BTW RD had nothing to do with DD's contract, that was TJ and MS so those with an agenda need to get their facts right.
RD has as much to do with Kermogant, Hamer, Morrison and Dervite not signing a new contract as he has (to his credit) to do with Jackson and Wiggins signing new ones. The previous owners didn't do us any favours, but Duchatelet's had nearly 5 months to sort out the contracts so he's got no excuse.
What did you want him to do? Stick a gun to their heads?
Offer them a realistic deal so that they'd stay, rather than letting them go for zilch and then bringing in a few more Negos, Thurams and Kocs to replace them.
Now this is where you're argument falls down.
You are unhappy because you assume we will bring in worse.
Surely a sensible approach is to wait and see ?
Take your point. However, I've seen Kermorgant (8 goals in half a season) replaced by Reza (1 goal) and Stephens (4 goals, several assists) replaced Ajdarevic (1 goal, apparently unable to play for more than an hour at a time). Those were the two best players brought in by RD and they were well short of the players they were replacing. As for the rest of them, at best they were invisible, at worst they were comical. I won't go into the manager debate as it's been done to death, but I'm sure you can guess my feeling's on Powell's departure.
All the evidence so far has been negative, hence I'm pretty sceptical about everything at the moment. It would be nice to see something unquestionably positive happen.
I agree, but we still need to wait & see.
If we replace them with rubbish, foreign or otherwise, I'll be the first complaining.
Disappointing as even if he wasn't the next Lilian Thuram, he was a reliable player who would be dependable even if we are aiming higher up the table. Hopefully we put these extra wages towards Diego instead...
Bolton (Forest and Blackburn) may well fail FFP guidelines in December which means they will not be able to sign new players in January - if the league sticks to the rules agreed at the start.
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It is a big if, if the league sticks to the rules regarding FFP and it will be a surprise if there is not a legal challenge (similar to Barcelona) which postpones the whole thing for a season. That if the FFP works at all. I am not sure what comfort that Bolton, Forest and Blackburn will not be able to sign players if God forbid, Charlton are in another relegation scrap with a weak team.
I agree that there is no guarantee that they will stick to a meaningful set of FFP guidelines. One has to remember that clubs like Boro and Brighton have cut their cloth in order to comply so one would expect that they will support sticking to the agenda. And that the loss limits come down again for next season by £2M which will limit the ability and appetite of a number of clubs to shell out over the odds for players aged 25-32. I don't recall the exact numbers but I assume that the rules stick unless 2/3 or 3/4 agree to change and the thing is that it looks like 75%+ are complying.
With our Academy and the Liege European/African scouting network there is no reason whatsoever why we should be in the bottom third of the division over the next few years. As Riga stated recently the team is more and more "made in Charlton". So it is the Academy plus a bunch of contractors enabling the team to hold their own. Whether these contractors are long term, short term or on loan from elsewhere is of no consequence. And we will need less of them because the network will be able to supply players as and when.
I too am concerned that we must not stay at 18th (or worse!). Players lose value, top young players won't sign. And they can drop season ticket prices all they like but the crowds will not rise. Conversely if they retain Riga (or a coach of similar ability and experience) and push on with a sensible retention and acquisition strategy (and execution) then mid-table, growing crowds and an evolving squad beckons. And without spending a fortune on new players.
Which future has RD chosen? And when will he communicate it to the fan stakeholders? I think there are just too many unknowns at this time but we have heard about the futures of five of the 17 out of contract players already. Perhaps we will have a clearer picture by the end of May?
Isn't French foreign? I am disappointed to lose a player like Dervite. Money talks and I would never criticise anybody taking a better offer. Roland is trying to lower the wage bill which is commendable, but we still have to be competitive. Which is a hard balancing act. Time will tell what Roland's plans are for us this close season.
Real shame. And I do lay this at RD's door - those of you blaming the chuckle brothers are beginning to sound like the current government blaming everything wrong on Labour still. Ultimately, once you are in power, you make the decisions and carry the can. Entirely within RD's control to negotiate with DD and the others we would all like to keep - especially when we are seemingly losing out to close rivals in terms of league position. As Henry says, if RD gets the credit for signing up Wiggins and Jackson, then he also takes the rap when we fail to re-sign solid players.
I do also agree we have to stay calm and wait and see, but a bit more of the soul of the club goes for me every time we say good-bye to a player who has shown commitment and no little ability in his time here. I've tried to "buy the dream" of better replacements eg Astrit, but he hasn't lasted very long either on the pitch or within the club...
When we sign some quality replacements for those that have gone, or are going then there is gonna be some delicious humble pie available for all those that have doubted.
Good player, but not overly bothered. Dervite, Morrison and Hamer were part of a defense regularly conceding 2 or 3 a game - a huge overhaul is required to get us moving up the league and it could start with all three moving on.
Good player, but not overly bothered. Dervite, Morrison and Hamer were part of a defense regularly conceding 2 or 3 a game - a huge overhaul is required to get us moving up the league and it could start with all three moving on.
Good player, but not overly bothered. Dervite, Morrison and Hamer were part of a defense regularly conceding 2 or 3 a game - a huge overhaul is required to get us moving up the league and it could start with all three moving on.
If DD has gone will be a shame but not end of the world if we replace him with say Michael Mancienne then I would be happy. Lets wait and see. My biggest worry is that if Dervite has gone does that mean that Jose has as well as he obviously rated DD and would I imagine want to keep him.
When we sign some quality replacements for those that have gone, or are going then there is gonna be some delicious humble pie available for all those that have doubted.
As long as they're fitter than Astrit, stronger than Reza, and better than PP, Nego, Thuram etc... we all look forward to our slice of delicious humble pie
Comments
Burkina Faso Barry
My main fear is we will lose Dervite and replace him with a foreigner.
Season has only finished 9 days ago. Plenty of time, lets just wait and see.
Hopefully we can get Morro signed and hopefully we can sign a better replacement for Dervite. But we'll probably end up with Ben Haim from Liege...
86 appearances for Lokomotiv Sofia which isn't bad for a midget in my book.
And he's cheap!
With our Academy and the Liege European/African scouting network there is no reason whatsoever why we should be in the bottom third of the division over the next few years. As Riga stated recently the team is more and more "made in Charlton". So it is the Academy plus a bunch of contractors enabling the team to hold their own. Whether these contractors are long term, short term or on loan from elsewhere is of no consequence. And we will need less of them because the network will be able to supply players as and when.
I too am concerned that we must not stay at 18th (or worse!). Players lose value, top young players won't sign. And they can drop season ticket prices all they like but the crowds will not rise. Conversely if they retain Riga (or a coach of similar ability and experience) and push on with a sensible retention and acquisition strategy (and execution) then mid-table, growing crowds and an evolving squad beckons. And without spending a fortune on new players.
Which future has RD chosen? And when will he communicate it to the fan stakeholders? I think there are just too many unknowns at this time but we have heard about the futures of five of the 17 out of contract players already. Perhaps we will have a clearer picture by the end of May?
I do also agree we have to stay calm and wait and see, but a bit more of the soul of the club goes for me every time we say good-bye to a player who has shown commitment and no little ability in his time here. I've tried to "buy the dream" of better replacements eg Astrit, but he hasn't lasted very long either on the pitch or within the club...
Anyway, for the record, I'd have liked Dervite to stay.
However, I won't criticise RD until we see what players come in.
I can't help but wonder how some of you cope with genuine bad news