VetP. Would you like RD's network to be about teams of equals?
Your development coach said 'if the player is not good enough for the Standard liege first team and needs some experience, he can go to Charlton for experience, and if Charlton have a good talent, he can come to Standard Liege'.
For me, as a Charlton fan that sounds more like a SL reserve team?
If it was a case of collaboration and agreement by everybody, and seeing which player suits which club and the players agreeing also, would you think that was a good idea?
This is the crucial detail Seth and the one I think we most disagree on. To some people, this is absolute incontrovertible proof that Roland & Co. are intending to asset strip Charlton (despite us not having many assets in the first place) and make us a glorified reserves team. To others of us (including me) this is the Liege coach talking about what would best suit him and his club.
To the very best of my knowledge, not once has Roland himself actually mentioned similar plans, nor has any debate about whether Charlton management get any say in the matter - notwithstanding that Poyet seems set to prove that this diabolical intraclub swap shop scheme depends a lot on the players themselves anyway.
Immediately after I first saw the broadcast I felt shocked that the guy said that so publically in the BBC report, it should have been a statement for behind closed doors. Indeed I wrote at the time that if he had a chance to communicate with Powell at the impending meeting he ought to apologise if it was seen as disrespectful, and clarify things with him. I agree this is where you and I differ, would you and I agree that it would be nice to have credible clarity on what exactly the policy is?
Very much so, while I have been more supportive in general terms of RD than many on here, there are serious doubts I have, mainly with the timing of the sacking and the fact that while rumours remain rumours regarding team selection, there has been no official statement denying them, which I would have though would be priority one. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, and while I still do not think RD's plans are so blatantly nefarious as some fans do, even a brief statement as to what they actually are would clear things up immensely.
I agree that Jean-Francois de Sart was ill advised to imply so clearly that he saw Charlton as inferior to Standard Liege. However, my interpretation of what his statement meant is somewhat more prosaic.
My sense is that de Sart genuinely felt he was helping Chris Powell during January. However, I'd be very confident that Duchatelet's advisors, including de Sart, made a major error. They badly underestimated the strength of the Championship and failed to understand that Ajdarevic apart the players "sent" to Charlton simply aren't good enough for England's second tier. What we've seen so far is just a screw up, incompetence if you like, rather than evidence of some Machiavellian plot. I'm not saying that's good news obviously because even if they've now realised its too late to amend matters this season.
The quote Seth pulls out is concerning. But even if de Sart is talking from a particularly Standard Liege perspective, who in the network will be counteracting that with an overt Charlton perspective? Who is our equivalent of de Sart?
Murray and maybe Paul Hart/Phil Chappelle are the only people with a senior position at Charlton (I can think of) not previously employed by SL.
It's natural for there to be concerns and doubts. Hence this group which I can only see being a good thing for fans with those concerns and doubts.
(The Trust is also a good thing. Don't see why both can't exist.)
I agree that Jean-Francois de Sart was ill advised to imply so clearly that he saw Charlton as inferior to Standard Liege. However, my interpretation of what his statement meant is somewhat more prosaic.
My sense is that de Sart genuinely felt he was helping Chris Powell during January. However, I'd be very confident that Duchatelet's advisors, including de Sart, made a major error. They badly underestimated the strength of the Championship and failed to understand that Ajdarevic apart the players "sent" to Charlton simply aren't good enough for England's second tier. What we've seen so far is just a screw up, incompetence if you like, rather than evidence of some Machiavellian plot. I'm not saying that's good news obviously because even if they've now realised its too late to amend matters this season.
Now this is an interesting interpretation, the cock up theory of History as it were. It is also pretty credible. However there still remains the issue that Karel, who is now here together with Jose trying to guide us to safety, said as long ago as February 9th that Standard Liege have top place in the network. Can you see how that looks alongside de Sarts answer in the BBC piece? There are also the rather unclear events regarding team selection, and the arrival of players, who plays...even emails and so forth to cloud matters and add to the anxieties about what the function of Charlton Athletic is now, and may be in the future. You may call all this the ramblings of a paranoid conspiracy theorist, I wouldn't agree of course. There has been, and is still, enough stuff going on surrounding this change that raising the issue isn't one of paranoia, but of reasonable concern at least.
He could be right, and as long as his aims of making money are compatible with my dreams of seeing Charlton successful then I say good luck to him. I can't really see that asset stripping or player sales would ever make enough cash to repay his investment, so let's hope it's onwards and upwards with him.
That said, I do have misgivings about being part of a stable of clubs. I'm really not sure how healthy it is. I'm concerned that players will (continue to be?) foisted upon the team whether required or not, that someone looking at a bigger picture than just Charlton will meddle with team selections, or that we could lose our academy products before they've been given a chance to flourish with us. Although, when did we ever keep our starlets for long anyway?
I dream that one day we'll have a chairman/owner/benefactor who is not only minted but has a genuine love of Charlton. A Whelan, a Walker, Kenwright, Harding.... One of the things that really got to me about the last mob was that the only one with a voice was so open about his love of Man City. Not that I've anything against them, other than the fact that they are not Charlton. It's probably too much to ask but I long for a time when the club is owned/run by people who love the club for what it is, and don't see it as a potential cash cow.
We did! We had a Chairman who loved the club and was very much in tune with the fans, so much that he thought he'd stick two fingers up at Palarse by appointing Dowie and thus created our downfall. Step forward Murray...
RD looks upon us as a business and wants us to succeed and thus bring profits through success, so be it...
The quote Seth pulls out is concerning. But even if de Sart is talking from a particularly Standard Liege perspective, who in the network will be counteracting that with an overt Charlton perspective? Who is our equivalent of de Sart?
Murray and maybe Paul Hart/Phil Chappelle are the only people with a senior position at Charlton (I can think of) not previously employed by SL.
It's natural for there to be concerns and doubts. Hence this group which I can only see being a good thing for fans with those concerns and doubts.
(The Trust is also a good thing. Don't see why both can't exist.)
It is hypothetical at the moment, but if/when RD appoints an 'actual' head coach/manager (assuming Riga really is a stop gap) then whoever that may be will presumably be someone he appoints with the aim of getting Charlton to succeed - presumably therefore providing the Charlton perspective. There is also the (currently slight I must admit) possibility that KM and Murray will get a bit more influence once RD focuses on another of his network of clubs.
I agree that Jean-Francois de Sart was ill advised to imply so clearly that he saw Charlton as inferior to Standard Liege. However, my interpretation of what his statement meant is somewhat more prosaic.
My sense is that de Sart genuinely felt he was helping Chris Powell during January. However, I'd be very confident that Duchatelet's advisors, including de Sart, made a major error. They badly underestimated the strength of the Championship and failed to understand that Ajdarevic apart the players "sent" to Charlton simply aren't good enough for England's second tier. What we've seen so far is just a screw up, incompetence if you like, rather than evidence of some Machiavellian plot. I'm not saying that's good news obviously because even if they've now realised its too late to amend matters this season.
Now this is an interesting interpretation, the cock up theory of History as it were. It is also pretty credible. However there still remains the issue that Karel, who is now here together with Jose trying to guide us to safety, said as long ago as February 9th that Standard Liege have top place in the network. Can you see how that looks alongside de Sarts answer in the BBC piece? There are also the rather unclear events regarding team selection, and the arrival of players, who plays...even emails and so forth to cloud matters and add to the anxieties about what the function of Charlton Athletic is now, and may be in the future. You may call all this the ramblings of a paranoid conspiracy theorist, I wouldn't agree of course. There has been, and is still, enough stuff going on surrounding this change that raising the issue isn't one of paranoia, but of reasonable concern at least.
I don't think you're paranoid and I share your concerns though my anxiety remains more general than specific at this stage. What I mean by that is that I'm doubtful that Duchatelet has a clear plan, but instead has some high level principles which he believes will enable him to succeed holistically (this is not just about money for him) in, as he sees it, the fascinating madhouse of professional Football.
The risk is that he's guilty of a serious dose of wishful thinking and, as result, he'll find that in practice it's all much more difficult than he imagines. Ironically, the recent success of Standard Liege, which might simply be random, may have encouraged him in his belief that he has a "better way".
It's even possible that in his romantic vision he vaguely envisages Alcorcon as a feeder Club for Charlton and, in turn, Charlton as a feeder Club for Standard Liege, but what, in practice, might that mean. How many players might it make sense to move from Charlton to Standard Liege, for example? And how many of them would move? Not Diego Poyet, I'm sure. Insofar as any value might be created for Standard would it justify the purchase price and ongoing losses? The realpolitik of the professional game will out in the end
Our friend from Liege said "we don't understand Duchatelet". I don't think we ever will either. He's an oddball. I think we're right to be concerned, but if it all goes wrong I suspect it will be more a case of the mad Professor who blew up his own laboratory than Dr Evil.
The quote Seth pulls out is concerning. But even if de Sart is talking from a particularly Standard Liege perspective, who in the network will be counteracting that with an overt Charlton perspective? Who is our equivalent of de Sart?
Murray and maybe Paul Hart/Phil Chappelle are the only people with a senior position at Charlton (I can think of) not previously employed by SL.
It's natural for there to be concerns and doubts. Hence this group which I can only see being a good thing for fans with those concerns and doubts.
(The Trust is also a good thing. Don't see why both can't exist.)
It is hypothetical at the moment, but if/when RD appoints an 'actual' head coach/manager (assuming Riga really is a stop gap) then whoever that may be will presumably be someone he appoints with the aim of getting Charlton to succeed - presumably therefore providing the Charlton perspective. There is also the (currently slight I must admit) possibility that KM and Murray will get a bit more influence once RD focuses on another of his network of clubs.
Will the 'success' of Charlton be measured in the obvious way fans understand, that is wins and points and league position, alongside goals and skill. Or could it be that footballing achievement would not be the priority or the measure of success?
The quote Seth pulls out is concerning. But even if de Sart is talking from a particularly Standard Liege perspective, who in the network will be counteracting that with an overt Charlton perspective? Who is our equivalent of de Sart?
Murray and maybe Paul Hart/Phil Chappelle are the only people with a senior position at Charlton (I can think of) not previously employed by SL.
It's natural for there to be concerns and doubts. Hence this group which I can only see being a good thing for fans with those concerns and doubts.
(The Trust is also a good thing. Don't see why both can't exist.)
It is hypothetical at the moment, but if/when RD appoints an 'actual' head coach/manager (assuming Riga really is a stop gap) then whoever that may be will presumably be someone he appoints with the aim of getting Charlton to succeed - presumably therefore providing the Charlton perspective. There is also the (currently slight I must admit) possibility that KM and Murray will get a bit more influence once RD focuses on another of his network of clubs.
Will the 'success' of Charlton be measured in the obvious way fans understand, that is wins and points and league position, alongside goals and skill. Or could it be that footballing achievement would not be the priority or the measure of success?
Who knows? Except Roland, and he's not telling. That's why I am willing to give him time, if he dedicates time and money to getting Charlton successful by the first criteria then frankly I will forgive him the departure of Powell. But if it is the second, then believe me I will be as anti-RD as anyone.... but there just isn't enough proof either way for me to totally condemn him yet.
Roland's stated measure of success is breaking even. Whilst that is an admirable goal for any business, it is laughable in the foreseeable future in the madhouse that is the Championship (or L1 for that matter)...and completely at odds with any scenario re making a push for the Prem.
Roland's stated measure of success is breaking even. Whilst that is an admirable goal for any business, it is laughable in the foreseeable future in the madhouse that is the Championship (or L1 for that matter)...and completely at odds with any scenario re making a push for the Prem.
And if every time a player shows some form, he gets loaned or sold to Standard or any other club with two bob, then we're royally fecked forever, if this is the business plan. Here's hoping that pressure on RD to be upfront about his 'real plans' at a fans forum type meeting, will force him to be open and frank.
Whilst I am still gutted at his treatment of CP, something else has occurred to me. If it's all about money, which it seems to be, then clearly there's more money to be made in the Premier league than in a season in the champions league. While Standard are flying high RD is hardly likely to undermine that by suggesting that long term Charlton would be the side to make him real cash? So in the interview he made the right noises for the current situation, but long term the potential here is greater than at any of his other clubs. Just a thought?
How many players came from Charlton to Standard Liège in January? Where will Poyet go end of this season? Not in Liège.
His plan isn't to take our current players to SL as none of them are good enough, quite clearly, our future academy products once proven they are good enough. Which is why he emphasises on spending money on the academy, there will be two CAFCs in the football league, both with the same lives imo.
A lot of people like the Dario Gradi era and ethos at Crewe, and he produced a lot of good players (as have Charlton over the same period BTW), Luke Varney is at least one that played for Charlton. Not only that, I believe Crewe have been able to balance the books. A lot of people like the Crewe Alexandra model, especially as it means they are not much of a threat to others in terms of results and league standing.
I agree that Jean-Francois de Sart was ill advised to imply so clearly that he saw Charlton as inferior to Standard Liege. However, my interpretation of what his statement meant is somewhat more prosaic.
My sense is that de Sart genuinely felt he was helping Chris Powell during January. However, I'd be very confident that Duchatelet's advisors, including de Sart, made a major error. They badly underestimated the strength of the Championship and failed to understand that Ajdarevic apart the players "sent" to Charlton simply aren't good enough for England's second tier. What we've seen so far is just a screw up, incompetence if you like, rather than evidence of some Machiavellian plot. I'm not saying that's good news obviously because even if they've now realised its too late to amend matters this season.
Now this is an interesting interpretation, the cock up theory of History as it were. It is also pretty credible. However there still remains the issue that Karel, who is now here together with Jose trying to guide us to safety, said as long ago as February 9th that Standard Liege have top place in the network. Can you see how that looks alongside de Sarts answer in the BBC piece? There are also the rather unclear events regarding team selection, and the arrival of players, who plays...even emails and so forth to cloud matters and add to the anxieties about what the function of Charlton Athletic is now, and may be in the future. You may call all this the ramblings of a paranoid conspiracy theorist, I wouldn't agree of course. There has been, and is still, enough stuff going on surrounding this change that raising the issue isn't one of paranoia, but of reasonable concern at least.
I think the cock up theory has merit and also that today's team selection should settle down some of the conspiracy theories with Nego and Thuram non playing subs. I think that RD and the Liege coach felt the arrivals would strengthen and that it is a good thing that this misjudgement was made so early. For there is time to make amends in the loan window and this new coaching set up can get it right over the summer so we can push on. The thing about anxieties is that there are journalists and local "players" who wish to exploit them and add to tensions. My solution as a fan is to watch the games, read comments on here and see if there are signs that we are turning a corner. Today I saw some - not conclusive but enough to indicate that it's looking better.
At which point they'd just won the double, but have won nothing since. So people saying that he's been a success at SL are assuming that they'll win the league this year.
I agree that Jean-Francois de Sart was ill advised to imply so clearly that he saw Charlton as inferior to Standard Liege. However, my interpretation of what his statement meant is somewhat more prosaic.
My sense is that de Sart genuinely felt he was helping Chris Powell during January. However, I'd be very confident that Duchatelet's advisors, including de Sart, made a major error. They badly underestimated the strength of the Championship and failed to understand that Ajdarevic apart the players "sent" to Charlton simply aren't good enough for England's second tier. What we've seen so far is just a screw up, incompetence if you like, rather than evidence of some Machiavellian plot. I'm not saying that's good news obviously because even if they've now realised its too late to amend matters this season.
Now this is an interesting interpretation, the cock up theory of History as it were. It is also pretty credible. However there still remains the issue that Karel, who is now here together with Jose trying to guide us to safety, said as long ago as February 9th that Standard Liege have top place in the network. Can you see how that looks alongside de Sarts answer in the BBC piece? There are also the rather unclear events regarding team selection, and the arrival of players, who plays...even emails and so forth to cloud matters and add to the anxieties about what the function of Charlton Athletic is now, and may be in the future. You may call all this the ramblings of a paranoid conspiracy theorist, I wouldn't agree of course. There has been, and is still, enough stuff going on surrounding this change that raising the issue isn't one of paranoia, but of reasonable concern at least.
I don't think you're paranoid and I share your concerns though my anxiety remains more general than specific at this stage. What I mean by that is that I'm doubtful that Duchatelet has a clear plan, but instead has some high level principles which he believes will enable him to succeed holistically (this is not just about money for him) in, as he sees it, the fascinating madhouse of professional Football.
The risk is that he's guilty of a serious dose of wishful thinking and, as result, he'll find that in practice it's all much more difficult than he imagines. Ironically, the recent success of Standard Liege, which might simply be random, may have encouraged him in his belief that he has a "better way".
It's even possible that in his romantic vision he vaguely envisages Alcorcon as a feeder Club for Charlton and, in turn, Charlton as a feeder Club for Standard Liege, but what, in practice, might that mean. How many players might it make sense to move from Charlton to Standard Liege, for example? And how many of them would move? Not Diego Poyet, I'm sure. Insofar as any value might be created for Standard would it justify the purchase price and ongoing losses? The realpolitik of the professional game will out in the end
Our friend from Liege said "we don't understand Duchatelet". I don't think we ever will either. He's an oddball. I think we're right to be concerned, but if it all goes wrong I suspect it will be more a case of the mad Professor who blew up his own laboratory than Dr Evil.
I think that MF is spot on again.
I believe that Duchatelet thinks he can succeed by recruiting and/or developing through his academies young cheaper players with potential who can be utilised and developed in his ‘network’ or sold on at a profit, and that there are also other cost ‘synergies’ from a network that will enable all this to be done ‘profitably’.
I also don’t think that there is necessarily any firm or fixed ‘hierarchy’ of clubs in his network, but that priorities will be determined ‘on the fly’ as results and income potential of clubs change.
Those I think are his ‘principles’ rather than a firm ‘plan’ – but I share MF's fear that he maybe “guilty of a serious dose of wishful thinking” and it may end in tears.
Curiously, these basic ‘principles’ are not that dissimilar to what Jimenez apparently originally thought he could do (he recruited Hart and initially put a lot of emphasis on the academy). However, unlike Duchatelet, he was playing with someonelse’s money, not his own – but they took their ball and went home.
I agree that Jean-Francois de Sart was ill advised to imply so clearly that he saw Charlton as inferior to Standard Liege. However, my interpretation of what his statement meant is somewhat more prosaic.
My sense is that de Sart genuinely felt he was helping Chris Powell during January. However, I'd be very confident that Duchatelet's advisors, including de Sart, made a major error. They badly underestimated the strength of the Championship and failed to understand that Ajdarevic apart the players "sent" to Charlton simply aren't good enough for England's second tier. What we've seen so far is just a screw up, incompetence if you like, rather than evidence of some Machiavellian plot. I'm not saying that's good news obviously because even if they've now realised its too late to amend matters this season.
Now this is an interesting interpretation, the cock up theory of History as it were. It is also pretty credible. However there still remains the issue that Karel, who is now here together with Jose trying to guide us to safety, said as long ago as February 9th that Standard Liege have top place in the network. Can you see how that looks alongside de Sarts answer in the BBC piece? There are also the rather unclear events regarding team selection, and the arrival of players, who plays...even emails and so forth to cloud matters and add to the anxieties about what the function of Charlton Athletic is now, and may be in the future. You may call all this the ramblings of a paranoid conspiracy theorist, I wouldn't agree of course. There has been, and is still, enough stuff going on surrounding this change that raising the issue isn't one of paranoia, but of reasonable concern at least.
I don't think you're paranoid and I share your concerns though my anxiety remains more general than specific at this stage. What I mean by that is that I'm doubtful that Duchatelet has a clear plan, but instead has some high level principles which he believes will enable him to succeed holistically (this is not just about money for him) in, as he sees it, the fascinating madhouse of professional Football.
The risk is that he's guilty of a serious dose of wishful thinking and, as result, he'll find that in practice it's all much more difficult than he imagines. Ironically, the recent success of Standard Liege, which might simply be random, may have encouraged him in his belief that he has a "better way".
It's even possible that in his romantic vision he vaguely envisages Alcorcon as a feeder Club for Charlton and, in turn, Charlton as a feeder Club for Standard Liege, but what, in practice, might that mean. How many players might it make sense to move from Charlton to Standard Liege, for example? And how many of them would move? Not Diego Poyet, I'm sure. Insofar as any value might be created for Standard would it justify the purchase price and ongoing losses? The realpolitik of the professional game will out in the end
Our friend from Liege said "we don't understand Duchatelet". I don't think we ever will either. He's an oddball. I think we're right to be concerned, but if it all goes wrong I suspect it will be more a case of the mad Professor who blew up his own laboratory than Dr Evil.
I think that MF is spot on again.
I believe that Duchatelet thinks he can succeed by recruiting and/or developing through his academies young cheaper players with potential who can be utilised and developed in his ‘network’ or sold on at a profit, and that there are also other cost ‘synergies’ from a network that will enable all this to be done ‘profitably’.
I also don’t think that there is necessarily any firm or fixed ‘hierarchy’ of clubs in his network, but that priorities will be determined ‘on the fly’ as results and income potential of clubs change.
Those I think are his ‘principles’ rather than a firm ‘plan’ – but I share MF's fear that he maybe “guilty of a serious dose of wishful thinking” and it may end in tears.
Curiously, these basic ‘principles’ are not that dissimilar to what Jimenez apparently originally thought he could do (he recruited Hart and initially put a lot of emphasis on the academy). However, unlike Duchatelet, he was playing with someonelse’s money, not his own – but they took their ball and went home.
2 great posts and that is exactly what I believe his plan is.
One thing comes to mind. He develops a lot of younger players on reasonable wages, but needs to supplemement them with "outsiders".
The "outsiders" may/will demand higher wages. Will this not cause a rift between the network players and the outsiders ?
If you think that there is no 'fixed hierarchy' of clubs then consider that he is Belgian and one of his clubs is Belgian, then think again.
I think you misunderstand Duchatelet's motives.
I don't think he's in football as a fan supporting this or that team or even a team of a particular nationality but is in pursuit of his probably hare-brained scheme to try to make football 'pay' by creating a network of clubs, so that, as I said, which one is his priority at any one time will probably be "determined ‘on the fly’ as results and income potential of clubs change".
I'm certainly not saying it will work or that it will be good for Charlton - not least because he also seems to not only want to recruit (and sell) players without his managers' involvement but also, more worryingly, to dictate who ought to be playing - if the reports about what happened last Sunday (from a number of usually reliable sources) are true.
So I don't think it's as simple as Belgium Owner = Belgium club will be top dog.
I think that after two games with Riga the issue about Duchatelet picking the precise team is dead and buried? I've not seen Thuram nor Nego play a single minute out of the last 180. We have Reza and Ajdarevic and I trust one or two will come in during the loan window. There is the risk that there is no overall strategy as Mundell speculates. Equally one could point to Fraeye and Miere being on the group payroll since last September might indicate there has been quite a detailed plan even before CAFC became the acquisition target?!
Slightly off the subject but I don't quite fully understand Roland's set-up. For instance what happens to us (and th e other clubs) if anything happens to Roland? Would we come under his family's control or that of his business empire? just wondered.
We might get left to Battersea dogs home or a nice Donkey charity!!
Roland will be "right" if he continues to back the club financially and let the manager sign and pick his players without interference. That seems to be the case this season and it's working so far.
Roland was "wrong" when he thought Koc, Ajdarevic, Thuram, Nego, Reza and Piotr would sufficiently replace key players and then undermined the management when they weren't picked.
Roland will be "right" if he continues to back the club financially and let the manager sign and pick his players without interference. That seems to be the case this season and it's working so far.
Roland was "wrong" when he thought Koc, Ajdarevic, Thuram, Nego, Reza and Piotr would sufficiently replace key players and then undermined the management when they weren't picked.
Has he already learned a lesson?
I honestly think he only brought them in to keep us up and that was it, which Is why other than Polish Pete they all came from his clubs, he did not want to spend money if we got relegated so they were brought in for a quick fix.
Comments
My sense is that de Sart genuinely felt he was helping Chris Powell during January. However, I'd be very confident that Duchatelet's advisors, including de Sart, made a major error. They badly underestimated the strength of the Championship and failed to understand that Ajdarevic apart the players "sent" to Charlton simply aren't good enough for England's second tier. What we've seen so far is just a screw up, incompetence if you like, rather than evidence of some Machiavellian plot. I'm not saying that's good news obviously because even if they've now realised its too late to amend matters this season.
Murray and maybe Paul Hart/Phil Chappelle are the only people with a senior position at Charlton (I can think of) not previously employed by SL.
It's natural for there to be concerns and doubts. Hence this group which I can only see being a good thing for fans with those concerns and doubts.
(The Trust is also a good thing. Don't see why both can't exist.)
However there still remains the issue that Karel, who is now here together with Jose trying to guide us to safety, said as long ago as February 9th that Standard Liege have top place in the network. Can you see how that looks alongside de Sarts answer in the BBC piece?
There are also the rather unclear events regarding team selection, and the arrival of players, who plays...even emails and so forth to cloud matters and add to the anxieties about what the function of Charlton Athletic is now, and may be in the future.
You may call all this the ramblings of a paranoid conspiracy theorist, I wouldn't agree of course. There has been, and is still, enough stuff going on surrounding this change that raising the issue isn't one of paranoia, but of reasonable concern at least.
RD looks upon us as a business and wants us to succeed and thus bring profits through success, so be it...
The risk is that he's guilty of a serious dose of wishful thinking and, as result, he'll find that in practice it's all much more difficult than he imagines. Ironically, the recent success of Standard Liege, which might simply be random, may have encouraged him in his belief that he has a "better way".
It's even possible that in his romantic vision he vaguely envisages Alcorcon as a feeder Club for Charlton and, in turn, Charlton as a feeder Club for Standard Liege, but what, in practice, might that mean. How many players might it make sense to move from Charlton to Standard Liege, for example? And how many of them would move? Not Diego Poyet, I'm sure. Insofar as any value might be created for Standard would it justify the purchase price and ongoing losses? The realpolitik of the professional game will out in the end
Our friend from Liege said "we don't understand Duchatelet". I don't think we ever will either. He's an oddball. I think we're right to be concerned, but if it all goes wrong I suspect it will be more a case of the mad Professor who blew up his own laboratory than Dr Evil.
Chicken or the Egg?
Liege or Standard?
Rat or Roland?
The Network or Charlton?
A lot of people like the Crewe Alexandra model, especially as it means they are not much of a threat to others in terms of results and league standing.
I think that RD and the Liege coach felt the arrivals would strengthen and that it is a good thing that this misjudgement was made so early. For there is time to make amends in the loan window and this new coaching set up can get it right over the summer so we can push on.
The thing about anxieties is that there are journalists and local "players" who wish to exploit them and add to tensions. My solution as a fan is to watch the games, read comments on here and see if there are signs that we are turning a corner. Today I saw some - not conclusive but enough to indicate that it's looking better.
So far SL have won nothing since RD took over.
I believe that Duchatelet thinks he can succeed by recruiting and/or developing through his academies young cheaper players with potential who can be utilised and developed in his ‘network’ or sold on at a profit, and that there are also other cost ‘synergies’ from a network that will enable all this to be done ‘profitably’.
I also don’t think that there is necessarily any firm or fixed ‘hierarchy’ of clubs in his network, but that priorities will be determined ‘on the fly’ as results and income potential of clubs change.
Those I think are his ‘principles’ rather than a firm ‘plan’ – but I share MF's fear that he maybe “guilty of a serious dose of wishful thinking” and it may end in tears.
Curiously, these basic ‘principles’ are not that dissimilar to what Jimenez apparently originally thought he could do (he recruited Hart and initially put a lot of emphasis on the academy). However, unlike Duchatelet, he was playing with someonelse’s money, not his own – but they took their ball and went home.
One thing comes to mind. He develops a lot of younger players on reasonable wages, but needs to supplemement them with "outsiders".
The "outsiders" may/will demand higher wages. Will this not cause a rift between the network players and the outsiders ?
I don't think he's in football as a fan supporting this or that team or even a team of a particular nationality but is in pursuit of his probably hare-brained scheme to try to make football 'pay' by creating a network of clubs, so that, as I said, which one is his priority at any one time will probably be "determined ‘on the fly’ as results and income potential of clubs change".
I'm certainly not saying it will work or that it will be good for Charlton - not least because he also seems to not only want to recruit (and sell) players without his managers' involvement but also, more worryingly, to dictate who ought to be playing - if the reports about what happened last Sunday (from a number of usually reliable sources) are true.
So I don't think it's as simple as Belgium Owner = Belgium club will be top dog.
We have Reza and Ajdarevic and I trust one or two will come in during the loan window.
There is the risk that there is no overall strategy as Mundell speculates. Equally one could point to Fraeye and Miere being on the group payroll since last September might indicate there has been quite a detailed plan even before CAFC became the acquisition target?!
Roland was "wrong" when he thought Koc, Ajdarevic, Thuram, Nego, Reza and Piotr would sufficiently replace key players and then undermined the management when they weren't picked.
Has he already learned a lesson?