http://www.cafcpicks.com/cgi-bin/drkish/display.pl?month=201509&date=20150927&time=2133 Near the bottom, it mentions he's on his way. The SLP mention its to Fulham. What are your thoughts? I was never overly impressed with him, but I guess he worked under so many financial restrictions, and then within a network in which I have no idea how they determine what makes a good signing. Either way, it's another of the "old guard" packing up and moving on.
I have heard from a reliable source that Chapple has got increasingly frustrated at his role with Charlton. He is constantly recommending players but these get turned down. I am not surprised he is moving on, my only surprise is that he has stuck around the length of time he has. I really do not like the way Charlton is going, it is a shambles off and on the pitch. I really get more joy watching the U18s and U21s play at the training ground than I do the first team. I have stopped travelling away now as I just can't be bothered. Judging by the attendances at the Valley we are losing support hand over fist. The lack of funds made available to make the first team competitive has also puzzled me. Why did the Belgian buy us? He certainly didn't to get us promoted, or he is seriously deluded if he thinks that by buying the likes of Makienok and Bergdich etc is going to shoot us up to the promotion places. It is more likely to see us relegated. The players look disinterested and lacking in commitment and fight. This situation happened under Peeters tenure. Luzon appears to have lost the players and once that happens it is a downward spiral. Luzons contract runs out at the end of the season, but if our results don't improve I can see him going well before that. If he does go I would like them to bring in a British Manager like Nigel Pearson or even Curbs. But I really can't see that happening, it will be another ex Standard Liege manager.
Katrien said recently, without a hint of irony, that the team's performances "showed that our scouts really know what they're doing". Presumably this did not include Phil Chapple, who is reputed to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the English game, something which apparently does not concern Roland. From Roland's point of view it makes sense to dispense with him, and rely on his Fantastic European Network, which has brought in so many gems. And he can sit in his Belgian office and count the pennies he will be saving on Chapple's wages.
In terms of usefulness and relevance, Charlton Chief Scout is on a par with Labour Shadow Chancellor. Both roles are currently totally superfluous. Was it not the great Bob Peeters who said Chapple constantly recommended players to Meire and Duchatelet but quote.... "every time the answer that came back was the same, no"
Scouting is money for old rope. All you need is YouTube, a pack of Berol markers and a jotter - and voila! Surely that's how we 'discovered' Ba, Bergdich, Big Mak et al, eh?
If Luzon wasn't in a precarious position, as a betting man I'd lump on Matthews to be the next man off.
They've always been my Scottish team, FHB - ever since I stuck a Campbell Money sticker on my Super Ted pencil case. But I have visited Paisley and the home(s) of the Mighty Mirren, and I must say I've thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality and banter on each occasion. I'll be visiting Scotland in a few weeks; Melrose and Jedburgh abbeys are the key sites to visit (again), but I'll also be attending a Berwick Rangers game. I was shocked to how poor Kilmarnock's crowds are of late: 3.5k is pretty poor.
The cheap option very rarely works. We need to be looking for our own Howe, Dyche or Neil. A young British manager with fresh ideas and impetus is needed at our club. Yet, as others have alluded to, we'll no doubt end up with another stooge from the continent. My unenforced hiatus has been most enjoyable thus far and may just continue for another season if RD continues to bugger it all up.
Interesting point raised by Rick Everitt on CL recently, that RDs raison d'être in owning Charlton is the buying cheap/ selling dear policy of Charlton players. Hence the turnover & method of recruitment (Google/ You Tube). This makes the rank deterioration of Igor all the more hilarious. Imagine those sweaty Belgian palms rubbing with glee between August and October last year.....those 10m bids from Premier League clubs on the horizon
Those who are quick to praise RD for getting planning permission and pledging the £11million to fund it (we'll see), forget that it's going to probably be by selling the Poyets, Gomez and any other youngster who looks likely to make the grade. It's money that was already within the club, not pumped in.
RD must be shatting himself right now, wondering where the 2016 version of Poyet / Gomez is coming from. Still, Colin on ITTV is reporting that Man United want Morgan Fox, so maybe salvation will come from an unlikely source
I don't get why Duchatelet bothers with the facilities, improving them won't make players suddenly better. What does he want? He certainly won't make a profit in this division and selling off the random talent isn't exactly sustainable. Bringing in a British manager would be pointless too because the board would have to relinquish control over the transfers and we all know that's not going to happen.
Even with the sale of Gomez (for sweet **** all admittedly) it looks like we will still make a loss which he will have to fund. I don't understand him at all.
All this talk of strategies, networks and improvements to facilities bores me to tears. Just get in an experienced manager and some decent players and all will be well.
100%. We spend so much time second guessing RD and his methods. What happened to talking about the football?
I have had the feeling all summer that the Club is being turned into a footballing Tesco's, the players the Douche bought in the summer are not to get us into the Premiership (he knows that would cost £15m to £20m in transfer fees plus wages) but they are stock to be sold at a later date.. .. that's why the D does not care if we have an unbalanced squad or a thin one. I was told on Saturday that the Douche does not like spending money on staff salaries or player wages as he considers this to be dead money, he is willing to spend money on the training ground development as he thinks he will get this back when he sells the club (please god let that be soon).
