There have been a lot of discussions on here about Chris Powell lately. One thing that they all have in common is that before long someone will add a comment that he's still learning. I can't help but wonder if we are overplaying the, 'Chris is a rookie' argument a bit. Sure, he's not as long in the tooth as some managers and he's not been hopping on and off the management merry-go-round like some, but I don't believe he's as green as these comments make him seem.
It is, of course, undeniable that he is still learning; all managers are. Part of the game is the continual cat and mouse act of teams changing formations/tactics to gain an advantage. These often work in the short term until the other managers suss out what they're doing, then the advantage is lost and they have to try something else. In this sense even a manager who's been around the block as much as Alex Ferguson will still be learning. If they're not continually learning, they're very soon going to find winning very difficult. But the way the phrase is used here is a bit different to this. It's as if to suggest that Chris Powell is still wet behind the ears. As if when his discovered more than just the basics of management, he'll eventually be ok. I don't believe that to be so, just take a look at his cv:
⁕ Has had a professional involvement in football for over 25 years.
⁕ Played 763 professional matches for eight different clubs.
⁕ Represented his country on five occasions, surpassing many people's expectations (though maybe not so much Charlton fans).
⁕ Chairman of the PFA for 5 years.
⁕ Has completed UEFA B & A coaching badges and UEFA Pro Licence (the highest qualification there is).
⁕ Has played for, been trained by or worked with the following managers: Alan Curbishley, Roy Hodgson, Sven Goran Eriksson, Steve Coppell, Len Walker, Dave Webb, Colin Murphy, Barry Fry, Jim Smith, Alan Pardew, Adrian Boothroyd.
⁕ Has been Charlton manager for 2 years and 50 days and is currently the 23rd longest serving manager out of the 92 league clubs and 6th longest in The Championship.
⁕ Steered Charlton to promotion last season winning the highest points total ever by a Charlton manager.
⁕ Has won three Manager of the Month awards and was in 2011-12 the League One Manager of the Season.
I don't want to overplay this and make out that he's not going to learn, but I don't think we should assume that he's miles behind the others and still has loads to learn. If I'd been in my industry for 25 years and my current job for 2 years and people kept saying I was still learning, I think I'd be a bit miffed and wonder why they were making excuses for me. In Chris Powell we have an absolute diamond, I think we should respect his experience a bit more.
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I think there is often a subtext when people say "he's learning from his mistakes" which is either "he's now doing what I think he should do" or "we won" as if the poster knew all along whislt the nieve CP has just, finally, worked out how to manage that week.
He is relatively inexperienced when compared to his peers in this league. Men such as Jackett, Warnock, Pearson, Mowbray, Bruce, McCarthy, Davis etc. So he will be out thought at times. I think we can put that down to the experience of others so it does have a part to play.
However, the main concern if I remember correctly when Powell was appointed was that he would be a soft touch or too nice. This clearly is not the case. I pray he is given time and money...and is allowed the odd mistake without being harangued and chastised.
I'll repeat SCP is the best thing to happen to this club since Lord Curbs
Curbs left in 2006 we then got relegated twice over the next few years ........SCP then arrives and we get a record haul of 101 points and go up as champions and are very close to securing our Championship status with little investment in the current team .
Hope this helps !!
Not sure what more he could have done on the resources provided but hey ho in another world we may have walked this division too
Not sure what else you'd expect to have happened in his short tenure but each to their own
as you said he is learning. hope he learns fast, he needs to in this division. i worry about repeat mistakes, slow subs, tinkering etc, but having not attended matches can only rely on others' comments. Maybe they are wrong and like you say he is a brilliant manager.
Did spend a bit in League 1 but not millions. I'm sure our wage bill is nowhere near Leicester's reported £27m last season...
- Managing the expectations of the fans
- Managing your own relationship with the business side of the club
- Scouting/Transfers
- Being the main point of pressure for when something goes wrong
Lets keep in mind as well that Charlton have never been 'sitting still' as long as Powell has been in charge. Every single season he has taken on (including the 2nd half of the first one) have involved very different, fast paced challenges.
As of next season, hopefully things will be a little calmer in terms of expectations. That way Powell can just get on with doing the job without a huge target hanging over his head.
Last year I understand that Huddersfield's wage bill was 50% higher than ours, and
Several clubs are benefitting from parachute money. For example Blackburn and Woles, currently below us in the table.
So I reckon the answer to your question, Steve, is " most of them".
Perhaps he'll get a chance to sit back and review at some stage but I doubt it.