Looking back through the window

The window hardly slammed shut for Charlton tonight in a hail of glass and uPVC, although mind you it was the quietest overall window for the longest time leaving Sky Sports to get all dewy-eyed over a loan of Armando Broja.

Harrogate prospect Kayne Ramsay was the 4th permanent Addicks’ January signing putting pen to paper this evening and whilst I cannot remember us making that many permanent signings in January previously, I am not convinced the squad begins February in a better place than we ended it in December.

It was important to add defenders and we also lost Michael Hector to probably a season-ending injury. Three were added, all on long term contracts, one without a manager in-situ, so we have to hope that these prove shrewd, as potentially Gillesphey, REG and Ramsay could form a key part of our back line for a few seasons.

Shrewd is not a word that can be used for those players signed in the summer with Tedic, Abankwah and Chem Campbell all returning to their parent clubs. Camara, Hector, Taylor and Isted have spent most of the season on the treatment table and Louis Watson cannot get a regular game, although at least he stayed.

The club added more defence-minded midfielders – Bakinson, Fiorini and Coventry – whilst moving on the more attack-minded in Fraser, Kirk and McGrandles.

Two areas I believe we failed in was not replacing in any format CBT. The now Derby player scored 9 goals and created 7 assists in 28 appearances. Add to that we have still yet to add a big powerful striker to partner Alfie May.

Whatever formation we play in, with the continued absence of Aneke and Leaburn we are simply unable to outmuscle opposing sides in and around the box playing with no focal point or obvious set plan other than to get it out to…. oh CBT!

Ladapo came with great expectation, but has looked horribly unfit and rusty. He would have been fit in the summer if we could have signed him then.

Another keeper was signed (Ward) to replace another keeper (Walker) and I expect neither will last long in the memory.

The month started with a high-profile chase and a substantial fee agreed for the prolific Jonson Clarke-Harris, and ended with the eventual forlorn chase of Aaron Collins.

The be fair to the owners they did approve real money spent in the window, nonetheless they did recoup some back in fees and wages. For the time being George Dobson remains although I read that the Hungarian window closes later in February.

Even if the profile of player brought in during January does look a step up in terms of quality and the level they had come from, it remains to be seen if this latest round of newcomers are ‘oven ready’ or fit or, and wouldn’t it be nice, make a real difference to the trajectory we are currently travelling.