Like what I see so far. The players available help, but it does look like we are starting games with a real desire to get three points rather than try not come away with nothing.
I'd be disappointed if we weren't top half. It is too early to seriously say it but I'm hopeful of a good season with a hope of play offs.
I was very skeptical of RD and will eat humble pie. They look like they are doing right by us in general. Pitch, stands, players are all improved.
It's a good start, but that is all it is a start. New players have done well, apart from Henderson. But we are still lacking a physical presence alongside Vetekele, hopefully it can be Delorts. We also need another goal scoring threat in midfield, hopefully Traore. But I like the way Lord Peeters is trying to get us playing football from the back.
Very, very early days but we have made the almost perfect start and it looks like some extremely astute purchases have been made.
Sad to say it but why would you pay massive money for English L1/L2 players (or other English Championship players or ex-Premiership players) when you can get such good value from Europe?
How much would an English version of Gudmunsson cost?
Great question. I think the important thing to ask yourself when answering is whether your reply would have been different had that late winner not gone in yesterday and we were now on two draws.
Great question. I think the important thing to ask yourself when answering is whether your reply would have been different had that late winner not gone in yesterday and we were now on two draws.
Or if Harriott had scored vs Brentford instead of hitting the bar... Luck has a big role to play in this game.
Great question. I think the important thing to ask yourself when answering is whether your reply would have been different had that late winner not gone in yesterday and we were now on two draws.
Or if Harriott had scored vs Brentford instead of hitting the bar... Luck has a big role to play in this game.
Looking good atm. The Valley is so much better with the improvements. We've had investment in the team and not finished buying yet! Big Bob is great, already has a connection with the fans. I was sceptical when Roland came in especially letting Riga leave but hey what do I know! All looking good. Fancy a top half finish, possibly play offs!
Great question. I think the important thing to ask yourself when answering is whether your reply would have been different had that late winner not gone in yesterday and we were now on two draws.
Was talking to my mate just this walking away from The Valley and we both concluded that yes it's all very early but there are just too many positives to ignore. We lack the look of a cohesive unit but I would expect that to gradually come. We need to get those little partnerships all over the pitch for that to happen and the group of players being assembled look clever enough footballers to be able to do that.
Seems incredible that Bikey and TBH are a new pairing. Just how good they will get ten games in is very encouraging. Two strikers as a pair is the next most important and I guess we are forced to wait on that one.
1. He is saying the right things. Football being played well too. Impressed 2. Top 8 3. I have been very impressed by the changes around the club. New sponsorship deals, maximising on shirt revenue sponsorship(and shorts), new caterers, the stadium done up a bit, a few nice touches for the fans like the wall of memories and an exciting looking team on the pitch which has me hoping for a playoff challenge. I don't think it can be underestimated the good business and effort that has gone in over the summer. Very very impressed.
Early signs are we will be a tough side to beat again but we also have some quality in the final third to win games. We still need another striker and CM but I feel we are in for an exciting season.
1 No - I took to Bob straight away 2 Yes - I thought we would start slowly and finish strongly as the new boys settled in but they are already showing good signs of gelling 3 Nothing to complain about on the pitch and plenty of positives off the pitch so his stock has certainly risen with me. We still need to strengthen up front and in midfield but it does sound like we're trying to do that.
Great question. I think the important thing to ask yourself when answering is whether your reply would have been different had that late winner not gone in yesterday and we were now on two draws.
Or if Harriott had scored vs Brentford instead of hitting the bar... Luck has a big role to play in this game.
Glad you were reading that thread but obviously not the detail! The correlation was 0.749 not 1. There's only so much money you can throw at the squad as you need good management and luck with injuries and referees. Having said that, transfermarkt told us (if you were prepared to listen) that these new signings with an average value of €1m are a different class from the squad of the last three years. In answer to the original questions: 1) more confident about Bob now I've seen two league games - he's very clear about the squad and substitutions. 2) thought we would finish somewhere in the middle and too early to revise that upwards until we've played 8-10 games - let's see where we are in September. 3) Always comfortable with RD ever since Riga delivered some wins...and especially after transfermarkt revealed the assumed value of our new signings - this is what having 3 x €2m players in your front six looks like. Let's see whether he signs a €2m striker in the next few weeks.
1) yes. Wasn't expecting to warm to him but he's made a great impression so far. Like his attitude and passion and from what I've read on here, has time for the fans too. 2) I'm gonna confidently say top ten. 3) G18/oak group or whatever you're called, where are you now!
1. Bob is a charismatic bloke, which, I think, was reasonably apparent from the early CAFC press conferences and a few clips from Belgian TV that people dug out and helpfully posted on CL. I had no idea whatsoever about his coaching and motivational abilities but had an open mind and was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, particularly following Roland's successful interim appointment of Jose Riga. The early indications are that Bob does seem the sort of manager/coach who will get the best out of his players. What I have found particularly impressive so far - albeit only eight days into the season - is his very clear vision as to how he wants us to play, i.e. on the floor. That has clearly informed his player recruitment (e.g. the new central defenders) and it also presumably resulted in this season's enlarged pitch at the Valley. In short, we appear to have a plan and both a strategy and the resources to try and execute it.
So far, so good. Nor is Bob's response to Rossler's dummy spitting likely to lose him too many friends in our neck of the woods.
2. I said before the start of the season that I'd be delighted with a top half finish and that remains the case, although I have been pleasantly surprised by the early performances. We should have a much better feel for our prospects by the end of September once we're ten or so games in.
We're still short in a couple of positions but have strength in depth at the back and potential game-changers in Vetokele and Gudmundsson. If we can get a couple of quality players in this month, we may be able to give it a real go, although the plan appears to be incremental improvement, which, for me, is absolutely the right approach. When all is said and done, we still have one of the smaller budgets in this league.
Should we have a good first half of the season and find ourselves in contention at Christmas, I suspect that Roland will support Bob if he wants to strengthen in the January window or plug a few gaps as a result of injuries. We will also be in a much better position than a number of other Championship clubs at that stage, notably, those who have failed to comply with FFP and are prohibited from signing players.
3. I certainly had some concerns about the new regime given the trauma and disruption of last season but was in the 'wait and see' camp. In recent months, I think that Roland has let his actions do the talking and the new pitch, the improvements to the stadium, the plans for the upgraded Academy, the affordable season ticket pricing and new (hopefully favourable) commercial deals have all been extremely positive. Some people will always want to have a dig at whatever the club does but this type of negativity is becoming more marginalised. My two general impressions on Roland are first, that he does seem to have the knack of making good appointments and, secondly, that although he may makes mistakes from time to time like the rest of us, he does seem to learn from them. As to the playing side, whatever our concerns about the network and Charlton's place in it, I think we have to accept that we would not, in the past, have got anywhere near players like Vetokele, Gudmundsson and Buyens, even if we had been alerted to their abilities and scouted them (which, almost certainly, we would not). The same probably applies to Ben Haim and Moussa.
Still a long way to go but things are certainly looking up.
Great question. I think the important thing to ask yourself when answering is whether your reply would have been different had that late winner not gone in yesterday and we were now on two draws.
Or if Harriott had scored vs Brentford instead of hitting the bar... Luck has a big role to play in this game.
And that's why we love the game - the 'what ifs', the 'if onlys' on one hand we could have 6 points, on the other we could have 2 - points aside though, we are playing with what looks to me like a great deal of self belief. Yes, there will be bigger tests to come...losing two on the bounce will be Bob's real test, esp as we are not blessed with the most patient of fan-bases.
But to the questions 1. I like Bob, he's said all the right things (imo) and I think there is a bit of an underdog mentality as well 2. To early to tell re the finish, i'd have settled with avoiding a relegation scrap - and if we do, then that's progress for me. 3. I have no issues with RD and what he's done at the Valley, money is being spent where it's needed, and the football (and the manager should do the talking) - i'm very pleased he's happy to stay out of the spotlight. I have issues with owning a network of clubs, but that's for another thread i'm sure.
I was firmly in the camp of feeling pretty negative at the end of last season but it is now looking increasingly wrong. 1. Bob is coming across well. At the moment he is looking an astute choice. 2. I had no real league position in mind other than avoiding relegation. Early evidence suggests this might be avoided ;-) 3. As for old RD, well the investment and commitment is plainly there now for all to see. The club seems to be moving forward in significant areas and you cannot argue against that at the moment.
Read on another thread (match views v Wigan) that real ale was being sold from a pop up bar in the East Stand, also the pitch is looking really good and the ground has been tarted up...all positives. These things off the field along with the 3 games would suggest we are going in the right direction agree with the above it's a 'tad' early to tell where we will end up at the end of the season though.
I like Big Bad Bob from what I have seen so far, and am also impressed by him - think he has loads of potential to be a very good manager Head Coach.
I like what I have have heard from Katrien and how she has got to grips with so much so quickly.
I still can't fathom Roland or really understand his motivation for owning a network of football clubs. But he has selected BBB and Katrien, so clearly has half an idea.
Time will tell where we finish - plenty of highs and lows to come, as usual, but I am looking forward again to being on the rollercoaster.
Comments
I'd be disappointed if we weren't top half. It is too early to seriously say it but I'm hopeful of a good season with a hope of play offs.
I was very skeptical of RD and will eat humble pie. They look like they are doing right by us in general. Pitch, stands, players are all improved.
But I like the way Lord Peeters is trying to get us playing football from the back.
Sad to say it but why would you pay massive money for English L1/L2 players (or other English Championship players or ex-Premiership players) when you can get such good value from Europe?
How much would an English version of Gudmunsson cost?
Seems incredible that Bikey and TBH are a new pairing. Just how good they will get ten games in is very encouraging. Two strikers as a pair is the next most important and I guess we are forced to wait on that one.
I am encouraged on all levels just now.
2. Top 8
3. I have been very impressed by the changes around the club. New sponsorship deals, maximising on shirt revenue sponsorship(and shorts), new caterers, the stadium done up a bit, a few nice touches for the fans like the wall of memories and an exciting looking team on the pitch which has me hoping for a playoff challenge. I don't think it can be underestimated the good business and effort that has gone in over the summer. Very very impressed.
2 Yes - I thought we would start slowly and finish strongly as the new boys settled in but they are already showing good signs of gelling
3 Nothing to complain about on the pitch and plenty of positives off the pitch so his stock has certainly risen with me. We still need to strengthen up front and in midfield but it does sound like we're trying to do that.
In answer to the original questions:
1) more confident about Bob now I've seen two league games - he's very clear about the squad and substitutions.
2) thought we would finish somewhere in the middle and too early to revise that upwards until we've played 8-10 games - let's see where we are in September.
3) Always comfortable with RD ever since Riga delivered some wins...and especially after transfermarkt revealed the assumed value of our new signings - this is what having 3 x €2m players in your front six looks like. Let's see whether he signs a €2m striker in the next few weeks.
2) I'm gonna confidently say top ten.
3) G18/oak group or whatever you're called, where are you now!
So far, so good. Nor is Bob's response to Rossler's dummy spitting likely to lose him too many friends in our neck of the woods.
2. I said before the start of the season that I'd be delighted with a top half finish and that remains the case, although I have been pleasantly surprised by the early performances. We should have a much better feel for our prospects by the end of September once we're ten or so games in.
We're still short in a couple of positions but have strength in depth at the back and potential game-changers in Vetokele and Gudmundsson. If we can get a couple of quality players in this month, we may be able to give it a real go, although the plan appears to be incremental improvement, which, for me, is absolutely the right approach. When all is said and done, we still have one of the smaller budgets in this league.
Should we have a good first half of the season and find ourselves in contention at Christmas, I suspect that Roland will support Bob if he wants to strengthen in the January window or plug a few gaps as a result of injuries. We will also be in a much better position than a number of other Championship clubs at that stage, notably, those who have failed to comply with FFP and are prohibited from signing players.
3. I certainly had some concerns about the new regime given the trauma and disruption of last season but was in the 'wait and see' camp. In recent months, I think that Roland has let his actions do the talking and the new pitch, the improvements to the stadium, the plans for the upgraded Academy, the affordable season ticket pricing and new (hopefully favourable) commercial deals have all been extremely positive. Some people will always want to have a dig at whatever the club does but this type of negativity is becoming more marginalised. My two general impressions on Roland are first, that he does seem to have the knack of making good appointments and, secondly, that although he may makes mistakes from time to time like the rest of us, he does seem to learn from them. As to the playing side, whatever our concerns about the network and Charlton's place in it, I think we have to accept that we would not, in the past, have got anywhere near players like Vetokele, Gudmundsson and Buyens, even if we had been alerted to their abilities and scouted them (which, almost certainly, we would not). The same probably applies to Ben Haim and Moussa.
Still a long way to go but things are certainly looking up.
But to the questions
1. I like Bob, he's said all the right things (imo) and I think there is a bit of an underdog mentality as well
2. To early to tell re the finish, i'd have settled with avoiding a relegation scrap - and if we do, then that's progress for me.
3. I have no issues with RD and what he's done at the Valley, money is being spent where it's needed, and the football (and the manager should do the talking) - i'm very pleased he's happy to stay out of the spotlight. I have issues with owning a network of clubs, but that's for another thread i'm sure.
This is a good one to revisit after 10 games.
1. Bob is coming across well. At the moment he is looking an astute choice.
2. I had no real league position in mind other than avoiding relegation. Early evidence suggests this might be avoided ;-)
3. As for old RD, well the investment and commitment is plainly there now for all to see. The club seems to be moving forward in significant areas and you cannot argue against that at the moment.
managerHead Coach.I like what I have have heard from Katrien and how she has got to grips with so much so quickly.
I still can't fathom Roland or really understand his motivation for owning a network of football clubs. But he has selected BBB and Katrien, so clearly has half an idea.
Time will tell where we finish - plenty of highs and lows to come, as usual, but I am looking forward again to being on the rollercoaster.