Trio Linked

[reamsofverse]

NOTW

"CHARLTON boss Alan Pardew plans to sign Tranmere ace Steve Davies in the summer.

"Pards has also lined up Plymouth defender Paul Connolly and Barnet striker Albert Adomah as he hunts bargains for a promotion push next season."

I am not one for paper talk but if true it concerns me that the lower league route is the one we are taking after Dean Sinclair and Izale McLeod have both failed to make the step up this season.

[IdleHans]

It concerns me more that the concensus is that we are weak in the middle, yet we're weighing ourselves down with a horde of journeyman strikers.
Frankly, I don't think there's too much wrong with our forwards that some decent midfield service wouldn't put right. I like Varney a lot, Gray and Iwelumo are both proven in our division - let's just play some decent stuff in the middle and bring them into the game. Lumping high balls to Chris should be a last resort when we're two down with five minutes left.

[swordfish]

I'm with you there, Hans. I am also of the opinion that our midfielders generally are of a decent standard, but seem incapable of playing together. We should never have let Andy Reid go - he was keeping the midfield balanced. As soon as he went it became painfully clear that the majority of our central midfielders are attack minded, and when trying to defend they drop deep and disappear for the rest of the match.

This is why I believe the forwards don't get the service. When we won the old first division in 2000, the formula was simple:

Two fast, attacking wingers (Robbo and Newts);
One attack-minded midfielder (Stuart)
One midfield 'general' (Kins)
One sh*t hot striker (Hunt)
One target man (Pringle)

I know there's a lot more to it technically, and we had other players scoring goals, but remember Mendonca missed most of the season, and as soon as Pringle got injured Hunt stopped scoring. We tried Svensson and (disastrously) Kitson as Pringle's replacement, but we struggled for weeks and barely scraped over the line in the end. Coincidentally, that was when the loudmouth who used to sit behind me finally realised what an important contribution Pringle was making that season.

I just wish it was as easy to build a balanced, winning team as I've made it look in black and white

[The RevHansUpskirt]

Martin Pringle was a far better player than most think.
And boy oh boy was he quick, I think the fastest player I've seen in a Charlton shirt and that's including the 'big let down' Dennis, who actualy represented Denmark in the Olympics if I'm not mistaken!

[swordfish]

I was always a fan of Pringle. A lot of people got on his back because he didn't turn out to be the natural goalscorer Curbs was looking for, but apart from his pace, he had that loping look about him that deceived the opposition into thinking he was slow and lacking in skill.

Paul Mortimer had exactly the same quality. He'd get the ball and lope towards the defender, then suddenly whip it away from him when the defender attempted to clear it. Pringle often LOOKED a bit clumsy, but then played the killer ball... Or much more rarely, scored.

[leftbehind]

not sure if lower league players will work did not happen for us this season

Maybe a mix of a few lower league and a few oldies coming down the ranks

[swordfish]

It must be hell trying to balance it out. I think what Warnock had going for him at Palarse this season was his lack of options. How ironic is that? I've been hearing all about Victor Moses for nearly two years now from the Nigels at work - I knew he was quality. But to have more than 3 youth players come through in one season and play well?

I guess it's the old cliche: Getting the mix of youth and experience right.

[valleyviper]

For Pringle read Izale McCleod, after his injury and being around the Valley and Sparrows Lane believe that his speed will an important weapon in this division next year along side Luke Varney and in some cases Big Chris in a 4-3-3 formation.

Where we need to strengthen is with central defenders who can cut out crosses and corners and bring the mid field into play. also most importantly a couple of play maker type mid fielders (Murphy/Smertin were good together) who can see and make passes, best spend any real cash here and bring balance to the side, no further strikers either buy or loanees (unless there 5'6" or less).