First I would like to say that I will only post in this topic and not on any other topics. It's your forum and some poeple will not want me here and I respect that.
I will explain what my role was for Charlton throughout the years and how recruitment worked and changed throughout the years under Roland. Some fans will find it interesting. Others will say 'im obsessed' or 'live rent free'
Whatever you think, one thing is sure and that is that I worked my ass off for Charlton and gave everything I had for the club, especially in the last years when I was given final say on the transfers. I was asked many times by different people from the press to explain things, but every time I gave the exact same anwser and that is that I didnt want to say bad things about other people in the press. With this post here it will stay here.
Lets start at the beginning, and that is before Roland bought the club. I was an unexperienced new scout for Standard Liege and worked together with 5 other experienced scouts under the supervision of a director of sports. Roland was interested in buying Charlton but they were in a bad situation and he asked all the scouts to make a report about the Charlton squad: who are the best players, which positions do we need to add, who can we sell or let go, which players we could replace with players from our other clubs etc. Some of the scouts went to come watch live games at the valley, I only watched on video as I prefer. I still have all these reports from all scouts so I can say exactly who said
what about which player. One of the things I see people say about me is that I told Roland to sell fan favorite Yann Kermorgant. I have no idea where this came from (Airmanbrown or Jimmy Stone maybe)? In my report I highlighted him as our best player. But 3 of the other scouts said he was getting old and we could probably find better. So Roland listened to these poeple who were far more experienced then me and who did a very good job at Standard Liege in the years before. These same people also suggested Reza te come to Charlton, I didn't say 'no' but I said I had my doubts about him adjusting to English football.
I did gave my 'ok' for Astrid Ajdarevic and Loic Nego to come in. Not because Nego 'was better then Chris Solly' as people seem to think I said. I don't know where that came from either, but because he was a very talented full back who could play both right and left and also as an attacking winger, a position he now regurly plays for the Hungary national team. Solly had many problems with his knee, so Loic would be a good young cover. He played one bad game and people judged him on that saying he was out of his depth. But the reason he did not play anymore had nothing to do with his quality, there was a conflict between him and Jose Riga and I will not get further into this as its a personal matter for them.
Now, about Polish Pete. He wasn't a player from the network but he was new signing. To understand this signing you have to know how the recruitment worked at that time. There was a method for signing new players and that was that 2 of the scouts must agree on the signing of a player. Because you get so many players being proposed by agents (and scouts) not all scouts can watch every player so work was divided and then Katrien had to make the decision when she would get the reports.
She would sent the proposed players to 2 or 3 scouts and she would sent the proposed players from scouts/managers to 1 or 2 other scouts. From the moment Bob Peeters came in the managers would also count as one of the scouts so if the manager plus one scout would agree then she would also proceed with negotiations. So with Polish Pete, two of the french speaking scouts agreed
on him and Katrien signed him. I had never seen him play for one minute, nor did 2 other scouts. Only the 2 people who watched him were responsible for him. And that happened with all the players coming in. Igor Vitokele, most on here would agree it was a very good player before his injuries, I also never had anything to do with. I'm Belgian, Igor is Belgian, but I was never consulted for this tranfer.
Bob Peeters plus one scout agreed on him so Katrien signed him. That's the way it worked. Many fans say I don't take responsibility for the failed signings during Rolands time, but why on earth would I take responsibilty for players I didn't even watch for one second. Sometimes I was involded but then it was me against 2 other scouts or me against a scout and the manager and then Katrien would follow the majority. This was the case for Christophe Lepoint and Zakarya Bergdich, both I didn't think were good enough. I will never say I was not involved in any bad signings. The poeple who follow me on twitter have seen me name many times the players I was involved with and
that where not a succes (Ceballos, El Hadji Ba, Franck Moussa, Roger Johnson). I probably am forgetting a few.
And sometimes it was more nuanced then just saying yes or no for a player. I did say yes for Naby Sarr, but not at the transfer fee and wage he was getting. I told in my report he was a raw talent but should only sign him when he would be 'cheap'. Which he was not.
When we got relegated from the championship, things changed. Roland and Katrien made a evalution of the scouting and the poeple who made most of the mistakes were not consulted anymore.
So now it was just me and the manager - Russel Slade. We also had a change in strategy to bring more Englisch players in. Like some people already stated here I quickly had a fallout with Slade over signings.
He wanted to sign Crofts and Foley and I didnt. Instead of Crofts I wanted to sign John Mcginn who was at that time in the 2nd division of Scottisch football. Slade then sent me an e-mail with Katrien attached that this was ridicilious and Mcginn is no leader and we needed a leader like Crofts. Katrien followed Russel and I was little bit angry with how this all happened, especially the way Russel acted. Roland bought back Belgian first division club STVV and I started to work more and more for them
and less and less for Charlton. After some time I was given the final say of all transfers for STVV.
But then it all changed again when Katrien left. Roland no longer had his person who he could trust in Charlton to deal with signings. Because I did very well in STVV having final say on transfers he gave that role to me now in Charlton and the poeple in Charlton (Steve Gallen and the manager) would do the negotiations and propose players from agents, and propose players themselves but I had to give the 'go or no go'. If we would have multiple targets for one position, I got to say who the most important was. This worked very well.I would give the ok and then Steve would make the negitiations.
Like I already said many times before, and like Mr Sandgaard said himself some time ago, Steve is the very best in negotiating and Charlton is very lucky to have him. What Steve does not have, is the time to analyze all potential signings.Same for the manager. So you will never hear me say that I am better then Steve or Lee in analyzing players, but I did have the time to watch 10 games of a player where as Steve or Lee only had time to watch some highlights. Steve also went to watch some players in live games, but again, he did not have the time to really really analyze.
I had to say no to many players and I know that frustrated them, but I think I made the right decision every time and they would agree on that now. We would have not had such a great squad if I didn't say no to those players.
It was just very good teamwork. If Steve, Lee and the agents only would propose bad players, then my hands where tied also and we would have signed only bad players.
But because they sent some really good players and I filtered out the bad ones, it was very succesful. The only player that I proposed myself was Josh Cullen who was fantastic against us with Bradford.
All the rest came from Steve, Lee and agents and then I had to watch them.
This is the only truth. Everything else that comes from people like Airmanbrown or Jimmy Stone is just hear say bullshit from frustrated people. I have hundreds of emails and whatsapp messages that can verify everything I say.
Thanks for posting your take on events. So many on here & twitter seem to come to a conclusion without hearing both sides of the story.
Would love to know more names of players you said no to.
I also wonder how those scouts who wanted Kermorgant replaced and rated Polish Pete are getting on. Such basic stuff, it was no surprise to see Yann help Bournemouth to the Championship title, he didn’t rely on pace and had a few more years in him. I also saw Polish Pete play for our u21s away at Brighton, it was obvious he wasn’t good enough for our first team - he wasn’t quick or strong and didn’t have enough about his game technically to make up for it.
One of the two scouts is now an agent lol. The other one I don't know. I think you can hear both of them in Jimmy Stone his podcast. At least one of the two im sure of.
I later confronted him (the agent) with the Polish Pete signing and he said: 'Well, Benfica was interested in him, so he cant be that bad'
Well written post, thanks Thomas. I’ll take it at face value with a healthy dose of scepticism.
Couple of questions - is it actually you? Is there something you can post on Twitter under the #cafc tag perhaps to confirm?
Secondly, I don’t know how much of UK football you watch these days but who are your current John McGinn and Josh Cullen? I would love to follow them over the coming years, whether they land at Charlton or not.
You can claim what you like but it's your word against Bob Peters, Guy Luzon, Chris Powell, etc. who all said in recorded interviews that you were the de facto transfer boss during their tenures and everything ran through you. There's even email evidence of you deciding the tactics and selection, such was your influence. In a court of law you'd be bang to rights.
I had the explanation for this part in at first, but I deleted it. I was the only one speaking Englisch, French and Dutch. So I was always the scout who was in communication with the managers because the others scouts only speak one language. So it was always me who had to let down the managers and say no. Sometimes even for players I did not watch myself.
There is NO evidence whatsoever against me for being the transfer boss lol
No evidence... Other than 3-5 managers all saying you were. I suppose you have had ample time to think up a good excuse for it.
I hope people aren't taken in by this nice-guy-loves-charlton act. You have been laughing at our demise on twitter.
You can claim what you like but it's your word against Bob Peters, Guy Luzon, Chris Powell, etc. who all said in recorded interviews that you were the de facto transfer boss during their tenures and everything ran through you. There's even email evidence of you deciding the tactics and selection, such was your influence. In a court of law you'd be bang to rights.
I had the explanation for this part in at first, but I deleted it. I was the only one speaking Englisch, French and Dutch. So I was always the scout who was in communication with the managers because the others scouts only speak one language. So it was always me who had to let down the managers and say no. Sometimes even for players I did not watch myself.
There is NO evidence whatsoever against me for being the transfer boss lol
No evidence other than 3-5 managers all saying, on the record, that you were. You're suggesting they all misunderstood who their boss was. That sounds unfeasible to say the least.
I hope people aren't taken in by this 'nice guy loves charlton' act. You've been laughing at our demise on twitter. And worse.
@ThomasD fair play for coming on here and putting your side of things across.
Would you be prepared to put your neck out there and identify who the next John McGinn could be, or any other player we should look to sign this summer with similar potential?
Logic Nego was on Charlton’s book under four different managers over 20 months. Riga was in charge for about two months of that time. It’s hard to see how a falling out with Riga - which may well have happened - prevented Powell, Peeters and Luzon playing him a second time.
Logic Nego was on Charlton’s book under four different managers over 20 months. Riga was in charge for about two months of that time. It’s hard to see how a falling out with Riga - which may well have happened - prevented Powell, Peeters and Luzon playing him a second time.
What are you talking about he was loaned back to Ujpest and then transferred to Videoton.
Logic Nego was on Charlton’s book under four different managers over 20 months. Riga was in charge for about two months of that time. It’s hard to see how a falling out with Riga - which may well have happened - prevented Powell, Peeters and Luzon playing him a second time.
What are you talking about he was loaned back to Ujpest and then transferred to Videoton.
Because Peeters and Luzon chose not to keep him in the squad or someone else decided not to give them the opportunity? Either way they had him in pre-season. I watched him play. You can’t put it all on Riga, who was gone in early summer 2014.
Logic Nego was on Charlton’s book under four different managers over 20 months. Riga was in charge for about two months of that time. It’s hard to see how a falling out with Riga - which may well have happened - prevented Powell, Peeters and Luzon playing him a second time.
What are you talking about he was loaned back to Ujpest and then transferred to Videoton.
Because Peeters and Luzon chose not to keep him in the squad or someone else decided not to give them the opportunity? Either way they had him in pre-season. I watched him play. You can’t put it all on Riga, who was gone in early summer 2014.
Peeters and Luzon chose not to or Ujpest - a club from the same owner -where pulling really hard to get their best player back?
Logic Nego was on Charlton’s book under four different managers over 20 months. Riga was in charge for about two months of that time. It’s hard to see how a falling out with Riga - which may well have happened - prevented Powell, Peeters and Luzon playing him a second time.
What are you talking about he was loaned back to Ujpest and then transferred to Videoton.
Because Peeters and Luzon chose not to keep him in the squad or someone else decided not to give them the opportunity? Either way they had him in pre-season. I watched him play. You can’t put it all on Riga, who was gone in early summer 2014.
Peeters and Luzon chose not to or Ujpest - a club from the same owner -where pulling really hard to get their best player back?
Perhaps they were, but he was Charlton’s player, wasn’t he? If Peeters in 2014 or Luzon in 2015 had wanted him you’d have thought they might have given him a first-team chance.
I don’t think there is much doubt about your role - you were a block on transfers that managers wanted. They might have played nicely with you in order to manage Duchatelet but you were always part of the madness, alongside the ludicrous Katrien. You still are. Now run along.
I literally said myself I was a block on transfers that managers wanted. Thats why they didnt like me, as I understand. The question is, where the 'blocks' correct or not? Do you want to go through the list of players I blocked and see how their careers went?
It seems to me you don't know much about what is going on in football these days, maybe because you are old fashioned or something, but today almost every club has these kinds of scouts. The days of a manager deciding everything are far gone. You really think a manager has the time to scout all the players coming in from agents every day? Thats how it works now. You cant just go to another team and say: 'Hey I want that player'. They will just say : ok thats 5 million then. Everything goes through agents.
I literally said myself I was a block on transfers that managers wanted. Thats why they didnt like me, as I understand. The question is, where the 'blocks' correct or not? Do you want to go through the list of players I blocked and see how their careers went?
It seems to me you don't know much about what is going on in football these days, maybe because you are old fashioned or something, but today almost every club has these kinds of scouts. The days of a manager deciding everything are far gone. You really think a manager has the time to scout all the players coming in from agents every day? Thats how it works now. You cant just go to another team and say: 'Hey I want that player'. They will just say : ok thats 5 million then. Everything goes through agents.
Yes, and which young/undervalued players you think we should sign now.
Logic Nego was on Charlton’s book under four different managers over 20 months. Riga was in charge for about two months of that time. It’s hard to see how a falling out with Riga - which may well have happened - prevented Powell, Peeters and Luzon playing him a second time.
What are you talking about he was loaned back to Ujpest and then transferred to Videoton.
Because Peeters and Luzon chose not to keep him in the squad or someone else decided not to give them the opportunity? Either way they had him in pre-season. I watched him play. You can’t put it all on Riga, who was gone in early summer 2014.
Peeters and Luzon chose not to or Ujpest - a club from the same owner -where pulling really hard to get their best player back?
You're kind of making his point there - 4 managers ran the rule over him and none stood up to keep him. I recognise his career's improved, good luck to him, but Nego is an example of a number of players foisted upon Powell without his agreement, weakening the squad.
Your courage in standing up for yourself on here is admirable, and I'm sure the truth is somewhere in the middle - even eye witnesses have different aspects. Thing is, if Gallen thinks you so invaluable, if you were such an effective team, wouldn't he be recommending you to Sandgaard for at least a conversation? With every respect, I suspect you were managed by them.
Our recruitment since Duchatelet sold the club has been mixed, for sure. But we've had an untimely salary cap, a transfer embargo, and just one summer to try to rebuild a squad hugely lacking in every area, and weighed down by contractual commitments elsewhere.
Logic Nego was on Charlton’s book under four different managers over 20 months. Riga was in charge for about two months of that time. It’s hard to see how a falling out with Riga - which may well have happened - prevented Powell, Peeters and Luzon playing him a second time.
What are you talking about he was loaned back to Ujpest and then transferred to Videoton.
Because Peeters and Luzon chose not to keep him in the squad or someone else decided not to give them the opportunity? Either way they had him in pre-season. I watched him play. You can’t put it all on Riga, who was gone in early summer 2014.
Peeters and Luzon chose not to or Ujpest - a club from the same owner -where pulling really hard to get their best player back?
You're kind of making his point there - 4 managers ran the rule over him and none stood up to keep him. I recognise his career's improved, good luck to him, but Nego is an example of a number of players foisted upon Powell without his agreement, weakening the squad.
Your courage in standing up for yourself on here is admirable, and I'm sure the truth is somewhere in the middle - even eye witnesses have different aspects. Thing is, if Gallen thinks you so invaluable, if you were such an effective team, wouldn't he be recommending you to Sandgaard for at least a conversation? With every respect, I suspect you were managed by them.
Our recruitment since Duchatelet sold the club has been mixed, for sure. But we've had an untimely salary cap, a transfer embargo, and just one summer to try to rebuild a squad hugely lacking in every area, and weighed down by contractual commitments elsewhere.
I don’t think it’s courage - more likely an incredible level of self importance and delusions of adequacy.
Comments
I later confronted him (the agent) with the Polish Pete signing and he said: 'Well, Benfica was interested in him, so he cant be that bad'
Couple of questions - is it actually you? Is there something you can post on Twitter under the #cafc tag perhaps to confirm?
Secondly, I don’t know how much of UK football you watch these days but who are your current John McGinn and Josh Cullen? I would love to follow them over the coming years, whether they land at Charlton or not.
I hope people aren't taken in by this nice-guy-loves-charlton act. You have been laughing at our demise on twitter.
I hope people aren't taken in by this 'nice guy loves charlton' act. You've been laughing at our demise on twitter. And worse.
Would you be prepared to put your neck out there and identify who the next John McGinn could be, or any other player we should look to sign this summer with similar potential?
Putin calls for peace on Charlton Life.
I don’t think there is much doubt about your role - you were a block on transfers that managers wanted. They might have played nicely with you in order to manage Duchatelet but you were always part of the madness, alongside the ludicrous Katrien. You still are. Now run along.
It seems to me you don't know much about what is going on in football these days, maybe because you are old fashioned or something, but today almost every club has these kinds of scouts. The days of a manager deciding everything are far gone. You really think a manager has the time to scout all the players coming in from agents every day? Thats how it works now. You cant just go to another team and say: 'Hey I want that player'. They will just say : ok thats 5 million then. Everything goes through agents.
EDIT: also please, if you'd have a look at/address that George Dobson question, pretty please, etc
Your courage in standing up for yourself on here is admirable, and I'm sure the truth is somewhere in the middle - even eye witnesses have different aspects. Thing is, if Gallen thinks you so invaluable, if you were such an effective team, wouldn't he be recommending you to Sandgaard for at least a conversation? With every respect, I suspect you were managed by them.
Our recruitment since Duchatelet sold the club has been mixed, for sure. But we've had an untimely salary cap, a transfer embargo, and just one summer to try to rebuild a squad hugely lacking in every area, and weighed down by contractual commitments elsewhere.