From last June's Press Conference:
Charlton owner Roland Duchâtelet has assured supporters that the club is working hard to build a competitive squad ahead of the 2014/15 Championship season.
New Head Coach Bob Peeters has already added midfielder Yoni Buyens and highly-rated striker Igor Vetokele to the ranks as he begins to construct his side in time for August’s big kick-off.
Although the first of the new faces through The Valley’s doors this summer have links to Peeters and Belgium, Duchâtelet insists that recruitment will not be limited to his home country as they look to find a perfect balance for the squad.
“We try to bring the best possible players that are affordable,” said the Belgian, who completed his takeover of the club in January.
“Of course, we need to be very competitive because [the Championship] is a very competitive league.
“We just want to bring in the right players whether they are from Belgium or the moon! The main thing is that they are very good.”
With the Addicks’ renowned academy playing a significant part in Charlton securing their Championship safety last term, Duchâtelet believes that a mixture of youth and experience will be key in bringing future success to The Valley.
“The expectation is that we stay up, that’s the first thing,” explained the Charlton owner.
“But on the other hand, we want to develop the youth players and want to give chances to the academy players.
“We have a fantastic academy and our main goal is to try and make the difference with our own fantastic young players.
“Of course, you need experience to go along with them. The right mix between young players and experienced players is the right solution to bring this club to future success.”
Meanwhile, Duchâtelet pledged that Peeters, who was appointed as the Addicks' new boss in May, is the ideal man to strike that required balance.
“He has two big qualities. Firstly, he detects the quality in young players as he has proven in the past," added the owner.
“Secondly, he is not afraid to put his head on the block to play the youth. Many coaches don’t want to take the risk to play young players because if you play them and it goes wrong, then people blame the coach.
“He has a special mindset to play young players and there’s not many coaches who want to do that.”
We're full of ears because to some you've take money based on false promises.
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Comments
That's not verbatim but roughly what I said 12 or so months ago and I had faith. I don't regret what I said but I do feel intensely let down this morning. We are no further ahead than last year. We may have some better players in quality - questionable - but there is no depth and little commitment.
I look forward to today's Trust statement and hope for something from the club, but not holding my breath.
Roland and Katrien wasted a good chance to strengthen the squad in the window. Instead they have further pissed off our supporters by not bringing in the sort of players that are going to help us stay up.
Where do we go from here? Do we produce a siege mentality and get behind the team, ignoring what has gone on? Do we protest against RD and the Network? Or do we just not bother going anymore?
And we have THE worst goalscoring record bar Villa out of 92 Clubs in all competitions since AUGUST.
And our current top scorer hasn't scored for 10 games (and is only playing with an injury or lack of form because we haven't got anyone else) and our forward with the second most goals has ONE goal all season.
BUT we have a balanced and competitive squad.
It is completely obvious that we have been "competing" all season "not to get relegated". And when you do that you end up playing not to lose which is why we have had so many draws.
The problem comes when you start to lose instead of drawing and as you have no Plan B you are incapable of turning things around. And draws in our situation may not be enough to stay up.
the issue here is that we had such a good start (beating Derby etc...) and being around the PlayOffs that expectation became ridiculous (when Peeters signed we were all told the aim was to avoid relegation), I turned round to my partner in October and said that we needed to keep up the pace because the negativity would go crazy on here if we began to slip away
Personally I think Luzon isn't a big a mug as people make out, and he will steady the ship, but he does need one or two new faces. Let's hope the free transfers are decent.
But, put simply, who is going to create and who is going to score the goals needed to turn this around?
Trouble is for three years now, the fans have got the "We're going to be relegated" prediction well and truly wrong
Crucially, the team under the first two had a good spirit and a credible spine, developed from the squad that had won promotion. No much sign of either at present and it's difficult to see how that's the fault of the fans.
Riga also had Poyet, who was a key contributor.
Please those in attendance don't make the evening easy for her. I'm not saying publicly berate her, but we need the difficult questions asked.
They got lucky with the timing of last year's meeting (A few days before the FA Cup quarter final defeat and the sacking of Powell)
I can't see them being so lucky this year with the questions from the audience.
There seems to be little coherent strategic direction in any element of what they do and still less understanding about English football or its followers. Not only do they not know what they're doing, but they are clearly not to be trusted.
Thanks for Riga, the pitch and shiney seats...... Now take a hike Roland and inflict Katrien on someone else.
On Saturday, I couldn't be bothered, for what is the point? We're not a football club any more, we're just another outreach of a franchising organisation, a sort of BurgerKing, or a newly farmed out chunk of the NHS. No soul, just Arse hole.
I shall carry on going, at least for the time being. I shall pick my games, v Huddersfield, for instance, and hopefully next season welcome a newly promoted Bradford City. Two proper clubs with two proper managers.
But the Season Ticket will not be renewed and I'll just turn up when I feel like it.