Running on fumes

I note some of the criticism on twitter of the team/tactics/formation etc but frankly it is a bit ridiculous to blame anything other than the fact that we have totally run out of players.

Out of the finishing 11, Josh Davison, Ben Dempsey, Alfie Doherty, Albie Morgan are all totally inexperienced players who are at Conference level or in Albie’s case maybe League 1.

Chris Solly and Ben Purrington are no longer the first choice full backs. Darren Pratley is great but totally knackered, Deji Oshilaja is solid but not a first team player. Macauley Bonne was playing Conference last year. Lyle Taylor is not fully fit. We have to be honest with ourselves – effort and motivation is great but it will be almost impossible to win further games with this current team. Superhuman effort from the players and continuing fanatical support at The Valley will be vital for survival.

We are in desperate need of 5 or 6 new, fit , Championship level players NOW.

Tahnoon Nimer’s ambition for CAFC

Watching the Sky game tonight from Tottenham’s magnificent new stadium, I really hope that Mr Nimers ambition for our club extends to a significant increase in stadium capacity. If funding is available then there could be no bigger sign of ambition than to immediately revive the plan to increase capacity at The Valley to 36,000.

I know we desperately need to retain Championship status this year but more than that we need an owner who has real ambition for the club. This has been lacking for more than a decade now since Peter Varney and Richard Murray worked together in happier times.

If it were me, I’d be looking at a 10 year plan to capitalise on the huge catchment area and demographic increase in South East London and Thames Gateway.

Such an opening statement of ambition would be matched by fan commitment.

Let us hope our new owner has the finance and vision. Build it and they shall come.

Roland’s Right

In the last 4 years I don’t think I’ve ever said that but Roland is right that the EFL need to pull their collective fingers out and approve the Charlton takeover.

Apparently it’s OK to rob every man woman and child in Eastern Europe and get to own a football club but because you are related to someone else who owns another club that’s more of a problem.

How can there not be a definitive timescale to approve the transaction – they should set one now and tell all parties what it is.

The supporters, potential new owners and dare I say it – even Roland -deserve confirmation of a drop dead date from the EFL