I think RD was waiting for the right moment to relieve Powell of his duties and going out to Sheff United was the right moment for RD. Had we beaten Sheff U that day or draw and gone on to win the replay and gone on to Wembley then Powelly have stayed longer and led us out at Wembley. RD then may well have pulled the plug on Powelly's managership after the semi. He may have stayed on longer. If relegation had been confirmed under Powell then RD might have pulled the plug then. If Powelly had kept us up and stayed till the end of the season, I reckon with Powelly's contract expiring I don't reckon RD would have renewed it. So looking back (as much as I hate to say it) it was a matter of when and not if RD would let Powelly go.
I also think mentally Powell was done as well. Not just under RD, but the whole Jimenez & Slater mess.
In with NLA here. That day they should have out everything going on being them and fought for us, for them and perhaps they could have kept Powell in a job. RD may have put some doubt in their minds but as proffesionals they should have put their doubts aside for 90 mins and done their job properly.
I think RD was waiting for the right moment to relieve Powell of his duties and going out to Sheff United was the right moment for RD. Had we beaten Sheff U that day or draw and gone on to win the replay and gone on to Wembley then Powelly have stayed longer and led us out at Wembley. RD then may well have pulled the plug on Powelly's managership after the semi. He may have stayed on longer. If relegation had been confirmed under Powell then RD might have pulled the plug then. If Powelly had kept us up and stayed till the end of the season, I reckon with Powelly's contract expiring I don't reckon RD would have renewed it. So looking back (as much as I hate to say it) it was a matter of when and not if RD would let Powelly go.
I also think mentally Powell was done as well. Not just under RD, but the whole Jimenez & Slater mess.
Maybe. Possibly from when Kevin Cash pulled out.
Powelly was on shaky ground from the start he wasn't TJ or slaters man
Once Eddie Howe came back for a greedy second bite on his wage demands
Powelly was put in a good place by Varney
Unfortunately if we had Powelly under Murray and by Murray I mean the one who was overseeing curbs not the person who he became under pardont and parkinson, then the story would have been different
Why does this club have a history of shooting itself in the foot?
It's certainly not limited to our club - any club run as a business (and that's most of them) will have a propensity to do seemingly stupid things at some point of another.
In with NLA here. That day they should have out everything going on being them and fought for us, for them and perhaps they could have kept Powell in a job. RD may have put some doubt in their minds but as proffesionals they should have put their doubts aside for 90 mins and done their job properly.
That would be all well and good if it was FIFA or Championship Manager.
If you got some devastating news before going into work one day, would you shrug it off so easily?
I was at that game and I do think the players were putting in the effort and were gutted to not get the result. Quite simply they were not focused enough, which is understandable.
You can say "just get on with it the same you always would" - but its not always a choice, especially with the amount of young players we had in that side plus the likes of Tudgay and Reza who didn't want to be there anyway.
Do people seriously think that RD wants us to lose games ?
Do people seriously think Riga had his track suit on ready to get in the dug out at half time at Sheff U ?
I think some translation issues, no little drama and various people hoping for the worst is possibly at play here.
I think the issue is that he doesn't appear to care either way
Of course he cares, otherwise why sack BP for leading us to a long winless streak? BP was playing the RD game of giving youth a go and playing the SL players - other than Bulot.
If he doesnt care, why put £1m into the pitch?
I agree that he probably doesnt mind not pushing for promotion this year, but realistically as a club we are not ready. As there is no real financial benefit to finishing 7th to finishing 20th, what is the point in wasting money in getting close to the playoffs if we dont feel we have a realistic chance of winning them? this isnt the prem where each position is worth £1m. i still think we are in a far better position now than this time 12/13 months ago.
The in built strength to overcome be a narrow minded selfish bastard who thinks of nothing else but success
We lost because we didn't have enough of those in the team that day
We were 24th in the Championship at the time, who is to say they even had the quality in them to get a win in those circumstances? You make it sound as though they could have easily won it but just couldn't be bothered. Sheffield United have turned over many sides much better than ours' in similar situations.
Had RD not been poncing about trying to play manager behind the scenes then our chances would have been that bit better. Its ridiculous to suggest otherwise.
The in built strength to overcome be a narrow minded selfish bastard who thinks of nothing else but success
We lost because we didn't have enough of those in the team that day
But in that team were Wiggins, Wilson, Jackson, Harriott and Cousins, as well as Morrison. So what are you saying about all of them? Not fit to wear the shirt?
Well he did say it, I can tell you that with 100% confidence
Oh well in that case I completely believe it
As far as I know, nobody on this forum has spoken at length with Roland Duchatelet about anything. Jimmy Stone has. You can choose to play the skeptic card as usual, but I'm more than happy to take Jimmy's word for whats going on.
I'd like to know, perhaps Jimmy could break off from tweeting and tell us, but I doubt he's spent more than ten minutes speaking on a one-to-one basis with RD, if that.
If you supported 6 clubs equally would you 'care' very much if any of them won or lost on a particular day? RD has no connection with Charlton beyond his relationship with KM and GL. I doubt he could pick out Richard Murray, for example, in a crowd.
We do not need Jimmy Stone to tell us RD has a business plan which involves 'sweating the assets', or making sure he gets as much out of the players his clubs have signed as possible. He thought that this would work in a world where clubs could not spend more than they earned, which would give him a competitive advantage. That part of the plan, which depended on PPF, is now dead, all he is left with is moving players around so that they all play as much as possible, who for and where does not matter.
NLA and others want to believe this is not a disastrous approach. NLA rightly condemns the Sheffield United team for bottling it. How much less likely is it that this current group of players who are moved from one club to another at the drop of a hat , will want to give their all. There are such things as team spirit and camaraderie which are forged through common struggle and the recognition that your livelihood depends on teammates pulling their weight. Managers also need to invest in their clubs. If your career expectancy is 4 months then you will be mentally keeping your suitcase packed ready in the wardrobe.
The in built strength to overcome be a narrow minded selfish bastard who thinks of nothing else but success
We lost because we didn't have enough of those in the team that day
We were 24th in the Championship at the time, who is to say they even had the quality in them to get a win in those circumstances? You make it sound as though they could have easily won it but just couldn't be bothered.
After that game, and under new stewardship, the team went on to secure 24 points out of 48 available in the next 16 league games. They clearly had the ability to beat Sheffield Utd that day but didn't fancy it.
Well he did say it, I can tell you that with 100% confidence
Oh well in that case I completely believe it
As far as I know, nobody on this forum has spoken at length with Roland Duchatelet about anything. Jimmy Stone has. You can choose to play the skeptic card as usual, but I'm more than happy to take Jimmy's word for whats going on.
I'd like to know, perhaps Jimmy could break off from tweeting and tell us, but I doubt he's spent more than ten minutes speaking on a one-to-one basis with RD, if that.
I think RD was waiting for the right moment to relieve Powell of his duties and going out to Sheff United was the right moment for RD. Had we beaten Sheff U that day or draw and gone on to win the replay and gone on to Wembley then Powelly have stayed longer and led us out at Wembley. RD then may well have pulled the plug on Powelly's managership after the semi. He may have stayed on longer. If relegation had been confirmed under Powell then RD might have pulled the plug then. If Powelly had kept us up and stayed till the end of the season, I reckon with Powelly's contract expiring I don't reckon RD would have renewed it. So looking back (as much as I hate to say it) it was a matter of when and not if RD would let Powelly go.
I also think mentally Powell was done as well. Not just under RD, but the whole Jimenez & Slater mess.
Maybe. Possibly from when Kevin Cash pulled out.
The key relationship was Varney and Powell. Varney got the player deals done in 2012 after he and Kavanagh secured the money via Jenkinson and Arsenal. The financial issue triggered Varney and then Kavanagh's departure, which left Powell exposed.
The in built strength to overcome be a narrow minded selfish bastard who thinks of nothing else but success
We lost because we didn't have enough of those in the team that day
We were 24th in the Championship at the time, who is to say they even had the quality in them to get a win in those circumstances? You make it sound as though they could have easily won it but just couldn't be bothered.
After that game, and under new stewardship, the team went on to secure 24 points out of 48 available in the next 16 league games. They clearly had the ability to beat Sheffield Utd that day but didn't fancy it.
No it shouldn't have been easy tom we were on their patch a draw would have been a great result
Prague
Yep on that day not fit to wear the shirt or represent the fans that travelled
the only one I'd give credit to was cousins as playing him out of position was a disaster waiting to happen
There Is a reason why those players are at cafc after all and not for example burnley or Leicester that year
They don't have the ability nor mental strength to progress further
We were then and are currently a bottom half championship team
Well there are clearly two reasons. Yours, and mine, which is that with the potential exceptional of Cousins, and possibly Wiggins if he stayed injury free, they are technically quite obviously not good enough for the FAPL.
I understand the point you are making, but I think you are way overdoing it.
The in built strength to overcome be a narrow minded selfish bastard who thinks of nothing else but success
We lost because we didn't have enough of those in the team that day
We were 24th in the Championship at the time, who is to say they even had the quality in them to get a win in those circumstances? You make it sound as though they could have easily won it but just couldn't be bothered.
After that game, and under new stewardship, the team went on to secure 24 points out of 48 available in the next 16 league games. They clearly had the ability to beat Sheffield Utd that day but didn't fancy it.
NLA had decent inside links at the time, and there is no way he can deny that behind the scenes, things were nothing short of a shambles at the time. Huge clashes between management and owners, squad rifts over the influx of insufficient signings, broken promises on previous verbal deals etc. The managers job was on its last legs and a lot of players didn't want to be here any more (some were already well advanced in talks with other clubs).
That is not in any way the right prep for potentially one of the biggest games in your career.
Nla is right that to an extent that none of that should have mattered, they still should have performed on the day. Had Harriott not missed a sitter, we would have been at Wembley I've no doubt about that.
Don't think we should dwell on that period in any way other than on the issue 'has Roland learned from any mistakes at the ?'
My suspicion is no.
Exactly, Harriott missed by inches in front of an open goal at 0-0. Powell got us to within a whisker of a Semi Final following a great run at a time when pretty much every game was away (barring that excellent win over QPR) - for me the club really took a huge nose dive the day he was sacked and despite Dyer & Riga's heroics and Peeter's false dawn it's been a shadow ever since. The chance was there in Jan for RD to back Powell, invest in the squad and allow a manager who had more than proved himself in the last couple of seasons to kick on. Instead we are in this pitiful situation.
Stayed in chesterfield for weekend, and only started going pear shaped when game started.
Agree with guys who said it was gutless, but, a effing big but.
Sheffield united had won at premiership sides, Aston villa and Fulham. also beat Forest in last 16, (3 higher rated teams than cafc)
Why would they be worried about Charlton who on that Sunday were 24th in table.
That was the game Duchatelet wanted to win because of the TV and gate money from a semi final.
Should Jimmy's words had read:
"At Half time, Duchatelet spoke about replacing Powell"
as it was still 0-0 at h/t (i think) what would have happened if Harriott had scored, we then parked the bus and got a win. Would CP still of had a job even thou there were no network players in the starting line up?
Nice to know our players are lily livered cowards the clean out was correct then from top to bottom
You didn't read what I said did you? I said even with the best of intentions, your mind is still not in the right place and so underperformance by a few percent can happen which impacts the overall result. Also remember you're talking about a group of lads some of whom were still teenagers. Classy.
I agree with this to a point, however, if you are a pro footballer, boxer, rugby player etc., then part of your training involves developing the mind in the same way that you would develop your physique, so if they have not been working on the mind, then distractions will cause problems, if you couple that with the fact that the quarter final was probably the biggest 90 mins of their respective careers, then their performances, for whatever reason, deserved the post match ridicule it received. Train the mind and the body will follow.
Harriott actually did well to get to the ball at all. He was at full stretch.
Thank heavens for you Len. I was starting to think that I was the only one in the world who thought that.
But in the search for a convenient scapegoat, the truth is usually an early victim.
Like the money put in to a club allegedly on the brink of admin by someone ripping the heart out of the very club he saved.... convenient scapegoat for not spending above the club's means in the overpriced January transfer window
Harriott actually did well to get to the ball at all. He was at full stretch.
Thank heavens for you Len. I was starting to think that I was the only one in the world who thought that.
But in the search for a convenient scapegoat, the truth is usually an early victim.
Like the money put in to a club allegedly on the brink of admin by someone ripping the heart out of the very club he saved.... convenient scapegoat for not spending above the club's means in the overpriced January transfer window
To be clear, you will not find those words were used by me or any other member of the Trust board on here, still less in its public announcements. In fact the Trust has led the way with articles which show how it is impossible to be profitable in the Championship with a competitive squad. At the same time @seriously_red, bless him, has argued consistently that the route to becoming profitable is to invest sufficiently to have a squad at least capable of a play off place. Seriously_red and his former colleagues on the Trust board are now finally united in their complete bafflement of what the business plan actually is, and we are seeking an explanation from RD as to what it is, so that we can decide whether it is likely to secure the long term future of Charlton Athletic Football Club. Nothing more, nothing less ,as far as the Supporters Trust is concerned.
Harriott actually did well to get to the ball at all. He was at full stretch.
Thank heavens for you Len. I was starting to think that I was the only one in the world who thought that.
But in the search for a convenient scapegoat, the truth is usually an early victim.
Like the money put in to a club allegedly on the brink of admin by someone ripping the heart out of the very club he saved.... convenient scapegoat for not spending above the club's means in the overpriced January transfer window
To be clear, you will not find those words were used by me or any other member of the Trust board on here, still less in its public announcements. In fact the Trust has led the way with articles which show how it is impossible to be profitable in the Championship with a competitive squad. At the same time @seriously_red, bless him, has argued consistently that the route to becoming profitable is to invest sufficiently to have a squad at least capable of a play off place. Seriously_red and his former colleagues on the Trust board are now finally united in their complete bafflement of what the business plan actually is, and we are seeking an explanation from RD as to what it is, so that we can decide whether it is likely to secure the long term future of Charlton Athletic Football Club. Nothing more, nothing less ,as far as the Supporters Trust is concerned.
Very good to hear.
I believe that others are planning to arrive with their pitchforks
RD isn't really bothered if we win, lose or draw. Yes, he would have to be a complete imbecile to want us to lose, but he's not that bothered.
Why ?
He's not that bothered, because his "goal" is to break even or make money from football & he is not going to do that by copying the other clubs, who nearly all lose millions.
He plans to do it, by developing the academy & selling the youngsters on for a tidy profit.
This is why, not only have we had excellent young players, in the team this season such as Gomez.
But we've also had others such as Ahearne-Grant & Pope pushed forwards, when they aren't ready.
Not forgetting recently, that I think, our whole bench was academy or very recent academy players.
If RD really cared about winning,(bearing in mind he is a multi millionaire, what is it 11th richest man in Belgium?), why did he sell Kermy our only decent striker and instead of replacing him, he brings in a goalkeeper.
We still haven't a "centre forward" of that ilk, a year later, but we're getting plenty of goalkeepers.
Not good goalkeepers, I might add.
He is using us to buy and sell players, to make money.
We all know that you won't make money the tried & tested way.
However, what he can't get his "robotic emotionless" brain around, is that competitive professional sport is all about trying to win. This is what every fan/customer wants.
We don't not want an owner, that isn't bothered whether we win or not, as long as we've played some 3rd rate goalie, in order, that he can then sell him. He likely won't sell them if they are playing as an over age player in the U21's.
Virtually everyone can see we need a hold up man up front & a creative midfielder.
RD knows that because Peeters stated that he'd told him what he wanted.
What do we get ?
A goalkeeper, a centre half that's not even training with his 1st team & 2 defensive midfielders.
Now I really hope they are all a great success, but they are not what we "needed".
If you go to your boss at work and say to get this job properly I need 2 brickies and the multi millionaire says you can't have them, but you can have a couple of plasterers that were not performing at my other outlet, what would you think ?
I really can't understand why some people do not understand this. Is it really that difficult to understand ?
How can we have a good team morale, when the players are aware that the boss doesn't really give a stuff about results, as long as he can flog them for a profit ?
Would you join Charlton as a player, knowing that he'll try & flog you to the network, if he can turn a profit and that your teammates, won't be teammates for long ?
In summary, even if we were relegated, how does this stop RD's plan. I don't see that it does.
His ridiculous methods are clearly a danger to this club and we need to make it clear, that we are far from happy.
RD & KM won't engage in conversation, because it's not possible to credibly make a case for his plan, that any club supporters in the world would be happy to accept.
I don't feel we can change him, but we can at least try and make it crystal clear, what we think of his crazy idea.
RD isn't really bothered if we win, lose or draw. Yes, he would have to be a complete imbecile to want us to lose, but he's not that bothered.
Why ?
He's not that bothered, because his "goal" is to break even or make money from football & he is not going to do that by copying the other clubs, who nearly all lose millions.
He plans to do it, by developing the academy & selling the youngsters on for a tidy profit.
This is why, not only have we had excellent young players, in the team this season such as Gomez.
But we've also had others such as Ahearne-Grant & Pope pushed forwards, when they aren't ready.
Not forgetting recently, that I think, our whole bench was academy or very recent academy players.
If RD really cared about winning,(bearing in mind he is a multi millionaire, what is it 11th richest man in Belgium?), why did he sell Kermy our only decent striker and instead of replacing him, he brings in a goalkeeper.
We still haven't a "centre forward" of that ilk, a year later, but we're getting plenty of goalkeepers.
Not good goalkeepers, I might add.
He is using us to buy and sell players, to make money.
We all know that you won't make money the tried & tested way.
However, what he can't get his "robotic emotionless" brain around, is that competitive professional sport is all about trying to win. This is what every fa/customer wants.
We don't not want an owner, that isn't bothered whether we win or not, as long as we've played some 3rd rate goalie, in order, that he can then sell him. He likely won't sell them if they are playing as an overage player in the U21's.
Virtually everyone can see we need a hold up man up front & a creative midfielder.
RD knows that because Peeters stated that he'd told him what he wanted.
What do we get ?
A goalkeeper, a centre half that's not even training with his 1st team & 2 defensive midfielders.
Now I really hope they are all a great success, but they are not what we "needed".
If you go to your boss at work and say to get this job properly I need 2 brickies and the multi millionaire says you can't have them, but you can have a couple of plasterers that were not performing at my other outlet, what would you think ?
I really can't understand why some people do not understand this. Is it really that difficult to understand ?
How can we have a good team morale, when the players are aware that the boss doesn't really give a stuff about results, as lond as he can flog them for a profit ?
Would you join Charlton as a player, knowing that he'll try & flog you to the network, if he can turn a profit and that your teammates, won't be teammates for long ?
In summary, even if we were relegated, how does this stop RD's plan. I don't see that it does.
His ridiculous methods are clearly a danger to this club and we need to make it clear, that we are far from happy.
RD & KM won't engage in conversation, because it's not possible to credibly make a case for his plan, that any club supporters in the world would be happy to accept.
I don't feel we can change him, but we can at least try and make it crystal clear, what we think of his crazy idea.
It still doesn't make sense but relegation does hurt him as TV and other income drops so that means he needs to cover more costs and/or make more cuts but there is no more flash on the non-playing bone to cut.
I don't think he wants to lose, he wants to win "Roland doesn't do failure" as KM told us last year.
Only winning or perhaps success is a better word is different to him that for most of us.
As fans most of want to win games, cups and promotions.
For RD I think success is proving that his model works, that there is a different and better way to run football clubs.
The problem is that most people would, when the model isn't working, change the model but it seems Roland just keeps right on.
And it could be a workable model. Most of ingredients are there, the clubs, the spending money for young talent, the lack of emotional attachment to a particular club and not being worried if the fans love him or not. Workable for RD, not for us fans though.
What is missing is that for this model to work you need to be really, really good at talent spotting the best value players and at spotting the best coaches. Not just good but the best in the game.
Comments
Once Eddie Howe came back for a greedy second bite on his wage demands
Powelly was put in a good place by Varney
Unfortunately if we had Powelly under Murray and by Murray I mean the one who was overseeing curbs not the person who he became under pardont and parkinson, then the story would have been different
If you got some devastating news before going into work one day, would you shrug it off so easily?
I was at that game and I do think the players were putting in the effort and were gutted to not get the result. Quite simply they were not focused enough, which is understandable.
You can say "just get on with it the same you always would" - but its not always a choice, especially with the amount of young players we had in that side plus the likes of Tudgay and Reza who didn't want to be there anyway.
The in built strength to overcome be a narrow minded selfish bastard who thinks of nothing else but success
We lost because we didn't have enough of those in the team that day
If he doesnt care, why put £1m into the pitch?
I agree that he probably doesnt mind not pushing for promotion this year, but realistically as a club we are not ready. As there is no real financial benefit to finishing 7th to finishing 20th, what is the point in wasting money in getting close to the playoffs if we dont feel we have a realistic chance of winning them? this isnt the prem where each position is worth £1m. i still think we are in a far better position now than this time 12/13 months ago.
Had RD not been poncing about trying to play manager behind the scenes then our chances would have been that bit better. Its ridiculous to suggest otherwise.
We do not need Jimmy Stone to tell us RD has a business plan which involves 'sweating the assets', or making sure he gets as much out of the players his clubs have signed as possible. He thought that this would work in a world where clubs could not spend more than they earned, which would give him a competitive advantage. That part of the plan, which depended on PPF, is now dead, all he is left with is moving players around so that they all play as much as possible, who for and where does not matter.
NLA and others want to believe this is not a disastrous approach. NLA rightly condemns the Sheffield United team for bottling it. How much less likely is it that this current group of players who are moved from one club to another at the drop of a hat , will want to give their all. There are such things as team spirit and camaraderie which are forged through common struggle and the recognition that your livelihood depends on teammates pulling their weight. Managers also need to invest in their clubs. If your career expectancy is 4 months then you will be mentally keeping your suitcase packed ready in the wardrobe.
Prague
Yep on that day not fit to wear the shirt or represent the fans that travelled
the only one I'd give credit to was cousins as playing him out of position was a disaster waiting to happen
There Is a reason why those players are at cafc after all and not for example burnley or Leicester that year
They don't have the ability nor mental strength to progress further
We were then and are currently a bottom half championship team
I understand the point you are making, but I think you are way overdoing it.
Agree with guys who said it was gutless, but, a effing big but.
Sheffield united had won at premiership sides, Aston villa and Fulham.
also beat Forest in last 16, (3 higher rated teams than cafc)
Why would they be worried about Charlton who on that Sunday were 24th in table.
That was the game Duchatelet wanted to win because of the TV and gate money from a semi final.
Should Jimmy's words had read:
"At Half time, Duchatelet spoke about replacing Powell"
as it was still 0-0 at h/t (i think)
what would have happened if Harriott had scored, we then parked the bus and got a win. Would CP still of had a job even thou there were no network players in the starting line up?
But in the search for a convenient scapegoat, the truth is usually an early victim.
Train the mind and the body will follow.
I believe that others are planning to arrive with their pitchforks
RD isn't really bothered if we win, lose or draw. Yes, he would have to be a complete imbecile to want us to lose, but he's not that bothered.
Why ?
He's not that bothered, because his "goal" is to break even or make money from football & he is not going to do that by copying the other clubs, who nearly all lose millions.
He plans to do it, by developing the academy & selling the youngsters on for a tidy profit.
This is why, not only have we had excellent young players, in the team this season such as Gomez.
But we've also had others such as Ahearne-Grant & Pope pushed forwards, when they aren't ready.
Not forgetting recently, that I think, our whole bench was academy or very recent academy players.
If RD really cared about winning,(bearing in mind he is a multi millionaire, what is it 11th richest man in Belgium?),
why did he sell Kermy our only decent striker and instead of replacing him, he brings in a goalkeeper.
We still haven't a "centre forward" of that ilk, a year later, but we're getting plenty of goalkeepers.
Not good goalkeepers, I might add.
He is using us to buy and sell players, to make money.
We all know that you won't make money the tried & tested way.
However, what he can't get his "robotic emotionless" brain around, is that competitive professional sport is all about trying to win. This is what every fan/customer wants.
We don't not want an owner, that isn't bothered whether we win or not, as long as we've played some 3rd rate goalie, in order, that he can then sell him. He likely won't sell them if they are playing as an over age player in the U21's.
Virtually everyone can see we need a hold up man up front & a creative midfielder.
RD knows that because Peeters stated that he'd told him what he wanted.
What do we get ?
A goalkeeper, a centre half that's not even training with his 1st team & 2 defensive midfielders.
Now I really hope they are all a great success, but they are not what we "needed".
If you go to your boss at work and say to get this job properly I need 2 brickies and the multi millionaire says you can't have them, but you can have a couple of plasterers that were not performing at my other outlet, what would you think ?
I really can't understand why some people do not understand this. Is it really that difficult to understand ?
How can we have a good team morale, when the players are aware that the boss doesn't really give a stuff about results, as long as he can flog them for a profit ?
Would you join Charlton as a player, knowing that he'll try & flog you to the network, if he can turn a profit and that your teammates, won't be teammates for long ?
In summary, even if we were relegated, how does this stop RD's plan. I don't see that it does.
His ridiculous methods are clearly a danger to this club and we need to make it clear, that we are far from happy.
RD & KM won't engage in conversation, because it's not possible to credibly make a case for his plan, that any club supporters in the world would be happy to accept.
I don't feel we can change him, but we can at least try and make it crystal clear, what we think of his crazy idea.
It still doesn't make sense but relegation does hurt him as TV and other income drops so that means he needs to cover more costs and/or make more cuts but there is no more flash on the non-playing bone to cut.
I don't think he wants to lose, he wants to win "Roland doesn't do failure" as KM told us last year.
Only winning or perhaps success is a better word is different to him that for most of us.
As fans most of want to win games, cups and promotions.
For RD I think success is proving that his model works, that there is a different and better way to run football clubs.
The problem is that most people would, when the model isn't working, change the model but it seems Roland just keeps right on.
And it could be a workable model. Most of ingredients are there, the clubs, the spending money for young talent, the lack of emotional attachment to a particular club and not being worried if the fans love him or not. Workable for RD, not for us fans though.
What is missing is that for this model to work you need to be really, really good at talent spotting the best value players and at spotting the best coaches. Not just good but the best in the game.
And we're nowhere near that.