That great end of season run ironically started with a win at Huddersfield, 5 wins and 3 draws from the last 8 games - highlight was the 6-0 win at Barnsley.
First win under Riga was at home against Bournemouth (injury time goal from Dervite).
The 6-0 against Barnsley was the previous season under Powell. Riga lost 2-1 at home to Barnsley.
Pleased with this newS, he is his own man and I suspect this may well have been a stumbling block to his continuity as manager last time, Welcome back and Good Luck Jose.
This appointment doesn't change my feelings towards the regime at all, and the sooner they're all gone the better.
When I first saw the news I was disappointed that it wasn't someone British (but that subsided quickly when I considered the other network alternatives that could have been foisted on us, the bar has been set so low).
After a few minutes of letting it sink in though I suddenly felt something I haven't felt for the last 14 matches - hope. Hope that despite the shambles at our club at least we have a man in who has done it before, clearly gets the best out of players and if nothing else appears to understand the importance of fans (as opposed to customers).
On balance, while I would have still preferred someone non-network and more proven at this level, Riga is the least bad option and my thoughts of relegation have gone from "nailed-on certainty" to "we may have a very slim chance". However irrational that may be, avoiding the drop is surely the most important short term goal as if Roland does end up being hard to get rid of it buys us more time in the Championship while we kick him out.
Another thing is that if it's true that his dislike of working with Carol was one of the reasons he fell out of favour last time, then you would have thought that one of his criteria for returning would have been keeping Fraeye away from the club while he's here, which can only be a good thing. (I'm assuming KF will remain in the network somehow)
So on balance, while I'm not celebrating, the manager's position is now at least resolved until the end of the season and it's not a complete car crash of an appointment. The pressure on Roland to sell, Meire to get fired, and Murray to come to his senses must continue, and even louder than before to prove to the idiots that we're not protesting about results or league position but them and their shambolic "strategy".
The restaurant has a new head chef so the food should improve, however the ingredients he's forced to use are either past their use-by-date or not ripe enough, the tables still have wonky legs and the kitchen is rat infested.
Probably the best appointment we could hope for all the time Duchatelet is in control. The sad fact is that despite fancying himself as a visionary, the guy can't see further than his own nose. It's a pity he can't see as far as Katy's nose, then we'd have a whole world of managers to choose from.
Good luck Jose, you're gonna need it. I hope I'm wrong, but I have a terrible feeling that by the end of the season any goodwill the fans have towards you may have fizzled out.
Step up the protests against this ridiculous regime.
That great end of season run ironically started with a win at Huddersfield, 5 wins and 3 draws from the last 8 games - highlight was the 6-0 win at Barnsley.
This was Powell's first season in the Championship, started with a home win against Bolton (came back from 2-0 down)
Mixed opinions about Riga coming in but the thing that really pisses me off is yet again the club said in their statement yesterday that they were interviewing candidates and searching for a new manager and half a day later Riga is appointed. Surely they knew or had a good idea the job was gonna be his so why say all this bullshit in the statement about serving for a manager
I have nothing against Riga and would have been happy for him to have stayed on last time as he did a decent job. I truly wish him luck this time around. He will get my support, as will the team but this is a huge risk he is taking and if it goes tits up then God knows what will happen. However, it changes nothing as we still have the same regime in charge and the protests must continue as we still have the cancerous growth eating at our club. If Roly thinks this appointment will appease us then he is in for a real shock.
I think Riga is the best we could hope for in the current situation. I like him, and believe he does "get" our club. I wish him the best of luck, and if he can perform a second miracle and keep us up, hopefully he will keep his job when the new owner takes over. I keep hoping one will in time for next season. He and the team will have my support though not the regime.
Posting without reading the reaction: Let's face it, he's the best we could expect in the circumstances. Which British Manager with any sort of track record is going to work with Duchatelet?
Welcome back, Jose. You should have been given a contract in the first place some 20 odd months ago. You have my support for now but the fight goes on.
So the silver fox returns...to sooth fans' disquiet (not) and provide some maturity and experience for our young team (I hope). Methinks a month too late, but still at least he may have worked some leverage with the regime in taking the role on again and will be left to do what is necessary for survival in this league. Am intrigued that chairman is quoted in announcement and not our esteemed CEO. Maybe Riga only deals with the main man directly.
Hay not my first choice by far but he is the best we can expect on the money Roland is willing to spend.the best manager we've had under Roland He done a good job last time the players seemed to like him and I thought the football was good.although when we did lose under him it seemed to always be 3-0. I don't think he will keep us up I don't think Ferguson would.but let's give him a go at bringing us straight back. Hope he gets harriot scoring again. And gives him new contract
Firmly believe this is best option, despite he was/is part of the despicable network, we need championship football next season & is known and liked by some of our current squad.
Absolute bollocks - he was lucky first time round to have solid experienced back room staff and a core of decent, honest players. I am pretty sure we are going to see the Blackpool Riga this time round.
Very unfair to judge him on his record at Blackpool. In one of his pre season games he had 3 full time players and a load triallists . He only took the job because he wanted to stay in English football despite what Colin says .
An 18 month contract is supposed to show a bit of stability, but he'll be sacked by Christmas if we screw up in the summer transfer window, and results go down the pan, its all a bit too predictable.
I'm pleased For Jose that he accepted a 18 months contract. I would have lost all respect for the man if he had accepted a 5 month contract again.
Every one in The Football world; well 99.9% knows that The Duchatelet way Can't work in the top Two divisions of the most competitive League on the Planet, (Germany's not too shabby). The fair play was a sham and RD was naive to believe it.
Jose could even get on with Tony Watt ! (done deal ?)
Unlike others who have posted on here I DON'T want CAFC to be relegated to prove a point.
I hope that we support Riga and the team to the end of the season but continue to step up the protests on the Hapless Owner and CEO.
Never thought i'd compare Football with another Business, But when they are clueless at the top it deflates the employers who lose all motivation.
As ridiculous as it all is I am happy with the appointment. Who better to keep us up than someone who has already done it once? He is also a very likeable guy, good luck Jose!
Notice how when we had a totally incapable coach, the protests picked up the most steam and publicity? Hence why they've played it safe with one a fans, such as yourself, will really like again. Don't fall into traps, wish him luck and hope we stay up for all you like; but don't be happy with this appointment, it's not happened because RD wants to it's happened because he's been pressured into feeling he has to.
I'm still 100% against the regime, that doesn't mean that this isn't the right appointment though. I like Riga and rate him as a manager, RD however must go unless he changes his plan completely.
I had a brief glimmer of hope from them "backing down" over the Ujpest manager that we might see the start of some actual real changes under RD.
That is obviously not the case, Riga may be the most likely of RD trusted managers to bring some minor success under the current football business plan but he is not a change of that plan.
I really can't be bothered with all this anymore, that is sadly me done for a while.
As ridiculous as it all is I am happy with the appointment. Who better to keep us up than someone who has already done it once? He is also a very likeable guy, good luck Jose!
The Belgians still must go though.
They are not going to go though if at the same time we are welcoming into the fold, another one of their Belgium Naffia
Comments
The 6-0 against Barnsley was the previous season under Powell. Riga lost 2-1 at home to Barnsley.
Welcome back and Good Luck Jose.
When I first saw the news I was disappointed that it wasn't someone British (but that subsided quickly when I considered the other network alternatives that could have been foisted on us, the bar has been set so low).
After a few minutes of letting it sink in though I suddenly felt something I haven't felt for the last 14 matches - hope. Hope that despite the shambles at our club at least we have a man in who has done it before, clearly gets the best out of players and if nothing else appears to understand the importance of fans (as opposed to customers).
On balance, while I would have still preferred someone non-network and more proven at this level, Riga is the least bad option and my thoughts of relegation have gone from "nailed-on certainty" to "we may have a very slim chance". However irrational that may be, avoiding the drop is surely the most important short term goal as if Roland does end up being hard to get rid of it buys us more time in the Championship while we kick him out.
Another thing is that if it's true that his dislike of working with Carol was one of the reasons he fell out of favour last time, then you would have thought that one of his criteria for returning would have been keeping Fraeye away from the club while he's here, which can only be a good thing. (I'm assuming KF will remain in the network somehow)
So on balance, while I'm not celebrating, the manager's position is now at least resolved until the end of the season and it's not a complete car crash of an appointment. The pressure on Roland to sell, Meire to get fired, and Murray to come to his senses must continue, and even louder than before to prove to the idiots that we're not protesting about results or league position but them and their shambolic "strategy".
The restaurant has a new head chef so the food should improve, however the ingredients he's forced to use are either past their use-by-date or not ripe enough, the tables still have wonky legs and the kitchen is rat infested.
Good luck Jose, you're gonna need it. I hope I'm wrong, but I have a terrible feeling that by the end of the season any goodwill the fans have towards you may have fizzled out.
Step up the protests against this ridiculous regime.
However, it changes nothing as we still have the same regime in charge and the protests must continue as we still have the cancerous growth eating at our club. If Roly thinks this appointment will appease us then he is in for a real shock.
Welcome back, Jose. You should have been given a contract in the first place some 20 odd months ago. You have my support for now but the fight goes on.
#DuchateletOUT #MeireOUT #MurrayOUT #WeWantOurClubBack #SupportTheTeamNotTheRegime
He only took the job because he wanted to stay in English football despite what Colin says .
I'm pleased For Jose that he accepted a 18 months contract.
I would have lost all respect for the man if he had accepted a 5 month contract again.
Every one in The Football world; well 99.9% knows that The Duchatelet way Can't work in the top Two divisions of the most competitive League on the Planet,
(Germany's not too shabby). The fair play was a sham and RD was naive to believe it.
Jose could even get on with Tony Watt ! (done deal ?)
Unlike others who have posted on here I DON'T want CAFC to be relegated to prove a point.
I hope that we support Riga and the team to the end of the season but continue to step up the protests on the Hapless Owner and CEO.
Never thought i'd compare Football with another Business, But when they are clueless at the top it deflates the employers who lose all motivation.
Sounds familiar ?
Why did he leave, and was it before or after Fraeye started with us?
Sacked just before Christmas, sorry Mutual consent
That is obviously not the case, Riga may be the most likely of RD trusted managers to bring some minor success under the current football business plan but he is not a change of that plan.
I really can't be bothered with all this anymore, that is sadly me done for a while.
Give it ten games and we are still in the brown stuff and he'll be getting pelters.