OK, here we are almost a year after being in one of the lowest positions and ebbs that the club has ever been - i remember Nick Gray eloquently venting his spleen on the condition of the club on many occasions. So, here we are a year later in a much different position , and although as a Addick i'm never going to count my chickens, looking already like a team that is going to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. One of the things that has hugely impressed me is the way that we appear to have acquired some real quality players for not a lot of money, players that look like they will be equally as comfortable in the Champs, i'm thinking of players like Wiggins,Morrison,Hollands and BWP. So, who gets the credit for selecting these players? Does CP make the choice? is it a team effort? What effort goes into choosing and selecting these players?
I think Chrissy takes credit for first eleven, Alonso is probably the Italian stallion's choice that's why he's not playing much
This time a year ago, we went on a 5 match winning run that saw us go up to 2nd. The league is more strung out this time, but no guarantees that something like that couldn't happen for one of the chasing teams, or that the opposite happens to us. Some tough matches coming up. Long way to go. In answer to your question, Powell has done very well so far. Picked good players, who are proving his confidence in them.
Apparently there was quite a large team involved in rebuilding our squad including Jeff Vetere Keith Peacock and the management team. However, at the end of the day any manager will stand or fall by the players he signs. If we were languishing in the bottom half of the table CP would get the blame that's for sure.
I seem to remember an article from Powell on he and vetre. Said they have long discussions when jeff brings a player to his attention, but ultimately the decision is his own, and his alone. Doesn't even let slater/jiminez meet a player before he's done selling the club himself.
I think everyone should take some credit.... Jenkinson for being greedy and wanting to play for the team he supports (gives us £1m to spend) Michael Slater for keeping to his promise by saying there would be money to spend in the summer (how many other times have we heard that at other clubs only for it to disappear.. Mike Ashley is the perfect example) Ultimately though Chris Powell should take a lot of the praise, he had money to spend in the summer yet could easily have gone out and brought the Djimi Traore / Amdy Faye type player of League One
I like the principle that is hinted at above. If. Powell would have taken the blame, if it had all gone wrong, and he would have done, then he must be allowed to take the credit.
You would expect out of that 19 there would be four or five duds, but I haven't seen one yet. Even Hughes has come good. Jury still out on Alonso and Euell and the "development" players under 20, but early days yet.
One of the things that was always said during the Curbs era was that players were thouroughly checked before being signed - maybe CP has inherited that approach.
Too true. Alonso has only played once and so I will reserve judgement on him, Euell seems a shadow of his former self, though does show glimpses of class (he still has a Premier League first-touch most of the time). The only player I'm not convinced by just yet is Ruben Bover, but as he is a development player I'll give him a few years.
Curbishley signed some stinkers. Not really a criticism, just pointing out you can do all the checking in the world for as long as you like and it can still come unstuck. As I suggested above a 75% success rate would be good and Powell seems to be exceeding that so far.
