James Bree
James Bree has signed a 3-year deal, with *Spoiler Alert*….
Bree was signed by Nathan Jones for Southampton when he was in charge at St. Mary’s. Bree played for 5 (five) other managers after Jones left in February 2023, but Will Still clearly didn’t fancy him, and we had him on loan of course.
Tonda Eckert recalled him in January and he then played 19 of the 21 games they went unbeaten. In fact Bree hasn’t lost a game on his return.
His Saints contract expired this summer and he was clearly an Addicks target but he signs a new Southampton one assuming Eckert will still be manager I’d imagine.
We have to assume that at this stage Eckert and the technical director Johannes Spors will remain at St. Mary’s. Interesting decision if that becomes the case.
I’m not a Nathan Jones apologist – especially for his Southampton time, but research led me to explore who else he signed for Southampton during his 3 months there (one transfer window).
Other than Bree, he signed Kamaldeen Sulemana, who is currently at the World Cup with Ghana, Paul Onuachu, who has just finished top scorer in Turkey for Trabzonspor and Charly Alcaraz, who has just signed for Everton after impressing on loan from Flamengo last season.
I was never a fan of Bree, every time he took a corner or free kick he never got it past the first man.
Looked ok when he first arrived but quickly went downhill.
As my brother called him ‘7 game Bree.’
I’m sure Derek could still scare the hell out of modern defenders….
I agree with brother CA , he started ok then when Southampton wanted him back he was awful, my son and I where at the Blackburn game and he was absolutely dreadful
Strange one that Bree. He came in when we needed help and looked useful.
It didn’t last and I didn’t rue his return to Southampton. I got the feeling his heart wasn’t in it at Charlton.
I wouldn’t really want him back. I’m hoping we do better with our signings this time. (I think we all are)
It’s astonishing but I totally agree with you Daggs. New season new beginnings Daggs 😂
He was replaced by Harry Clarke who was worse…just saying.
7 game Clarke I called him.
Harry clarke was asked to do a job . He always gave a 110 per cent effort and played as a wing back not as a defender as he was at ipswich.
I think that Southampton played Bree as a right-back in a back four, as opposed to wing-back. I do think that some players look better when surrounded by higher quality team-mates, which may well be the case for Bree.
Just read the list of players released by Southampton, and there are a few big names on it (including Joe Aribo), though well out of our league wage-wise…
Loved Aribo, but always very unsure on bringing players back. Derek Hales aside!
Will Smallbone was mentioned favourably in the media a few years ago. I have not seen enough of him to venture an opinion but he is known to NJ as he was at Southampton when NJ was there.