Michael Appleton: “It was a little bit of a shock to the system in a couple of the games early on.”

Ahead of the trip to South London for the Charlton Athletic clash, Michael Appleton covered a broad range of topics.

You can discuss what Michael Appleton said yesterday HERE, as well as get involved with our Charlton Athletic v Lincoln City Match Thread. Every page view helps raise money for Lincoln City Football Club!

Charlton Athletic: The Addicks are in fine form, keeping clean sheets in their last three victories. Their team and squad are full of top-quality players, such that MA will be amazed if they are not challenging for the play-offs next season.

MA would like to secure safety in L1; the earlier the better. That would take away the anxiety from the players, squad, fans – everyone.

Lewis Fiorini is a doubt having a slight groin issue that kept him out of the latest international fixture, but it doesn’t seem too serious and if he trains then he has a chance of featuring in the game.

Jamie Robson: MA has every confidence that Jamie is chomping at the bit and is capable of performing to a level that gives him the chance to stake his claim for the shirt. The competition between Cohen Bramall and Jamie has been good for the club as it has created the kind of healthy competition that is needed.

MA sees JR as a developer – in the mould of Tayo Edun.

“I think Jamie if you ask him yourself, it was a little bit of a shock to the system in a couple of the games early on; when he came down. You know against some of the best sides and the more physical sides. This is his admission, not mine”

MA referenced that aside from the Glasgow clubs, possibly the Edinburgh sides, not much in the SPL match the physicality Jamie has faced so far this year.

Extra Substitutions: MA would like to see the EFL extend the number of substitutes allowed to five, in line with what the PL are changing to. He wouldn’t want to see the actual number of players on the bench itself increased; also keep the opportunities to make the changes restricted to three occasions. Under those conditions, why not make the change.

Agents: MA takes a pragmatic approach to the amount of money the Imps have spent on agents (revealed around 130k in recent figures released). Agents are always going to be around, they’re not going anywhere.

“Unfortunately, if you want to do business and need to do business with the better players; then you have to work with them not against them”.

They are part and parcel of the game and that has to be accepted whether ‘you’ like it or not. Agents make things happen so if the Imps want to progress as a club that is the way it has to be.

Writer: hulloutpost

Have a go at our Lincoln City versus Charlton Athletic Quiz, published last season (they were all correct at the time they were published):

Michael Appleton: "It was a little bit of a shock to the system in a couple of the games early on."https://t.co/m4hNhAyW1f#CAFC #ImpsAsOne

— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) April 2, 2022