Looking Ahead

Saturday’s defeat to Wycombe served to underline what a disastrous summer transfer window we had and just how great the damage done by Adkins woeful spell was as manager.

Even if Ronnie Schwartz had come good, we always looked light on strikers. It was always a big gamble on Ronnie and one that soon backfired.

His signing has proved to be one of the few minuses for Sandgaard given that it was so left field and one can’t believe that Gallen or Bowyer has identified him as a prime target.

Aneke was never replaced and it was a major mistake. It was clear during his recent suspension as to how big a loss it is when Stockley doesn’t play.

I believe that Roddy’s involvement in the recruitment process muddied the waters and we ended up recruiting too many midfielders whilst failing to address the left back position.

Up against a well organised Wanderers defence it was going to be a very tough ask to score and going behind made it an even bigger task.

I think given the number of teams in between us and the play-off places we are now effectively out of the running for one of those. It’s simply too big an ask not that Jackson will give up trying as that’s not in his nature nor would we expect him or want him to.

This transfer window is more difficult than ever as a result of where we find ourselves. We need to look long term and indeed, that’s how we’d need to sell the club to any potential transfer target.

Just as important with an eye on next season is sorting the squad for that. We need to try and tie down some players and rid ourselves of some of the deadwood that includes Gunter and Watson whose wages are an important factor too in that decision.

In the short space of time as owner Sandgaard will have learned a lot. As much as he has done a lot of good in doing the right thing and making good decisions there have been some glaring mistakes across the board.

No one gets it all right of course and mistakes are acceptable as long as he learns from them. As slow as he was to do so, at least he did get rid of Adkins and Roddy.  In the case of Roddy that is in some part an acknowledgement that Ged was culpable in it being a mess.

Covid permitting the Addicks now face a long slog of 2 games per week and that will only extend should we progress in the FA Cup and/or pizza trophy.  That will present a real headache for Jackson as he needs to decide what his priority should be.