From a glass half full perspective the need to escape today was brought on by himself, now is not the time to praise him. Let's see what the summer brings.
Strictly speaking the poor performance in the first half of the season led to us dicing with relegation. Refusal to strengthen last summer and no loan players when Solly and Kermorgant were injured is a big contrast to the signings the year before especially up front. Duchatelet certainly did not pull out the chequebook when he arrived to rescue the squad and manager. But he did get a few extra bodies in some of whom helped us to key wins. And I'm sure there will be changes over the summer. But the club is being run by someone who is decisive, minted and experienced at running a football club. The previous owners had just one of those attributes but with that and someone else's money they pulled us out of League 1
I think a massive thank you is in order. Bought in players from Liege who played a part in keeping us up, got rid of a much loved legend and inserted his own man. And it only went and worked! We were told he would make unpopular decisions that would be proved right and that's exactly what happened.
No, no. Please don't thank Roland. Thank Powell, thank Riga, thank Jackson and the lads, but this has all been in spite of Roland.
The only thing you could argue in his favour is that we're no longer in the financial mire with him here. But when someone takes control of you for their own personal gain and slings you into a network with their other business assets, they don't deserve fawning and thanks in my book.
And citing the players he brought in as a positive is laughable - especially as not one featured at any stage tonight, which absolutely tells the story. You think Thuram, Koc, Piotr, Nego have been good do you? Even Reza and Astrit have more critics than supporters and their contribution over the season pales into utter insignificance when put against those of Kermorgant and Stephens who Roland shipped out.
I think he's very fortunate his football ally Riga looks to be a good coach. Roland has a very limited understanding of the game according to every informed source that's known about him over the years. Riga himself did well, but don't start telling me getting rid of Powell was some kind of footballing masterstroke where he mapped out a transformation on the pitch. He sacked Powell because he agree with the network ideology - that's been made explicitly clear - it was little to do with footballing issues.
With more sensible ownership we'd have been safe weeks before now. With the Kermorgant debacle in particular, he's extremely lucky his mismanagement didn't throw us into even more mess than it did.
I think a massive thank you is in order. Bought in players from Liege who played a part in keeping us up, got rid of a much loved legend and inserted his own man. And it only went and worked! We were told he would make unpopular decisions that would be proved right and that's exactly what happened.
No, no. Please don't thank Roland. Thank Powell, thank Riga, thank Jackson and the lads, but this has all been in spite of Roland.
The only thing you could argue in his favour is that we're no longer in the financial mire with him here. But when someone takes control of you for their own personal gain and slings you into a network with their other business assets, they don't deserve fawning and thanks in my book.
And citing the players he brought in as a positive is laughable - especially as not one featured at any stage tonight, which absolutely tells the story. You think Thuram, Koc, Piotr, Nego have been good do you? Even Reza and Astrit have more critics than supporters and their contribution over the season pales into utter insignificance when put against those of Kermorgant and Stephens who Roland shipped out.
I think he's very fortunate his football ally Riga looks to be a good coach. Roland has a very limited understanding of the game according to every informed source that's known about him over the years. Riga himself did well, but don't start telling me getting rid of Powell was some kind of footballing masterstroke where he mapped out a transformation on the pitch. He sacked Powell because he agree with the network ideology - that's been made explicitly clear - it was little to do with footballing issues.
With more sensible ownership we'd have been safe weeks before now. With the Kermorgant debacle in particular, he's extremely lucky his mismanagement didn't throw us into even more mess than it did.
I was wondering why Riga continually picked Thuram, Nego, Reza, AA and Koc...
Duchatelet may well have been lucky, but the good news is that he's got rid of a Manager he couldn't work with and got one in that he can. In addition, he's got a cleaner slate budget wise than he would have had had he engaged in a bidding war to retain Kermorgant.
Let's see what our Lucky General does with his good fortune in the summer.
RD ain't lucky he is a calculated business man who won with his strategy
Some may not like it some may rebel against it
But I bet this morning very few can say he has got anything wrong thus far
The investment in the pitch next season
The plans for sparrows
The signing of the youth
The offer to Diego ( let's hope he signs)
The signing of wiggins and jacko
We lost CP when it was proven that he couldn't work with RD and ultimately RD is the boss so what he says goes
But he replaced him with Riga a master stroke and a great mgr
He retained DM and AD to keep the continuity
He has employed a very able CEO in KM and has kept on Prothero and I hear good things about MP
He has plugged the leaky bucket and has given much back
He provided players to give depth to the squad at a time it was needed.
Listen to Rigas words and his noises about the squad and those who have contributed so few mins and how that has given us back a club
The youth are our future he knows this he also knows it's the way to balance the books
But before he is pilloried for that it is no different to any other owner or chair we have had
The network is being used as a rod to hit him with
Me I am going to use it as the stick to measure him with over the next 18months we have access to world wide scouting network and that is a good thing not a bad thing
Thank you RD thank you KM and think you JR
I will also say thank you CP as without the points you gained then JR would've had an impossible job
RD ain't lucky he is a calculated business man who won with his strategy
Some may not like it some may rebel against it
But I bet this morning very few can say he has got anything wrong thus far
The investment in the pitch next season
The plans for sparrows
The signing of the youth
The offer to Diego ( let's hope he signs)
The signing of wiggins and jacko
We lost CP when it was proven that he couldn't wily with RD and ultimately RD is the boss so what he says goes
But he replaced him with Riga a master stroke and a great mgr
He retained DM and AD to keep the continuity
He has employed a very able CEO in KM and has kept on Prothero and I hear good things about MP
He has plugged the leaky bucket and has given much back
He provided players to give depth to the squad at a time it was needed.
Listen to Rigas words and his noises about the squad and those who have contributed so few mins and how that has given us back a club
The youth are our future he knows this he also knows it's the way to balance the books
But before he is pilloried for that it is no different to any other owner or chair we have had
The network is being used as a rod to hit him with
Me I am going to use it as the stick to measure him with over the next 18months we have access to world wide scouting network and that is a good thing not a bad thing
Thank you RD thank you KM and think you JR
I will also say thank you CP as without the points you gained then JR would've had an impossible job
Looks like he will be writing out a cheque for £4m this morning to the previous twats.
My understanding is during the last two summers the old regime failed to honour suppliers payment terms, it would be nice if RD could take a similar stance and give TJ and MS a taste of their own medicine.
He bought the club and has been virtually fire fighting ever since. The pitch, sub standard (no pun intended) squad, a management that couldn't buy into his ethos and a relegation scrap to win.
He's come through that with flying colours.
As nla has already said let's now measure him by how he does now that he can start anew next season.
Well, done to all Charlton today be it management, fans or owner.
The next few months are where we'll really see what his plan is about. The situation when he took over was all hands to the pumps, firefighting, survival mode. You can call him lucky if you like but fortune favours the bold as the old cliche goes, he took a (calculated) risk in replacing CP with Riga and it worked, so fair play to the man as far as I am concerned. I have often used the word 'pragmatism' when analysing/debating RD's style, it may be more of the same - not a spending spree but some astute and important signings to evolve the squad on a budget - exactly like CP did in his first summer. He may very well have underestimated the Championship in January but I would be amazed if he makes that mistake twice. Whatever faults he has he is a pretty shrewd operator, for better or worse.
R.D. has brought us financial the stability off the pitch that has been missing for the last 4/5 years. Appointing J.R. and the very enthusiastic K.M. was an excellent move. Lets hope we can focus more on the playing side over the next couple of seasons rather than worrying about administration. Mid table obscurity would be fine for me next season.
We have a lot to thank RD for but the jury is still very much out on the network philosophy.
The only one of the network players that can be considered even remotely a success is Astrid and the rest - Reza's wonder goal at Leeds apart - were simply nowhere near good enough.
Bottom line is that if you are not considered good enough for the Liege 1st team squad then you are unlikely to be good enough for Championship football.
That's not to say that, for example, Reza is not a very talented player but he does not look cut out for English football.
I understand and share your reservations about the network but we were trying before the window closed to sign some decent players from the championship and prem- Eagles, Wickham etc. So although the jury is out regarding the network our hopes may be raised during the next few months with some good signings.
We have a lot to thank RD for but the jury is still very much out on the network philosophy.
The only one of the network players that can be considered even remotely a success is Astrid and the rest - Reza's wonder goal at Leeds apart - were simply nowhere near good enough.
Bottom line is that if you are not considered good enough for the Liege 1st team squad then you are unlikely to be good enough for Championship football.
That's not to say that, for example, Reza is not a very talented player but he does not look cut out for English football.
I understand and share your reservations about the network but we were trying before the window closed to sign some decent players from the championship and prem- Eagles, Wickham etc. So although the jury is out regarding the network our hopes may be raised during the next few months with some good signings.
We have a lot to thank RD for but the jury is still very much out on the network philosophy.
The only one of the network players that can be considered even remotely a success is Astrid and the rest - Reza's wonder goal at Leeds apart - were simply nowhere near good enough.
Bottom line is that if you are not considered good enough for the Liege 1st team squad then you are unlikely to be good enough for Championship football.
That's not to say that, for example, Reza is not a very talented player but he does not look cut out for English football.
Indeed, I have said all along that we can only judge RD by what he does in the summer.
Bottom line is that you just cannot do this on the cheap, yes, the youth system is important but HAS to be supported by quality, experience pros and they don't come cheap.
Back in the 90s we took the next step by signing quality players like Mendonca - we need to do the same now.
I understand and share your reservations about the network but we were trying before the window closed to sign some decent players from the championship and prem- Eagles, Wickham etc. So although the jury is out regarding the network our hopes may be raised during the next few months with some good signings.
We have a lot to thank RD for but the jury is still very much out on the network philosophy.
The only one of the network players that can be considered even remotely a success is Astrid and the rest - Reza's wonder goal at Leeds apart - were simply nowhere near good enough.
Bottom line is that if you are not considered good enough for the Liege 1st team squad then you are unlikely to be good enough for Championship football.
That's not to say that, for example, Reza is not a very talented player but he does not look cut out for English football.
Indeed, I have said all along that we can only judge RD by what he does in the summer.
Bottom line is that you just cannot do this on the cheap, yes, the youth system is important but HAS to be supported by quality, experience pros and they don't come cheap.
Back in the 90s we took the next step by signing quality players like Mendonca - we need to do the same now.
Totally agree as we will be stuck in mid-table forever without the right signings. The good news is that 15-20 players go this summer who probably made 50 appearances between them. The Watford scorer last night looks like the type of player we need.
I understand and share your reservations about the network but we were trying before the window closed to sign some decent players from the championship and prem- Eagles, Wickham etc. So although the jury is out regarding the network our hopes may be raised during the next few months with some good signings.
We have a lot to thank RD for but the jury is still very much out on the network philosophy.
The only one of the network players that can be considered even remotely a success is Astrid and the rest - Reza's wonder goal at Leeds apart - were simply nowhere near good enough.
Bottom line is that if you are not considered good enough for the Liege 1st team squad then you are unlikely to be good enough for Championship football.
That's not to say that, for example, Reza is not a very talented player but he does not look cut out for English football.
Indeed, I have said all along that we can only judge RD by what he does in the summer.
Bottom line is that you just cannot do this on the cheap, yes, the youth system is important but HAS to be supported by quality, experience pros and they don't come cheap.
Back in the 90s we took the next step by signing quality players like Mendonca - we need to do the same now.
Totally agree as we will be stuck in mid-table forever without the right signings. The good news is that 15-20 players go this summer who probably made 50 appearances between them. The Watford scorer last night looks like the type of player we need.
Of course Troy Deeney would be a fantastic signing. Now try and sensibly estimate his transfer value ( you could use transfermarkt for want of anything better) and his wages. And then tell us if you expect RD to splash that kind of cash. I will be very surprised.
I think if they do make a serious striker signing it will be from outside the UK, as they will believe there is better value to be had there. But as we have seen with Polish Pete, there are risks, some of them not directly related to footballing ability. Nevertheless, if their scouting network can deliver someone of Deeneys quality, then hats off to them.
Anyone who has made their mind up one way or the other isn't too smart. We got good money for outgoing players, but missed em terribly. Incoming players were substandard with the exception of AA who seems to be a bit broken. But the progress on the pitch and academy are there for all to see. The loss of Powell was a big blow for many of us, but his replacement did the job well and steered us out of dirty water with a clam quality, and less resources than our man had at his disposal. Hopefully lessons will have been learned and football trades will improve dramatically. We shall see.
I understand and share your reservations about the network but we were trying before the window closed to sign some decent players from the championship and prem- Eagles, Wickham etc. So although the jury is out regarding the network our hopes may be raised during the next few months with some good signings.
We have a lot to thank RD for but the jury is still very much out on the network philosophy.
The only one of the network players that can be considered even remotely a success is Astrid and the rest - Reza's wonder goal at Leeds apart - were simply nowhere near good enough.
Bottom line is that if you are not considered good enough for the Liege 1st team squad then you are unlikely to be good enough for Championship football.
That's not to say that, for example, Reza is not a very talented player but he does not look cut out for English football.
Indeed, I have said all along that we can only judge RD by what he does in the summer.
Bottom line is that you just cannot do this on the cheap, yes, the youth system is important but HAS to be supported by quality, experience pros and they don't come cheap.
Back in the 90s we took the next step by signing quality players like Mendonca - we need to do the same now.
Totally agree as we will be stuck in mid-table forever without the right signings. The good news is that 15-20 players go this summer who probably made 50 appearances between them. The Watford scorer last night looks like the type of player we need.
That level of player will be going for premiership money. We need to grow one or rejuvenate a discard and that is a long shot.
Comments
The only thing you could argue in his favour is that we're no longer in the financial mire with him here. But when someone takes control of you for their own personal gain and slings you into a network with their other business assets, they don't deserve fawning and thanks in my book.
And citing the players he brought in as a positive is laughable - especially as not one featured at any stage tonight, which absolutely tells the story. You think Thuram, Koc, Piotr, Nego have been good do you? Even Reza and Astrit have more critics than supporters and their contribution over the season pales into utter insignificance when put against those of Kermorgant and Stephens who Roland shipped out.
I think he's very fortunate his football ally Riga looks to be a good coach. Roland has a very limited understanding of the game according to every informed source that's known about him over the years. Riga himself did well, but don't start telling me getting rid of Powell was some kind of footballing masterstroke where he mapped out a transformation on the pitch. He sacked Powell because he agree with the network ideology - that's been made explicitly clear - it was little to do with footballing issues.
With more sensible ownership we'd have been safe weeks before now. With the Kermorgant debacle in particular, he's extremely lucky his mismanagement didn't throw us into even more mess than it did.
Let's see what our Lucky General does with his good fortune in the summer.
Some may not like it some may rebel against it
But I bet this morning very few can say he has got anything wrong thus far
The investment in the pitch next season
The plans for sparrows
The signing of the youth
The offer to Diego ( let's hope he signs)
The signing of wiggins and jacko
We lost CP when it was proven that he couldn't work with RD and ultimately RD is the boss so what he says goes
But he replaced him with Riga a master stroke and a great mgr
He retained DM and AD to keep the continuity
He has employed a very able CEO in KM and has kept on Prothero and I hear good things about MP
He has plugged the leaky bucket and has given much back
He provided players to give depth to the squad at a time it was needed.
Listen to Rigas words and his noises about the squad and those who have contributed so few mins and how that has given us back a club
The youth are our future he knows this he also knows it's the way to balance the books
But before he is pilloried for that it is no different to any other owner or chair we have had
The network is being used as a rod to hit him with
Me I am going to use it as the stick to measure him with over the next 18months we have access to world wide scouting network and that is a good thing not a bad thing
Thank you RD thank you KM and think you JR
I will also say thank you CP as without the points you gained then JR would've had an impossible job
Today is a good day
He's come through that with flying colours.
As nla has already said let's now measure him by how he does now that he can start anew next season.
Well, done to all Charlton today be it management, fans or owner.
Keep it up
Appointing J.R. and the very enthusiastic K.M. was an excellent move.
Lets hope we can focus more on the playing side over the next couple of seasons rather than worrying about administration.
Mid table obscurity would be fine for me next season.
The only one of the network players that can be considered even remotely a success is Astrid and the rest - Reza's wonder goal at Leeds apart - were simply nowhere near good enough.
Bottom line is that if you are not considered good enough for the Liege 1st team squad then you are unlikely to be good enough for Championship football.
That's not to say that, for example, Reza is not a very talented player but he does not look cut out for English football.
Bottom line is that you just cannot do this on the cheap, yes, the youth system is important but HAS to be supported by quality, experience pros and they don't come cheap.
Back in the 90s we took the next step by signing quality players like Mendonca - we need to do the same now.
I think if they do make a serious striker signing it will be from outside the UK, as they will believe there is better value to be had there. But as we have seen with Polish Pete, there are risks, some of them not directly related to footballing ability. Nevertheless, if their scouting network can deliver someone of Deeneys quality, then hats off to them.