Really good zoom meeting with Steve tonight.
A trial run to see and other than my internet connection being crappy it went very well so we'll do it again next month
I'll type up some notes tomorrow on who our transfer targets are, Steve's best ever deal and the striker
@sage recommended to Steve.
Comments
Actually i was believing the two meetings were one and the same, doh.
The Zoom itself went well, other than your WiFi connection @Henry Irving, as @Tracey said, get a booster plugged in! It was nice to hear so much from Tracey early on too before Steve arrived.
As everyone always says, but it really is true, we are very lucky to have such great people involved with the club and Tracey and Gallen are pivotal to that.
I hope Gallen does look into the striker I asked about, I am sure he has already.
And off topic, unless you were included in the meeting, but if there is any role that ever comes available at the club, I am more than happy to do it. Not afraid to admit I am very much actively looking for work.
Looking forward to your write up tomorrow, HI.
I presume Bromley & were unaware of the clash. I certainly was.
These things happen.
When Bromley were advised of the clash by a member who wished to attend both Zoom meetings, they thought it better to continue, rather than rearrange and cause inconvenience to Steve Gallen & the members.
Basically, great minds think alike.
MEMBERS ONLY
We are delighted to let you know that Steve Gallen has kindly agreed to meet The Bromley Addicts by Zoom.
This will take place on :-
Thursday 26th November from 7.30 until 9.00
If you would like to join this meeting please email me back and let me know and I will send you the link nearer the time.
If you also have a question that you would like to ask, please let me have it at the same time and I will collate them and pass to Ian Wallis and Ben Hayes who will be putting the questions to him on the night. There is also the possibility of writing questions in on the night as Zoom has this facility, but please bear with us as this will be very much a trial run and if successful, we will endeavour to get more guests for you while we are in lockdown.
I will open the Zoom meeting at 7.15 to give you a chance to get in and settled.
So, pour yourself a beer and sit back and enjoy this unique event.
COYA
Bromley Addicks Committee
Ben, David, Ian, Steve & Tony
It was Steve Gallen who suggested the date, not us, to fit around his arrangements as @tracey can confirm.
We had no idea about the Trust AGM when setting and announcing the date so we can close that conspiracy theory down.
Apologies to any members who didn't get emails. Check your junk boxes or email Tony to confirm he has your correct email.
SG was asked about his career before Charlton. One of three boy and two girls of Irish parents born in Acton, West London they were into football and were big QPR fans.
He and his two brothers signed for Watford and then joined QPR as a scholar and then a pro.
He was a "Jason Pearce style" centre half, (he loves Pearce) winning headers, making tackles but he learnt that "you can't have 11 mes, you can't have all the same type of players in a team".
At 20 he went to Doncaster Rovers but had lots of injuries and a back operation which means he can empathise with injured players such as Lewis Page who are just trying to have a career.
He went to play in China at 22/23, then Hong Kong and then played for Dundalk in Ireland.
SG decided to come back to London to play semi-pro as he couldn't physically play full time due to his injuries so was coaching the academy at QPR from aged 24 to 33 while playing non-league. Then he got a full time job as QPR youth team manager. He said he's done every job at QPR from U9s up to caretaker manager, other than assistant manager, for one game (undefeated as "nicked a draw" at West Brom).
SG said he had a superb time and worked with many great managers like Warnock, Rednapp and often bores Bowyer with "This is what Rednapp/Warnock did"
Learnt a lot from assistant managers to and tells Jacko things that he saw.
In West London he is "Kevin's brother" (Kevin Gallen was a big star at QPR" and he only becomes Steve Gallen when he's in SE London.
SG played at youth and U18 levels for Ireland and is very proud of that. He considers himself Irish. He mentioned former Charlton player Maurice Setters who died this week as being "brilliant" with him and said Jack Charlton was too.
SG that Karl Robinson approached him and offered him the head of recruitment role which was a change of direction even though he was already scouting players in his coaching role. He was offered an assistant role at Cardiff under Warnock at the same time but decided to "go with his heart" and is pleased he did.
He was "blissfully unaware" of the politics at the club, of Duchatlet, Meire and what the fans thought of them.
He didn't know about Driesen either who he had lots of conversations with. He didn't slag Tommy off but did say he was very young and not experienced and made mistakes. SG said he wouldn't go on twitter as TD talking about players and which ones he got right (bit not the ones he got wrong) but that he got on OK with him. He gave him credit for not budging when he though he was right. At one point Jacko almost had him in a headlock and he and Bowyer were leaning on on TD to let them get a certain player but TD won't budge. SG he learnt from that not to learn on TD.
SG said that KM was very nice to him but very blunt and tough on me and wanted everything in five minutes.
SG did later say that Tarqui Fosu was one of his first signings and he's glad he's gone on to do well. he then joked that that is a typical scouts/recruiters boast, mentioning the good ones and not the bad ones.
On recruitment and the team.
"It's an area we need to improve"
When he came we had six p/t scouts on contracts but they wouldn't scout outside their areas so now just has one scout but he will go anywhere.
LB is a big help with the scouting but it's hard to go to games at the moment do Covid crowd restrictions but he gets help from contacts to get to games eg Bristol Rovers v Chelsea U21 the Chelsea guys got him in.
He gets 20 messages a day and filtering them is tedious but he uses the analysts to filter them
SG gave an example of U23 player's dad who rang him this week to say that he seen a player he should look at. He doesn't really know the dad but will check the player out.
During the meeting @sage asked is SG was aware of Ellis Simms at Everton. SG said he wasn't but would have a look so watch this space.
Kevin was the best player, Steve and Joe have had the best coaching careers
On the January window
Two positions but wasn't saying which.
He also needs to make sure Famewo and Maatsen are happy as could lose them. Speaks to them, their agents and their clubs all the time. Also praised the work @Tracey does in keeping the players happy as part of her job.
Relationships with others a big thing for SG. Big friends with Dougie Freeman at Palace who did us a great favour with Inniss so he stays in with him and lots of others.
He has a big list of people who could come in. No unrealistic ones but 3 or 4 for every position but it changes depending on circumstances and our changing needs ie if loanees get recalled
NB He didn't say they will or are likely to be recalled, only that he needs to be prepared in case they are as with Gallagher who "people no longer at the club could have kept"
LB has final say on players and will say no, that's the manager's decision.
SG said that was sure Kieffer Moore would have been great for us but Karl Robinson thought he was useless so he had to accept that.
Asked where he got his "brilliant negotiating skills" as described by Sandgaard he said he learnt from his mistakes which thankfully no one found out.
His main thing is that he never promises what he can't deliver whether than is money or playing time. He also makes sure that a player knows that the club and the manager want him as that's what he and most players want to hear.
He had said earlier that his philosophy is "What is the best thing for the club, for the player and last for me?" He doesn't want whats best for him or the player like some agents.
He said some agents are fine and just want the best for their clients and he says that he's also an agent but working for Charlton rather than a player.
He added that on his negotiating skills he's also done a Level 4 qualification in Leadership in football which he said was very good and included a module on negotiation.
SG has also done his pro licence as had Jason Euell and Jacko is doing it. Bowyer has done his A licence and SG is trying to get him to do his pro licence so SG thinks we're a well educated team.
In response to a question about how to become a director of football he said go on FA courses on scouting and other areas, not just for the qualification but for the networking with other football people who you can learn so much from.
Ronnie Schwarz came from Sandgaard but he stressed that he was suggested and not told that we must sign him.
TS has contacts in Denmark and a sporting director at a club their suggested him. SG and LB watched him and liked him as a good player, aggressive and a goal scorer but in the end the player said no which is his choice.
He said they are speaking to Alfie's agent who is fine and happy to work with them unlike Aribo's agent who wouldn't engage. Spoke to Alfie this week who's had an operation on his injury. We will get something if he leaves in the summer but more from an English club that an overseas club ie Celtic
The time from January was a "difficult era"
Lee Amis was at the training ground nearly every day.
It was very difficult knowing about the embargo but not being able to say although Bowyer was tempted to say it pubically a few times.
SG said it was difficult for the start of last season with a league 1 budget in the championship and then no money at all
Bilik: he was suprised Derby paid so much. SG told the people at Derby £5/6m would be a good deal but said that Derby planed to buy him for £5m and flip him soon after for £15m. But he's injured his ACL,
Would he resign Taylor? It's a bit raw no but yes because he scores goals and if he came back and scored goals fans would forgive him. He mentioned the abuse Clive Allen got going back to QPR with Palace but how he was forgiven when he scored goals for them.
Cullen - surprised he went to Belgium but playing international football raises the profile and helps when going abroad. Said he heard Moyes didn't think he was physical enough for the premier league. Hope that if things work out we could look at him again.
Solly: "Such a pity" SG arranged for him to come in a say goodbye which Lyle didn't do. LB was really hurt by CS and LT refusing to play. SG says he likes CS a lot and that he should be respected for his time at the club.
Philips: Like Solly a proper Charlton man. SG and LB has to make a decision after relegation on Amos who wouldn't sign again to be number 2 keeper. DPs agent said he would sign a new deal do they agreed to sell him as couldn't afford him as a back up under the wage cap. In the end only Cardiff made a firm bid although Boro did make an offer.
SG said that we got "every last penny" out of the Philips deal. It's a very good deal and sell on too.
SG said that a good deal with where everyone is happy which was the case with Philips to Cardiff but not Aribo to Rangers as Lee wasn't happy.
First met TS at Selhurst, he's aiming high and said that Palace aim to be in Europe in five years and they are 8th or 10th in the EPL.
Financailly easier now although different pressures with money and the wage cap.
If want to be serious about being a top club have to have a Cat 1 academy, it costs more but SG is all for it.
Richard Murray: RM loves CAFC Doesn't have an official capacity now but was someone who SG could talk to when RD was being difficult and RM talked SG out of leaving 18 or 24 months ago
Games watched every week.
Will also go to a game on Saturday and Tuesday, usually a game from the league we're in on Saturday and a league 1 or league 2 on Tuesday.
Chelsea U23s play on Mondays at Stamford Bridge or Aldershot which are easy for him to reach and they will be playing Man City or other big clubs. Friday's Arsenal U23s play at Boreham Wood so he goes there and sees Arsenal and whoever they are playing so gets to see lots of teams.
Stays to the end unlike many scouts or at least to 90 mins
Uses transfermarket for basic stats but Instat more. Always start with stats on a player but doesn't end their
For January have one player they are very confident will be signed but open minded about the second planned signing. At the same time there are also players already in the camp who could come good such as Albie Morgan who SG said had two good games in the last two matches even if the team didn't.
Input to first team?: Not very much but on the way back from Burton and after other games will ask Lee open questions such as "What would you do differently?", "Do we start Chuks?" LB is very honest with SG and himself.
Best deal?
Bonne. To buy him for £200k and get ten times that is good but Emma Parker in CAFC accounts pointed out in the summer how important the Grant and Gomez deal add ons where and kept us going as big payments based on Grant and Gomez appearances.
Where will we be in five years?
Difficult to predict. QPR spent millions to get to the Prem but are still 15th or 18th in the Championship.
Want to get out of league 1 with two years. Top six this year, then promotion next year (HE'S NOT SAYING HE DOESN'T WANT OR DOESN'T THINK WE CAN GO UP THIS SEASON!)
Then stabilise like Preston and Spanners in Championship, building slowly, then we can look up. That's the way SG thinks is the way to do it, through stability.
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That's all folks but I'm sure I've forgotten or missed somethings. Feel free to add what I've missed.
Big shout out to @Tracey for arranging and for sharing a little about the goings on at the club this years which really belong on the shenanigans thread.