Ipswich released two players on Thursday who would be ideally suited to Charlton’s upcoming League One campaign.
Jay Tabb is 32-years-old and an all action midfielder. After coming through the youth ranks at Crystal Palace, Tabb made his breakthrough at Brentford.
He went on to play for Coventry, Reading and Ipswich, as well as having a loan spell at Crawley. Tabb hails from Tooting and would be a real asset in League One.
Luke Varney was signed by Alan Pardew in the summer of 2007 and scored 10 goals in 57 appearances for the Addicks.
Leicester born Varney is a product of the fabled Crewe youth system, and Charlton had to pay£2.7million to secure his services.
A pacy player who is equally at home on the wing or up front, Varney joined Derby – initially on loan – when he left The Valley, and went on to have spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool, Portsmouth, Leeds and Blackburn, before joining the Tractor Boys.
Now 33-years-old, Varney is another player who is probably best suited to League One at this stage of his career.
The Addicks could do worse than offer the duo one year deals.
The curtain comes down on a hugely disappointing season at The Valley on Saturday, with Burnley providing the opposition. The difference between the two teams could scarcely be more stark.
Sean Dyche’s Clarets are already promoted, and a win will see them return to the Premier League as champions. Charlton will slip back to League One after a four year sojourn in the Championship.
Jose Riga’s side have never made a promotion push during their stay in the second flight, and will be relegated as a club in turmoil.
Fans have staged regular well publicised protests, and there have been many departures behind the scenes. The summer will see further upheaval.
Riga seems certain to leave, and he will be followed by a large number of players. Whoever is in charge for next season will have a massive rebuilding job to do.
Riga will be keen to end the season on a high and is unlikely to experiment too much. Chris Solly’s bruised ankle bone may again sideline him, and it will be the last appearance in Charlton colours for several players.
The Addicks could look something like this:
Pope; Motta, Fanni, Teixeira, Fox; Gudmundsson, Cousins, Diarra, Kashi, Lookman; Harriott.
Subs: Mitov, Yun, Lennon, Ba, Jackson, Vetokele, Makienok.
The referee will be Wiltshire’s Roger East.
Burnley are a consistent, hard working side with plenty of firepower up front. It is difficult to see past a title clinching win for the Clarets.