Football League Thread 2015-16

http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/news/40974/

 

Large protests at Charlton today. A lot of very sad, hurt and angry people. Understandable.

Footage here... (interestingly, commentary provided by former CAFC head of media*)

https://www.periscope.tv/w/1nAKEvpbnoaGL


*all of the media dept who were there at the start of the takeover have now left, and have criticised and rallied against the owners since leaving

 

I'm really not up on the recent events at Charlton DTLW. What's the potted history.?

 

Quick run-down...

- Taken over 20 months ago by a Belgian businessman (who owns six football clubs - I think it's six)
- He uses the 'network' to shunt players around and cut out 'transfer fees' where possible
- He started dictating to Chris Powell on who should play, and tried to get the 'network players' to be starting games
- Sold their best player and only natural goalscorer, Yann Kermorgant, to Bournemouth when the player admitted he was pushed to go
- Fell out with Powell, sacked him and brought in José Riga (who used to manage one of the network clubs - Standard Liege)
- Riga kept them up, then didn't get the job full-time despite going for it
- Bob Peeters - manager of Waasland-Beveren - then got the job
- Peeters got sacked after 25 games with Charlton in 14th
- Guy Luzon - previously manager of... yep, a network club (Standard Liege) replaces Peeters
- Luzon took Charlton up two places and finished 12th
- Charlton sack Luzon last month with the club in the relegation zone
- Karel Fraeye (yep, formerly Riga's assistant) appointed as 'interim head coach', leaving Belgian Third Division side VW Hamme
- No sign of a new manager, but looking for their 5th manager in 20 months


So basically, lots of instability and unproven managers, a CEO who is unpopular (Katrien Meire - a lawyer) and really poor communication. The fans say they feel like their is open dislike of the fanbase, with Meire not helping herself by laughing at the protests today and taking photos.

I can't really say 'lack of investment'. There's a new training ground on the way, they've done a fair bit of work to The Valley, in terms of the pitch, the stands, the big screen and the executive suites. Have some handy players, but the squad is way, way too thin.


(I have been told all this repeatedly by a university friend who is a Charlton nutcase )

 

Thanks for that DTLW. Dare I suggest they are looking long term and just keeping Charlton bumbling along until they can get the infrastructure properly sorted out.?

From a neutral point of view I can see some sense in what they're trying to achieve. You build up a network of clubs which help each other out [Pozzo family have done the same thing rather well], and instead of looking for instant success by spending loads of money on the playing staff, you recruit from the network. It has its merits if done well. I assume the Charlton fans don't want to be part of this arrangement, and the communication with the fans is poor it appears.

 

Short version: Duchatelet is operating on the Udinese - Granada - Watford model, with the big difference being the bit where that 'network' had players who are good. Charlton fans are understandably unhappy that their club is being forced to play individuals who have failed to break into the first team of a Belgian Pro League side.

 

Perhaps, but the 'network' strength is nowhere near as good as what the Pozzo family put in place. They don't go with proven, or even managers with an impressive CV who might be 'on the up'. It all reeks a bit of 'jobs for the boys'.

Duchatelet - the owner - has also had protests at more than one of his other clubs, including Standard Liege, who he was forced to sell due to the ferocity of the opposition the fanbase operation with.

Charlton seem to be doing fine financially, but they aren't really competing on the pitch and the squad is arguably weaker than when it was inherited.

 

OK, well you can see I'm not in touch with the situation. Clearly, if the owners aren't getting the quality levels right then Charlton are in trouble. It's a good concept but it has to practised properly. They're obviously not doing that.

 

On Sunday Supplement, just briefly touched on the possibility that Nicola could take over at Leeds....said they would be glad to have someone normal take over the club. Nicola...normal?

 

They'd be lucky to have him. But, I must add, unless he's given the right backing, it would be destined to fail. The media will be after him far quicker this time, he made some enemies in some outspoken places did Nic. It wouldn't take long for them to start beating him with the Nigel sacking rather than look at the bigger picture. Would it be worth all the effort/grief? Only if he had some part ownership.

 

When I went on the Leeds site, I pointed out that Nicola isn't a crook....that's a massive plus in the world of football ownership.

 

Not sure if he'd fit in at Leeds then, its the first thing they look for on the CV!

 

http://www.footballeconomy.com/content/cortese-considers-leeds-takeover

 

Sleeping? We're hardly sleeping! We're not really a giant either.

 

Mark Warburton said he was flattered to be linked with QPR job...he obviously flatters easily!!

I'm enjoying not having lot in the PL, and media giving undue time to their brand of small time cheque book football.

 

we were a dosing unicorn.

 

You're just encouraging Pompey Lapras to join in.


Ps. What are we dosing, drugs?

 

a cocktail of Nitol and Horlicks

 

That was nearly mine last night. Hot toddie and sudafed

 

Haha.
Whiskey and Suda....sleepy, not stirred.