Aribo picks Rangers
I am sure Steven Gerrard had a huge influence on Joe Aribo’s decision to move to the Scottish Premier League with Rangers. If Lee Bowyer improved Joe, then Gerrard will take him to the next level as a footballer, and an athlete.
Yet, it is hard not to shake your head by this move. Short term, okay. Playing under Gerrard, getting regular games, challenging for trophies (again), throw in a bit of Europa Cup. But, the SPL has been as graveyard for many young players, and old, and what happens when Gerrard leaves, or Aribo outgrows that team? Is the SPL the stepping stone, the evolution of a player ready for a move to the EPL?
It doesn’t matter of course. Joe will leave, as we’d long known he would. He has been fantastic to watch. Those long legs unfeasibly winning the ball back in midfield, the storming runs forward with the ball stuck to his boot, the headed goals. That smile. Good luck Joe. #MadeInCharlton.
Both Brighton and Bournemouth came back in late to snatch Aribo from Gerrard’s grasp, ten Championship clubs were interested and Lee Bowyer I am sure put forward a very powerful argument that the best place for Joe was another season in SE7, but the deal apparently is sealed and Aribo will have a medical tomorrow at Ibrox.
Don’t forget Duchatelet had a detrimental role to play. A year ago offering Aribo an improved contract, then rescinding it. Never underplay how that man has done everything to kill the club’s ambition. The Addicks will get just £300,000 with no sell on fee.
Chicago Addick 
GRAVEYARD…KT about to move to gunners for 25 mil, mcgregor 17m, morelos 15-20… english football is a sea of mediocracy esp the championship, without sky money ur leagues would be terrible outside the premiership.. how easy u lot forget what ur leagues were like before sky money . nobody turns up to watch championship games for the amount of money the players are paid… if sky every stops uz are finished .. charlton .. what have they won hahah
Totally agree with your comments regarding RD’s negative role in the situation. Rescinding the offer last year has cost the idiot dear as we have lost Aribo for at least another season and the possibility of a significant transfer fee even if sold outside England.
If there is a takeover things should improve, but surely it should have been completed by now to have an influence on preseason transfers Credit to Bowyer for staying with us, but I fear hard times are ahead. Foster Caskey may be back (if he signs a new contract ) but after missing 9 months because of a very severe injury will he be as good as before. I hope I am wrong but I think Div1 is his level because of his lack of pace.Also Dijksteel’s future appears to be in doubt.
A graveyard? I don’t see how you can say that, never done van dijk (best defender in the world) or dembele etc any harm – many o player haves moved south of the border and done very well, the championship is the graveyard of any league.
He signed for Gerrard, not Rangers.
Making the next move is tricky, you can move to a bigger club, earn more money but play infrequently – eg Ademola Lookman. I don’t watch much Scottish football (and I have zero interest in the Rangers/Celtic rivalry) but he’s moving to a good side who are improving and will play in Europe next season, that should give him profile and an opportunity, the rest is down to him and good luck. If I have a criticism of Joe it’s that he needs to add greater consistency to his game and often he run with the ball a bit too far and then got boxed in or ran into traffic. Knowing when to pass is something that he needs to develop and I hope Gerrard/Rangers will instil in him. And yep, Roland screwed this up – my take was that he was trying to force Joe out last year and capitalise on a talent then rather than let him leave as he has done for development compensation.