Very often I view Airman's comments as a beacon of good sense on this forum but not this time.
What Powell is basically sayimg was that he was relying on one chance to win this game and the team was picked and set up to that end. If we were playing a Premier team that might wash but we were not. Sheffield United are a decent third tier team but a third tier team nevertheless. We might have lost Kermogant and Stephens but any Championship club should be able to compete properly with a team in the division below them and that didn't happen yesterday. In 90 minutes we didn't have a meaningful effort on target. One of the moans ealier in the season was thet we were playing hoofball to Kermogant, today we were doing much the same to Church! If Powell accepts that the new regime has stripped him of the vital assets needed to compete properly against a half decent third division team then he should resign.
Ok Stephens has gone but AA is a playmaker and as others have stated he could have started even if not 100 per cent fit. We began the game ineptly and carried on with Powell effectively hoping for just one chance to score. AA started at Wednesday and we bossed the game for the first 30 minutes which gave us a platform to win the game. Yesterday we allowed United to take the initiative right from the start and when they deservedly scored we collapsed. Their manager could bemoan his bad luck in not winning by three or four goals.
Within the first 25 mintes of the game yesterday everybody in my earshot was complaining about the tactics and general incompetence on show. Up to now I have always supported Powell for all he has given this club. However yesterday was so woeful, all the more so because of the occasion, I really wouldn't mind if he went. We are well used to losing games but to be that poor in such an important game was humiliating. There were five and a half thousand of us there yesterday but the display from the team was so woeful as to constitute a betrayal.
To be honest I think Chris Powell should probably have resigned on January 31st and I don't think it was that far from his mind. He is, however, and extraordinarily loyal, decent and good man, which I know first hand from my own experience of him, even though I wouldn't pretend to know him well. In the current circumstances what this means is that walking away would amount to letting down his staff, the players, the fans and the club, in that order and he has been very reluctant to do that.
Of course that doesn't make him the perfect manager and of course he makes mistakes, which he will know as well as anyone. But all managers of struggling teams make mistakes and do things that fans can't understand. People calling for Reza and Polish Pete to play are to me the same as those demanding that Pigott be given his chance in August because he looked good against Welling or that Smith have a run in the team because he'd done well in League Two.
In the end, the manager and his staff are the only people with all the information to make those choices, so while I will also disagree with some of them and have my own opinion, it's inconceivable that something as obvious as Cousins on the right flank and AA being on the bench isn't the subject of endless discussion within the playing management or that they don't have their reasons for persisting with the former.
You can't, in my view, just dismiss 101 points as down to superior resources or last season's ninth placed finish as a fluke. Nobody in the game would take that view, which is why Chris will easily get another job if he leaves this summer, which sadly I expect.
It's not dismissing anything he's done in the past, to say the comment is an example of weak management. If Pardew had said something similar we'd all have been hooting with derision.
Either sign the new contract now, or resign. If you are not happy with the cards being dealt to you by Roland, then do the honorable thing and walk. You would get more respect, and the longer this carries on, you will have more Charlton fans turning against you.
I'm sure you will find another coach/managers role eleswhere, as you are so liked by your fellow pro's, or plenty of media work for a while. I'm sure you are not short of a few quid, unlike most of us who treked to Sheffield yesterday.
It's not dismissing anything he's done in the past, to say the comment is an example of weak management. If Pardew had said something similar we'd all have been hooting with derision.
Yes, because it would have been in character for him to blame someone else. It's not in Chris's nature, so whether it was valid or not, I don't see it as a big issue. And factually that miss was crucial in the way the second half unfolded.
Either sign the new contract now, or resign. If you are not happy with the cards being dealt to you by Roland, then do the honorable thing and walk. You would get more respect, and the longer this carries on, you will have more Charlton fans turning against you.
I'm sure you will find another coach/managers role eleswhere, as you are so liked by your fellow pro's, or plenty of media work for a while. I'm sure you are not short of a few quid, unlike most of us who treked to Sheffield yesterday.
I agree with this.
The system is what it is, RD is not going to change it so Powell has to use it or walk, its no good to anybody if RD wants to use "the network" and Powell digs his heels in and plays "his" players.
I love Powell and would be sad to see him go, but RD owns the club now and if Powell can't or won't play ball then he will have to go for the good of everyone.
Of course, four or (we can dream) six points from Huddersfield and Millwall and the game changes again but right now Powell is under massive pressure.
United are a counter attacking side and Powell's plan was to frustrate them then hope they opened up. Extremely negative in the extreme though, seeing they were from a division below us. He is correct in one sense though –I thought we were pretty comfortable and the turning point in the game was the miss. We probably all knew we had lost it after that! I think Harriot scores that 8 times out of 10 the way he hit it – or if he had the composure to control it first – probably 10 times out of 10! What frustrates me is that I was thinking that United would probably put a quality ball in at some point (law of averages) and there was always the risk of a deflection – both happened – quell surprise- Has anybody noticed how we concede deflected goals so often but hardly ever score them btw. Any money made from this cup run has to be put into bringing 2 quality players in – or does RD tend to fiddle as Rome burns?
I expect to be kicked in the teeth on a regular basis supporting Charlton, but Sunday was a firm kick to the nether regions too!
I don't believe that the 101 points two years ago was a fluke. Aided by adequate backing at the time Powell got the players in to play his system and it worked. Last year is more of a moot point. I thought we were fortunate to finish as high as we did although there were occasional good performances and we finished the season well. Powell did well given the limited resources at his disposal.
This year much of the standard of football on display has been pretty awful and we are deservedly right in a relegation scrap.
The point I was making about yesterday was that it was a "something will turn up display". Whichever way you cut it Sheffield United are third tier, albeit a pretty decent third tier team. At no point did we put them under sustained pressure and at no point did we get an effort on goal that an average pub team goalkeeper couldn't easily deal with. We reinforced failure right across the pitch. Church and Tudgay didn't win a header all game so we persisted slinging it in the air to them, high balls to the wing for Harriot to do god knows what with etc. It was a dreadful display of ineptitude.
There is another thread on the forum currently recalling the quarter final at Old Traffold. Gritt and Curbishley had had to sell one good player after another: Lee, Webster, Barness, Watson, etc. We were playing the best team in the country and we lost. BUT, we troubled them enough to have their goalkeeper sent off and at half time we had "Things can only get better". At half time yesterday everybody around me in the lower stand was saying how deflated they were and that was before Sheffield United scored.
Most managers have a sell by date or need a change. It is with a heavy heart and the very best wishes for the future that I feel that the time for Powell to consider his options.
I don't believe that the 101 points two years ago was a fluke. Aided by adequate backing at the time Powell got the players in to play his system and it worked. Last year is more of a moot point. I thought we were fortunate to finish as high as we did although there were occasional good performances and we finished the season well. Powell did well given the limited resources at his disposal.
This year much of the standard of football on display has been pretty awful and we are deservedly right in a relegation scrap.
The point I was making about yesterday was that it was a "something will turn up display". Whichever way you cut it Sheffield United are third tier, albeit a pretty decent third tier team. At no point did we put them under sustained pressure and at no point did we get an effort on goal that an average pub team goalkeeper couldn't easily deal with. We reinforced failure right across the pitch. Church and Tudgay didn't win a header all game so we persisted slinging it in the air to them, high balls to the wing for Harriot to do god knows what with etc. It was a dreadful display of ineptitude.
There is another thread on the forum currently recalling the quarter final at Old Traffold. Gritt and Curbishley had had to sell one good player after another: Lee, Webster, Barness, Watson, etc. We were playing the best team in the country and we lost. BUT, we troubled them enough to have their goalkeeper sent off and at half time we had "Things can only get better". At half time yesterday everybody around me in the lower stand was saying how deflated they were and that was before Sheffield United scored.
Most managers have a sell by date or need a change. It is with a heavy heart and the very best wishes for the future that I feel that the time for Powell to consider his options.
I'm not in any sense saying that things are good. I reluctantly came to the conclusion at the end of January that we are in all probability going down and I think that is a complete disaster, all the worse because it has been completely avoidable. I just think that turning on Chris Powell - the best thing about the club for the last three years - won't solve the fundamental problems. It will just remove the best thing about the club at present. But I am absolutely certain that Chris has been "considering his options" for some time.
Totally agree Airman that Powell going would make things worse. I just get the sense that Chris has been working under such pressure and limitations that it is now getting to the point where it is affecting his ability to manage. I really wish that he can agree a contract very soon, this week even and get to concentrate on getting the team right. At the moment I think he's just too distracted and why wouldn't he be.
Either sign the new contract now, or resign. If you are not happy with the cards being dealt to you by Roland, then do the honorable thing and walk. You would get more respect, and the longer this carries on, you will have more Charlton fans turning against you.
I'm sure you will find another coach/managers role eleswhere, as you are so liked by your fellow pro's, or plenty of media work for a while. I'm sure you are not short of a few quid, unlike most of us who treked to Sheffield yesterday.
I agree with this.
The system is what it is, RD is not going to change it so Powell has to use it or walk, its no good to anybody if RD wants to use "the network" and Powell digs his heels in and plays "his" players.
I love Powell and would be sad to see him go, but RD owns the club now and if Powell can't or won't play ball then he will have to go for the good of everyone.
Of course, four or (we can dream) six points from Huddersfield and Millwall and the game changes again but right now Powell is under massive pressure.
Or you could argue Powell is trying to look out for the club and negotiate a workable scenario that would bring the club success. He knows the club, he knows football. RD is playing games with Charlton. I respect Chris for trying to do the right thing for Charlton. I doubt he will be successful, as you say RD will probably get what he wants, but I honestly think Powell is trying to do what he believes is right.
One comment from another thread is, for me, quite telling.. This season, so far, we have had 3 really crunch matches.... Millwall home, Doncaster away and Sheff U away. Whats been the outcome?..... 3 losses with zero scored and 6 against. However, the common denominator has been total and utter crap performances - probably the 3 worst of the season. why is this? is it lack of motivation by the playing staff?, or maybe been outwitted by a better oppo manager ?, or maybe too much pressure on the players from the coaches that they couldnt perform?, or maybe even the player selection criteria is flawed and we are not buying/playing the right players for the occasion?. TBH, i've had enough of it, i'm fed up with crap performances, i'm fed up with being beaten in every crucnh match, i'm fed up with having no shots on goal, i'm fed up with no-show players.I'm fed up with no plan,style or anything positive. Somethings gotta change !
One comment from another thread is, for me, quite telling.. This season, so far, we have had 3 really crunch matches.... Millwall home, Doncaster away and Sheff U away. Whats been the outcome?..... 3 losses with zero scored and 6 against. However, the common denominator has been total and utter crap performances - probably the 3 worst of the season. why is this? is it lack of motivation by the playing staff?, or maybe been outwitted by a better oppo manager ?, or maybe too much pressure on the players from the coaches that they couldnt perform?, or maybe even the player selection criteria is flawed and we are not buying/playing the right players for the occasion?. TBH, i've had enough of it, i'm fed up with crap performances, i'm fed up with being beaten in every crucnh match, i'm fed up with having no shots on goal, i'm fed up with no-show players.I'm fed up with no plan,style or anything positive. Somethings gotta change !
I'm sure RD thinks his model will work for us - and maybe Chris can see some of the benefits, but has/had more knowledge of the team and the Division. We don't have to speculate to know that he wouldn't have sanctioned the sale of Kermogant and Stephens and I would imagine he is frustrated by the owner's seeming inability to see the bigger picture.
I have no doubt Chrissy set up in such a way as he thought would give us the best chance and he doesn't have loads of options. Sheff Utd are a limited side (like us) who play to a system. They have pace out wide and set up negatively (we can't complain about that as we do too). For me, I think we need to be looking at a way to get our full backs pushing up - which might mean playing Cousins in a dfensive central midfiled role - but not sure thet would have been the best way to go against United.
Had Harriot taken his chance, I suspect we would have been a lot more positivity here. And in all honesty it is a chance I would have been disapointed to miss.
Just made myself watch the 'highlights' and the miss was even worse than I'd originally thought - was upper tier central block so had a decent enough view as it happened. Open goal eight yards out and he's pulled it wide of the target - a shocker...
Weasel words from one we thought honourable. Not a missed opportunity - an opportunity scornfully declined - a collective resignation letter from 11 or 12 charlatans. I for one won't forgive, I'm looking forward to forgetting if I can.
Just made myself watch the 'highlights' and the miss was even worse than I'd originally thought - was upper tier central block so had a decent enough view as it happened. Open goal eight yards out and he's pulled it wide of the target - a shocker...
He should have controlled it first - probably didn't know he was totally free - The frustrating thing is, he is one of the few Charlton players you would normally want a chance like that to fall to!
Just made myself watch the 'highlights' and the miss was even worse than I'd originally thought - was upper tier central block so had a decent enough view as it happened. Open goal eight yards out and he's pulled it wide of the target - a shocker...
Reading that i had to go see for myself , it was as i thought pathetic
We can bemoan Chrissy's tactics, but we can't argue with the accuracy of his statement - that was a turning point - I knew it was at the time as I suspect to many fellow addicks.
IF IF IF that chance had been taken we would have gone on to win, of that I am convinced. The miss came at a point in the game when both sides were still nervous and finding their way .. the miss gave them encouragement and hope, our morale (for no good reason so far as I am concerned, remember QPR) flopped and we bottled it. It has been an inconsistent, I am tempted to say schizophrenic season ..
Comments
Of course that doesn't make him the perfect manager and of course he makes mistakes, which he will know as well as anyone. But all managers of struggling teams make mistakes and do things that fans can't understand. People calling for Reza and Polish Pete to play are to me the same as those demanding that Pigott be given his chance in August because he looked good against Welling or that Smith have a run in the team because he'd done well in League Two.
In the end, the manager and his staff are the only people with all the information to make those choices, so while I will also disagree with some of them and have my own opinion, it's inconceivable that something as obvious as Cousins on the right flank and AA being on the bench isn't the subject of endless discussion within the playing management or that they don't have their reasons for persisting with the former.
You can't, in my view, just dismiss 101 points as down to superior resources or last season's ninth placed finish as a fluke. Nobody in the game would take that view, which is why Chris will easily get another job if he leaves this summer, which sadly I expect.
Either sign the new contract now, or resign. If you are not happy with the cards being dealt to you by Roland, then do the honorable thing and walk. You would get more respect, and the longer this carries on, you will have more Charlton fans turning against you.
I'm sure you will find another coach/managers role eleswhere, as you are so liked by your fellow pro's, or plenty of media work for a while. I'm sure you are not short of a few quid, unlike most of us who treked to Sheffield yesterday.
The system is what it is, RD is not going to change it so Powell has to use it or walk, its no good to anybody if RD wants to use "the network" and Powell digs his heels in and plays "his" players.
I love Powell and would be sad to see him go, but RD owns the club now and if Powell can't or won't play ball then he will have to go for the good of everyone.
Of course, four or (we can dream) six points from Huddersfield and Millwall and the game changes again but right now Powell is under massive pressure.
I expect to be kicked in the teeth on a regular basis supporting Charlton, but Sunday was a firm kick to the nether regions too!
I don't believe that the 101 points two years ago was a fluke. Aided by adequate backing at the time Powell got the players in to play his system and it worked. Last year is more of a moot point. I thought we were fortunate to finish as high as we did although there were occasional good performances and we finished the season well. Powell did well given the limited resources at his disposal.
This year much of the standard of football on display has been pretty awful and we are deservedly right in a relegation scrap.
The point I was making about yesterday was that it was a "something will turn up display". Whichever way you cut it Sheffield United are third tier, albeit a pretty decent third tier team. At no point did we put them under sustained pressure and at no point did we get an effort on goal that an average pub team goalkeeper couldn't easily deal with. We reinforced failure right across the pitch. Church and Tudgay didn't win a header all game so we persisted slinging it in the air to them, high balls to the wing for Harriot to do god knows what with etc. It was a dreadful display of ineptitude.
There is another thread on the forum currently recalling the quarter final at Old Traffold. Gritt and Curbishley had had to sell one good player after another: Lee, Webster, Barness, Watson, etc. We were playing the best team in the country and we lost. BUT, we troubled them enough to have their goalkeeper sent off and at half time we had "Things can only get better". At half time yesterday everybody around me in the lower stand was saying how deflated they were and that was before Sheffield United scored.
Most managers have a sell by date or need a change. It is with a heavy heart and the very best wishes for the future that I feel that the time for Powell to consider his options.
This season, so far, we have had 3 really crunch matches....
Millwall home, Doncaster away and Sheff U away.
Whats been the outcome?..... 3 losses with zero scored and 6 against.
However, the common denominator has been total and utter crap performances - probably the 3 worst of the season.
why is this? is it lack of motivation by the playing staff?, or maybe been outwitted by a better oppo manager ?, or maybe too much pressure on the players from the coaches that they couldnt perform?, or maybe even the player selection criteria is flawed and we are not buying/playing the right players for the occasion?.
TBH, i've had enough of it, i'm fed up with crap performances, i'm fed up with being beaten in every crucnh match, i'm fed up with having no shots on goal, i'm fed up with no-show players.I'm fed up with no plan,style or anything positive.
Somethings gotta change !
I have no doubt Chrissy set up in such a way as he thought would give us the best chance and he doesn't have loads of options. Sheff Utd are a limited side (like us) who play to a system. They have pace out wide and set up negatively (we can't complain about that as we do too). For me, I think we need to be looking at a way to get our full backs pushing up - which might mean playing Cousins in a dfensive central midfiled role - but not sure thet would have been the best way to go against United.
Had Harriot taken his chance, I suspect we would have been a lot more positivity here. And in all honesty it is a chance I would have been disapointed to miss.
Not a missed opportunity - an opportunity scornfully declined - a collective resignation letter from 11 or 12 charlatans.
I for one won't forgive, I'm looking forward to forgetting if I can.
It has been an inconsistent, I am tempted to say schizophrenic season ..
He also lost the ball in midfield, which led to their goal :-(