Has
everyone landed yet? After Wembley and last weekend in Marseille (for a
Springsteen concert as well as the pastis; did love the headline in the local
paper on Sunday morning post-Champions League final: ‘PSG – forever the second’)
the squad list confirmation and speculation about Cardiff and Jones provided
the cue for starting to think about the coming campaign, most obviously in
terms of how we might shape up and what areas we need to prioritise when it
comes to strengthening.
My
starting point for this is a reminder that we secured promotion, deservedly, by
the skin of our pants in terms of squad depth. The defence, including those in
front of it, was excellent for sure. Going forward was another matter. Jones
and players sometimes commented about us not having been fluent in games and I
don’t think that’s accidental, or entirely due to the opposition. So before
looking at where to strengthen we have to assess what we have – and what we
might lose. On that front I am assuming that Cardiff will not get their man.
We
found success in the second half of the season via a system which attack-wise relied
almost entirely on Campbell, Godden, Small and Berry. We did switch sometimes during
games to a front two, to accommodate the now departed Chuks (and our best
wishes go to him, as well as Watson and Hendry, and the loanees), but fact is
we had no replacements for these four, so when one or more of them were missing
we struggled going forward. The system we adopted worked well because Campbell
naturally went wide left, pulling defenders out of position, while Small
provided the threat down the other flank, Godden scored the goals, and Berry
was a key component because of his ability to get into/around the box to
exploit opportunities.
When
Campbell or Small were unavailable the threat was confined to one side, which
enabled the opposition to crowd out that space. Anderson had to fill in for
Campbell once and, through no fault of his own, was a fish out of water. Watson
was the alternative for Small but could never offer the same threat. Equally
Gilbert came in for Berry but isn’t like-for-like, a more natural play-maker in
the final third but not attuned to making himself akin to a second striker in
support of Godden, a la Martin Peters (now that shows my age).
So
to my mind, before Jones can assess whether or not we play in a similar fashion
next season we have to know whether Small will stay with us and whether there
is a risk of Campbell being poached. If both stay, given our strengths in other
areas it’s reasonable to assume a similar system. If either/both were to leave,
it’s an open book, dependent on who comes in. Can we find another Small? Always
possible, but unearthing someone with similar searing pace to terrify the
opposition, and the courage to use it (of course the end-product needs to
improve), is a tall order. Equally Campbell is something of a one-off as a
second striker who acts almost as a winger is usually found in a front three
(think Blackett-Taylor or Rak-Sakyi).
Fact
is, without Leaburn, with Kanu struggling to make an impact, Ahadme simply not
in the picture, Mbick still raw, and Aneke unable to start games, we weren’t
able to change the system even if we wanted to. And we got by thanks to Godden
not getting injured and the others being mostly available most of the time.
That won’t be possible next season, so either we strengthen in the key areas to
have like-for-like replacements available or we assume a different Plan A.
So,
let’s go through the departments.
Goalkeeper.
Mannion had a good second half of the season, ended the issue of whether or not
he or Maynard-Brewer was first choice. With Bouzanis departing the assumption
is we will sign another keeper even if the two stay (and Maynard-Brewer could
decide to move on if he finds himself lined up to be third choice, perhaps
Mannion might feel the same if he faces a season on the bench). Only makes
sense to expect that the signing will either be someone intended to start, or a
veteran back-up.
Defence.
Nobody will complain if we start next season with the same first-choice back
three/five. The central combination did change through the season as Mitchell
was the lynchpin early on only to be usurped by Jones. The return from injury
of Ramsay and the improvement of Gillesphey created a formidable, cohesive barrier.
Mitchell was overtaken in the pecking order for a while by McIntyre but the
latter has gone and assumed not to be coming back. Obviously we need to
strengthen in terms of back-ups. Mitchell(A) looks as though he struggles
without a run in the side, I don’t know if Mitchell(Z) is considered ready to
do a job in the Championship. So assuming the central three at least stay with
us, I’d imagine we need to sign at least one viable replacement option. If
Small and Edwards both stay, we need alternatives for both. Perhaps Asiimwe
will be ready to be back-up as the right-side wing-back.
Midfield.
Greater uncertainty here as we do need to add quality and depth. We have Docherty,
Coventry, Berry, Anderson, and Taylor. It isn’t enough if we are looking at
covering three starting spots and a place or two on the bench. Just who comes
in I’ve no idea.
Forwards.
Here it is really an open book. In an ideal world you’d say Kanu and Mbick,
possibly Dixon too, would benefit from going out on loan to get game-time. We
all hope Leaburn returns and stays fit, but can’t assume that. And what we do
with Ahadme is anyone’s guess. You’d love to say just wipe the slate clean,
forget last season, start again, let’s see what you’ve really got. I just don’t
know if that’s an option. So decisions on what contribution we can reasonably
expect from Leaburn and Ahadme, assume Godden and Campbell are both available,
and get in at least another one, possibly two if some go on loan.
Signing
either Kelman from QPR or Kone from Wycombe would be tremendous, but I’ve no
idea if either will be available and at what price. We didn’t strengthen in
this area in the January window and really that came close to costing us
promotion, if Godden had been injured or Campbell missed more than one or two
games. We won’t get away with it next season, even if Jones wants to keep the
squad to a manageable size. Forward signings are almost inevitably the most
expensive and high-profile, surely some decent money will be spent.
So
while we all shoot off on our hols – and I hope all Addicks get to rest up for
a while - there’s plenty of work for Jones and Chapple to be getting on with,
leaving aside the notion that the list of targets was the same irrespective of
the division. Hopefully we pick up some more dosh if Gomez moves on from Liverpool,
but at least the owners will have been aware when they got involved that staying
in the Championship would require additional investment. I hope they’ve been
heartened by the turnout for Wembley, by the sight of a full Valley towards the
end, and by season ticket sales (no idea if they are going well or not), for
soon it will be the time for writing cheques (even if the amounts will forever
be undisclosed).
