Anyone remember the summer when we lost our best players in Semedo and Racon on frees? Always look on the bright side of life
Not sure Racon was any loss. He never did anything after leaving us. Will he be playing for Portsmouth tomorrow or has he left them? We lost a good man in Semedo and never really replaced him until Hughes got fit for a few matches at the end of last season. It only got brighter because some guys came and put new money in. Otherwise we could be playing in the Ryman's League now, and that could still happen unless we get new investment within six months. It could be very bright for us indeed if we find new owners. We already have a team (less two strikers) that was only four points off the play-offs, a fine stadium, a great youth scheme, and a reasonable fan base with great potential to expand it, unlike clubs like Ipswich and Norwich which are surrounded by countryside. Posters here sometimes sneer at the club's community work, but our reputation for that could be crucial in finding new owners. The days when owners could make money out of clubs are passing with the new rules. These billionaires are buying clubs to improve their image in this country and internationally. Many of them have made their money in criminal or unethical ways and want to be seen as pillars of the community to shore up their residency and acceptability in "polite" and influential society. If someone could stop us bleeding funds and chip in a modest three million to buy three players, we are in with a great chance of promotion. I know I am being generous with someone else's money, but that is not much compared with the tens of millions others have invested recently in clubs without our potential.
The financial situation may be poor, we do not know the truth since the ownership is in the British Virgin Islands and we do not know the depth of the pockets. I agree we are not "splashing the cash" and that is a good indication that things may be tight, but it is also an indication that things are being well run and that we are operating within our means, not trying to borrow our way out of trouble. Given the new fair play rules we may be seeing a glass half full rather than one that is half empty, but the truth is we do not know. By making assumptions we can scare the horses (our suppliers, potential players who may wish to sign, clubs who may be interested in loaning players). Business is in many ways about confidence and by undermining the business; by always suggesting it is in trouble; when all we are doing is reading the tea leaves (Nathan Jones went to Brighton for another reason and we do not know why Mat Wright left), we undermine the confidence that others may be looking for in our future. Back off and give the management a chance, even if it is to find a new owner. Who would want to buy a club where the supporters are always rubbishing it.... The management and investors we have, got us to 9th place in the championship using what cash they were willing to invest, that looks like a pretty good track record so far. They are obviously willing to invest some of the savings that letting some players go has given us , in Wood, Gower and maybe another French striker. We have given several youngsters their first professional contracts which suggest that even if things are tight there is a future. Let's go along to the club day and offer the one thing we can be certain of, our support for the club.
If we're only offering our transfer targets a one-year contract how can we hope to sign anyone? If we're after Obika I wonder what sort of contract we have in mind for him? The Doctor said he couldn't see him signing any time soon. Even just signing him as first-choice partner for Kermit would show some sort of ambition for the season. We never hear a Dicky-bird from "CAFC Holdings", to whom we must owe a fair penny by now. Too much to expect some sort of statement from them. With my season ticket this week I received an invitation to an exclusive club day at The Valley on Sunday, with "First Opportunities to see New Signings in Action" and "Question-and-Answer sessions". Doesn't say who is answering the questions. How do I "Back off", by the way?
If I was to think of a comparable summer, it would be 2009. Parky staring blankly in the distance. Except this doesn't feel so bleak. Eddie, Semedo was comfortably replaced by Hollands. Hughes, as you mention, is also better than Semedo. And who put the money in? I've posted my thoughts already on various clubs' "potential"/size
I will be at the club day offering my support to the Football club. Not to the current owners. Chris Powell has done an incredible job getting us to ninth last season, but he can't keep on pulling rabbits out of a hat. Why do you think we haven't bought anybody in this transfer window for a transfer fee? Why do you think that Powells Contract and 90 per cent of the players Contracts run out in 2014? Why has Matt Wright, Wendy Perfect, Steve Kavenagh, Reg Varney and a few others, all Charlton stalwarts, left? Why is Varney taking the Owners to Court? Why have we never heard from Jiminez. Without a takeover this club faces some turbulent times ahead.
Quite possible that there will be turbulent times ahead. Quite possible that there will be a takeover. Quite possible that CP could sign a new contract next week. Quite possible that Reg Varney will win/lose his employment tribunal on facts that we know nothing about. Quite possible that the woolwich ferry will sink tomorrow. My point is that we do not know. The speculation is always negative and unfounded until we know the facts. If those facts come out and are negative then act. However we can add to a spiral of damage by speculating and putting off players signing for the club, making suppliers afraid to supply the club etc. etc. I do not deny that you could be right but will await the facts. In my job i have been in quite a few business turnaround scenarios and in every case damage was done to the business by rumour both well founded or ill founded. What worked in every case was those people who valued the business pulling round and putting a positive spin on the business, selling it to others etc. Unfortunately being a prophet of doom is often a self fulfilling role.
In the absence of certain facts you have to look at what information we have. When the Murray regime came within a whisker of administration it wasn't because of the prophets of doom, it was because the club was badly managed for a few years. And the fact that all our key players' contracts, not to mention the management's, are running down at the end of the season, is a situation which should alarm anyone.
Chris talkig about Nathan jones in SLP; "He goes with my blessing. The U21s are a very good group - we've already integrated a couple into the first team - Callum Harriott, Jordan Cousins, Morgan Fox and Joe Pigott - and I'm sure there are more to come." So I take it we should be seeing Cousins, Fox and Pigott in and around the matchday sqaud next season, will be nice if they can make an impression
The facts stated in this post are borne out by the game yesterday. Wood did not feature, Gower was ineffective, no better than Hughes, Cousins or Hollands who didn't play. When Evina came on he lost their winger for the goal, which Fox may well have done too, I suppose. The squad is almost as unbalanced as when pardew signed enough strikers to sink a battleship, but had the bare bones in defence.
The Doctor "hopes" the owners will allow him to improve the striker situation. Not much communication here then. If there was a proper dialogue between SCP, Slater and Jiminez then surely the manager would have been made aware of the state of our finances, and would therefore have made it a top priority to sign a decent striker before signing players for positions which are already covered by players who are equally as good?
