Michael Appleton has been appointed manager of Charlton Athletic today after an "intensive search." Appleton has been humorously linked with every job vacancy at lower league clubs for years because of that 'no-nonsense' photo of him snarling with his arms-folded and the fact that he seemed to move clubs every twelve months.
He is, of course, the latest with an Oxford United connection to join us, having managed them to promotion from League Two in 2016. So he would have been well known to Scott, Rodwell and Lenaghan. This continuing recruitment of Old Pals can't be right or the best for our club but given the mess of the current squad and the lack of funds to do much about it, I don't suppose it will make a huge difference.
The senior management team are remaining tight-lipped about the disastrous start to the season. I think this is just as well given that they demonstrably don't have the 'billionaire' backing they once boasted from the rooftops and the fact that their gamble to 'wing it' with an unbalanced squad early on has back-fired so badly.
As things stand, I think we have a reasonable eleven amongst the squad but outside of that I am unconvinced we have much quality at all. That eleven haven't been all been available so far this season and Appleton's job will be to find them and get them playing. Interesting to note in the Club's announcement that Appleton's track record of having developed youth players at previous clubs features large.
The club have also decided to make it known that they had enquiries about Leaburn, Blackett-Taylor and Dobson late in the window but that these were rebutted. We won't know if any of those were serious - Derby and a German club amongst those asking - but it gives the impression that we might not be as desperate for money as we obviously are and it also sets an expectation about who is most likely to attract a bigger fee in January.
I would like to think that Appleton can make us safe this season and help us get back to basics. However, he is playing with a poor hand and may well struggle to do much better than Dean Holden. Aside from too many very average footballers, we still lack winners in this squad and that will remain a problem irrespective of set-up, motivation or tactics.
Here’s an idea, try backing and supporting the club for once.
ReplyDeleteIf you think I write this blog because I enjoy slating the club, you are wrong. I would much prefer to be talking about a winning team, exciting players and progressive owners. Trouble is, we haven't had that for nearly 20 years.
DeleteSpot on, Dave. Well put.
DeleteToo right.
DeleteComedy Gold ..............
ReplyDeleteI’m interested to know who would be in defence in that reasonable first eleven you mention?
ReplyDeleteWe might not have it. Edun looks capable on the left but needs to learn to stay at home. Lucas Ness was doing brilliantly last year but has clearly lost form, maybe because of poor partnering. Hector thinks he is better than he is and Thomas is a liability. Maybe Lloyd Jones or James Abankwah can settle alongside him. Letting Egbo go was a mistake for me. Too much at the moment for Asiimwe or Chin. We have a right-back problem.
DeleteI don’t disagree with any of that, but it means we don’t have a good first choice 11. Edun was promising but his defending reminds me of Clare, giving them time & room to get the cross in & getting caught out by the through ball. Asiimwe not ready yet, so I think we’re still lacking both full backs. Hector may be past it, so it looks like Jones is the only quality we have currently. How is Appleton going to build from this?
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