Based on the performances since Riga took over, would you go back to Chris Powell tomorrow if you had the choice ?
It's interesting that you didn't start this thread after the Burnley game... I don't hate Jose Riga. I want him to succeed because that means we will succeed. Let's wait until he's been in the job as long as Powell was before judging who is the better manager.
No. I like Powell as a person, yet I didn't really enjoy watching Charlton (in the Championship) while he was the manager. The football is still not fantastic, but I do feel more confident in seeing results with Riga at the helm.
It's not really an appropriate question to ask at the moment, Riga has done well so I voted for him, but if we were guaranteed to go down I would rather have Powell, as getting new ideas might have been what kept us up, and in 6 months time Riga could turn out exactly the same as Powell.
Chris Powell did a very good job in turning round a club which was totally demoralised at the time. He continued to do a good job until the job got on top of him this season. Let's see what Jose has done in 3 years time.
It is unfair to judge a man after 5 games against a man that was in the job for 3 years. I am sure if somebody had the time to collate the stats, they would prove more often than not that a change in manager brings a brief reaction and upturn in results for a struggling side, the trick for Riga will be to keep that momentum going so now is not the time to judge. In terms of what I have seen on the pitch, I dont see a whole lot different. We are keeping the ball on the floor a lot more but from what I saw we had started to do that under Powell anyway once Kermorgant had gone as we didnt have a strong enough focal point to hold the ball. We seem to be knocking it around but without any real intent, turning into timid, scared, rabbit in the headlight type footballers when we get near the oppositions 18 yard box. Of course, at the moment we are picking up results (possibly a short term effect of the change of manager, perhaps not) and as long as we are picking up points I am not bothered how we do it. One area I will accept I prefer Riga over Powell is his substitutions, far more positive and in good enough time for the sub to have an affect on the game.
I had a lot of respect for CP, so I'm trying to balance the debate by giving the pros and cons, but I can't think of any negative impact Jose has had. There is no way CP told them to play hoofball, but when they did, which they did'nt always, he seemed powerless to stop it, whereas Jose has more input from the technical area, you can see that. And it's much better to see the players doing tunnel jumps, the manager doing them was just wrong. There's not a huge difference in the standard of play, and it's early days yet but the signs are positive so far. The new manager doesn't always have a positive impact, think of Parky's trial of 8 games, which delivered 3 points.
Chris Powell Left-Back Legend who played around 250 games for us Scored in his last game against Coventry Went on to manage the club to 101 points Got us to the FA Cup Quarter-Finals (only the third Manager in our history to do so) Didnt play the most entertaining of football at times though... Bit too Defensive Jose Riga Who got my vote We've only conceded in one match so far under him We're passing the ball with intent rather than hoof-ball Attacking Substitutions when needed
CP deserves better than being dragged up every other day. We all moan about players not being "proper charlton" but when we've got a guy who was a brilliant servant as a player and manager - he's ridiculed in every other thread. The end of his tenure was a bit of a disaster, but I'll remember him for the 250 games, goals at white hart lane and home to Coventry, getting us promoted and keeping us in the championship. What surprises me is - even the disasters of dowie and pards didn't get this much after thought - so why are we giving it to Powell? Just move on.
Fair enough, your personal opinion. CP gets mentioned more than Pardew & Dowie because a group of our fans cult worshipped him & put him on a pedestal. This in turn aggravated another group of our fans. Nothing wrong with that. Something similar is currently happening on the United boards, with their fans divided over Fergie's legacy because he appointed Moyes.
Don't get me wrong - both camps need to move on. But I just think CP deserves better than the ridicule that comes from some posts. Every club craves for his sort of character, before he came back as a manager we had no identity with the team. He built bridges, but it's looking more likely that RD made the right decision. I just think CP deserves to be remembered for the better times - like "king" Kenny at the 'pool and KK at Newcastle.
I think for CP's first 6 games in charge 4 wins was a very good start. Riga will not be able to emulate that but CP didn't want players sold from under his feet like Stephens and Kermorgant who has gone on to do so well at Bournemouth what he as capable of achieving at Charlton under CP. I admire the fact he stuck to his principles and wasn't a puppet of the new owner. Also losing against Sheff Utd in the Cup wasn't the disaster some paint it out to be as his predecessors didn't get that far in Cup runs and the victors had also beaten PL opposition on the way. The fact the team were bottom of the league after that defeat was because the other teams in the relegation places had won and we had so many games in hand due to the Cup run. The new owner didn't seem to want to address the lack of a prolific striker under CP and was determined to get their new person in to try and justify an unwarranted sacking. After all we had a fairly good defensive record in the league and goals conceded is on a par with teams at the higher end of the table and that was mainly under Chris Powell, the lack of scoring goals was the main problem and the club's best striker was let go.
You make some valid points, Chav. The problem is, though, there was never any certainty of Powell winning the games in hand and lifting us out of the bottom three. The signs suggested he was losing the ability to galvanise and manage the players effectively, and when this happens the owner will normally act. It is also true that Charlton have an abysmal record in the cups - so for this reason it is even more disappointing that we capitulated at the hands of a lower league side, regardless of how well that side had been playing. We had the chance to get to Wembley, but we blew it in an alarming fashion. Had we beaten Sheffield United, I believe Powell would still be in a job.
It had been a bit of an up and down season with more downs than ups but yes you're right PEA on the last point and that's very well said. I also think a lack of experience in a relegation situation didn't help, perhaps Riga has had more of this elsewhere?
Riga, he appears more adventurous and attack minded, just hope RD backs him with cash next season to get some decent players, not just the rejects from his other clubs
I believe Riga has taken a couple of second tier Belgian sides up to the Jupiler Pro, but I'm not sure about relegation battles. I think his main strength is the psychological side of the game. Like ted says, we look more adventurous and confident.
