Saturday, 16th August.....4.58pmThe Valley is rocking.
A late, late winner from Franck Moussa and Charlton record a deserved victory over Wigan, building on their encouraging opening performance at Brentford.
Fair play to Charlton’s owner Roland Duchatelet, the belligerent sod. He made a hugely bold call during the summer not to extend the services of supporters favourite Jose Riga, instead choosing to import another (less experienced) manager from the Belgium leagues. The decision was a head-scratcher that made no sense on any level, particularly when Riga a few weeks later piped up elsewhere in England.
However, initial disappointment and indifference was quickly being backtracked in spades. The Valley has been refreshed, and Charlton had started the season playing decent, attractive football. New summer recruits were bedding in instantly, and more importantly of all, The Valley faithful had taken to their new touchline chief.
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Bobby Peeters red and white army” boomed from the North Upper with intent, the drummer smashing the skin to within an inch of its life. Down at pitch side we saw something that most of us have never seen before at Charlton. ‘Nice’ and ‘safe’ Charlton had been ripped in half and thrown in the recycling bin. Prowling the line we had what appeared to be a demented, oversize hooligan attempting to rip the head off the opposing manager, being held back by colleagues. So pumped up he looked like he if he punched a wall it would crumble within seconds.
When he got to the tunnel, his Charlton players were being grabbed by the shirt or back of their neck by their manager, tossed back out of the tunnel like a rag doll to take the accolades.
This was new, this was different.
Not only did we look like we were going to be playing attractive football, but no one was going to mess easily with little old Charlton anymore. This was strengthened further a few days later when much-fancied Derby come off second-best in another enthralling encounter.
So how the hell did it go wrong, so quickly?In fact, it would still be another ten games before the team would even taste defeat in the league for the first time. By then though, this wasn't your typical 'unbeaten run'; the high-tempo Addicks that opened the season were already starting to show serious signs of performance dip. Wins and draws had been flattering to deceive in many games by then.
Charlton were playing deeper with less and less attacking intent. Any build up attacking play was becoming more and more laborious and cagey. The impressive start was being unwound as quick as the supporters reservations at the start of the season. It was largely due to an outstanding collective back four and keeper performing so consistently that the points total kept rising.
Make no bones about it, Charlton were going backwards. Fast. Injuries to Wiggins and Henderson saw the defensive strength start to fall apart. Back-to-back games looked to be having an impact on Bikey. What was desperately needed was for Charlton to start firing at the other end of the pitch to take the pressure off the defence.
In reality, the opposite occurred. Hitman Vetokele, a clear talent, got injured. He hasn’t recovered and has been a shadow of himself since. Tucudean has largely failed to impress. No other options were good enough. Charlton’s pencil-thin squad and limited attacking options were being painfully exposed. With options lacking, players were played out of position, confidence evapourated and by the end of Peeters reign, the team were a shadow of what had been seen just months earlier.
But the downturn inform and results during a difficult period where a weak squad was exposed could not have been the sole reason Peeters was canned. Sure, it had a major impact, but there was undoubtedly more to this on why the decision was made just one day after the Chief Executive publicly stated
‘it is important to stay calm and not carried away by one rocky patch’. Of course, it may well be that Katrien Meire has absolutely no input into any of these decisions, but it if that is the case it is embarrassing to see it so publicly exposed in such a way.
Either Bob had completely lost the trust and support of the playing squad, giving credence to growing talk in recent weeks of key fall outs, or his relationship with his superiors, possibly in the quest for squad strengthening, had completely broken down. Or both.
Many fans remain hugely frustrated with the unusual governance of Charlton. Others are disappointed that we are facing a fourth
manager coach in just ten months. But as harsh as it sounds, few fans will be crying tears specifically for Peeters. Possibly unfairly, from the outside he appears to have done little wrong and it seems crazy sacking a manager who has lost just six games all season with the resources available to him. But this sacking is not a complete deal-breaker as far as most fans are concerned, and if he has had major fall-outs with the playing squad, then it is probably for the best that this is quickly addressed.
The next decision though is ultimately critical to Duchatelet and his standing in South East London. Some supporters can’t fully contend themselves with our unusual ownership structure, whether that be the whole network jamboree, recruitment policy or the simple fact that the owner turns up as rare as a Charlton victory at the Den. Most supporters are grateful for aspects such as the ground upgrade, but the decision not to retain Riga in favour of Peeters now looks a poor one. The influx of sub-standard or Ill-suited players imposed on the manager twelve months ago was also a poor one. The suggestion of interference in selection a very concerning one.
Duchatelet very much needs to get this next decision right. There is no doubt that there is the possibility that his last Standard Liege head coach Guy Luzon or his favoured scout Karel Fraeye are no doubt in the consideration mix. If it is one of these (or similar), and it all goes wrong again, than that could be it for Duchatelet's relationship with Charlton's fans. Our fans aren’t like that of Liege, where thousands will march and storm his offices.
They will just slowly but surely stop going to a greater degree, and a once proud Club will become a shell of its former self before it even knows it.
Our Club has changed hugely in recent years. When S
piv & Chancer appointed Chris Powell, that helped maintain / bring that connection back for many and it felt for a while like a collective club again. But that unity is just not there at the moment, and many people have lost (or rapidly losing) the glue that kept them tied to the Club for such a long time. Another downturn could have a catastrophic effort on the Club and its dwindling fanbase.
Don't rush it Roland. This next decision has really got to be the right one. For everyone's sake.
Comments
Your final line " Don't rush it Roland. This next decision has really got to be the right one. For everyone's sake."
Sums up how I feel perfectly. I think that RD needs to reflect a little on his 'vision' and perhaps modify some of the aspects.
Of course it would be good to know exactly what the 'vision' is exactly......
This is the sentence that if anyone from the inner circle of the club does so happen to read should now stand up and take notice.
Well put that man, good article.
Losing Henderson has been a key issue - weve now had as many goalkeepers this season as we have had managers in the last 12 months once the new manager in hired. Its all very messy. Hope Hendo is back v soon.
Hopeful of a proper recruitment process being run re manager but I may be deluded in that thought. Maybe Luzon would be a decent hire for the way we are structured.
RD sees us as part of a business challenge and if his next move doesnt work out the only way to get our voice heard will be through falling ticket sales.
I really don't care where the new coach and new signings come from but it has to work. For the fans, for the board, for the academy players and for the senior pros who we want to see stay for next season and help build a top eight club again.
We need a top coach who has the right playing budget to really compete now and next season. This is what will get the place rocking again.
AFKA do you really think RD choose BP knowing it would fail? Is RD going to appoint again knowing its not right? I don't think so. He may well get it wrong again but inferring supporters will walk away if he does is a bit OTT IMHO. He wants success as much as we do surely or he would not have bought the Club. Maybe we are asking to much of RD? Just a thought.
Personally, I think appointing Guy Luzon would be a mistake (purely based on the SL fans). We all know who we want to be our next coach, just hope RD can see that too. Hopefully, whatever decision he chooses to make, will be the right one for the Club.
Supported Cafc for about 40 years now & agree things must not be rushed again.
We need to go back to what ever model we followed during the Curbs years as it was proven & worked so well.
But, if he gets it wrong this time, we could be back in League One next season.
We have just 13 pts from our last 15 games - one third of the season. At the same rate of accumulation, we will finish the season on 49 pts.
At the very least we need to get some half-decent loans in. Preferably RD should shell out for a quality strike-man so we aren't constantly relying on an injured Igor.
At the moment JBG is the only consistent player of quality, we really ought to be building upon that.
Seriously though, we've been in a lot worse position than this....A LOT WORSE.
When a club appoints a new head coach it is akin to launching a new project or a new business. The decks are metaphorically cleared, every player has to establish his "street cred " with the new "boss", all those players who may have "sinned" against the club have a new opportunity to prove their worth, state their case for their inclusion and reboot their motivation.
A new man at the helm with new ideas, a new style or emphasis can create a new energy and hopefully a new momentum, exactly as you describe the early days of Peeters tenure. Inevitably however the challenge(s) turns to how to sustain the momentum.
It is key to have the right head coach but as part of a cogent management structure working together to implement a coherent and sustainable business plan for the growth of the club appropriately resourced to meet its strategic goals and meet the operational needs of the marketplace in which its operates.
The biggest failure with any new business/ project is being under capitalised. We lived the consequences in glorious Technicolor with the S&J experiments' primary failure of having their sums wrong. Using all the money to rise out of League 1 nothing was left to build on the momentum. In football you either move forward or go backward. You very rarely get to stand still. The loss of momentum created the ensuing S&J internal "maelstrom" as they floundered to find a way out without losing their shirt.
Whatever the opinion of Duchatelet and his "modus operandi" his stepping in kept us from frittering away all of the effort and investment that had gone before.
So as we seek a new individual to re-launch this years project we cannot ignore the game plan he is being asked to implement. I could fill this page with a list of suggested business requirements. Guiding such requirements are the strategies and policies you set.
I have no problem with the strategy of having a head coach rather than a manager.
I have no problem with a strategy built around a policy of acquiring, developing and promoting young talent.
In essence I have no problem with a policy of using network players to augment and complement the plan.
The challenge I do have is when "corporate policy" overrides operational need.
In recent days there have been two glaring examples of corporate policy overriding operational need which I could argue were instrumental in Peeters departure - no matter his personal positive or negative attributes.
To start the season with Henderson & Pope supported by Phillips & Mitov was a cogent goalkeeping approach. One injury should not cause it to unravel. Taking one of many experienced keepers available on loan will have maintained the status quo until Henderson returned. It was not an "investment opportunity". Today we have 2 new unproven keepers vying to be No1 for an indeterminate period. To add one "novice" and reengineer the squad to send 2 keepers on loan, draft in a young lad from Hungary has all the hallmarks of a following a defined policy. It was and is operationally reckless.
Acquiring Watt offers promise. The background to his arrival does not. With no senior strike partner for Vetokele we have seen a rotation of Tucudean, Harriott & Ahearne-Grant. They have not been up to the task.
It is a reasonable policy to explore such options while taking the time to make an investment in the right player up and until it presents you with an operational challenge. I applaud the intent to scour the globe for a player of the right age at the right price but not to the point you fail to meet an urgent operational need.
The decision to not move outside the policy to meet such a clear operational challenge has resulted in exposing our one major investment to an excessive workload of carrying the entire attacking burden, often while injured and while trying to develop a working relationship with ever changing strike partners. He now looks a shadow of the player he was. The club has damaged and devalued their investment.
Most senior pros are ready to step up to help young players step in when needed. Ben Haim & Bikey have done just that but it is a very different proposition to have to carry such a position for half a season while the coach is asked to play Russian roulette with effectively two goalkeeping unknowns. For senior pros' putting in their weekly shift to be asked to carry such an attacking imbalance for a whole season will not sit well in the clubhouse. Few coaches could really retain any credibility in such circumstances.
The overriding failure by the club executive to support the operational needs of the coach undermined his ability to do his job. In any business putting policy dictat over operational need is counterproductive and potentially a recipe for disaster. Removing the middle manager (coach) will in the long term change nothing.
When you restructure a business you have to cover all the bases. It is not always immediately apparent when you do not. Casting no aspersions on individual talents the totality of the current executive in recent weeks has fallen short in providing the leadership needed. I refer not to pointless votes of confidence but a strong positive affirmation of what the club is trying to achieve and the journey it has to travel.
You would have to be naïve not to recognise pursuing the owners' strategy would be the oft quoted "bumpy ride". So when you do hit the bumps the leadership response is to step up, stand alongside the guy trying to implement your strategy and repeatedly reassure everybody along for the ride about where we are going.
It may not be an easy message to deliver but if you believe in the long term outcome of your strategy have the confidence to face the short term consequences. Simply throwing the latest driver off the bus at every bump along the road will lead to more instability, more confusion and even greater disillusionment. It sends the wrong message to the players, agents, coaches of today and the future upon who our long term plans will rely.
The recent restructuring at Standard I suggest was to fill a similar void. Did Luzon face the same fate in trying to meet the same challenges in Liege that faced Peeters in SE7
In principle I remain supportive of Duchatelet but he must recognise he is imposing unique challenges on the people he employs. No matter the value of the strategy for the longer term the team on the shop floor must have the financial flexibility, empowerment and resources to meet local market operational challenges as and when emergency needs arise.
In offering my thanks to BP for his efforts I will close with a reference to a recent interview with Katrien.
She advised BP would give her the profile of the sort of player he needed. She would then go away to secure the player. If you consider Peeters as a player was a career target man do you really think Watt fits the profile of the player he asked Katrien to bring in.
Simply churning the coaching role without ensuring the hierarchy he has to serve is fit for purpose will not deliver the results we all wish to see. It is time for strong leadership to drag this season back on track.
Someone really has to step up to the plate I guess we will know more in the coming days.