Chris Powell looks a weary man.
You could see it in the post-match interview at Wigan, and at yesterday’s press conference. It is no surprise though, is it?
This has been a tough, unusual season where it appears the manager has had as much difficulty and aggravation off the pitch as he has had getting results on it. Let’s be honest, the backdrop has hardly been straightforward; first from a lack of support as attempts to sell the club become protracted, and secondly as a result of the unusual events that have followed the takeover. Sandwiched in between has been a squad becoming increasingly disillusioned on the direction of the club and their own futures.
Some fans (and recently departed
strikers), believe the manager to be badly treated. That it has had an impact on the squad, and that the manager has had no control over player arrivals and departures. Powell publicly refutes this. Whether that is the truth, or a mark to his continued professionalism of not publicly rocking the boat, is entirely a question of conjecture.
However, if Powell seeks to avoid making allowances for a difficult situation and wants to be judged purely by results on the pitch, then that is how it shall be.
The facts paint an unimpressive picture. The facts tell you that Charlton have won just five games in twenty seven, and have not won back to back games since last April. The facts are that Charlton are in the bottom three because results have not been good enough.
But
why have results not been good enough?
If ninth last season was seen as an over-performance, should the current position equally be classed as under-performance?
Aside from the lack of squad investment, contract situations and pitch problems that have remained in the background throughout, the two stand-out differences comparing this season and the previous two under Powell’s stewardship has been the enforced inconsistency of team selection, and the inability to score goals.
Of the team set to line up against Birmingham tomorrow, just two (Morrison and Jackson) remain from the title-winning 11/12 team. From last season’s 9th finishing team, that number will be boosted to three with Wilson, and possibly four if Harriott gets the call. So potentially, seven or eight out of the eleven will be different from last season’s impressive and improving team.
Additional to that, Chris Powell has had three of his preferred back four (Solly, Cort & Wiggins) missing a huge chunk of the season. An unfamiliar back four coincided with his first choice keeper Hamer losing both confidence and form.
Quite simply, the platform which ‘Powell’s team’ was built on has been broken. Of the Top 4 from last season's
Charlton Life Statbank (Solly, Hamer, Kermorgant, Cort), none are currently available. Players who have come in, bar Cousins, have not excelled. The lack of squad depth has seen players played out of preferential position, like Wilson.
This side has not been a settled side.
At the business end of the pitch, the inability to find a workable partnership has equally hurt the team dearly. Just 23 league goals in 27 league games, the second lowest in the Football League.
Sordell and Church may not have been on summer target list A, B or C, but they are what Powell got, and have so far failed to deliver. Searching for something that might work, Kermorgant was played in a slightly deeper false 9 position which, whilst trying to get more of the ball through our best player, at the same time negated his goal threat slightly.
The non-retention of Fuller, Haynes or Obika was not so much a big loss in the sense of what goals they brought, but also the regular opportunity to make an attacking substitution replacement that would give the opposition something to think about defensively. That hasn't been there this season, and may explain why later substitutions have been more veered towards containment.
An effective alternative just has not been there.
On top of the problems above, Powell now needs to overcome further upset to his squad. Two of his best outfield players have been moved on, along with his current first choice goalkeeper. In their place come a collection of young, but inexperienced overseas players that need to integrate immediately.
The task ahead looks sizeable, and the route to achieve it is unconventional.
Can a ‘new side’ fraught with inexperience effectively be gelled in an instant?
Can we outperform the teams around us in the league who utilised the window to strengthen with proven experience?
No one knows at this point.
But one thing we have learnt from the last few seasons is the importance of confidence and momentum. You sense the outcome of the season may potentially be shaped in the performance and results of the next 2-3 games. And tomorrow’s is the most crucial of all.
If we pull this off then the people who say he is not a good manager will be correct. He will be an
extraordinary manager.
Let's all hope that weariness quickly disappears again.
Comments
That said, I am also (sort of) reassured by the obvious long-term thinking and (quite frankly) the sheer wealth of RD that any relegation would be nothing more than a blip along the road to better future.
Chris Powell has showed he can be a good learner. If he can survive this honeymoon period and win the confidence of RD, it could be an interesting end to the season.
The uncertainty of club ownership is behind him. With the exception of one or two loan signings, the squad to face the challenge is in place. Injuries excepted, CP does have something to work with. It may not be completely his choice but he has the opportunity to develop his management skills in a new set of circumstances. Let's hope RD gives him a fair crack of the whip.
At this stage the club is desperate for a shot in the arm. We've got a winnable home game with a virtually new team - 3 points will give everyone a bit more buoyancy for the fight ahead.
If we don't win tomorrow I have a fear that it could be close to the end for CP.
Will we escape? Very difficult to predict with so many new players - we will probably either finish very badly or, if it clicks, stay up with comfort.
Whether the gaffer believes his own words or whether they are a brave attempt to take some pressure off the situation, tomorrow's match has to be crucial to the outcome of this worrying season.
Maybe the fact that, as pointed out above, only a few players taking to the field tomorrow have been involved all season will mean that said pressure is not a common denominator ie the newbies will be playing to show everyone that they ARE the ones to take us forward & will have no "baggage" as such to weigh heavily on their shoulders. The hope is that the "oldies" will benefit considerably from this attitude and are able to put the last 5 months behind them, hence playing with more freedom.
I have little idea of the expected attendance tomorrow but with this being our first home league game for a full 6 weeks, I'd hope that more than the regular suspects will lever themselves from their armchairs and give the lads and the gaffer their support.
And that support has to be something special....loud, positive & ongoing. Any booing, however tongue in cheek is a sending off offence ! Starting tomorrow, we have to be that 12th man.
We have to show our new owner that we are 100% behind SCP and his team, whether he will be at The Valley in person or not.
Players may come and players may go but we, the supporters of this great Club are ever present ...and long may that continue.
PLEASE put aside any doubts you may have about the incoming guys & give them a loud welcome to SE7 ; encourage those around you to do the same if you dare. The worst they can do is blank you ( or in the case of those of us in the East, flick the corner of their blanket in your direction)
With our united support, tomorrow's match can herald the REAL start to our season !
And THAT smile could well beam out from the Sunday papers again...
Onwards & upwards !!!!
I do feel that the Brum game could be a turning point. I have a sneaky feeling that it all depends on how the 2 new strikers do. If they're both as good as we think (or should that be, hope) then we'll be ok but if they're Church/Sordell mark 2 then we're in trouble.
Question is how many of the new signings will score 6.5 and above throughout February. Will they gel as a unit and will the crowd be 100% behind the team for 90 minutes?
If the crowd turn up quiet and nervous, then that anxiety will transmit itself to the team.
We need that Valley roar, non-stop singing from the Covered End, 100% support.
Just like we did in the Cardiff game.
I like Powell and want him as Manager. I think he needs a contract now and believe that if there is anyone who can develop our new players it is him. However my only adverse comment re the post is the absence of CP's influence (other than all the good points) re our poor form - like it or not, he does have some level of responsibility for our current situation. He can't be a brilliant manager when we win and not responsible if we do badly. He can't be not telling the truth if it doesn't suit our own perspective, but being honest when it does.
In my opinion he is a good manager who needs time to develop. I believe that he can improve and will do so with experience - He can be a great manager . In the meantime I think that in portraying him in the "can do no wrong Charlton hero SCP" way that sometimes (understandably) happens on this forum just unwittingly encourages the
" Powell's s@@t!" type comments.
Personally I like him warts and all!
(:
However, over that time and with sometimes a better team, he hasn't really made it easy for himself, especially with performances at the The Valley, where the majority see us regularly.
Looking forward to tomorrow, if it doesn't get abandoned. Most excited I have been in a while with a few new faces.
If we are to go down, I want us to have a go at least.
Come On You Reds
Superbly written, AFKA and FF. 100% agree.
Over the years too many of us have seen too many relegation struggles (in my case seven unsuccessful ones). The circumstances this season have been unprecedented, and I would say that survival in 2014 will be an achievement wholly unique.
The unreal cohesion of the 2011/12 squad was little short of miraculous, not least because from the outside it all just seemed to happen, to fall into place quite naturally. That says as much for the professionalism and capabilities of our manager and his crew as for the triumph itself. If SCP manages a repeat performance, with the shreds of last year's squad supplemented by arrivals from Euro FC, that will be nothing short of absolutely stunning.
Well, I believe he can do it and I believe he will do it. The Roller has bought himself a diamond mine - time for these gems to sparkle. Of course the fans will also play their inestimable part - the divisions and toxicity of the past few weeks will be set aside as the team and the supporters rally each other and the season finishes with a triumphant surge just like the old days (and so unlike many of the recent limp springtimes).
It's been said before but never said better - WE ARE MANY, WE ARE ONE.
To win ten of our last 19 games will require more than a handful of miracles, but there has been so much bad luck so far that surely we are entitled to hope that things will even themselves out. This may be a matter of faith rather than rationality, but when was life in SE7 ever different ? UTA !!
I think it's unlikely Bolton will go down, though it would be interesting if they did. They have a very high level of debt, so they'd likely have to go into Administration.
The game with Birmingham is very important. It's going to give us a good indicator both about where the club will likely be at the end of the season and where Powell will be.
I say we probably need 21 more points to be safe.
Today's game is important. It also depends if Charlton take in emergency loans in midfield or on the wing (Jordan Ibe - Liverpool ?). A decent replacement for Stephens (forward thinking midfielder), short term or view to longer term may make the difference in ensuring that there is good service to the new front 2. Not sure if Astrid was expected to be the replacement for Stephens or not. Time will tell. Whether Charlton survive in the Champs will depend on the quality on the pitch and the players the managers has to work with.
There is still hope. The Charlton crowd can play a big part in encouraging the team on the pitch.
So we're at most a few wins off were I expected us to be. I want to see what Powell can do with these new players over the next few games.
I would love to see us out of this mess but I really can't see it happening.