With Charlton, managing to climb off the bottom of the Championship league table, a lot can be said of the change 'between the sticks'. Ben Hamer has been given his chance, playing with a lot more desire, energy and urgency in his play than the Frenchman who came in to replace him at the January transfer window.
After Hamer impressed in Charlton's cup run and forcing his way back into league play, the question still remains why Thuram was brought over in the first place. Obviously Charlton's new owners had a vested interest in getting him game time as they hoped to see him takeover as first choice for his main side across the sea, in Belgium in the next new season in September, allowing Thuram to get more games under his belt and develop. But he has really struggled with the rigors of British football.
Noted for being a lot more physical in corners and on attacks, Thuram struggled with crosses and the language barrier could also have been an issue (maybe?!! Especially with communicating what he wanted from his defence anyway). This, and his constant approach to palming away the ball than catching, not so skilfully as Cesar (in his time at QPR last season) is capable of.
And he has also struggled with the back-pass ruling and the involvement of the goalkeeper in passing play and as a passing option, scuffing up a back pass from a defender, allowing a scoring chance that nearly had coaching staff and fans diving to cover their embarrassed faces in their hands. These things combined meant that Thuram was costing his team rather than offering them a chance to fight back in games and up the table, again leaving critics scratching their heads over why he was given playing time when it was actually more of a disadvantage than an advantage for his team mates and his new club.
So with Hamer reasserting himself, will Charlton fans actually miss Thuram (in the expected return abroad over the summer), especially considering Hamer is doing a better job as their first choice goalkeeper right now?
After Hamer impressed in Charlton's cup run and forcing his way back into league play, the question still remains why Thuram was brought over in the first place. Obviously Charlton's new owners had a vested interest in getting him game time as they hoped to see him takeover as first choice for his main side across the sea, in Belgium in the next new season in September, allowing Thuram to get more games under his belt and develop. But he has really struggled with the rigors of British football.
Noted for being a lot more physical in corners and on attacks, Thuram struggled with crosses and the language barrier could also have been an issue (maybe?!! Especially with communicating what he wanted from his defence anyway). This, and his constant approach to palming away the ball than catching, not so skilfully as Cesar (in his time at QPR last season) is capable of.
And he has also struggled with the back-pass ruling and the involvement of the goalkeeper in passing play and as a passing option, scuffing up a back pass from a defender, allowing a scoring chance that nearly had coaching staff and fans diving to cover their embarrassed faces in their hands. These things combined meant that Thuram was costing his team rather than offering them a chance to fight back in games and up the table, again leaving critics scratching their heads over why he was given playing time when it was actually more of a disadvantage than an advantage for his team mates and his new club.
So with Hamer reasserting himself, will Charlton fans actually miss Thuram (in the expected return abroad over the summer), especially considering Hamer is doing a better job as their first choice goalkeeper right now?
No comments:
Post a Comment