Brilliant interview, as Lee says bring along your family & friends & get behind Lee & the team.
"The burning question for supporters, of course, remains Bowyer’s contract situation. I share with him that we had fans queuing at the CAST stall behind the Covered End on Saturday to write messages to the owner on the subject. Can he offer us any hope that this will soon be resolved? “Yeah, it seems to bother everyone else more than me – I’m a laid back person – I don’t get flustered too much. I’m not really fussed about it - I’m focussed on getting promotion, in that zone. I understand everyone wants me to sign and I have no doubt, none, that it will get sorted – we’re not far apart. It’s not just mine, there are others as well. For me, it’s not a worry – I’m 99.9% sure it will happen. My focus is on the playoffs and getting up.
There are no plans for contract talks this week and the ball is in Duchâtelet’s court. Bowyer is not keen to chase, even quipping that he might get disappointed, though asserts that would not change anything. He has one focus right now and that is the play-offs. “It will happen – there are three weeks left – it might as well just wait. Hopefully we’ll get to Wembley, then it might be announced before that – that would be good.”
I enquire whether he has had discussions yet about next season’s budget. “No,” he replies, “it’s difficult for us trying to plan for both leagues. Depending on what league we are in and what players are at our club next season from our remaining ones, we have players that are our targets for League One or the Championship. We are planning already for this.” Bowyer keenly wishes to reassure fans. “The owner has spoken to Steve Gallen and we’re on this. Everything is positive. For me there is no negative - that’s the truth. We have had discussions about recruitment for next season. The owner has been good. To be fair to him he has backed us this season on the ones we wanted to bring in. I have no doubt that whatever league we are in, we will bring in the right players to suit the way we want to play.”
Very insightful and reassuring comments from Bowyer. He's backed up everything he's said so far so no real reason to not believe him now either no matter how worrying it is the contract remains unsigned.
Like others I didn’t have high expectations of Lee’s ability as a manager. Reminds me of how I felt when Gritt and Curbs took over from Lord Lennie of Lawrence - and we all know how that turned out!
"I ask if he’s had to pull any of our squad up for simulation. “Our players? Yes, Jonny Williams at Peterborough away – not the right thing to do. He told me he was running at 100 miles an hour and thought the fella was going to take him out. Jonny, he’s the nicest man in football, so…”
Again, there’s no need for him to complete the sentence. Williams now understands in no uncertain terms that behaviour which might have been acceptable at Palace most certainly is not at Bowyer’s Charlton."
Let's hope that Lee has placated the doom mongers. He's 99.9% confident of signing a new contract and sorting out the necessary players for next season.
A most informative and entertaining interview, Weegie: nicely crafted. I like Bowyer's appreciation of the fans, his wise knowledge gained through experience, and his complete lack of bullshit.
Pleased to hear he's not worried and confident a deal will be agreed. Think he's forgotten that Duchatelet refused to agree a cover signing for our joint top scorer in January.....
Pleased to hear he's not worried and confident a deal will be agreed. Think he's forgotten that Duchatelet refused to agree a cover signing for our joint top scorer in January.....
It's been a great season, I feel for those who have chosen to boycott, the atmosphere's and the football has been terrific.
In the overall scheme of things maybe otherwise we'd be up in the automatics and It's not over yet. Wasn't that great away to Scunthorpe, Blackpool, Barnsley or Rochdale 😒.
Lee Bowyer has done a phenomenal job for us and, quite rightly, has the supporters eating out of his hand. Lee talks about us getting friends and family down to The Valley for the second leg and I think that is precisely what is happening. It’s the only explanation I can think of for the level of ticket sales thus far. The relationship with supporters has been rekindled and the team is playing football that we can all be proud of.
Thanks for this @Weegie Addick , very well written up. Ive been consistently impressed with Lord Bowyer's low key, straight talking knowledgeable insight. Reminiscent of Curbs in tone, which is a great compliment. Right man, right time. Just hope this turns out to be the right place for a good deal longer.
I was firmly in the ‘nah’ group when he was appointed a coach by Robinson. Felt it was another one of his PR stunts like he did with Ian Wright at MK. I mean, Bowyer was basically a fisherman. So fair play. He’s been outstanding. Thanks Lee.
I should take some acclaim , a year before he joined us spent an hour or so talking football with him pissed in Portugal on a golf trip telling him how great we were but we had a c**t owner , he said he’d already witnessed that at Birmingham with Carson Yeung . he was laid back and relaxed and I probed him re his younger misdemeanours and he held his hands up , good lad Bowyer
I should take some acclaim , a year before he joined us spent an hour or so talking football with him pissed in Portugal on a golf trip telling him how great we were but we had a c**t owner , he said he’d already witnessed that at Birmingham with Carson Yeung . he was laid back and relaxed and I probed him re his younger misdemeanours and he held his hands up , good lad Bowyer
Really enjoyed reading it as a glass half empty person myself. I've been saying to myself just to concentrate on the good feelings from each game as we take it. Looking forward to Donny.
Also a word on how impressed I am with Bowyer. Really wasn't sure when he came in as a coach. Got stick from people when he became manager on the basis of his history. The man has changed, he gets us, is serious and mature and I can't think of anyone I'd rather have in our dugout at the moment (including Pep, Klopp etc).
Unlike some of our rivals, we have history. I'm hoping we keep Lee Bowyer for some time and he gets to write a few new chapters. Imagine how good we'd be if he was backed financially?
Comments
Brilliant interview, as Lee says bring along your family & friends & get behind Lee & the team.
"The burning question for supporters, of course, remains Bowyer’s contract situation. I share with him that we had fans queuing at the CAST stall behind the Covered End on Saturday to write messages to the owner on the subject. Can he offer us any hope that this will soon be resolved? “Yeah, it seems to bother everyone else more than me – I’m a laid back person – I don’t get flustered too much. I’m not really fussed about it - I’m focussed on getting promotion, in that zone. I understand everyone wants me to sign and I have no doubt, none, that it will get sorted – we’re not far apart. It’s not just mine, there are others as well. For me, it’s not a worry – I’m 99.9% sure it will happen. My focus is on the playoffs and getting up.
There are no plans for contract talks this week and the ball is in Duchâtelet’s court. Bowyer is not keen to chase, even quipping that he might get disappointed, though asserts that would not change anything. He has one focus right now and that is the play-offs. “It will happen – there are three weeks left – it might as well just wait. Hopefully we’ll get to Wembley, then it might be announced before that – that would be good.”
I enquire whether he has had discussions yet about next season’s budget. “No,” he replies, “it’s difficult for us trying to plan for both leagues. Depending on what league we are in and what players are at our club next season from our remaining ones, we have players that are our targets for League One or the Championship. We are planning already for this.” Bowyer keenly wishes to reassure fans. “The owner has spoken to Steve Gallen and we’re on this. Everything is positive. For me there is no negative - that’s the truth. We have had discussions about recruitment for next season. The owner has been good. To be fair to him he has backed us this season on the ones we wanted to bring in. I have no doubt that whatever league we are in, we will bring in the right players to suit the way we want to play.”
I have to say that Bowyer has massively impressed and surprised me as a manager, I never expected him to be as good as he's been.
I knew he was potentially going to be a really good manager. There was just something about him. He had a calmness.
It was a character....but one that also had an internal sense of stability.
I did not actually fully expect this though.
Well done Bowyer!
We have a couple of youngsters that need a song, but most importantly, we need as many at the Valley as we can.
Like others I didn’t have high expectations of Lee’s ability as a manager. Reminds me of how I felt when Gritt and Curbs took over from Lord Lennie of Lawrence - and we all know how that turned out!
"I ask if he’s had to pull any of our squad up for simulation. “Our players? Yes, Jonny Williams at Peterborough away – not the right thing to do. He told me he was running at 100 miles an hour and thought the fella was going to take him out. Jonny, he’s the nicest man in football, so…”
Again, there’s no need for him to complete the sentence. Williams now understands in no uncertain terms that behaviour which might have been acceptable at Palace most certainly is not at Bowyer’s Charlton."
Quality, Weegie!
He's 99.9% confident of signing a new contract and sorting out the necessary players for next season.
Proper interview.
Great interview.
Lee Bowyer has done a phenomenal job for us and, quite rightly, has the supporters eating out of his hand. Lee talks about us getting friends and family down to The Valley for the second leg and I think that is precisely what is happening. It’s the only explanation I can think of for the level of ticket sales thus far. The relationship with supporters has been rekindled and the team is playing football that we can all be proud of.
Ive been consistently impressed with Lord Bowyer's low key, straight talking knowledgeable insight. Reminiscent of Curbs in tone, which is a great compliment.
Right man, right time. Just hope this turns out to be the right place for a good deal longer.
Do wonder what my late Addick Dad would have thought of me interviewing Charlton's manager. Times like this when you miss them most.
So fair play. He’s been outstanding. Thanks Lee.
he was laid back and relaxed and I probed him re his younger misdemeanours and he held his hands up , good lad Bowyer
Really enjoyed reading it as a glass half empty person myself. I've been saying to myself just to concentrate on the good feelings from each game as we take it. Looking forward to Donny.
Also a word on how impressed I am with Bowyer. Really wasn't sure when he came in as a coach. Got stick from people when he became manager on the basis of his history. The man has changed, he gets us, is serious and mature and I can't think of anyone I'd rather have in our dugout at the moment (including Pep, Klopp etc).
Unlike some of our rivals, we have history. I'm hoping we keep Lee Bowyer for some time and he gets to write a few new chapters. Imagine how good we'd be if he was backed financially?