Charlton Athletic’s academy has been known for producing some quality players over the years who have turned into regular Premier League performers and even a Champions League winner amongst the long list of names who have had an impact on English football.
Can you get 20/20 on this Charlton Academy Players quiz? I bet you can’t, but feel free to prove me wrong!
Unfortunately, many of our academy graduates moved on way before they could help Charlton make a real impact. In fact most of the time when we lose a decent academy player it’s normally the end of us challenging to whatever it is that we are going for.
Take Scott Parker for example, if he stayed with us we could have made Champions League, but after he left The Addicks fell down the league a bit and the team that Parker went to which was Chelsea ended up shooting up the league to a second-place finish which really is a big blow to take, however we went on to finish 7th that season, our highest finish in the Premier League.
It is always heartbreaking when this happens, but I think most of us are just so used to it now that we just expect these things to happen us.
Out of our academy graduates as a whole, I think Joe Gomez is the best we have produced not just because of his achievement of winning the Champions League, but he is a well and truly solid defender and after just 24 games in Charlton red he became an established Championship player.
I asked the Charlton fans who they think is the best player to come out of the Charlton academy and here is what you all had to say!
Ademola Lookman was an UNBEILIEVABLE talent…we didn't sign him until the final game as an U16 when he played against for London FA….i remember he scored 6 in one game against QPR! special player….and a very humble kid….JF
— CAFC ACADEMY – PIONEERING AS ALWAYS (@CAFC_TheAcademy) May 14, 2020
It’ll be Joe Gomez at some point, might even be now. How we only got 3mil summed up Rolands time at Charlton.
— Willin’ (@smit112) May 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/AddickLiam/status/1260934009128808449
Joe Gomez with Adebmola Lookman coming second.
— Lynne Pettyfer 🔶💙🇺🇦🇪🇺🏴🇬🇧🇨🇦 (@Confettilady) May 14, 2020
Definitely Joe Gomez. He’s playing in the best team in the world, hasn’t dropped a single league point all season, won a Champions League. And he’s only 22
— Matt (@CAFCmattt) May 14, 2020
Lee Bowyer good player good manager 😂👍😊
— Kent Red (@VPcafc) May 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/4everAddickted/status/1260955826593955845
Not the best ever but I think Shelvey is a hugely underrated talent. His technique and passing range are both ridiculous
— SM (@22ScottM) May 14, 2020
Gomez is probably the best
— SM (@22ScottM) May 14, 2020
Rob Lee
— Phil (@phil_cullum) May 14, 2020
Scott Parker but Joe Gomez will eventually take that crown no doubt.
— Brad Kemsley (@BradKemsley) May 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/ABally58/status/1260968114747031553
https://twitter.com/PaulStDavis/status/1260990714953039874
Robert Lee
— London init geezer (@Miketyson2007) May 14, 2020
Parker for me
— [..] (@cafc4ever1) May 14, 2020
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