Anyhoo back to Jose. First 'live' experience of his brand of football last night and I like how he's trying to get us to play. Feeling a bit more confident about our survival and plain to see that the team togetherness is in no way diminished.
I think there are a hell of a lot of 'searching for conclusions' that simply are not there imo.
As a result, Riga's 'strengths' are getting exaggerated, as are Powell's 'weaknesses'.
Let's just hope this keeps up, and then come the end of the season we can do some proper looking back comparatives between the two regimes.
Agree completely.
If we get tonked 3-0 by Reading and then don't beat Yeovil some of the people now praising Riga will be giving him stick again.
Let's judge this at the end of the season, I get the feeling that there will be some thrills and spills before then - you just know that either Yeovil or Barnsley are going to turn us over at The Valley - its the Charlton way.
Many thought that CP as a relatively young manager needed time to mature - fair comment really.
I wonder whether he needed to extra experience of a progressive style of play as to my mind he was more of the traditionalist 'what we have we hold' type in the Curbs mould. No one can criticise what Curbs achieved with comparatively small resources but maybe, just maybe JR has given us a glimpse that there is another somewhat more up to date style of play that may be effective with small resources.
No way of really knowing but to me a picture is developing...........
Powell's gone. It's about Riga now. Move on.
But I handed in my homework on time Headmaster ;-))
I know you are upset SCP's not around anymore but you really need to let it go.
Move on for your own sake, it will only break your heart. Learn to embrace change.
A bit early to judge and it could all go wrong but I think there some key changes to the way we set up that have undoubtedly been positive .
Firstly, I'd echo earlier comments that we set up to win rather than not lose now, this means that we are winning some games we would have drawn or lost under CP. It also means that when we do play teams that have real quality we can end up on the receiving end of a sound beating. I'm happy with this as GD is worth a maximum of 1 point and I think that the points we can gain from being positive outweigh this.
Secondly, the emphasis on trying to keep possession seems far more convincing, we still look pretty toothless but we don't seem to run out of ideas and resort to the long aimless diagonal as quickly as we did previously.
Overall, though it's clear mistakes have been made (the Thuram move has clearly been unsuccessful and divisive) I'm feeling more confident about the club than I have been for a few years. Hopefully the owner learns quickly from any mistakes he makes and manages to reverse the decline we've seen at the club since the Premier League relegation.
if we stay up, this summer is going to be very very interesting
It is! Just imagine tonight's squad plus a few others on long term deals and replace 8-10 players + retain Poyet and Hamer... Could have a decent squad in August?
Riga has made his own luck with selections, subs and tactics - the players have done the rest.
I did at first think that our improvements were due to what is known in political circles as the dead cat bounce, if this is true our cat must be on a trampoline!
Gotta be a Spanner @JT or maybe a Leeds fan, they robbed us at the turnstiles Tuesday night so we nicked the points :0). Who do you think is in the frame?
Bob Stokoe Eddie Firmani Theo Foley Andy Nelson Mike Bailey Alan Mullery Ken Craggs Lenny Steve Gritt/ Alan Curbishley Curbs Dowie Par(twat)dew Parkinson CP JR
i think thats all the managers i have seen CAFC play under some were good some awful.
Surely you dont compare one manager who has left against another who has been in the job weeks ? History will show who is better than who and in what circumstances.(IMO)
Lenny is a legend ---end of--------to get us promoted when we were playing at Shitouts Park and after the receivers had padlocked the Valley the year before is truly astounding.
Theo Foley ---a great guy and a fountain of knowledge about all things related to London football. He brought in Hales, Flanagan, Horsefield----------memories of when we used to score a few goals. However Theo was never a Manager --a good coach and number two yes.
Nelson another good manager at lower level---lost the plot and called us "drunken morons" ------------actually maybe he had a point !
Bailey as above, He left us for more money at Brighton, shame he put together a good side.
Mullery---another egotistical twat-----it was always "Alan Mulleys Charlton" ---destroyed baileys team.
Thought Gritty was hard done by to be booted out , but it proved to be inspired .
Curbs----got us into the top division twice and kept us there longer than anyone expected-----better than Lenny ? debatable. Defo lost the dressing room at the end, but would have loved to have seen him get the money Dowie and Pardew had.
Dowie------------dear God why ? was it deep down in Murry`s mind to slight the Orange Man ?
Pardew------------everything wrong with football to day-----needs a slap of the first, second and third order.
Parkinson------------Sorry nice guy, crap manager and the worst caretaker manger ever.
CP-----he has gone and FFS its time to move on !!!!!!!!!!!! IF IF IF those two useless twats that "owned" the club had given CP the dosh when we came up---well who knows---maybe they would have been selling a Prem team ?
in order of favourites
Lenny Curbs CP Bailey Nelson Theo Parkinson Mullery Dowie Pardew (needs burning)
said its all about opinions
Best post ever on this subject.
We have to move on. I support the club first, second and third. I love Chris Powell so much that I would have had his babies if I could. I actually think, in the end, that Chris' love for the club was counter-productive. As the money ran out and the playing staff quality declined it created a siege mentality which made him ultra cautious. We are now in a different place.
It is too early to start Rigamania but we have to acknowledge that clean sheets are very worth keeping and winning is a good habit to develop. So far, so good.
We are back in the game. Reza's goal was real quality. That will give him huge confidence. Poyet is just brilliant, Dervite is now showing his promise, and that heavens Hamer is back to his best. It's going to be a hell of a ride.
Wonder sometimes where luck comes in. I thought Powell tinkered too much and failed to play a settled side, especially up front. Jose has tinkered even more. However, he makes tactical changes earlier than Powell. But the luck element is fascinating. Maybe we could concede late against Bournemoth and Forest as nearly happened, and the pen go in last night. 6 points less, but same performances etc. We are now blaming Riga for no wins in 6 and getting us relegated. Small margins.
If if if.
The guys doing wonders, give him some credit.
Am giving loads of credit, your missing my point. I have always wondered how much luck is involved in short term management of a club. Man U stuck with Ferguson and look what happened. They may stick with Moyes when most clubs would have sacked him under 'short term ism '. A good manager leaves a club and then becomes a bad manager somewhere else? Riga has done superb. My point is , under SCP the penalty might have gone in and Millwall might have nicked one. As I said, small margins. Is Dyche that good? Is Pearson?
Mourinho starting to look exposed, Redknapp can't get in the top two, Brendan Rogers looking like a top manager. Is he though? He didn't sign Suarez.
Just an interesting situation. I think we would have gone down under SCP. But is Riga a better manager? I have no idea.
I always believe that a Manager has to be assessed on the type of players around him...
For example if you took Ajdarevic out and maybe Petrucci we'd lose our creative and there probably would be more hoof-ball than passing (especially if we had a big number ten like Andy Carroll up front)... the results wouldnt work out for Riga on that basis and we could have slipped up against our recent opposition.
I think as a perfect example you need to look no further than Ritchie Barker... in 2010/2011 he won promotion from League Two with Bury... in 2013/2014 he left Portsmouth struggling against relegation in League Two... Surely that cant be the managers fault because he's already proven he can get a side out of the Division yet equally its not the players fault because they maybe just dont have the ability to play to the style the current manager of whatever football club wants to see
I really like how Riga isn't scared to talk about other teams. You get a lot of managers who say things like 'I'm only focussed on what we do and I'm not looking at the teams around us' which is obviously rubbish.
Last week after Yeovil Riga said "Now the other teams above us are concerned. Teams such as Birmingham and Blackpool are now in it and we still have two games in hand."
Today he said "I prefer to be Charlton at the moment than Millwall because there is a one-point difference and an opportunity on Tuesday."
I don't know whether he's just being honest and saying what we're all thinking or whether he's playing Mourinho style mind games with the other teams. Either way I like it.
I really like how Riga isn't scared to talk about other teams. You get a lot of managers who say things like 'I'm only focussed on what we do and I'm not looking at the teams around us' which is obviously rubbish.
Last week after Yeovil Riga said "Now the other teams above us are concerned. Teams such as Birmingham and Blackpool are now in it and we still have two games in hand."
Today he said "I prefer to be Charlton at the moment than Millwall because there is a one-point difference and an opportunity on Tuesday."
I don't know whether he's just being honest and saying what we're all thinking or whether he's playing Mourinho style mind games with the other teams. Either way I like it.
It does make a change! Although if he starts trying to avoid discussing Charlton at all and shift focus instead of accepting it (like Mourinho now) then it would be a different story.
It's tough to play two games a week for - what - six weeks in a row, but I do get concerned that the manager is "allowing" the players to be tired and that does not bode well for Tuesday. Don't get me wrong- I think Riga is doing an exceptionally good job given the circumstances, but we are relying an awful lot on fate to keep this LWLWLW streak going. In the end, they are well paid, professional athletes, so two lots of 90 minutes a week should not be beyond most of them.
I think the emotional pressure is immense and that certainly showed last Tuesday at the final whistle. Riga is fortunate in that he has the keeper, centre backs and central midfield to build on and he is doing a great job with the rest... Wiggins playing better and Solly coming back shores it up at the back - where Riga is making the difference is with the attacking options - we are still creating 10+ chances in most games (not today) and in my mind that's enough against the likes of Yeovil, Barnsley, Watford and whoever else we have in the run in. The overall position has not changed today and I had expected to drop back into the bottom three. That's pure luck... Tuesday night we will see if we deliver on the pitch - very confident Riga will pick the right team and subs - up to the players after that - if they keep winning every other game then they could play twice a week through to June and not feel it! But should they drop a key game then wheels look like they are falling off - starting with this site !!! PS @Weegie Addick I admire your loyalty - personally I think Powell was stitched up when Fuller was not renewed and no loan players were signed to cover for Kermorgant and Solly last September - he would have been within his rights to walk which would have finished us off... He didn't and was then unable to work it out with the new owner. as I posted elsewhere Duchatelet has worked with Riga for a year before at Liege and Riga was available. And it works - long may that continue.
It's tough to play two games a week for - what - six weeks in a row, but I do get concerned that the manager is "allowing" the players to be tired and that does not bode well for Tuesday. Don't get me wrong- I think Riga is doing an exceptionally good job given the circumstances, but we are relying an awful lot on fate to keep this LWLWLW streak going. In the end, they are well paid, professional athletes, so two lots of 90 minutes a week should not be beyond most of them.
I would agree if it wasn't that it's not just 90 twice a week, it's 90 minutes twice every single week in quick succession, there is no chance to relax at all and no cup games to try and rest the first 11. It doesn't matter how fit you are, performing at that level that frequently WILL add up, under any manager.
It's tough to play two games a week for - what - six weeks in a row, but I do get concerned that the manager is "allowing" the players to be tired and that does not bode well for Tuesday. Don't get me wrong- I think Riga is doing an exceptionally good job given the circumstances, but we are relying an awful lot on fate to keep this LWLWLW streak going. In the end, they are well paid, professional athletes, so two lots of 90 minutes a week should not be beyond most of them.
As you get older recovery time is longer and i am surprised that jackson has played every game. the problem is that our thereadbare squad, which both CP and JR are contending with gives little option to properly rotate. Plus its not only the physical effects of Saturday Tuesday (And this week its Saturday Tuesday Friday) its the mental pressure especially every time you build a buffer on a Tuesday you lose it on a weekend. Hopefully we can do it Tuesday, but if we do, i don't hold out much hope for Friday.
It's tough to play two games a week for - what - six weeks in a row, but I do get concerned that the manager is "allowing" the players to be tired and that does not bode well for Tuesday. Don't get me wrong- I think Riga is doing an exceptionally good job given the circumstances, but we are relying an awful lot on fate to keep this LWLWLW streak going. In the end, they are well paid, professional athletes, so two lots of 90 minutes a week should not be beyond most of them.
It's tough to play two games a week for - what - six weeks in a row, but I do get concerned that the manager is "allowing" the players to be tired and that does not bode well for Tuesday. Don't get me wrong- I think Riga is doing an exceptionally good job given the circumstances, but we are relying an awful lot on fate to keep this LWLWLW streak going. In the end, they are well paid, professional athletes, so two lots of 90 minutes a week should not be beyond most of them.
are you a ex pro weegie :-)
Weegie has been advised NOT to answer that before consulting her lawyer.
Powell, Riga et al, have said that playing 2 games a week, is not a big problem fitness wise. They just do less training.
But it's the mental tiredness & pressure, together with all the travelling, that takes its toll. As well as injuries/knocks, from which you don't have time to recover.
Powell, Riga et al, have said that playing 2 games a week, is not a big problem fitness wise. They just do less training.
But it's the mental tiredness & pressure, together with all the travelling, that takes its toll. As well as injuries/knocks, from which you don't have time to recover.
It's tough to play two games a week for - what - six weeks in a row, but I do get concerned that the manager is "allowing" the players to be tired and that does not bode well for Tuesday. Don't get me wrong- I think Riga is doing an exceptionally good job given the circumstances, but we are relying an awful lot on fate to keep this LWLWLW streak going. In the end, they are well paid, professional athletes, so two lots of 90 minutes a week should not be beyond most of them.
are you a ex pro weegie :-)
I certainly played around a bit when I was younger, Scabby... ;-)
I think some people are overestimating the improvement. Yes we are playing better football but the goalscoring problem hasnt changed and the only reason we won against Yeovil was because they were really terrible although having said that it was a great win. Quite frankly, I think we would be in exactly the same position now with powell, lets not forget at the sheffield game we were bottom but with 3 or 4 games in hand with only a comparatively small point difference from safety. Yes full support for Riga but Powell is still who I want to be our manager because he was exactly what Charlton is all about and thats what mattered most to me.
I think some people are overestimating the improvement. Yes we are playing better football but the goalscoring problem hasnt changed and the only reason we won against Yeovil was because they were really terrible although having said that it was a great win. Quite frankly, I think we would be in exactly the same position now with powell, lets not forget at the sheffield game we were bottom but with 3 or 4 games in hand with only a comparatively small point difference from safety. Yes full support for Riga but Powell is still who I want to be our manager because he was exactly what Charlton is all about and thats what mattered most to me.
Without going in to it to much , Powell won 6 of 30 games Riga has won 4 of 10 what makes you think Powell would of turned it around because I certainly don't see it .
Comments
Good effort Mr Riga. B+.
You need to move on, Powell's gone.
You'd be much less chippy if you could just let it go. Go on, give it a try.
If we get tonked 3-0 by Reading and then don't beat Yeovil some of the people now praising Riga will be giving him stick again.
Let's judge this at the end of the season, I get the feeling that there will be some thrills and spills before then - you just know that either Yeovil or Barnsley are going to turn us over at The Valley - its the Charlton way.
But glad to hear you won't be mentioning him all the time anymore.
Night night
Edit add smiley face!
Firstly, I'd echo earlier comments that we set up to win rather than not lose now, this means that we are winning some games we would have drawn or lost under CP. It also means that when we do play teams that have real quality we can end up on the receiving end of a sound beating. I'm happy with this as GD is worth a maximum of 1 point and I think that the points we can gain from being positive outweigh this.
Secondly, the emphasis on trying to keep possession seems far more convincing, we still look pretty toothless but we don't seem to run out of ideas and resort to the long aimless diagonal as quickly as we did previously.
Overall, though it's clear mistakes have been made (the Thuram move has clearly been unsuccessful and divisive) I'm feeling more confident about the club than I have been for a few years. Hopefully the owner learns quickly from any mistakes he makes and manages to reverse the decline we've seen at the club since the Premier League relegation.
I did at first think that our improvements were due to what is known in political circles as the dead cat bounce, if this is true our cat must be on a trampoline!
We have to move on. I support the club first, second and third. I love Chris Powell so much that I would have had his babies if I could. I actually think, in the end, that Chris' love for the club was counter-productive. As the money ran out and the playing staff quality declined it created a siege mentality which made him ultra cautious. We are now in a different place.
It is too early to start Rigamania but we have to acknowledge that clean sheets are very worth keeping and winning is a good habit to develop. So far, so good.
We are back in the game. Reza's goal was real quality. That will give him huge confidence. Poyet is just brilliant, Dervite is now showing his promise, and that heavens Hamer is back to his best. It's going to be a hell of a ride.
Mourinho starting to look exposed, Redknapp can't get in the top two, Brendan Rogers looking like a top manager. Is he though? He didn't sign Suarez.
Just an interesting situation. I think we would have gone down under SCP. But is Riga a better manager? I have no idea.
For example if you took Ajdarevic out and maybe Petrucci we'd lose our creative and there probably would be more hoof-ball than passing (especially if we had a big number ten like Andy Carroll up front)... the results wouldnt work out for Riga on that basis and we could have slipped up against our recent opposition.
I think as a perfect example you need to look no further than Ritchie Barker... in 2010/2011 he won promotion from League Two with Bury... in 2013/2014 he left Portsmouth struggling against relegation in League Two... Surely that cant be the managers fault because he's already proven he can get a side out of the Division yet equally its not the players fault because they maybe just dont have the ability to play to the style the current manager of whatever football club wants to see
Last week after Yeovil Riga said
"Now the other teams above us are concerned. Teams such as Birmingham and Blackpool are now in it and we still have two games in hand."
Today he said
"I prefer to be Charlton at the moment than Millwall because there is a one-point difference and an opportunity on Tuesday."
I don't know whether he's just being honest and saying what we're all thinking or whether he's playing Mourinho style mind games with the other teams. Either way I like it.
Wiggins playing better and Solly coming back shores it up at the back - where Riga is making the difference is with the attacking options - we are still creating 10+ chances in most games (not today) and in my mind that's enough against the likes of Yeovil, Barnsley, Watford and whoever else we have in the run in.
The overall position has not changed today and I had expected to drop back into the bottom three. That's pure luck...
Tuesday night we will see if we deliver on the pitch - very confident Riga will pick the right team and subs - up to the players after that - if they keep winning every other game then they could play twice a week through to June and not feel it! But should they drop a key game then wheels look like they are falling off - starting with this site !!!
PS @Weegie Addick I admire your loyalty - personally I think Powell was stitched up when Fuller was not renewed and no loan players were signed to cover for Kermorgant and Solly last September - he would have been within his rights to walk which would have finished us off... He didn't and was then unable to work it out with the new owner. as I posted elsewhere Duchatelet has worked with Riga for a year before at Liege and Riga was available. And it works - long may that continue.
But it's the mental tiredness & pressure, together with all the travelling, that takes its toll. As well as injuries/knocks, from which you don't have time to recover.