CHARLTON want to sign Stephane Henchoz

[hartley]

From the sun -- you have to scroll down toward the bottom.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2004510559,00.html

A strong, 6' 2" central defender. I would assume he would start ahead of Fortune or Fish and alongside of Perry.

Thoughts?

[RobtheAggie]

Henchoz is a mainstay on the Swiss backline if healthy. He has had great success with Liverpool. I would like the signing.

[RobtheAggie]

Looks like this is getting more serious:

http://www.fansfc.com/charltonathleticfootballclub/news.asp?newsid=132240

[hartley]

This would be a great signing in my opinion.

But what I am disappointed with is that we are not bringing in or developing our own young players in such positions.

Henchoz is 30. How many more years does he have at being a top-flight central defender? We need a better mixture of young and old. In my opinion, without that mix, we will never ascend to even a UEFA Cup spot.

[RobtheAggie]

I would give him another three or four years. He really is a great player. I often wonder the same thing about developing defenders.

[kevruth]

One of the problems with young defenders is that, due to years of inexperience at a high level of play, they tend to panic at the back in pressure situations. They over compensate, get easily deked and commit too many fouls in and around the penalty area. Their decision processes aren't that good.

This is why Turner is gone and Fortune has so many good then bad games. They just aren't consistent.

There has been a lot of discussion on the Charlton email list that our youngsters aren't coming through. A big complaint, especially with members of Valley Gold, who pump a lot of money into the club's youth program. They are wondering why they help raise so much money for the youth system if nothing is coming into the first team.

As for Henchoz, I'd welcome him into the side. He is an excellent header of the ball and strong. He has a pretty good command of the penalty area, too. Besides, wasn't he the Liverpool captain before they gave it to Gerrard? Another old familiar face from Liverpool might help Danny Murphy.