While the talk from fans of the clubs that are owned by Mr Duchatelet is not altogether positive, the natural optimist within me feels that we are a completely different proposition to his other clubs.
The club is nigh-on unsustainable in this league, while the potential rewards from the Premier League are too great for a new owner to ignore. This is not the case for his other clubs in the Belgian second division and the German fourth division. What happens with both us and Standard Liege remains to be seen. Can Standard's success in Belgium be continued while funding another club?
If he is to 'go for it' then it's likely we will need a manager who has a record of moulding a squad containing several new faces, building a solid team spirit within it and creating a happy Valley. Anyone know of a manager capable of this sort of thing, with a love for the club similar to that of us fans watching?
I didn't believe it was gonna happen but now there's a new thread? Must be happening this time then. Plus I 'bumped into' Richard Murray outside the ground the other day and he confirmed it. So yeah, definitely be done by Saturday you watch.
As far as I can see. if this chap didn't buy it, considering it falling through before...twice... it may very well have been our deathrattle. And some want us to believe there was people qeueing up?
Assuming it's all going ahead, there are some tough decisions ahead. I am with the majority that would like to see Powell's contract renewed but when you come to the players it is a tougher call. There's general agreement that the squad needs to be improved. By definition, this means that some players will be moved on and others will get new contracts, but that's easier than it sounds. I feel that this is a tight squad and we should be ready for some ins and outs.
Been one of Powells biggest critics yet I feel he deserves and has earnt the right to be given a chance with some money behind him, but I honestly don't think he will. Think Roland will appoint his own bloke.
I've got a lot of respect for you for saying that matey, I've read your posts and never agreed with them - but it takes balls to then come out and be fair enough to say that.
I hope you're wrong about Roland bringing in his own bloke though. Will be much happier when the gaffer has a new contract.
I reckon @AFKABartram was ITK, that's why he opened this fresh thread in readiness. Nice one boss :0) Oh and if and when it appears on the OS, welcome RD.
Cue the usual suspects claiming they heard it was done last night/this morning.
Well if it was true he was in the offices today and it was all wrapped up, I'm sure there were quite a few who contribute frequently to these threads that did know but for whatever reason known to themselves, didn't say anything.
This Forum has been the only place to arrive at a balanced view of what's being happening at the club. For me:
1. TJ/ Slater are neither heroes or villains. They've left us in a better place than they found us and we should now escape relegation. And they've managed to sell us before the brown stuff really hit
2. SSTVVfan's posts have usefully lowered expectations of our new owners. Only hindsight will tell us how good Roland's impact will be. Let's hope he's nearer to Southampton's owners than Cardiffs or Blackburns.
3. Chris will be under a different sort of pressure in the next few months. They'll be new players coming into the squad that he'll have to quickly meld into a stronger team. His mistakes have largely been glossed over because of resource constraints and the lack of alternatives. Expectations will quite rightly be higher and I hope that he hasn't been exhausted by the last year. I hope he is given a chance, but no-one is bigger than the club
Today is one of the better days to be a Charlton fan. They don't come along very often!
Don't really know lot about this guy. So not sure what exactly what to think about this but without fresh investment we were heading to some serious difficult times. Hopefully this has ended that worry. Will hold judgement to see what they do in this transfer window regarding players and staff contracts.
It's daft comparing Roland with Vincent Tan, this is a guy who knows football, and more to the point European football. He's run a club successfully, so has a track record of making good decisions.
Don't really know lot about this guy. So not sure what exactly what to think about this but without fresh investment we were heading to some serious difficult times. Hopefully this has ended that worry. Will hold judgement to see what they do in this transfer window regarding players and staff contracts.
Cue the usual suspects claiming they heard it was done last night/this morning.
Well if it was true he was in the offices today and it was all wrapped up, I'm sure there were quite a few who contribute frequently to these threads that did know but for whatever reason known to themselves, didn't say anything.
I just didn't like to say, what with all the previous furore.
to those of you concerned by CPs comments on contracts after the Ipswich game - he was saying exactly the same last November when I asked him about his contract renewal.
if we have missed out on serious money so be it, this club has been for sale for 3 years or so , if anyone who you are saying was serious then fuk them its not as if they couldn't buy it, all they were interested in was screwing TJ and co for as much money as they could and in turn us as fans
any thing else you post will be assumption and guess work, you will never be able to prove it,
if they want it they can pay a bit more for it from RD
I don't want billionaires I am not deluded to the size my club could ever be
all I want is cafc in existence and right now if the noises I have heard are correct our immediate future is secure
Cue the usual suspects claiming they heard it was done last night/this morning.
Well if it was true he was in the offices today and it was all wrapped up, I'm sure there were quite a few who contribute frequently to these threads that did know but for whatever reason known to themselves, didn't say anything.
Seems like the ITV boys got the scoop.
Happy that it would appear that we have a new start.
Pending official confirmation, I think this has to be cautiously treated as good news.
Whether or not TJ/MS & co are leaving the club has been left in a better position than when they took over is debatable. It's true we are 10 places and one division higher in the league and the academy also is better equipped and funded than it was but debts have not really been reduced or controlled and the cracks are starting to show off the field - the pitch and contracts situation being two high profile ones along with mass exodus of long serving employees and other little gripes like some concessions bars not being open for games and pennies being so tightly pinched that we plan on closing 2/3 of the ground for Saturday's game.
Overall, I think we can say we are better off, but only slightly and we have certainly gone backwards since last season's excellent performance (at least on the field) but we had all hoped (and to an extent were led by TJ/MS to expect) much more.
The good news is we're still here and still at the Valley. We'll have to wait and see what RD has in mind for us. Personally I'm cautiously optimistic but in truth know very little about him. As plenty have said, if by the end of the season we have a squad in which our best players are on long(ish) term contracts, CP is set to manage us for the foreseeable future, are still in the Championship and have a pitch not a paddy field then his early tenure will have been a roaring success.
If I have read cafc1263 snippets correctly over the last few weeks, I'm guessing he was involved with another potential bid (I'm guessing as an introducee / intermediary). I'm sure when the dust settles we will all be fascinated to know more, but it may be best to all concerned if the dust was allowed to settle first.
2. TJ and Slater/Cash would not turn their back on serious money if it truly was about to materialise
On that basis I would say it's a case of taking the only serious offer on the table.
If only you knew
Sorry, but do shut up.
I'd rather he "put up" to be honest. If there was a better offer actually on the table rather than just waiting for us to go belly up and pick us up on the cheap, what were the drawbacks that meant the board weren't going for it?
When the Mysterons took over, RM kept his place on the board. It could happen again. How about TJ as Director in charge of Human Resources and MS as Director in charge of Communications? ;-)
Comments
The club is nigh-on unsustainable in this league, while the potential rewards from the Premier League are too great for a new owner to ignore. This is not the case for his other clubs in the Belgian second division and the German fourth division. What happens with both us and Standard Liege remains to be seen. Can Standard's success in Belgium be continued while funding another club?
If he is to 'go for it' then it's likely we will need a manager who has a record of moulding a squad containing several new faces, building a solid team spirit within it and creating a happy Valley. Anyone know of a manager capable of this sort of thing, with a love for the club similar to that of us fans watching?
Sign SCP up Roland!
I feel happy and hopeful.
I hope you're wrong about Roland bringing in his own bloke though. Will be much happier when the gaffer has a new contract.
Thank you for saving our club, thank you for getting us out of league one and thank you for leaving!!!!
Boomshakalaka we are gonna be a real football club again!!!!
1. TJ/ Slater are neither heroes or villains. They've left us in a better place than they found us and we should now escape relegation. And they've managed to sell us before the brown stuff really hit
2. SSTVVfan's posts have usefully lowered expectations of our new owners. Only hindsight will tell us how good Roland's impact will be. Let's hope he's nearer to Southampton's owners than Cardiffs or Blackburns.
3. Chris will be under a different sort of pressure in the next few months. They'll be new players coming into the squad that he'll have to quickly meld into a stronger team. His mistakes have largely been glossed over because of resource constraints and the lack of alternatives. Expectations will quite rightly be higher and I hope that he hasn't been exhausted by the last year. I hope he is given a chance, but no-one is bigger than the club
Today is one of the better days to be a Charlton fan. They don't come along very often!
if we have missed out on serious money so be it, this club has been for sale for 3 years or so , if anyone who you are saying was serious then fuk them its not as if they couldn't buy it, all they were interested in was screwing TJ and co for as much money as they could and in turn us as fans
any thing else you post will be assumption and guess work, you will never be able to prove it,
if they want it they can pay a bit more for it from RD
I don't want billionaires I am not deluded to the size my club could ever be
all I want is cafc in existence and right now if the noises I have heard are correct our immediate future is secure
Happy that it would appear that we have a new start.
Whether or not TJ/MS & co are leaving the club has been left in a better position than when they took over is debatable. It's true we are 10 places and one division higher in the league and the academy also is better equipped and funded than it was but debts have not really been reduced or controlled and the cracks are starting to show off the field - the pitch and contracts situation being two high profile ones along with mass exodus of long serving employees and other little gripes like some concessions bars not being open for games and pennies being so tightly pinched that we plan on closing 2/3 of the ground for Saturday's game.
Overall, I think we can say we are better off, but only slightly and we have certainly gone backwards since last season's excellent performance (at least on the field) but we had all hoped (and to an extent were led by TJ/MS to expect) much more.
The good news is we're still here and still at the Valley. We'll have to wait and see what RD has in mind for us. Personally I'm cautiously optimistic but in truth know very little about him. As plenty have said, if by the end of the season we have a squad in which our best players are on long(ish) term contracts, CP is set to manage us for the foreseeable future, are still in the Championship and have a pitch not a paddy field then his early tenure will have been a roaring success.