January damp squib

Following the excitement of Tuesday, we got the disappointment of Wednesday. The much-rumoured move of Jayden Stockley was precipitated yesterday afternoon with the five month delayed return of Macauley Bonne. Having failed to do an eleventh hour deal in the last transfer window, the all-seeing Charlton recruitment team have returned to take the failed signing off QPR's hands. 

The good news, as I understand it, is that he is only here until the end of the season. Another short-term, minimum cost, throw-of-the-dice. I am pleased that it is only four months as he may have to really shake a leg and not simply take the money. Make no mistake, Bonne's first spell in SE7 yielded 11 goals in a 36 game spell that earned him his "big move to QPR" for a startling £2m. Having been desperate to move on, he was publicly outspoken after the proposed loan in September failed when QPR tried to force us to sign him permanently, when he trolled us on social media. 

I can rise above that but it will be the first thing Charlton fans will recall when he fails to convert a chance or make the run he needed to. For that reason, I think it's a bad move for us. He will nick a few goals and, let's face it, we are desperately short up front so he ticks a box but don't expect fireworks.

The other telling point about our first move since the window opened, is the glaring short-termism and lack of commitment of everything at the club right now. Sandgaard clearly isn't going to spend anything this window and the would-be American takeover cowboys don't have the money yet to complete the deal so it wouldn't be happening under them in any event. Prepare to be underwhelmed this month as we shuffle a few cards.