“Why not?” – Carlton Palmer offers encouragement to Birmingham City player amid Charlton Athletic interest
Birmingham City forward Sam Cosgrove is being pursued by a number of League One clubs.
Pundit Carlton Palmer believes that a League One switch for Sam Cosgrove could be exactly what the striker needs.
Cosgrove has been a Birmingham City player since January 2021 but the majority of his time there has instead consisted of loan moves away from St Andrew’s.
Last season he enjoyed his best football since the Aberdeen days as he scored some important goals for Plymouth Argyle on their way to the League One title. Following Argyle’s promotion, Steven Schumacher’s side haven’t successfully renewed interest in Cosgrove and the 26-year-old is almost back to square one in Birmingham.
League One may well be his level at the moment and there are numerous teams at that level who are keeping tabs on the forward who could soon pounce. Charlton Athletic are reported to be at the fore of that interest, with Miles Leaburn currently sidelined.
Would fans be open to Charlton signing Cosgrove?
Our FLW Charlton fan pundit spoke on the links between the Addicks and Sam Cosgrove, as well as Carlton Palmer: “He could be quite effective. I hope if we were to sign him he’d be effective in a front two and could get the best out of Alfie May and that’s really what we’re after. Obviously, when [Miles] Leaburn comes back and is fit, then he’ll go in and alongside May, but if Cosgrove can provide cover and competition for Leaburn and crucially give May a bit more support up front, then I think it could be something that might work.
“As I said, I don’t think you’re going to get the best strikers at this time in the window and so, there could be a bit of value in him even if he has flattered to deceive over the last few years. Albeit his spell at Plymouth wasn’t too bad last year.”
What did Carlton Palmer say?
“Sam Cosgrove is said to be well down the pecking order at Birmingham City. He’s fifth choice under John Eustace but there are several League One sides interested in him: Blackpool, Charlton Athletic, Oxford United, Derby County and Barnsley are all showing that they want to sign Cosgrove,” Palmer told FLW.
“He’s struggled at Birmingham with no goals in 16 games, so why not drop back down a league and get yourself scoring goals?
“This would be important for Charlton, especially with Alfie May’s slow start to the season and Miles Leaburn still being out.
“They need to get goals, but in a situation like this, it could also block the development of 18-year-old Daniel Kanu, who has scored three goals in four games.
“At 18, you don’t want the pressure of him having to play week in, week out. For his development, you want him to come in, play a few games and then come out, and that’s how you bring a player on at that age.
“You don’t want him being permanently played at that level all of the time.”
Would Cosgrove be a good signing for Charlton?
20 of Cosgrove’s 33 league appearances in the green and white of Argyle came from the bench last term. This makes his return of eight goals and two assists seem even better and his dominant presence in the air could compliment the movement of Alfie May.
Fans of the Devon team will maybe think better of him than the likes of AFC Wimbledon and Shrewsbury Town, where he failed to make an impact, but the Addicks could certainly do with an additional eight or so goals.
Alfie May opened his account for his new club from the penalty spot as they lost to Port Vale on the weekend and Cosgrove would be a very apt partner for the 30-year-old whilst they await the return of Leaburn.
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Charlton Athletic striker gets superb A level result – and wants to use it to help manage money he makes in football
Charlton Athletic striker Daniel Kanu has revealed the extra reason he had for opting to study A-level business.
The Addicks forward has scored in the last two League One matches. And Kanu, 18, has also had success with his studies.
Every Charlton academy graduate takes BTEC sports performance and excellence as part of the education that runs alongside their scholarship.
Kanu got a double distinction in that subject and also an ‘A’ in his A level.
“I always had an interest in the mathematical side of it, the financial and accounting side of it, but also business in general,” he told the South London Press earlier this week at the club’s Sparrows Lane training ground.
“As a footballer – especially if you make it to the very, very top – you earn a lot of money. Being able to manage that properly by yourself, rather than having other people manage it for you, is really good to learn.
“I learned it within a business setting. I’ve got the basics of how to apply that and different things I can look to invest money into. It’s the little things that will help me.
“I enjoyed it because I knew it would be something that would help me in the future.
“If it was maths or English I would’ve got a U (ungraded)! I don’t think I’d have had the energy to do a training session, go gym, go home and study maths. I enjoyed the educational side. I know a lot of players say they don’t but it’s something I take a bit of pride in. Passing both A level and BTEC – and passing quite well – is something I’m quite proud of.”
