Reading the full verbatim write up of Methven’s comments on CL, there is new info which I don’t think the wider fanbase is yet fully aware of. GFP / SE7 wants promotion - but not at a cost. It’s got to be a cheap promotion, funded largely by the Academy (where they are relying on obtaining Cat A status) . It is now obvious that we won’t be spending fees on players under this regime. Methven again talked at length about how he had slashed the fixed costs at Sunderland- again, this all points to making the club a more attractive, cheaper purchase for future investors if / when it goes pear shaped. It is difficult to understand how Methven’s comments last night are compatible with Rodwell saying on Charlton TV that a promotion challenge is the minimum expectation this season. Other than Zak Mitchell, who is largely untested, I am sure @Dick Plumb1 can confirm that we have no other Academy prospects in the pipeline ? And why did Steve Avory leave recently if the Academy is their get out of jail card ?
We have a number of very good Academy prospects. But all of them are straight out of the U18s Rylah, Enslin, Mwamba, Huke. They have a year or two before they are challenging for a first team slot. Other players like Kedwell, Casey and Mbick are not ready for the first team. Methven speaks with fork tongue.
@ElfsborgAddick We all know two people taken in by him , but what was your impression of Methven last night ?
A lot of side stepping questions and not being able to agree with many questions put to him. I saw more flannel than in a hotel bathroom.
The feedback I had was as follows “Methven is more slippery than a barrel full of jellied eels” Given the vast majority of the match-going fanbase has sussed him out, you have to question why two forum based fans (one in Dubai, the other 200m from London) became such massive Methven fans ?
Ultimately playing somewhere else than The Valley. Dushitelet has everyone by the b*******, including the mob now.
Takeaways are that they will not be buying the assets. They will not be spending much money on players. They intend to promote youth players whilst trimming back on senior players. Charlie is a charlatan (not a chancer as he knows what he’s doing) Billionaires are not funding our way out of this. Certainly the result will be many more years in this league .
I can't see our owners subsidising us indefinitely in L1. There has to come the day when either we find serious buyers who will pay Roland's asking price and things will get better, or we run out of buyers and then the sh1t hits the fan.
The Valley is in more jeopardy since 4 July, as the new Government is imposing national house building targets.
100% this ! It was a stay of execution by the owners/ lenders , I hoped it was for the better when they bought us but it’s apparent now they were only gambling on a quick return - which isn’t going to happen , we’re fuked !
