Good post, and a very accurate view of that time in the life of CAFC. I recall having a chat in the Blackheath Standard pub with a pal of Bob Curtis. He told me that Bob and the rest of the squad were cheesed off that Firmani clamped right down on socialising. (i.e. heavy drinking sessions) after the very near promotion season. Firmani's stricter regime 'lost the dressing room' and that was the reason for the team's nosedive in form. Like Bowyer, Firmani was a comparative newcomer to management and probably lacked the necessary man management skills that are as important as a grip on tactics. Both possibly lack/lacked flexibility and were too dogmatic and 'I'm always right' in their approach.
Thanks Lincs that makes sense.
It is interesting that history has proved Firmani right with a greater European influence eliminating the old drinking culture but Glikstein wasn't going to risk a relegation to back him.
So bringing it back to current day 16 points above the drop zone I think we should be safe this year.
The question is will Thomas back Lee going forward?
Sandy might well back Bowyer, but if the players don't that means serious trouble. We have a lot of loanees and players on short contracts who have little to lose and unlike the 'old school' footballers possibly have little affection or loyalty towards CAFC other than their salaries. On a different tack, the 'Italian disciplined approach'. Back in the day, Jimmy Greaves was always in trouble over going awol for a few beers and Denis Law didn't last too long either. Us Brits certainly have an aversion towards too many rules and regs.
Having finished 3rd in 1968-69, we all had high hopes for promotion the following season.
We started well enough, with Ray Crawford scoring the winner after being a goal down at home to Preston. Ticking along nicely for the next few games, I remember seeing us race into an early 2 goal lead at home to Sheff Utd one Tuesday night - they really couldn't live with us. But something was seriously amiss in that 2nd half as we limply let Sheff Utd fightback to level, before we somehow sneaked a third against the run of play. Sheff Utd then battered us but somehow our goalmouth led a charmed life and we escaped with a very fortunate 3-2 win.
I'd heard on the grapevine that Firmani had gone mental in that dressing room, humiliating certain players. And the team were incensed at that. Was that the moment Firmani 'lost the dressing room' ....?
The next Saturday we were away at Swindon, hanging on for 0-0 at HT ........ but collapsed completely in the 2nd half as Swindon ran amok thumping us 5-0. We never recovered. In freefall we plummeted down the table, Firmani eventually sacked - before scraping to relegation safety.
What was the deal with Crawford ?
His record of 7 in 21 is respectable yet he is not remembered fondly .
It is a massive no no to call out players publicly. Talk to them in the week and nine times out of ten they will have thought about what they did wrong in a game and come out with it themselves. When that happens they are more likely to learn from it than having to feel they need to defend themselves.
Also when managers do this once, people can put it down to a one off. But if it is repeated, it shows the players you have lost it and that none of them are safe from your attacks. They may also feel the attack is unfair and the person being attacked could be a mate.
Of course, when the team is winning and doing well a manager is less likely to act in anger. I haven't checked, but I would bet that Newcastle were not doing well when Bowyer went for Dyer.
It is a massive no no to call out players publicly. Talk to them in the week and nine times out of ten they will have thought about what they did wrong in a game and come out with it themselves. When that happens they are more likely to learn from it than having to feel they need to defend themselves.
Also when managers do this once, people can put it down to a one off. But if it is repeated, it shows the players you have lost it and that none of them are safe from your attacks. They may also feel the attack is unfair and the person being attacked could be a mate.
Of course, when the team is winning and doing well a manager is less likely to act in anger. I haven't checked, but I would bet that Newcastle were not doing well when Bowyer went for Dyer.
Apart from Bowyer and Firmani the only other Charlton manager who did this was Andy Nelson.
It is a massive no no to call out players publicly. Talk to them in the week and nine times out of ten they will have thought about what they did wrong in a game and come out with it themselves. When that happens they are more likely to learn from it than having to feel they need to defend themselves.
Also when managers do this once, people can put it down to a one off. But if it is repeated, it shows the players you have lost it and that none of them are safe from your attacks. They may also feel the attack is unfair and the person being attacked could be a mate.
Of course, when the team is winning and doing well a manager is less likely to act in anger. I haven't checked, but I would bet that Newcastle were not doing well when Bowyer went for Dyer.
Apart from Bowyer and Firmani the only other Charlton manager who did this was Andy Nelson.
He preferred to attack the fans calling us village idiots. Somebody had some badges made, can't remember the exact wording but think it might have just said Village Idiot
It is a massive no no to call out players publicly. Talk to them in the week and nine times out of ten they will have thought about what they did wrong in a game and come out with it themselves. When that happens they are more likely to learn from it than having to feel they need to defend themselves.
Also when managers do this once, people can put it down to a one off. But if it is repeated, it shows the players you have lost it and that none of them are safe from your attacks. They may also feel the attack is unfair and the person being attacked could be a mate.
Of course, when the team is winning and doing well a manager is less likely to act in anger. I haven't checked, but I would bet that Newcastle were not doing well when Bowyer went for Dyer.
Apart from Bowyer and Firmani the only other Charlton manager who did this was Andy Nelson.
The total collapse during the 1979-80 season, culminating in Nelson being eventually sacked around Easter. Bottom of the table and relegated without trace.
Mike Bailey came back as manager for the last half dozen games or so and performances improved. The nucleus of the squad was retained and promoted at the first attempt the following season.
It is a massive no no to call out players publicly. Talk to them in the week and nine times out of ten they will have thought about what they did wrong in a game and come out with it themselves. When that happens they are more likely to learn from it than having to feel they need to defend themselves.
Also when managers do this once, people can put it down to a one off. But if it is repeated, it shows the players you have lost it and that none of them are safe from your attacks. They may also feel the attack is unfair and the person being attacked could be a mate.
Of course, when the team is winning and doing well a manager is less likely to act in anger. I haven't checked, but I would bet that Newcastle were not doing well when Bowyer went for Dyer.
Apart from Bowyer and Firmani the only other Charlton manager who did this was Andy Nelson.
He preferred to attack the fans calling us village idiots. Somebody had some badges made, can't remember the exact wording but think it might have just said Village Idiot
It is a massive no no to call out players publicly. Talk to them in the week and nine times out of ten they will have thought about what they did wrong in a game and come out with it themselves. When that happens they are more likely to learn from it than having to feel they need to defend themselves.
Also when managers do this once, people can put it down to a one off. But if it is repeated, it shows the players you have lost it and that none of them are safe from your attacks. They may also feel the attack is unfair and the person being attacked could be a mate.
Of course, when the team is winning and doing well a manager is less likely to act in anger. I haven't checked, but I would bet that Newcastle were not doing well when Bowyer went for Dyer.
Apart from Bowyer and Firmani the only other Charlton manager who did this was Andy Nelson.
He preferred to attack the fans calling us village idiots. Somebody had some badges made, can't remember the exact wording but think it might have just said Village Idiot
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On a different tack, the 'Italian disciplined approach'. Back in the day, Jimmy Greaves was always in trouble over going awol for a few beers and Denis Law didn't last too long either. Us Brits certainly have an aversion towards too many rules and regs.
Also when managers do this once, people can put it down to a one off. But if it is repeated, it shows the players you have lost it and that none of them are safe from your attacks. They may also feel the attack is unfair and the person being attacked could be a mate.
Of course, when the team is winning and doing well a manager is less likely to act in anger. I haven't checked, but I would bet that Newcastle were not doing well when Bowyer went for Dyer.
Bottom of the table and relegated without trace.
Mike Bailey came back as manager for the last half dozen games or so and performances improved.
The nucleus of the squad was retained and promoted at the first attempt the following season.