A sign of how far Charlton have fallen last transfer window their fans were wistfully hoping they would sign him whilst acknowledging he was out of their league.

Edited by Badger11 (06 Nov 2023 1.18pm)

He would be a real coup for them, which does say a lot! The kid Leaburn they have upfront currently looks a good prospect though.

Ladapo has been prolific over a few spells in League One - a decent goalscorer in the Championship, but he seems to really up the run rate in League One.

I thought so to, but my Charlton mate says he is decent but being overhyped so he would be happy to sell him as long as the funds were spent on the team.

I think at the moment he is just potential but he is a lump with some skill so you can see why the bigger clubs are showing an interest.

Sure, that's quite specific parameters though.

The big 6 are not comparable in size to us, so you're left with 4 top half spaces - Newcastle and Villa now both splash out lots on transfer fees, and then it's basically us, West Ham, Brighton and Brentford competing for the last two top half spots. Could arguably include Wolves in that.

They are specific parameters, yeah, but those are our circumstances.

What I am interested in is whether it is possible for us to invest so much in our academy, utilizing a unique metropolitan catchment area that produces so much talent, that we can be (as far as I can see) the first team of our size in the modern era to get into the top ten as a result of that strategy.

Or, as I suspect, will we be spending all that money just to maintain the current average success rate (one first-team player every three or four years)?

It would be great if we produced one or two players a year, sold some, played others, then better utilize our limited budget on key signings, and make noticeable progress as a result.

My point really is that we would be the first if we did. It's not an established model that we are imitating. That doesn't mean we shouldn't do it, of course.

What are we actually investing in the academy? You keep using language like 'all that money' - what does that actually look like?

If we consider producing our best ever player, an England international and a £50m right back, all in a 10-year spell as average, then certainly it's got no chance - those expectations aren't realistic.

I don't really follow that this isn't an established model - supplementing a first team with academy players is one of the most established models there is - I don't think it's necessary to distinguish between the size of the club when it comes to comparing things like that - at pretty much every level, you'll find squads topped up with academy players.

Arsenal have Saka, Nelson, Nketiah and Smith-Rose - arguably only Saka is a top level player of those four, but the other 3 form an important part of their squad.

United do the same with Hannibal, Pellestri, Garnacho.

Liverpool have Trent as the star, but also use Jones, Quansah, Bajcetic.

Chelsea have Chalobah, Colwill, James, Maatsen, Gallagher, Broja all in the squad, haven't sold a number of other graduates for big fees in the last few years (Mount, Abraham, Guehi, Tomori)

Edited by EverybodyDannsNow (06 Nov 2023 2.15pm)