I heard a Nigel on Radio 5 this morning discussing the departure of the Sagacious One. He was bemoaning the fact that Eddie Howe wouldn't come to the Glaziers, but there is no evidence that he has taken leave of his senses.
Thomas Frank might well come. He did well at Brentford and would be able to sort out Palace's defensive woes to enable them to achieve their customary low mid-table position.
Opponents of Nathan Jones have continued to call for him to go and in one sense they are right: one game doesn't tell us anything.
I am always reluctant to ask owners of football clubs to spend their own money, but I think there is a rational business case for doing that at Charlton. Insufficient money was spent in the summer to ensure Championship survival.
If the club is relegated, it will be difficult to sell, or at any rate for the owners to recover anything near their investment. If it stays in the Championship, it will become more attractive to investors. There is still the big hurdle of the training ground and stadium being owned by Belgians, but they might be persuaded to ask for a more realistic price or even phased payment.
That still leaves the problem of getting value in a tricky window and one place I would look is Scotland. All except the big five clubs are desperate for cash and even the top clubs need to trim their squads.
From a player's perspective, unless you are in Glasgow, Edinburgh or Aberdeen, you have two options. Either you are stuck in some grim town in the Central Belt or the Clyde Valley. Or you are living in an attractive town which is miles from anywhere and not much happens (think Perth, Dingwall or Dumfries).
As far as the player is concerned, a spell in London might be attractive and if it goes well they might be able to return to their native heath and join one of the top clubs with the chance of European football.
Next month I will be asking my Scottish correspondent, Angus from Portobello, to suggest names. Time for chief scount Chapple to get his rest on the Caledonian sleeper.
