Boom. Oztumer joins
This came out of the blue. Or did it? This morning Erhun Oztumer signed for the Addicks on a 2-year deal 12 years after he was released.
The adaptable midfielder was minutes from being signed by Lee Bowyer in January and all summer he has been on Steve Gallen’s speed dial as his time at troubled Bolton got resolved. Eventually he was released by Bolton this week, yet last week it looks as if the steps were put into place for him to sign for the Addicks. He has been part of Bolton’s somewhat fraught pre-season and played in their first game of the season.
Greenwich born to Turkish Cypriot parents Oztumer was rated a big prospect in the Addicks academy but was released after 9 years mostly because it was thought he was too small. He’s 5ft 3. A determined Ehrun spent a season at Fisher Athletic before moving to the Turkish league where he was at a couple of top flight teams but only got a look in at Üsküdar Anadolu, who were in the 4th division.
Oztumer came back to London and was a superstar at Dulwich Hamlet before having a trial at Burnley and then getting his chance at Peterborough, a club renowned for finding rough non league diamonds. He signed as a free agent for Walsall in 2016 and scored 32 goals in 95 games and then a year ago made his fateful move to Bolton.
Steve Gallen said: “He’s a skillful player, he’s tricky, he’s bright, he’s clever. He sees things that a lot of the players don’t see. We’ve been interested in him since we started tracking him to try and bring him in during January, so we’re really pleased to finally get Erhun in here.”
At 28, he’s at a good age and gives Bowyer lots of flexibility and can score all manner of goals. I think a great addition to the squad. Welcome home Erhun.
Chicago Addick 
Welcome back Oztumer not the only player released for being too short who subsequently made the grade elsewhere. Hesenthaler and Artar spring to mind.
rierti – Possibly Danny Green too.
Yes, great signing but it looks CAFC too late for Hemer it seems!!!! Less than a minute and seconds not on emails???
Short players now there’s a thing. At the risk of doing a Billy Joel, the first two that spring to my mind are,
Billy Bremner and Bobby Collins of the great Leeds team of the sixties, now whilst spitting at the ground, obviously, Diego Maradona, then there is Paul Walsh, Alan Simonsen, Nobby Stiles, Mark Penfold, Garrincha, Richie Bowman, to name a few.
Whilst reading about our signing from Bolton, who incidentally we have lost one or two, in other times of trouble To bolton. Their situation is quite dire, they reportedly only have Two senior pros available for their game at Tranmere, coupled with a twelve point deduction, and players not being paid, sounds quite awful.
See this is where I get confused, am fully aware as anyone else the problems at Charlton, but to outsiders it must be a bit of a struggle. Try these headlines.
CRISIS CLUB CHARLTON SIGN 13 PLAYERS IN TRANSFER WINDOW
CHARLTON HAVE TOP ACADEMY
CHARLTON TURN DOWN MASSIVE BID FOR STRIKER
CHARLTON SELL 39000 TICKETS FOR WEMBLEY FINAL
CHARLTON GET 18000 CROWD FOR FIRST HOME GAME IN CHAMPIONSHIP SHIP
and so on, I think by the end of this period of ownership we will celebrate, but is well worth reading the Bolton story. Onwards to Barnsley.
Bolton and Bury @tombrowny. Also have to feel for Coventry again being homeless. We know all about that.
That budget has gone a long way. You have to think that at least part of the Djiksteel fee, which was paid up front as RD likes it, did go back into the budget.
On short players. What about that little chap at Barcelona. He ain’t bad.
Didn’t we have a player called John Sullivan or John O’Sullivan. He was a proper little person.