Very good piece, Louis. Especially in documenting that the lack of relevant experience and the disdain for the fans runs through every level of the club now.
You can only know if someone can deal with the kind of scrutiny a Championship manager has to put up with by seeing him do it. Which is why it's madness to hire someone with zero experience of this kind of pressure.
Hate to say it but it shows why he wasnt up to the job... Yes we the fans will always come out with criticism on the forums and on social media, yes it'll be aimed at the Manager and Players but as a professional you've just got to ignore it, get on with the job your being paid to do and pretend its not happening.
"Unused to this level of examination in his previous role at Belgian third division side VW Hamme, Fraeye sought out and read everything written about him and the club on social media and forums. He took it all immensely personally"
That explains the "I didn't scout the players" interview.
"Cries of “we want a manager,” spilled down from the terraces during Fraeye’s final games. He began to see the supporters as enemies, a nuisance, another nauseating trait that seeps throughout SE7."
It must be fairly awkward if you're underperforming to that extent to then seek out what people are saying - the press is bad enough but forums and social media can be toxic. I've nothing against him personally, the real blame lies with idiots who think they can run a multi million pound football business like an electronics manufacturing outfit.
How the hell did he manage 3 - 1 win against Wendies and 1 - 0 at Brum? I will be pondering that for a long time. Perhaps he could have done alright with a few fit players available?
Or....if the players aren't fit you park the bus. If the alternative is to tell the players to 'spread out', or send on written instructions, or play Mackienok as a winger, or move a bewildered Solly to midfield. Even with the biggest hard luck story of all we should have at least 4 more points than we do, or got, under Karel 'Mr Just Before Half Time' Fraeye.
How the hell did he manage 3 - 1 win against Wendies and 1 - 0 at Brum? I will be pondering that for a long time. Perhaps he could have done alright with a few fit players available?
The Wendies result was thoroughly deserved, got ourselves in front and took our chances, they huffed and puffed had plenty of possession but underestimated us. The following game (after an international break and recharging of the batteries) motivation was still high and they ground out a result against a poor Brum side struggling to win home games. Youngsters THD and Lookman gave the team a freshness and combined to set up JJ for the winner in the second half. Sadly for our survival chances but not surprisingly the upturn never lasted under Fromage who went mouldy very quickly.
How the hell did he manage 3 - 1 win against Wendies and 1 - 0 at Brum? I will be pondering that for a long time. Perhaps he could have done alright with a few fit players available?
The Wendies result was thoroughly deserved, got ourselves in front and took our chances, they huffed and puffed had plenty of possession but underestimated us. The following game ( after international al break and recharging of the batteries) motivation was still high and they ground out a result against a poor Brum side struggling to win home games. Youngsters THD and Lookman gave the team a freshness and combined to set up JJ for the winner in the second half. Sadly for our survival chances but not surprisingly the upturn never lasted under Fromage who went mouldy very quickly.
Suppose I'm playing Devil's Advocate a little. So, who was to blame for the capitulation against Brighton? That's my final quizzical question on the matter.
How the hell did he manage 3 - 1 win against Wendies and 1 - 0 at Brum? I will be pondering that for a long time. Perhaps he could have done alright with a few fit players available?
After Birmingham he must have thought... Bloody heck I've won two games, I'm going out on the lash!!
The next morning he's probably woken up with a hangover so bad, he's no memory (i.e. like in the Hangover film) of how he did it.
Either that or the other clubs felt sorry for him so everyone had to pick the shortest straw, those that lost, had to let Charlton win
'Unused to this level of examination in his previous role at Belgian third division side VW Hamme, Fraeye sought out and read everything written about him and the club on social media and forums. He took it all immensely personally.'
Didn't bloody change anything though, did it? We still turned up to games with four strikers in the starting 11 and no idea how to see out a game past 15 minutes. What's the point in seeking out criticism and taking it personally if you don't at least take the useful points on board? The bloke's an idiot.
How the hell did he manage 3 - 1 win against Wendies and 1 - 0 at Brum? I will be pondering that for a long time. Perhaps he could have done alright with a few fit players available?
The Wendies result was thoroughly deserved, got ourselves in front and took our chances, they huffed and puffed had plenty of possession but underestimated us. The following game ( after international al break and recharging of the batteries) motivation was still high and they ground out a result against a poor Brum side struggling to win home games. Youngsters THD and Lookman gave the team a freshness and combined to set up JJ for the winner in the second half. Sadly for our survival chances but not surprisingly the upturn never lasted under Fromage who went mouldy very quickly.
Suppose I'm playing Devil's Advocate a little. So, who was to blame for the capitulation against Brighton? That's my final quizzical question on the matter.
Can't give you a first hand report on that one but Bauer was shown a red on the hour mark and the ten men cracked as two late goals went in.
out of his depth from the start, simple as that. Board didn't support him enough player wise when they had the chance originally (there is no way on earth the comment about him having enough players came just from him without it being via RD and KM).
Putting in someone as inexperienced as him at this level is ridiculous. His self belief far outweighed his ability. His arrogance that he knew exactly what he was doing kept him in the job far longer than he should have been. Got there because of who he knew no what he knew..... not very often does this work.
How the hell did he manage 3 - 1 win against Wendies and 1 - 0 at Brum? I will be pondering that for a long time. Perhaps he could have done alright with a few fit players available?
The Wendies result was thoroughly deserved, got ourselves in front and took our chances, they huffed and puffed had plenty of possession but underestimated us. The following game (after an international break and recharging of the batteries) motivation was still high and they ground out a result against a poor Brum side struggling to win home games. Youngsters THD and Lookman gave the team a freshness and combined to set up JJ for the winner in the second half. Sadly for our survival chances but not surprisingly the upturn never lasted under Fromage who went mouldy very quickly.
Good one, Love the fromage bit, can't believe i didn't pick up on that earlier.
How the hell did he manage 3 - 1 win against Wendies and 1 - 0 at Brum? I will be pondering that for a long time. Perhaps he could have done alright with a few fit players available?
The Wendies result was thoroughly deserved, got ourselves in front and took our chances, they huffed and puffed had plenty of possession but underestimated us. The following game (after an international break and recharging of the batteries) motivation was still high and they ground out a result against a poor Brum side struggling to win home games. Youngsters THD and Lookman gave the team a freshness and combined to set up JJ for the winner in the second half. Sadly for our survival chances but not surprisingly the upturn never lasted under Fromage who went mouldy very quickly.
Good one, Love the fromage bit, can't believe i didn't pick up on that earlier.
Cheers but I have to come clean, I nicked it off Soapy (excuse the pun )
There is an old saying that "All's fair in love and war". Well, we love our club and sadly find ourselves at war with the regime that runs it. Fraeye was on their side and as such is a casualty of war. Fans were correct to give him the rough treatment seeing as 1. He was a representative of Duchatelet and all he stands for. 2. He was in a position that he was neither qualified nor sufficiently experienced to take (another underestimation of the Championship by the Belgians). 3. As a result of point 2, he was completely ineffectual.
That said, I bear him no hard feelings now that he's gone. I hope that he overcomes the trauma of it all and I wish him luck in finding a job suitable to his experience and skills. And I'm sure that RD can help him out in that.
I agree that the fans did the right thing turning the heat up on Fraeye, he had to go, he was part of the regime and he was causing the club an enormous amount of harm due to his lack of experience and ability.
Even though it seems he engineered himself into the position that was his ultimate downfall, I must admit to feeling a little sorry for him on a personal level. I'm not entirely sure why. Guess I'm a bit soft.
Karel if you are reading this your a disgrace, now go back to Belgian and manage a team in front of 10 people like you did before.
That's the sort of poisonous shit that's unnecessary.
Some of the stuff that gets written on here is bang out of order.
IF anyone is looking for a good read - try reading Robert Enke's book. For those who don't know he is the for German international goalkeeper who killed himself because of the pressures of football. A fucking game.
We may not be happy but as far as I am concerned the players and Karel are/were not the problem. They are not paid enough to deal with the shit they are dealing with from thousands of people every week. I reiterate it's a game.
The regime are the bulk of the problem but from tomorrow onwards we should be absolutely 100% behind Jose Riga and the team. That's the only way out of this mess.
As mym deceased mother taught me - if you have nothing nice to say - don't say anything.
Comments
You can only know if someone can deal with the kind of scrutiny a Championship manager has to put up with by seeing him do it. Which is why it's madness to hire someone with zero experience of this kind of pressure.
Ignorance is bliss!!
That explains the "I didn't scout the players" interview.
"Cries of “we want a manager,” spilled down from the terraces during Fraeye’s final games. He began to see the supporters as enemies, a nuisance, another nauseating trait that seeps throughout SE7."
I wonder who else Louis is referring to?
I've nothing against him personally, the real blame lies with idiots who think they can run a multi million pound football business like an electronics manufacturing outfit.
Even with the biggest hard luck story of all we should have at least 4 more points than we do, or got, under Karel 'Mr Just Before Half Time' Fraeye.
So, who was to blame for the capitulation against Brighton?
That's my final quizzical question on the matter.
The next morning he's probably woken up with a hangover so bad, he's no memory (i.e. like in the Hangover film) of how he did it.
Either that or the other clubs felt sorry for him so everyone had to pick the shortest straw, those that lost, had to let Charlton win
Didn't bloody change anything though, did it? We still turned up to games with four strikers in the starting 11 and no idea how to see out a game past 15 minutes. What's the point in seeking out criticism and taking it personally if you don't at least take the useful points on board? The bloke's an idiot.
Putting in someone as inexperienced as him at this level is ridiculous. His self belief far outweighed his ability. His arrogance that he knew exactly what he was doing kept him in the job far longer than he should have been. Got there because of who he knew no what he knew..... not very often does this work.
I don't feel sorry for Fraeye whatsoever. He thought he was a football manager and reality has smacked him in the face.
.....Charlton’s situation is grave.
That said, I bear him no hard feelings now that he's gone. I hope that he overcomes the trauma of it all and I wish him luck in finding a job suitable to his experience and skills. And I'm sure that RD can help him out in that.
I agree that the fans did the right thing turning the heat up on Fraeye, he had to go, he was part of the regime and he was causing the club an enormous amount of harm due to his lack of experience and ability.
Even though it seems he engineered himself into the position that was his ultimate downfall, I must admit to feeling a little sorry for him on a personal level. I'm not entirely sure why. Guess I'm a bit soft.
Some of the stuff that gets written on here is bang out of order.
IF anyone is looking for a good read - try reading Robert Enke's book. For those who don't know he is the for German international goalkeeper who killed himself because of the pressures of football. A fucking game.
We may not be happy but as far as I am concerned the players and Karel are/were not the problem. They are not paid enough to deal with the shit they are dealing with from thousands of people every week. I reiterate it's a game.
The regime are the bulk of the problem but from tomorrow onwards we should be absolutely 100% behind Jose Riga and the team. That's the only way out of this mess.
As mym deceased mother taught me - if you have nothing nice to say - don't say anything.