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).
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