I don't know what the figures are but the club (well those running it) have proved to be true to their word and they have made what I would happily call 'Significant Investment' in the playing squad.
Not that I'm saying it's ok for them to stop now, not while they are on such a roll, but I have (obviously) made the decision to renew my season ticket. This was the closest I've come to not doing so, but in all honesty I could get a lot closer and still end up committing again.
I would suggest that we can probably turn our attentions to central defenders now. Tomorrow, or maybe Friday, we are going to see confirmation of those that are not being kept from this season. We know that Racon will not be here next season, but even if we'd not already signed Hollands, Alonso and Stephens I would have been happy to have him leave. I think he has looked the real deal on occasion, but it is entirely too infrequent and the number of times he has gone missing have made me lose confidence in him. I would be neither surprised, not disappointed if he suffers another relegation next season with Millwall.
Semedo is probably the only other player from last season (who is out of contract) that I would be all that bothered about keeping. I liked Llera, but I think he is a little limited for the aspirations we have. Dailly has looked a little too old to go again, which to be fair is no insult as he is 37. I liked Kelly Youga, and even though I don't really have a problem with him signing a good contract when he was offered it, or being injured, I just don't think he can be trusted to play enough games to be offered anything like he was on and I suspect he will move on.
Of the others the only one that really creates much debate is Kyle Reid and I think he has had plenty of opportunity to demonstrate that he has then complete package to be a success at Charlton, and I am really talking about attitude there I think. I know it's unfair as I don't really know him, but I can't quite get the feeling out of my head that he thinks he is too good for us, and we have never had success with players that believed that. If Paulo Di Canio can fight for a place at Charlton I can't see why Kyle Reid shouldn't. I know we are in a lower division, but our success has always come from hard work and determination.
So, apart from Semedo, and that is not settled yet, I am happy with the departures that were out of contract. There are a couple under contract that I would like to see the back of, but that's another story.
On the whole things are looking up. Of course if we don't sign any centre halves we are going to need to score four games a game, but I, suddenly, have more confidence in those running our magnificent club.
Up the Addicks!
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Oh, and if the signings are not enough, the new away shirt is on the club web site, and I like it. I like it a lot.
This is the first season for a while that I have decided to purchase a shirt immediately on seeing it.
How things have changed?
Not sure there will be news on the out of contract players - Dailly signed a new deal in July, Basey played in the first pre-season friendly but ended up leaving. And of course, someone like Semedo might decide he wants a bit longer to make up his mind
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