‘Relegation Roger’ makes Charlton prospects for drop
Published:The transfer window represents an opportunity to strengthen squads ahead of the second-half of the campaign and either a promotion push or relegation dogfight; however Charlton are doing things a little differently this year.
Priced at 7/2 with Ladbrokes to drop down into League One this season, the Addicks were busy in January, bringing in four new players – the most notable being ex-Celtic striker Tony Watt.
During that time Charlton also found time to change managers with Bob Peeters sacked after a poor run in the Championship and replaced by former Standard Liege boss Guy Luzon.
But despite all the upheaval at the club, it looks like the Addicks may have saved their biggest – and most worrying – change for after the close of the transfer window with the signing of Roger Johnson.
Released by Wolves having failed to make a single appearance for the Molineux club in almost two years, Johnson has spent time on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and, more bizarrely, West Ham since then though he carries something of a curse with him.
From 2010 to 2013 – first with Birmingham City and later Wolves – the defender pulled off the remarkable feat of being relegated in three successive campaigns, going from the Premier League to the Championship with the Blues before repeating the feat with Wanderers.
His lowest point came at Wolves, where he was part of a side seen as pre-season favourites for a return to the top-flight yet ended up down in League One.
But Johnson’s misfortunes go much further than any curse – the player was guilty of putting in some abject performances at Wolves and was also involved in one incident that saw then-manager Terry Connor send him home after the defender was deemed “unfit to train”.
On a lucrative contract signed when there were whispers of the stopper one day playing for England, Johnson remained on the books at the club, collecting a substantial wage without even playing, making him unpopular with Wolves fans to say the least.
Now at Charlton, a fresh start could be on the cards, but if Johnson fails to rediscover the form that once made him a well-respected presence in the Premier League, the curse could yet reappear, making the odds on a Charlton drop all the more tempting.
With Luzon lacking experience in English football and the Addicks just six points off the relegation places and on a run of 12 games without a win it could be time to back Charlton to go down.
Next up is a trip to the Riverside to face Middlesbrough – we are already worried for Roger.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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