15 players released

Part one of Luzon/Duchatelet/Meire’s summer transfer strategy was executed today with the announcement of 15 players released.

They are: Tal Ben Haim; Simon Church; Chris Eagles; Roger Johnson; Lawrie Wilson; Oguchi Onyewu; Neil Etheridge; Jack Munns; Harry Osborne; Harry Gerard; Kadell Daniel; Kurtis Cumberbatch; Kieran Monlouis; Rhys Browne; Levander Pyke.

A mixture of the unfortunate attrition of young pros who were unable to step up plus 7 first teamers. My only disappointment is seeing Ben Haim go, although it was apparently his own decision. Not so much disappointed but sad to see Lawrie Wilson and Simon Church move on.

The Welshman scored just 10 goals in Charlton colours, but his work rate could never be questioned, but I expect his career will have to continue down a division.

Lawrie Wilson’s form dipped this season after an excellent 2014/15 season, when I personally thought he was player of the year. He was very friendly with Hamer, Morrison, Hughes and Jackson and an integral part of Chris Powell’s squad but he was sidelined under both Peeters and Luzon and the writing was on the wall. However I am pleased that he was able to come back to the club where he began his career to show us what a great pro he is. Best of luck Lawrie.

Roger Johnson can consider himself unfortunate. His arrival coincided with an upturn in results and he played a huge part in shoring up a previously bumbling defence. He then carried on playing through the pain barrier with broken ribs, but I wonder how his personality meshed with the squad and also to be fair he did make a couple of real bloopers late in the season.

Chris Eagles simply did not do enough to warrant a contract. He said before the season ended that he was in negotiations with the club, but his demands were said to be lumpy and those negotiations obviously ended.

Sorry to drag up my dismay at the departure of Michael Morrison again, but the signing of Oguchi Onyewu to replace him only adds to the ineptitude of those making the decisions. With Andre Bikey also apparently not in Guy Luzon’s plans, the only remaining centre back’s are 17 year old Joe Gomez, 19-year old Terell Thomas and 20-year old Harry Lennon.

Conference bound Cheltenham have signed Jack Munns and Neil Etheridge, one of five senior ‘keepers at the club, will also be seeking pastures new.

The on loan Yoni Buyens and Frederic Bulot have returned to Standard Liege, both were big fixtures in Guy Luzon’s team and then we have the players supposedly owned by the Addicks returning to SE7, but so clearly not in any of Luzon’s plans.

Maybe Roland has further projects for Piotr Parzyszek (contracted to 2018), Reza Ghoochannejhad (contracted to 2016) and Loïc Négo (contracted to 2017). George Tucudean will remain on loan with Steaua Bucharest until the end of next season. Joe Piggot and Nick Pope will also return from loans.

I make it about 18 senior players left and that includes 4 ‘keepers, Franck Moussa and Christophe Lepoint, for whom I just don’t see the point.

The plan, I would hope, is to bring players in that are better than those that were released. Patently more important is keeping together the foundations of a good side. Or will Roland dismantle the sparse house before it is even furnished?

It needs to be a busy summer.

Encouraging news tonight though as Charlton’s U18’s won the League 2 National Championship – basically the league outside of the Elite Academies – beating Brentford at Griffin Park 1-0.