid-season we were wondering what on earth the question could have been. Miserably misplaced passes, an apparent lack of stamina and will; he seemed barely interested. Do we think he will display more energy and commitment in the Championship? Probably not.
Faye's departure, and presuming Youngy and Romm are also on their way out, would see our wage bill reduced dramatically ahead of the new season, which without all the Sky money is very important.But it would leave a huge gap in midfield for us to fill with a reduced budget. Who's out there, within our price range, in the young, talented and hungry mould, good enough to win the Championship and grow into the Premiership? Offhand, no-one. It's a worry.
On the other hand, who are we to stand in the way of good ol' Brucy's legendary prowess in the transfer market and his burning desire to have a cumbersome, cross-eyed midfield maestro with a dodgy motor in his ranks?
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