It has taken several years to create this mess and I'm afraid there were never going to be any quick fixes. And before people want to jump on Chrissy's backs perhaps they should think about some of the positives:
- the purchase of Wright Phillips - the introduction of Jenkinson - the attempt to play passing football rather then hoofball - how 2nd half performances have usually been better than the first half - the loan/potential purchase of Bessone - the willingness to try new formations - the attempts to improve team unity e.g. all celebrating goals, the various slogans around the Valley
Yes there are other things that have not worked and a lot of injuries - but it is pretty clear to me that Chrissy is trying to change things difficult though it may be. Sometimes I think the fans want a magician rather than a manager.
[cite]Posted By: Airman Brown[/cite]I tend to think the outcome would have been the same regardless of whether Parky or Chris was the manager. We have too many players who are not good enough and what you are seeing now was on display in the Walsall, Colchester, Brighton and Swindon games in December/January.
Appointing Chris Powell was a gamble, but would anyone else have got more out of these players? I doubt it.
The owners tried to move it on sooner rather than later, because they didn't believe Parky would do it. That looks to have backfired for now, but in my opinion he was always going to be sacked because he was always going to fail.
Thats an opinion we can all agree or disagree with and its known that i disagree with it, but wtf he's gone, we are where we are and we need to worry about the future not what if's.
[cite]Posted By: Airman Brown[/cite]I tend to think the outcome would have been the same regardless of whether Parky or Chris was the manager. We have too many players who are not good enough and what you are seeing now was on display in the Walsall, Colchester, Brighton and Swindon games in December/January.
Appointing Chris Powell was a gamble, but would anyone else have got more out of these players? I doubt it.
The owners tried to move it on sooner rather than later, because they didn't believe Parky would do it. That looks to have backfired for now, but in my opinion he was always going to be sacked because he was always going to fail.
"Would anyone have got more out of the players? I doubt it". It is one of those questions that is impossible to answer. I would say there are a number of Managers who would get more out of the players than 1 point out of a possible 18,in our last six games. As to your other point "he was always going to be sacked because Parkinson was always going to fail" That is conjecture because you have no way of knowing. Parkinson might have turned it around. Maybe the players dont like playing for Powell and they are totally confused with the changes in formation, who knows? It is all opinion peeps, not FACT.
Yes, I really feel for Powell -He is trying to create something which he has obviously been briefed to do, but unfortunately it is beyond the collective abilities of the personnel at his disposal - at least after injuries have taken their toll to key players like Anyinsah and Jackson. The problem is, that if you are looking to have a good chance of getting promotion you, have to dominate teams in matches more- not every game but a good percentage. That means you will win more matches. Powell has been looking for a way of setting up that achieves that. But that's something we haven't done for some time - including under Parky. But whilst it doesn't achieve anything to say it- it is only fair to Parky to respect what he did do in difficult circumstances- losing his best players etc and putting together that could compete for promotion. I firmly believe that we would be in the play offs again had he stayed but having said that- we would probably have come up short in those again.
We really have to see what money there is now- you don't need to spend big on fees but you need to pay the necessary wages to get the right calibre of player in. Powell had a bit of a mission impossible making a silk purse out of a sour's ear but we need to see his team after he has the backing to go out and put it together. It's a risk - he won't have convinced anybody yet that he has the qualities needed and the board might be concerened in trusting him with their money so he is probably going to have to turn this mess round sooner rather than later - irrespective of play offs.
There is still something in me that says that Powell has something - He strikes me as a winner and if there is a way, he will find it. I hope that feeling is right as it's a gut feeling rather than based on clear logic. If he turns things round, this spell will benefit him greatly, if it doesn't it could ruin his managerial career. Come on Chrissy - a bit of inspiration for Saturday - get the boys heads up and try to win a game convincingly - that will send out a marker and could be the turning point.
Think some people need to look at CP's record a little more closely, yes 6 defeats does not look good but for me the fact they have been in the last 6 as opposed to being spread out has made it seem a lot worse. He has a 40% win ratio which is still very decent and in my very humble opinion, despite us being a little lucky in a couple of games (Colchester for example) we have also had our fair share of bad luck. At Notts County, we would have won if it was not for the toilet of a pitch, against Exeter we missed some great chances and played some ok football and at Hartlepool- I thought we were the better side however in all three the defence let us down badly, if we had won a couple of these games- CP's record would be excellent and the feelgood factor would not have disappeared so quickly. The second half against Peterborough was one of the best halfs of football we have played in a long time, the second goal was brilliant.
Some of the comments are abssolutely lucicrous and don't deserve a response regarding CP, 10 games ffs! He is our manager, like Elliot the fact he is so closely affiliated with the club perhaps means he will get a bit of extra slack cut but he needs our support and backing. Would anyone else have done significantly better? Gary Johnson lost 2 out of 2 games since joining Northampton, Andy Scott been sacked from his job to name two candidates. Also look at Sheff Wed, they appointed a "decent" manager in Gary Megson who similarly to SCP is a bit of a hero up there, yet they have been farily terrible since he arrived- after last night 2 wins I think. Are they calling for his head? doubt it, reckon they are hoping for the season to end so he can rebuild and ensure they are ready for a proper challenge next year.
The team is Parky's team and quite frankly some of the players are not good enough, this is not really Parky's fault as when he was buying Francis, McOxo, Doc- there was very little money available and we probably could not have done much better- also a couple were POTY's at their clubs and seemed excellent deals. Regardless of how we finish the season, I can't help but think there will be another big overhaul of the squad.
The summer and next season is when we can properly and fairly judge CP as a manager. For now, I hate to say it but May 6th can't come quick enough.
Good points - Powell had a lot of good luck initially but in terms of luck, the bad luck has more than surpassed that early good fortune. Of course, remembering a previous thread- is it luck say when BWP missed that pen against County or the other chances we missed? - Is it bad luck when we didn't take opportunities to kill off Exeter and Carlisle before they beat us?- maybe it's more about deficiencies in the team than luck but also true to say on another 'luckier' day we might have got the rub of the green and scored goals as we did in Powells first 4 games.
If you are in a close game- you have to make your luck and our players seem a bit too fragile to do that. Even before Powell, we seemed to lack a belief in our abilities and that is a big weakness for any team. On paper we should be in the play off places but maybe we don't have the characters who can take a few things going against them in a positive way and force some 'good luck'. Maybe we miss Bailey more than we thought we would- a player that you felt - no matter how badly he was playing- was sweating blood for the club - maybe we need a few more with this philospohy - players that roll up their sleeves rather than letting their heads drop when things go against them. Maybe that is why a few of the better ones are playing at this level.
Maybe Powell has to drop his nice guy persona and throw some tea cups and kick some butts.
Nice bit of spin from Airman, definitely been in politics too long :)
The difference is Parky got results when not playing well, and when we did play really well such as the November run we look as good as anything in the division.
Do you honestly think we would get a point at Brighton or Colchester now....
All this "Its the players fault" is just blind hypocrisy, this side is a top 4 side without any doubt, its where we were, its where Parky would have kept us, and its where we have absolutely zero chance of getting to now!
Turning this club around is like turning around an ocean going oil tanker - it will take time.
Airman, Largo, cafcdan18 and sm sum it up for me. CP has inherited a poor playing squad who, with a few exceptions, patently aren't as good as either they, or indeed we, thought they were. On the face of it, I thought Parky did well getting a team, let alone a squad, together for this season given the lack of money available - however, he also showed very poor judgement with what little he was given to spend. It was reasonable to expect the team to do better than they have, but it hasn't turned out that way, obviously, and we have to face up to the fact that we simply lack quality, especially in terms of invention and skill.
I know the phrase has been 'evolution, not revolution', but I fear that unless we get the latter and not the former as regards our first team next season we will in for another season of disappointment in this poxy league. I hope that we have a complete overhaul in the summer because I honestly think that that is what is needed. If it happens (or not) it will tell us a lot about the nature of the recent takeover of the club and where the club may be heading in the long term.
Stil think we need evolution rather than revolution - changing the whole side never works but Powell needs to work out how he wants us to play/set up and what of the current crop fit into those plans.
Facts are facts - We've lost 11 league games this season:
Phil Parkinson led us to 6 defeats from 22 games (27%) - Huddersfield A, Exeter A, Brentford A, Brighton H, Walsall H, Swindon H
Chris Powell led us to 5 defeats out of 10 games (50%) - Hartlepool A, Exeter H, Notts County A, Carlisle H, MK Dons A
Pretty much the same squad except Chris Powell has had the services of Bradley Wright-Phillips.
I desperately hope that Chris Powell will be able to turn things around but you'd have to say that if Phil Parkinson's record wasn't considered good enough by some then so far Chris Powell's record certainly isn't.
[cite]Posted By: bigstemarra[/cite]Airman, Largo, cafcdan18 and sm sum it up for me. CP has inherited a poor playing squad who, with a few exceptions, patently aren't as good as either they, or indeed we, thought they were. On the face of it, I thought Parky did well getting a team, let alone a squad, together for this season given the lack of money available - however, he also showed very poor judgement with what little he was given to spend. It was reasonable to expect the team to do better than they have, but it hasn't turned out that way, obviously, and we have to face up to the fact that we simply lack quality, especially in terms of invention and skill.
I don't think saying it was poor judgement is fair. Paying the sort of fees and wages we did last summer you're not going to attract quality and consistent players.
We signed free transfers, cheap loans and paid nominal fees for players their clubs didn't want (Worner the exception, obviously moved up a few divisions).
We paid more for Benson but strikers aren't cheap. £250k or so will get you a non-league striker who's had a good season or two, or an older League One or Two player like Benson. It's not as if he's not scored goals either, the rest of his game just isn't great. You get what you pay for though, don't you.
His job was to find bargains, build them into a team and get results. Any good football was a bonus. He was pretty much doing just that.
I look forward to seeing what Powell does with this squad in the summer. BWP at the fee we paid was an obvious signing (though no doubt on a good wage) and can't yet judge Bessone.
[quote][cite]Posted By: dickplumb[/cite]You have twisted the facts,Parky had 22 games, lets wait till Powell has managed for 22 games. Only fair.[/quote]
I don't think it's fair to say I've twisted the facts. They simply are the facts. I'm not saying that we shouldn't give him more time but we can only go on the results so far and I don't think anyone would say that those resutls are anywhere near good enough - including Chris Powell I would imagine.
My opinion and it is only my opinion and doesn't count for much but gonna say it anyway even if its just to get it off my chest, Parkinson was always the cheap easy option for the board at the time after sacking Pardew and if they could have afforded a better replacement at the time they would have got rid of him at the same time. He did the best that he could with the resources at his disposal but his best still wasn't good enough for everyone; me included. I personally never wanted Parkinson as manager and was not sad to see him go. He did some good deals, but he also made some shockers which are still affecting us now because they are in key positions, RB, CB's, lack of decent CM options and strikers (some anyway).
On the other hand I was hoping for a more experienced, stronger and more positive manager as a replacement, but we got Chris Powell for reasons the board only knows. However i don't mind the idea of Chris Powell being our manager long term and with his footballing brain i think he could be a good manager. The problem is he has inherited a team which was lacking confidence under Parkinson and if they really wanted Parkinson to stay they would have tried harder and have to take responsibility. There was no evidence in the later part of Parkinson's reign that any of them gave a cr*p about Charlton.
At the end of the day the squad is simply not good enough. As someone else said i'd love to see one of the Premiership managers try and get this squad to play the way we all want them too. Poyet has got a team of grafters at Brighton which is why they are doing so well regularly. We have too many weak links.
Ellliot - Not a bad keeper, but is let down a lot by his defence. He has kept us in so many games, but we could do better. Francis - Absolutely awful defender. Doesn't tackle, gets the odd block in but too slow tracking back. Going forward is ok at times, but he can't defend. Youga - Injured so can do nothing to help us. He is a good defender and we could really do with him, but not going to happen this season and not everyones cup of tea. Jackson - Pops up with goals which have helped a lot, better as a midfielder than a defender but still rather sluggish. But his goal record puts him in a positive light. Llera - Another incident prone defender. Not given a chance this year though when our main CB's have been so poor which seems unfair. Semedo - Clearly our best player this year. Works so hard. Has a one bad game in 5 and gets abused by some for it. Wagstaff - Can get goals and like Sam last year looked good at the beginning of the season, but has faded of late and not given a much of a run because of it. Racon - Could be great for us but very hit and miss, which is a shame. Wright-Phillips - Does score goals and is what we need, but we can't rely on him alone. Reid - Could be our most dangerous attacking option, but is often dropped for reasons unknown to us. Not been great of late when he has come on. Doherty – I expected better from an experienced defender like him, but needs someone faster and stronger alongside him if he is to play. McCormack - Not the midfield general we need. Spends most of the time moaning at the ref. Benson - Could get us more goals if he was fed more. He is a poacher, but needs more than the 1 or 2 chances a game that he is given to score. Fry - Currently injured, not a bad defender, has made a few costly errors, but still a decent defender. Solly - This guy may be small but is strong and committed. Something we need about now. But his height will let him down. Should be given a go ahead of Francis. Bessone - When fit he could be a good player for us, but is injury prone which is useless to us right now. Anyinsah - Injury prone, but i like this guy. He tries hard but doesn’t score many. Fortune - Not the player he was and i am disappointed with him this season. Worner - Not as good as Elliott but still young and could improve. Tuna - Not given a run but to be honest not setting the lower leagues a light either. Jenkinson - Not as strong as Solly but is taller and really giving it a go. Add a bit of strength and he could be a good player. Dailly - Gradually getting slower this season, or simply giving up. Eccelston - Lightening quick and in a confident team could be really dangerous. Harriott, Mambo, Stavrinou, Warren, Cousins, Gough, Davisson, Hall, Perkins - All young and not ready.
Looking at this squad can people really not see why we aren't winning regularly? Whoever came in for Parkinson would really need to be a miracle worker to make a difference. The players have to take a LOT of the criticism for the performances, because once the whistle blows its up to them to perform. If the squad we had was big enough to make drastic changes then they would have been made by now. The fans also need to stop booing all the time. It achieves nothing but bringing the players even further down in confidence. If you don’t like what you see walk out or don’t go. Do you really think booing helps? It might make you feel better to vent but has it EVER made the players turn in a good performance next time. Some support would be welcome I’m sure.
I really want Powell to be successful for us. I like the guy and he is passionate for Charlton which I don’t believe Dowie, Reed or Pardew were. Parkinson I think had the passion and really wanted to make a name for himself. But I didn’t like that he couldn’t change the game when it was going wrong. But on recent evidence I think you have to put that down to the players not the manager either Parkinson or Powell.
I’m sure I will get criticised for these comments but everyone is allowed their own opinion.
As far as I'm concerned Powell is guilty of nothing more than a touching naivete that he can get this lot playing football. Not as calamitous as John Barnes at Tranmere perhaps but the same error of judgement. Parky's experience told him we had to hoof it with this lot, but then of course he bought them in in the first place. (FFS, they were at Southend for a reason).
Powell will be successful once he gets players in who are capable of doing the basics. Let's face it, Benson couldn't trap a bag of cement, Reid holds onto the ball longer than Dr Julian Clary at the cough and drop, and I could get into the right defensive position before Francis from halfway up the East stand.
But it won't need that many - there's football in some of them, just they're surrounded by idiots - but we need a leader in the middle of the park and some pace behind to bring it out of them. We need a Mark Kinsella.
Ellliot - Worth perservering with as can become a top keeper- needs to manage his weight better and sometime be a bit sharper. (Keep) Francis - Not awful and a good attacking outlet- has been made a scapegoat and this really affecting him. Worth perservering with but may need a rest. (Keep) Youga - Injured - HAve needed him all season but been out so long - probably won't ever be the same - will never play for us again I suspect. (Lose) Jackson - Scores lots of goals but doesn't seem to do much else. You can't ignore the goals but need to identify why a player of his undoubted ability is not in the game more sometimes (Keep). Llera - A bit unorthodox and a liability against a combination of power and pace. When not faced with this a good footballer who has a pass on him and who is committed - can score his fair share of goals too. Definitely a keeper but possibly shouldn't be first choice although would like to see him play with a fast partner.(Keep) Semedo - Our best player by a country mile - very consistent so even his bad games are not awful. Always shows. (keep) Wagstaff - Great engine, works hard but lacks the skill to take people on - However very effective against tiring legs. Showed some promise in a central attacking role. Should be a sub, not a starter at the moment. (Keep) Racon - I rememeber when he had a shot and could really impose himself on a game- He showed this against better players than he is facing now. Are injuries taking it's toll or have we not found the right balance in the team to get the best from him. (Not sure) Wright-Phillips - Does score goals - not too much else but you need people who score goals. (Keep) Reid - Was terrific for us last season - has absence from team dented his confidence. Certainly the cameos we have seen from him make him look like a different player - maybe needs a run of starts. (Keep) Doherty – Is slow and could do with a pacy defender next to him but not as bad as some prtray. In fact- wins a lot of headers and gets good blocks in - was very good last year for a different team - may be the rest of the defence rather than him. (Keep) Benson - We certainly ask him to play roles outside what he is accustomed to - has scored so maybe if we are going to play him we should play to his strengths. For me- should be a bench player if we need to change things. (Keep) Fry - Mistake prone- can't see what others see in him - did a job for us at left back but not a left back. (Lose) Solly - Looked opromising before he got injured but people shouldn't get carried away - still needs to prove he has what it takes IMO. (not sure) Bessone - Question mark whether we will get the best from him but if we do, he looks like he could be a proper left back with decent touch. (not sure) Anyinsah - Injury prone, which I think has affected him - but the fact remains he is a player that makes things happen - gets us penalties/unsettles defenders - He is our best player IMO but unfortuantely also a crock. (keep) Fortune - It gives me no pleasure to say that I think his career may be over. Injury has taken its toll. (lose) Worner - Looks a shot stopper but crosses a weakness that I'm sure opponents will look to exploit. (keep) Tuna - If you are not scoring in lower leagues, you can't expect to score at a higher level. (lose) Jenkinson - Looks like he could be very good but too young and inexperienced to be playing out of position in a struggling team.(keep) Dailly - Looks solid most games but distribution can be terrible and not getting better - this is definitely his swansong. (lose) Eccelston - Very quick and has a lot of ability - needs to be found the right role and have some confidence instilled into him. (Try to keep for next season) McCormack - Tryer who is too limited. (lose)
Harriott (Keep), Mambo (keep), Stavrinou (Lose), Warren (D/K), Cousins (Keep), Gough (D/K), Davisson (D/K), Hall (D/K), Perkins (Keep) - When play off dream is well and truly over - would like to see Mambo given a run - I've seen him play a few times in pre seasons and like what I see. Yes can make mistakes but he is young - he needs the chance to learn and could be a great asset if managed properly. SHould have been on loan to a club like Southend, Gills or Barnet this season.
[cite]Posted By: MuttleyCAFC[/cite]
Jackson - Scores lots of goals but doesn't seem to do much else. You can't ignore the goals but need to identify why a player of his undoubted ability is not in the game more sometimes (Keep).
[cite]Posted By: dickplumb[/cite]You have twisted the facts,Parky had 22 games, lets wait till Powell has managed for 22 games. Only fair.
I don't think it's fair to say I've twisted the facts. They simply are the facts. I'm not saying that we shouldn't give him more time but we can only go on the results so far and I don't think anyone would say that those resutls are anywhere near good enough - including Chris Powell I would imagine.
You have twisted the facts to suit your arguement/opinion though. Powell has been a manager for an extremely very short time. Managers take time to learn their craft, & even then they are still learning new things every day. He doesn't know the squad as well as Parkinson, & obviously wants to do something different.
The position that Parky took us to, may have been a false dawn, with expectations getting even higher, so whoever was going to be in charge, would have a tougher act to follow.
Hindsight is a wonderful/awful thing. What if we had managed to get Cahill, or Bullard, or Sidwell, or Dawson, or any other burgeoning talent that has come on a bundle in the past few years, & now plying their trade at the top level?(Bullard aside-but was)
You just never know, & you will send yourself nuts trying to get the answers.
It's obvious though, that patience isn't a virtue that exists much in the game of Football anymore. A change now would make us a true laughing stock of a club, & seriously put off any manager who might be interested in the future.
With all the doom & gloom in the world, it's no wonder that Football is the escape for lots of people, & I hate seeing us mis-firing all over the place, but at this point in time, I am happy that we are now financially secure, with the potential to build a brighter future.(5 points should guarantee to stave off any relegation threat-Hopefully won't be an issue anyway)
Come the end of the season & if CP has only won 1 or 2 more games, then I might wonder about our future under his guidance. Until then, I'm gonna bite my lip, suck it up & continue to get behind him & the team.
Hopefully, Powell can sow/sew up this team, & trade it in for a silk purse in the summer. (Had to get the analogy of choice for everyone at the mo', in there somewhere.);-)
[cite]Posted By: MuttleyCAFC[/cite]When play off dream is well and truly over - would like to see Mambo given a run - I've seen him play a few times in pre seasons and like what I see. Yes can make mistakes but he is young - he needs the chance to learn and could be a great asset if managed properly. SHould have been on loan to a club like Southend, Gills or Barnet this season.
Ideally but when he can't stay in Eastbourne's team why would any of them be interested?
Jenkinson and Stavrinou did fairly well in the Blue Square Prem and both had a decent run of games. Mambo seemed to struggle as he was dropped to the bench.
One of the best (non football) managers I have seen always said that you should only recruit people who have the potential to perfom at a higher level. On that basis I would apply the following thinking to those I have seen in the Charlton squad
Keep: Elliot, Jenkinson, Solly, Wagstaff, Ecclestone (if we could), Wright Phillps, Semedo, Jackson, Bessone (seen enough even when half fit) - and if I were Chrissy I would make them all the core of my team until the end of the season so that get used to playing as a team.
Not sure: Worner, Fry (as a CB), Fortune (depends on medical reports - is his loss of pace permanent?), Llera (can he cut out the stupid mistakes that occur when he is more relaxed about his place?), Youga (depends on medical reports, Mambo (need to see more), Reid (subject to attending a passing for beginers course - should he be a striker rather than in midfield given his passing/crossing and defending ability? ), Anyinsah (has he a long term medical problem or is he just unlucky), Racon (can he concentrate on some product rather than showing off his tricks?)
Definitely let go: Fry (as a FB), Doherty (Lambert didn't want him in the Championship and he looks to be a pretty good judge), Francis, McCormack, Benson (imagine him against Championship CBs), Dailly (thanks for everything, but he knows he cannot go any higher)
Tuna - If you are not scoring in lower leagues, you can't expect to score at a higher level. (lose)..... but he has .
The striker's fifth goal for the Millers set up a 2-1 win against Southend United reserves at Mill Field, to book a showpiece final place.
Charlton official site.....
Fast-starting Aveley were two goals up after the first 16 minutes with Tuna, who netted a hat-trick to knock out Canvey Island earlier in the competition, opening the scoring .Gary haines goes on.......
He rounded goalkeeper Glenn Morris to score after good work from strike partner Sherwin Stanley, and Tuna was then involved in the multi-pass move that saw Andy Howell double the hosts' lead.
I know that people have dismissed Tam, for other alleged 'wonder striker's' since departed and the goal machine that isnt' Benson ( 20 goals a season we were promised) but the lad has been sent to lower leagues to gain experience, what was he suppossed to do refuse!.....
Fair enough you think he is not good enough , but please try and get the facts right......
At the rate he's scored so far this season, Benson would actually get just under 20 goals per season but then he'll never be rated because he was a Parky signing. It would just be good if he could manage to play week in week out.
I don't think we need to get rid of as many as some are suggesting. I do however think we should be looking for a completely fresh (starting) back four, central midfield partnership (get McCormack out the door. Racon & Semedo can leave as well, wages are too high for the jobs they do) and the target man our squad needs. Players like Llera, Benson and even Dailly can be kept as squad players but I do think we need to improve the calibre of player in our starting XI for next season.
Of course it all relies on the amount of money CP may or may not be given and even then it may be difficult to attract quality players to the third tier.
Comments
- the purchase of Wright Phillips
- the introduction of Jenkinson
- the attempt to play passing football rather then hoofball
- how 2nd half performances have usually been better than the first half
- the loan/potential purchase of Bessone
- the willingness to try new formations
- the attempts to improve team unity e.g. all celebrating goals, the various slogans around the Valley
Yes there are other things that have not worked and a lot of injuries - but it is pretty clear to me that Chrissy is trying to change things difficult though it may be. Sometimes I think the fans want a magician rather than a manager.
Thats an opinion we can all agree or disagree with and its known that i disagree with it, but wtf he's gone, we are where we are and we need to worry about the future not what if's.
"Would anyone have got more out of the players? I doubt it". It is one of those questions that is impossible to answer. I would say there are a number of Managers who would get more out of the players than 1 point out of a possible 18,in our last six games. As to your other point "he was always going to be sacked because Parkinson was always going to fail" That is conjecture because you have no way of knowing. Parkinson might have turned it around. Maybe the players dont like playing for Powell and they are totally confused with the changes in formation, who knows? It is all opinion peeps, not FACT.
I absolutely want a magician, that would be brilliant, I could start getting happy again...
In the Paint Pot - where he played well and then was promptly dropped.
We really have to see what money there is now- you don't need to spend big on fees but you need to pay the necessary wages to get the right calibre of player in. Powell had a bit of a mission impossible making a silk purse out of a sour's ear but we need to see his team after he has the backing to go out and put it together. It's a risk - he won't have convinced anybody yet that he has the qualities needed and the board might be concerened in trusting him with their money so he is probably going to have to turn this mess round sooner rather than later - irrespective of play offs.
There is still something in me that says that Powell has something - He strikes me as a winner and if there is a way, he will find it. I hope that feeling is right as it's a gut feeling rather than based on clear logic. If he turns things round, this spell will benefit him greatly, if it doesn't it could ruin his managerial career. Come on Chrissy - a bit of inspiration for Saturday - get the boys heads up and try to win a game convincingly - that will send out a marker and could be the turning point.
Was on the bench for the next league game and for Parky's last game where he stayed under Peacock and Powell until Francis got injured at Hartlepool.
Some of the comments are abssolutely lucicrous and don't deserve a response regarding CP, 10 games ffs! He is our manager, like Elliot the fact he is so closely affiliated with the club perhaps means he will get a bit of extra slack cut but he needs our support and backing. Would anyone else have done significantly better? Gary Johnson lost 2 out of 2 games since joining Northampton, Andy Scott been sacked from his job to name two candidates. Also look at Sheff Wed, they appointed a "decent" manager in Gary Megson who similarly to SCP is a bit of a hero up there, yet they have been farily terrible since he arrived- after last night 2 wins I think. Are they calling for his head? doubt it, reckon they are hoping for the season to end so he can rebuild and ensure they are ready for a proper challenge next year.
The team is Parky's team and quite frankly some of the players are not good enough, this is not really Parky's fault as when he was buying Francis, McOxo, Doc- there was very little money available and we probably could not have done much better- also a couple were POTY's at their clubs and seemed excellent deals. Regardless of how we finish the season, I can't help but think there will be another big overhaul of the squad.
The summer and next season is when we can properly and fairly judge CP as a manager. For now, I hate to say it but May 6th can't come quick enough.
If you are in a close game- you have to make your luck and our players seem a bit too fragile to do that. Even before Powell, we seemed to lack a belief in our abilities and that is a big weakness for any team. On paper we should be in the play off places but maybe we don't have the characters who can take a few things going against them in a positive way and force some 'good luck'. Maybe we miss Bailey more than we thought we would- a player that you felt - no matter how badly he was playing- was sweating blood for the club - maybe we need a few more with this philospohy - players that roll up their sleeves rather than letting their heads drop when things go against them. Maybe that is why a few of the better ones are playing at this level.
Maybe Powell has to drop his nice guy persona and throw some tea cups and kick some butts.
The difference is Parky got results when not playing well, and when we did play really well such as the November run we look as good as anything in the division.
Do you honestly think we would get a point at Brighton or Colchester now....
All this "Its the players fault" is just blind hypocrisy, this side is a top 4 side without any doubt, its where we were, its where Parky would have kept us, and its where we have absolutely zero chance of getting to now!
Funny thing perspective, eh?
Airman, Largo, cafcdan18 and sm sum it up for me. CP has inherited a poor playing squad who, with a few exceptions, patently aren't as good as either they, or indeed we, thought they were. On the face of it, I thought Parky did well getting a team, let alone a squad, together for this season given the lack of money available - however, he also showed very poor judgement with what little he was given to spend. It was reasonable to expect the team to do better than they have, but it hasn't turned out that way, obviously, and we have to face up to the fact that we simply lack quality, especially in terms of invention and skill.
I know the phrase has been 'evolution, not revolution', but I fear that unless we get the latter and not the former as regards our first team next season we will in for another season of disappointment in this poxy league. I hope that we have a complete overhaul in the summer because I honestly think that that is what is needed. If it happens (or not) it will tell us a lot about the nature of the recent takeover of the club and where the club may be heading in the long term.
Phil Parkinson led us to 6 defeats from 22 games (27%) - Huddersfield A, Exeter A, Brentford A, Brighton H, Walsall H, Swindon H
Chris Powell led us to 5 defeats out of 10 games (50%) - Hartlepool A, Exeter H, Notts County A, Carlisle H, MK Dons A
Pretty much the same squad except Chris Powell has had the services of Bradley Wright-Phillips.
I desperately hope that Chris Powell will be able to turn things around but you'd have to say that if Phil Parkinson's record wasn't considered good enough by some then so far Chris Powell's record certainly isn't.
We signed free transfers, cheap loans and paid nominal fees for players their clubs didn't want (Worner the exception, obviously moved up a few divisions).
We paid more for Benson but strikers aren't cheap. £250k or so will get you a non-league striker who's had a good season or two, or an older League One or Two player like Benson. It's not as if he's not scored goals either, the rest of his game just isn't great. You get what you pay for though, don't you.
His job was to find bargains, build them into a team and get results. Any good football was a bonus. He was pretty much doing just that.
I look forward to seeing what Powell does with this squad in the summer. BWP at the fee we paid was an obvious signing (though no doubt on a good wage) and can't yet judge Bessone.
I don't think it's fair to say I've twisted the facts. They simply are the facts. I'm not saying that we shouldn't give him more time but we can only go on the results so far and I don't think anyone would say that those resutls are anywhere near good enough - including Chris Powell I would imagine.
On the other hand I was hoping for a more experienced, stronger and more positive manager as a replacement, but we got Chris Powell for reasons the board only knows. However i don't mind the idea of Chris Powell being our manager long term and with his footballing brain i think he could be a good manager. The problem is he has inherited a team which was lacking confidence under Parkinson and if they really wanted Parkinson to stay they would have tried harder and have to take responsibility. There was no evidence in the later part of Parkinson's reign that any of them gave a cr*p about Charlton.
At the end of the day the squad is simply not good enough. As someone else said i'd love to see one of the Premiership managers try and get this squad to play the way we all want them too. Poyet has got a team of grafters at Brighton which is why they are doing so well regularly. We have too many weak links.
Ellliot - Not a bad keeper, but is let down a lot by his defence. He has kept us in so many games, but we could do better.
Francis - Absolutely awful defender. Doesn't tackle, gets the odd block in but too slow tracking back. Going forward is ok at times, but he can't defend.
Youga - Injured so can do nothing to help us. He is a good defender and we could really do with him, but not going to happen this season and not everyones cup of tea.
Jackson - Pops up with goals which have helped a lot, better as a midfielder than a defender but still rather sluggish. But his goal record puts him in a positive light.
Llera - Another incident prone defender. Not given a chance this year though when our main CB's have been so poor which seems unfair.
Semedo - Clearly our best player this year. Works so hard. Has a one bad game in 5 and gets abused by some for it.
Wagstaff - Can get goals and like Sam last year looked good at the beginning of the season, but has faded of late and not given a much of a run because of it.
Racon - Could be great for us but very hit and miss, which is a shame.
Wright-Phillips - Does score goals and is what we need, but we can't rely on him alone.
Reid - Could be our most dangerous attacking option, but is often dropped for reasons unknown to us. Not been great of late when he has come on.
Doherty – I expected better from an experienced defender like him, but needs someone faster and stronger alongside him if he is to play.
McCormack - Not the midfield general we need. Spends most of the time moaning at the ref.
Benson - Could get us more goals if he was fed more. He is a poacher, but needs more than the 1 or 2 chances a game that he is given to score.
Fry - Currently injured, not a bad defender, has made a few costly errors, but still a decent defender.
Solly - This guy may be small but is strong and committed. Something we need about now. But his height will let him down. Should be given a go ahead of Francis.
Bessone - When fit he could be a good player for us, but is injury prone which is useless to us right now.
Anyinsah - Injury prone, but i like this guy. He tries hard but doesn’t score many.
Fortune - Not the player he was and i am disappointed with him this season.
Worner - Not as good as Elliott but still young and could improve.
Tuna - Not given a run but to be honest not setting the lower leagues a light either.
Jenkinson - Not as strong as Solly but is taller and really giving it a go. Add a bit of strength and he could be a good player.
Dailly - Gradually getting slower this season, or simply giving up.
Eccelston - Lightening quick and in a confident team could be really dangerous.
Harriott, Mambo, Stavrinou, Warren, Cousins, Gough, Davisson, Hall, Perkins - All young and not ready.
Looking at this squad can people really not see why we aren't winning regularly? Whoever came in for Parkinson would really need to be a miracle worker to make a difference. The players have to take a LOT of the criticism for the performances, because once the whistle blows its up to them to perform. If the squad we had was big enough to make drastic changes then they would have been made by now. The fans also need to stop booing all the time. It achieves nothing but bringing the players even further down in confidence. If you don’t like what you see walk out or don’t go. Do you really think booing helps? It might make you feel better to vent but has it EVER made the players turn in a good performance next time. Some support would be welcome I’m sure.
I really want Powell to be successful for us. I like the guy and he is passionate for Charlton which I don’t believe Dowie, Reed or Pardew were. Parkinson I think had the passion and really wanted to make a name for himself. But I didn’t like that he couldn’t change the game when it was going wrong. But on recent evidence I think you have to put that down to the players not the manager either Parkinson or Powell.
I’m sure I will get criticised for these comments but everyone is allowed their own opinion.
Powell will be successful once he gets players in who are capable of doing the basics. Let's face it, Benson couldn't trap a bag of cement, Reid holds onto the ball longer than Dr Julian Clary at the cough and drop, and I could get into the right defensive position before Francis from halfway up the East stand.
But it won't need that many - there's football in some of them, just they're surrounded by idiots - but we need a leader in the middle of the park and some pace behind to bring it out of them. We need a Mark Kinsella.
Francis - Not awful and a good attacking outlet- has been made a scapegoat and this really affecting him. Worth perservering with but may need a rest. (Keep)
Youga - Injured - HAve needed him all season but been out so long - probably won't ever be the same - will never play for us again I suspect. (Lose)
Jackson - Scores lots of goals but doesn't seem to do much else. You can't ignore the goals but need to identify why a player of his undoubted ability is not in the game more sometimes (Keep).
Llera - A bit unorthodox and a liability against a combination of power and pace. When not faced with this a good footballer who has a pass on him and who is committed - can score his fair share of goals too. Definitely a keeper but possibly shouldn't be first choice although would like to see him play with a fast partner.(Keep)
Semedo - Our best player by a country mile - very consistent so even his bad games are not awful. Always shows. (keep)
Wagstaff - Great engine, works hard but lacks the skill to take people on - However very effective against tiring legs. Showed some promise in a central attacking role. Should be a sub, not a starter at the moment. (Keep)
Racon - I rememeber when he had a shot and could really impose himself on a game- He showed this against better players than he is facing now. Are injuries taking it's toll or have we not found the right balance in the team to get the best from him. (Not sure)
Wright-Phillips - Does score goals - not too much else but you need people who score goals. (Keep)
Reid - Was terrific for us last season - has absence from team dented his confidence. Certainly the cameos we have seen from him make him look like a different player - maybe needs a run of starts. (Keep)
Doherty – Is slow and could do with a pacy defender next to him but not as bad as some prtray. In fact- wins a lot of headers and gets good blocks in - was very good last year for a different team - may be the rest of the defence rather than him. (Keep)
Benson - We certainly ask him to play roles outside what he is accustomed to - has scored so maybe if we are going to play him we should play to his strengths. For me- should be a bench player if we need to change things. (Keep)
Fry - Mistake prone- can't see what others see in him - did a job for us at left back but not a left back. (Lose)
Solly - Looked opromising before he got injured but people shouldn't get carried away - still needs to prove he has what it takes IMO. (not sure)
Bessone - Question mark whether we will get the best from him but if we do, he looks like he could be a proper left back with decent touch. (not sure)
Anyinsah - Injury prone, which I think has affected him - but the fact remains he is a player that makes things happen - gets us penalties/unsettles defenders - He is our best player IMO but unfortuantely also a crock. (keep)
Fortune - It gives me no pleasure to say that I think his career may be over. Injury has taken its toll. (lose)
Worner - Looks a shot stopper but crosses a weakness that I'm sure opponents will look to exploit. (keep)
Tuna - If you are not scoring in lower leagues, you can't expect to score at a higher level. (lose)
Jenkinson - Looks like he could be very good but too young and inexperienced to be playing out of position in a struggling team.(keep)
Dailly - Looks solid most games but distribution can be terrible and not getting better - this is definitely his swansong. (lose)
Eccelston - Very quick and has a lot of ability - needs to be found the right role and have some confidence instilled into him. (Try to keep for next season)
McCormack - Tryer who is too limited. (lose)
Harriott (Keep), Mambo (keep), Stavrinou (Lose), Warren (D/K), Cousins (Keep), Gough (D/K), Davisson (D/K), Hall (D/K), Perkins (Keep) - When play off dream is well and truly over - would like to see Mambo given a run - I've seen him play a few times in pre seasons and like what I see. Yes can make mistakes but he is young - he needs the chance to learn and could be a great asset if managed properly. SHould have been on loan to a club like Southend, Gills or Barnet this season.
really? Doesn't do much else?
*walks off shaking head*
You have twisted the facts to suit your arguement/opinion though. Powell has been a manager for an extremely very short time. Managers take time to learn their craft, & even then they are still learning new things every day. He doesn't know the squad as well as Parkinson, & obviously wants to do something different.
The position that Parky took us to, may have been a false dawn, with expectations getting even higher, so whoever was going to be in charge, would have a tougher act to follow.
Hindsight is a wonderful/awful thing. What if we had managed to get Cahill, or Bullard, or Sidwell, or Dawson, or any other burgeoning talent that has come on a bundle in the past few years, & now plying their trade at the top level?(Bullard aside-but was)
You just never know, & you will send yourself nuts trying to get the answers.
It's obvious though, that patience isn't a virtue that exists much in the game of Football anymore. A change now would make us a true laughing stock of a club, & seriously put off any manager who might be interested in the future.
With all the doom & gloom in the world, it's no wonder that Football is the escape for lots of people, & I hate seeing us mis-firing all over the place, but at this point in time, I am happy that we are now financially secure, with the potential to build a brighter future.(5 points should guarantee to stave off any relegation threat-Hopefully won't be an issue anyway)
Come the end of the season & if CP has only won 1 or 2 more games, then I might wonder about our future under his guidance. Until then, I'm gonna bite my lip, suck it up & continue to get behind him & the team.
Hopefully, Powell can sow/sew up this team, & trade it in for a silk purse in the summer. (Had to get the analogy of choice for everyone at the mo', in there somewhere.);-)
Jenkinson and Stavrinou did fairly well in the Blue Square Prem and both had a decent run of games. Mambo seemed to struggle as he was dropped to the bench.
Well, I make you 90% right. Good post.
Keep: Elliot, Jenkinson, Solly, Wagstaff, Ecclestone (if we could), Wright Phillps, Semedo, Jackson, Bessone (seen enough even when half fit) - and if I were Chrissy I would make them all the core of my team until the end of the season so that get used to playing as a team.
Not sure: Worner, Fry (as a CB), Fortune (depends on medical reports - is his loss of pace permanent?), Llera (can he cut out the stupid mistakes that occur when he is more relaxed about his place?), Youga (depends on medical reports, Mambo (need to see more), Reid (subject to attending a passing for beginers course - should he be a striker rather than in midfield given his passing/crossing and defending ability? ), Anyinsah (has he a long term medical problem or is he just unlucky), Racon (can he concentrate on some product rather than showing off his tricks?)
Definitely let go: Fry (as a FB), Doherty (Lambert didn't want him in the Championship and he looks to be a pretty good judge), Francis, McCormack, Benson (imagine him against Championship CBs), Dailly (thanks for everything, but he knows he cannot go any higher)
The striker's fifth goal for the Millers set up a 2-1 win against Southend United reserves at Mill Field, to book a showpiece final place.
Charlton official site.....
Fast-starting Aveley were two goals up after the first 16 minutes with Tuna, who netted a hat-trick to knock out Canvey Island earlier in the competition, opening the scoring .Gary haines goes on.......
He rounded goalkeeper Glenn Morris to score after good work from strike partner Sherwin Stanley, and Tuna was then involved in the multi-pass move that saw Andy Howell double the hosts' lead.
I know that people have dismissed Tam, for other alleged 'wonder striker's' since departed and the goal machine that isnt' Benson ( 20 goals a season we were promised) but the lad has been sent to lower leagues to gain experience, what was he suppossed to do refuse!.....
Fair enough you think he is not good enough , but please try and get the facts right......
I don't think we need to get rid of as many as some are suggesting. I do however think we should be looking for a completely fresh (starting) back four, central midfield partnership (get McCormack out the door. Racon & Semedo can leave as well, wages are too high for the jobs they do) and the target man our squad needs. Players like Llera, Benson and even Dailly can be kept as squad players but I do think we need to improve the calibre of player in our starting XI for next season.
Of course it all relies on the amount of money CP may or may not be given and even then it may be difficult to attract quality players to the third tier.