Ricky Holmes .

[Smirth]

Charlton are a club fighting for a play off place in league one. We are challenging for the playoffs in the championship. That’s why Holmes is struggling to get in the team, the level is higher for him.

 

[originaltrueblade]

Charlton are a club fighting for a play off place in league one. We are challenging for the playoffs in the championship. That’s why Holmes is struggling to get in the team, the level is higher for him.

Then if that’s the case you could say that about almost all of our current players

 

[wizadry]

I never thought we needed him and I said so in the 300 page thread when we were chasing him, Wilder will know everything about him though and only he can say what he brought him in for after chasing him for such a long time for what was reported at the time an apparent fee not to be quashed at.

Looked promising against Wolves aswell but I don’t think he’d have changed any of the results recently, although I know that can’t be said with any certainty.

 

[nicksufc]

I never thought we needed him and I said so in the 300 page thread when we were chasing him, Wilder will know everything about him though and only he can say what he brought him in for after chasing him for such a long time for what was reported at the time an apparent fee not to be quashed at.

Looked promising against Wolves aswell but I don’t think he’d have changed any of the results recently, although I know that can’t be said with any certainty.

Certainly strange one signing a winger/no 10 when we don't play with wingers and already have plenty of number 10s.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I never thought we needed him and I said so in the 300 page thread when we were chasing him, Wilder will know everything about him though and only he can say what he brought him in for after chasing him for such a long time for what was reported at the time an apparent fee not to be quashed at.

Looked promising against Wolves aswell but I don’t think he’d have changed any of the results recently, although that can’t be said with any certainty.

Wiz, far from looking promising at Wolves, in many supporter's opinion Holmes was our best player. I understand that Wilder selects a team with a far bigger picture than whether one player can play. We currently have three players with guile, Duffy, Brooks, and Holmes. Of the three Holmes has shown he has an eye for goal. I'm not suggesting he's better than the other two, but one game as our best player must suggest something. Come the summer we'll have Coutts back, so an abundance of luxury for Wilder to play with. A great position for CW, but in Holmes we have a player who is far more than just a winger.

 

[wizadry]

Wiz, far from looking promising at Wolves, in many supporter's opinion Holmes was our best player. I understand that Wilder selects a team with a far bigger picture than whether one player can play. We currently have three players with guile, Duffy, Brooks, and Holmes. Of the three Holmes has shown he has an eye for goal. I'm not suggesting he's better than the other two, but one game as our best player must suggest something. Come the summer we'll have Coutts back, so an abundance of luxury for Wilder to play with. A great position for CW, but in Holmes we have a player who is far more than just a winger.

Just because people thought he was our best player doesn’t mean he showed anything more than promising in what was a poor performance from us where we couldn’t put two passes together, although Wolves played their part in that.

Holmes isn’t getting played now when we’ve had injuries in his position and isn’t getting any younger which sort of supports my claim of he wasn’t needed in the first place. Wilder must’ve now seen something to support this, that’s why he doesn’t play him. He’ll not shy away, Wilder doesn’t stubbornly play a player /signing who isn’t working for him, my guess is he’ll be gone at the end of the season, iiyb. No shame in that, he hasn’t got a bad record for signings so far.

I’m not writing him off completely, it’s just what it seems from the outside, seeing how Wilder has evolved.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Considering we've spent the best part of a year chasing Leonard and longer chasing Ricky Holmes, it's bizarre how they've worked out.

Holmes has had a single start and he was arguably our best player, hasn't played a minute since....this in a spell where his competition hasn't played the majority of games either.

Leonard has just been way off it, however he's still young and you need to appreciate that sometimes it's difficult adapting when you've been at one team virtually all of your career.

Both have come from a lower level and una be to get much game time .I trust Wilder there time will come.it cant be easy stepping up a division mid season to this division

 

[Large Mendonca]

Said it a while ago, would rather have kept Thomas to play bit parts from the bench, and we could have spent the 600K on a 30 goal/season hot shot super striker. The last bit might be a bit unrealistic.

 

[loyalblade95]

Holmes wouldn't have offered any height against Warnock's giants, as the game wore on the long throws into the box and the punts in at every freekick over the half way line made more sense for Donaldson to come on, at 6 foot he was probably chosen for the physical presence he offered.

Though he missed a couple of great opportunities, i thought Donaldson did well when he came on.

Cant seem to recall a moment where we kicked it long to him and he didn't win only thing was everytime he bought it down there was no one to pass it to

 

[itsinyerblood]

Just because people thought he was our best player doesn’t mean he showed anything more than promising in what was a poor performance from us where we couldn’t put two passes together, although Wolves played their part in that.

Holmes isn’t getting played now when we’ve had injuries in his position and isn’t getting any younger which sort of supports my claim of he wasn’t needed in the first place. Wilder must’ve now seen something to support this, that’s why he doesn’t play him. He’ll not shy away, Wilder doesn’t stubbornly play a player /signing who isn’t working for him, my guess is he’ll be gone at the end of the season, iiyb. No shame in that, he hasn’t got a bad record for signings so far.

I’m not writing him off completely, it’s just what it seems from the outside, seeing how Wilder has evolved.

I'll have to disagree wiz. At Wolves, what you describe as 'promising', was an understatement. The fact that we didn't play well, yet Holmes managed to put in a shift where others seemed incapable of contributing, tends to emphasise the quality that Holmes has, and what he can add to our game. Not sure why his age is a factor, it doesn't prevent other 'elderly' players from playing, even if as subs. Agree about Wilder's record where signings are concerned, but Holmes happens to be one of those players who can help us progress in my view.

Maybe Holmes will depart come the summer, I just happen to think it would be a missed opportunity if we didn't allow Holmes to show what he can add. I get that you're not impressed, and of course opinions are the lifeblood of this forum. If, for some mysterious reason, Holmes did manage to show his worth, I'm sure you'd have no problem recognising this, but we'll see how this pans out. Very little about profession football surprise me, so as long as we continue to progress I'll continue to be happy.

 

[wizadry]

I'll have to disagree wiz. At Wolves, what you describe as 'promising', was an understatement. The fact that we didn't play well, yet Holmes managed to put in a shift where others seemed incapable of contributing, tends to emphasise the quality that Holmes has, and what he can add to our game. Not sure why his age is a factor, it doesn't prevent other 'elderly' players from playing, even if as subs. Agree about Wilder's record where signings are concerned, but Holmes happens to be one of those players who can help us progress in my view.

Maybe Holmes will depart come the summer, I just happen to think it would be a missed opportunity if we didn't allow Holmes to show what he can add. I get that you're not impressed, and of course opinions are the lifeblood of this forum. If, for some mysterious reason, Holmes did manage to show his worth, I'm sure you'd have no problem recognising this, but we'll see how this pans out. Very little about profession football surprise me, so as long as we continue to progress I'll continue to be happy.

It’s not that I’m not impressed, I’ve never said that, I haven’t seen enough of him in a Blades shirt to say either way, all my thoughts are taken from just how it feels from the outside.

What it looks like to me is if Holmes were to get his chance to prove himself over a sustained period of time then that means atleast possibly three players will be either underperforming, injured, suspended or a mixture of all three so it’s not over for him but it’s a lot to ask for him to get his chance and he’s got to knuckle down if he does.

You know I hope he grabs it with both hands if that chance occurs.

 

[dc_blade]

I was hoping we'd see Holmes for Brooks, but Donaldson played pretty well when he came on. He does a job running the channels, holding the ball up, and drawing fouls. If his finishing would come back to him he'd be a real asset still.

In other news, the repressed envy for Ricky Holmes's hair on these boards is becoming almost homoerotic in its intensity. Just grow a man bun if you want one, no one is judging.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I was hoping we'd see Holmes for Brooks, but Donaldson played pretty well when he came on. He does a job running the channels, holding the ball up, and drawing fouls. If his finishing would come back to him he'd be a real asset still.

In other news, the repressed envy for Ricky Holmes's hair on these boards is becoming almost homoerotic in its intensity. Just grow a man bun if you want one, no one is judging.

dc_blade - although I appreciate the homoerotic suggestion there's clearly nothing more than support for a player whose quality could make a difference and help us win. Having said that, no one should expect miracles, at least at first, but Homes does possess guile, an eye for a goal, and can create with the best of them (at least at this level). I completely understand what you mean about Donaldson's missing scoring capability, but the purchase of Holmes was exactly the type of player I consider a plus as we look to progress.

 

[dc_blade]

dc_blade - although I appreciate the homoerotic suggestion there's clearly nothing more than support for a player whose quality could make a difference and help us win. Having said that, no one should expect miracles, at least at first, but Homes does possess guile, an eye for a goal, and can create with the best of them (at least at this level). I completely understand what you mean about Donaldson's missing scoring capability, but the purchase of Holmes was exactly the type of player I consider a plus as we look to progress.

You've misunderstood my post, but I agree it would be good to see Holmes get more time on the pitch.

 

[Pedro's Winger]

Can't really argue with the subs last night as we continued to look dangerous when Donaldo came on.
If Duffy's injured for a while Holmes is likely to get a chance soon enough.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

My mates a Charlton long standing supporter and he cannot understand why Ricky Holmes is not starting. He watched the game last night and he said when Brooks went off he should of brought on Ricky Holmes and we would have increased the lead. Dead ball expert and will run at defences with high energy levels and play as a striker or in between the striker and midfield.. He said he has been the best player every time he took to the field for Charlton. What do you think?

Likely, because he is playing a league higher and he won't find it as easy to be the best player on the pitch. It remains to be seen whether he is good enough for Championship level. I'm not sure he is.

 

[Benitachel]

Likely, because he is playing a league higher and he won't find it as easy to be the best player on the pitch. It remains to be seen whether he is good enough for Championship level. I'm not sure he is.

I have watched Ricky Holmes all his career since he played for Chelmsford. I am amazed CW hasn’t played him much. Duffy, Ricky and Brooke’s should all be starting if they are fit as they all have the quality we need to unlock the opposition defence. Ricky is the only player we have that can bend the ball from a free kick over a wall. I am sad he hasn’t been given enough playing time. Donaldson should not have been brought on last night when Holmes was available, in my opinion.

 

[Smirth]

Then if that’s the case you could say that about almost all of our current players

Disagree. Most of our players were in a team last year that won league one at a canter.

 

[tincan]

Holmes so far is poor - looks out of his depth- runs like a non league player. Great application but little awareness and integration to the team

 

[oaklandrdblade]

I have watched Ricky Holmes all his career since he played for Chelmsford. I am amazed CW hasn’t played him much. Duffy, Ricky and Brooke’s should all be starting if they are fit as they all have the quality we need to unlock the opposition defence. Ricky is the only player we have that can bend the ball from a free kick over a wall. I am sad he hasn’t been given enough playing time. Donaldson should not have been brought on last night when Holmes was available, in my opinion.

Not quite sure how'd you fit all 3 into our team at the same time

 

[5tannington Blade]

Holmes so far is poor - looks out of his depth- runs like a non league player. Great application but little awareness and integration to the team

What on earth are you basing this on ? He's not demonstrated that at all in a Blades shirt

 

[itsinyerblood]

Holmes so far is poor - looks out of his depth- runs like a non league player. Great application but little awareness and integration to the team

Not watched the away game at Wolves? Whatever your opinion is based on you clearly need to improve where homework is concerned.

 

[originaltrueblade]

Disagree. Most of our players were in a team last year that won league one at a canter.

But our players were still league 1 players and Holmes was player of the season for Charlton with outstanding 8,9,10 ratings according to my Charlton mate and in a poor team with no quality around him. Says it all really

 

[Richard Haythorne]

Agreed, bringing Donaldson on wasn't going to achieve anything, it effectively left us a man short. Wilder has made some weird subs this season and this was one of them. As for Holmes, the exasperation just increases in me as every match goes by, what a fucking waste of talent (and money).

Big defensive line .Stick a big un on who can hold the ball and has pace .Cant finish his dinner though nemind one in the 6 yard box

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

I have watched Ricky Holmes all his career since he played for Chelmsford. I am amazed CW hasn’t played him much. Duffy, Ricky and Brooke’s should all be starting if they are fit as they all have the quality we need to unlock the opposition defence. Ricky is the only player we have that can bend the ball from a free kick over a wall. I am sad he hasn’t been given enough playing time. Donaldson should not have been brought on last night when Holmes was available, in my opinion.

On a less heavy pitch, and against a less agricultural team, then perhaps Ricky Holmes would have been ideal; but last night Donaldson was more suitable.

 

[I should coco]

Great application but little awareness and integration to the team

It is the 'little integration to the team' that we are complaining about.

The lad hasn't been given a decent chance yet.