So, Kings Hill Addick, what do you suggest? Give up? Your assessment of the situation could be applied to any group of people trying to effect change, the Suffragettes for example.
It's ironic as his comments are exactly what I would have predicted. I never thought he would sack KM or apologise. I also didn't think that they would be planning for League One - I don't think many clubs do. As it happens I think he, actually, said all the right things. Short of sacking the only person in the club he trusts, or promising to spend millions or pounds, I can't think what he could have done that would have been more appealing to those protesting. I suspect that those that are not sure, or that are fed up/bored with the protests will like what he has said.
What is ironic is that I could also have predicted the reaction, on here, to his comments.
It is now going to be a drawn out battle between him and those running the protests. My prediction, as unpopular as it will be here, is that the CARD will run out of money long before he does and the longer it goes on the more fans will give up with the protests as they won't see any appreciable result.
I know my thoughts will be unpopular but I'm not sure we have a representative sample of all of the fan base on Charlton Life and I think that there are quite a few people that are relatively happy to hope for the best while doing nothing, personally, to affect change. I also think that we are seeing a wider split in the fans as I read/hear of more disagreements, and rows, between protesters and fans that 'just want the best for the club'.
There is also a new, and undesirable, anger towards any fans that don't agree with the protesters views. I've read a lot of spiteful and, in come cases, aggressive comments, aimed at those that have a different opinion and the tone of some of the posts is a million miles away from the family club that we used to be.
Totally get where you're coming from. But the protests have already brought appreciable results. We don't have the Upjest guy as manager and the ownership have conceded that they need to try and communicate with fans more. Even if people don't like what they're saying and a lot of people can see through the bullshit, they are doing things they didn't want to do because of fan dissatisfaction. That in itself is a result.
They want a target 20,000 initiative whilst driving fans away. How does that work? Is that what you mean Kings Hill Addick by the concept of wanting the best for the club?
My prediction, as unpopular as it will be here, is that the CARD will run out of money long before he does and the longer it goes on the more fans will give up with the protests as they won't see any appreciable result.
The fans that give up the protests will likely give up on the club. Unfortunately, I think this is a war of attrition, there can be no real winner, even if the protests stop then Roly will lose. The sooner it can be brought to an end the better. I genuinely believe that otherwise we will be looking another 'lost generation' of fans and a significant chunk taken out of the club's core support - that is significant.
The club should be built around its core fanbase, attracting daytrippers is unsustainable.
This is true but sometimes day-trippers come back and in the end become long term fans. This is where (under different circumstances) football for a fiver has a long term reaching effect.
What did he think would happen when fans read these articles? Surely he must be deliberately stirring the hornets nest - but why?
Because in the Wacky world of Roland, he wants the dissenters to Boycott. He would rather have a day tripper or tourist visit the Valley, before or after going on the London Eye, or madam Tussauds.
Katrien latest Project set by RD, is to see if the Valley can be Included on the Merlin Pass on Match days.
My prediction, as unpopular as it will be here, is that the CARD will run out of money long before he does and the longer it goes on the more fans will give up with the protests as they won't see any appreciable result.
The fans that give up the protests will likely give up on the club. Unfortunately, I think this is a war of attrition, there can be no real winner, even if the protests stop then Roly will lose. The sooner it can be brought to an end the better. I genuinely believe that otherwise we will be looking another 'lost generation' of fans and a significant chunk taken out of the club's core support - that is significant.
The club should be built around its core fanbase, attracting daytrippers is unsustainable.
This is true but sometimes day-trippers come back and in the end become long term fans. This is where (under different circumstances) football for a fiver has a long term reaching effect.
Agreed. But I can't imagine the conversion rate is particularly high and for me, a club that doesn't look after its hardcore fanbase is doomed to failure. To put it in Katrien language, it costs a lot more to recruit than to retain a customer.
As well as being loyal themselves, it will be your core fans that bring their family and friends, pass the love of the club on through the generations and act as champions of the club. Charlton probably have 4k or 5k of them I would guess, chipping away at them, as is surely happening, is a very dangerous business for the medium to long term sustainability of the club.
They want a target 20,000 initiative whilst driving fans away. How does that work? Is that what you mean Kings Hill Addick by the concept of wanting the best for the club?
I think you've misread my post Seth. I was talking about fans that 'want the best for the club'. Those fans are not driving other fans away.
Having said that I suspect that there are some fans that are not interested in CARD or the protests that are deciding to give up going because of the atmosphere among the support.
I realise that some of those involved in CARD believe that it is worth almost anything to get Roland out. Losing fans that just want to come along to watch the football and/or being relegated are deemed to be an acceptable price of 'winning the war' for some. I'm not saying I agree with that, nor am I saying I'm not, I just don't think that all fans would rather have third division football in front of 5,000 fans if that's the price to remove RD and KM.
“Karel Fraeye has been the academy manager of Gent, who became champions last season in Belgium. He also very good knowledge of working with young players and was willing to do so. He brought in players that other coaches would never have done, I think, and successfully.”
I don't know where to begin on that one.
Again he defends the indefensible. There's nothing you can say that justifies a Championship club of Charlton's stature recruiting a manager who is currently proving unsuccessful in the Belgian third division. Nothing.
Never before have I heard radio commentators ridiculing a formation like those for the Colchester game that suggested that he had sent the players on and told them to spread out! To have employed him in the first place was criminal, to leave him in charge for so long almost looks malicious!
My prediction, as unpopular as it will be here, is that the CARD will run out of money long before he does and the longer it goes on the more fans will give up with the protests as they won't see any appreciable result.
The fans that give up the protests will likely give up on the club. Unfortunately, I think this is a war of attrition, there can be no real winner, even if the protests stop then Roly will lose. The sooner it can be brought to an end the better. I genuinely believe that otherwise we will be looking another 'lost generation' of fans and a significant chunk taken out of the club's core support - that is significant.
The club should be built around its core fanbase, attracting daytrippers is unsustainable.
This is true but sometimes day-trippers come back and in the end become long term fans. This is where (under different circumstances) football for a fiver has a long term reaching effect.
Agreed. But I can't imagine the conversion rate is particularly high and for me, a club that doesn't look after its hardcore fanbase is doomed to failure. To put it in Katrien language, it costs a lot more to recruit than to retain a customer.
As well as being loyal themselves, it will be your core fans that bring their family and friends, pass the love of the club on through the generations and act as champions of the club. Charlton probably have 4k or 5k of them I would guess, chipping away at them, as is surely happening, is a very dangerous business for the medium to long term sustainability of the club.
Exactly what I expected. More deluded and insulting cycle of PR guff that the club has been running for months, this time from the mouth of the big man himself. Describing it as a "championship adventure" is what failing bosses tell their staff two weeks before they all get sacked. RD is a stubborn, out-of-depth old man who's model is from a footballing world that is not cut out to survive here, it fails on all levels and he once again, like his lapdogs, is standing by it and insulting the fans by telling them they should be impressed by all the hard work KM and RM have done. I am sick of hearing about how much Meire loves Charlton, two years ago she'd never lived in the UK, she loves the money it makes her, she's not a Charlton 'fan', Murray might be but he's a traitor who's now hanging around like a bad smell trying to salvage some dignity before he checks out, and her aggressive attitude towards supporters is not reminiscent of a 'nice lady'. Supporters can be as angry as they like towards her, she is a very senior executive in a very prolific position, she has to suck it up, that's what she's paid top money for, she cannot be sentimental about these things and the fact she is shows how so far out of her depth she actually is, much like her employer.
They want a target 20,000 initiative whilst driving fans away. How does that work? Is that what you mean Kings Hill Addick by the concept of wanting the best for the club?
I think you've misread my post Seth. I was talking about fans that 'want the best for the club'. Those fans are not driving other fans away.
Having said that I suspect that there are some fans that are not interested in CARD or the protests that are deciding to give up going because of the atmosphere among the support.
I realise that some of those involved in CARD believe that it is worth almost anything to get Roland out. Losing fans that just want to come along to watch the football and/or being relegated are deemed to be an acceptable price of 'winning the war' for some. I'm not saying I agree with that, nor am I saying I'm not, I just don't think that all fans would rather have third division football in front of 5,000 fans if that's the price to remove RD and KM.
Just my view.
I don't get your argument. I haven't spoken to a single fan that wants to come along and watch the dire football we've had to endure which has led to us being bottom of the Championship. What sort of atmosphere are you expecting?We're losing fans because of the dire way the club is being run not because of any protests that have happened. If RD continues with his ownership could you please enlighten me what sort of future you think lies ahead?
They want a target 20,000 initiative whilst driving fans away. How does that work? Is that what you mean Kings Hill Addick by the concept of wanting the best for the club?
I think you've misread my post Seth. I was talking about fans that 'want the best for the club'. Those fans are not driving other fans away.
Having said that I suspect that there are some fans that are not interested in CARD or the protests that are deciding to give up going because of the atmosphere among the support.
I realise that some of those involved in CARD believe that it is worth almost anything to get Roland out. Losing fans that just want to come along to watch the football and/or being relegated are deemed to be an acceptable price of 'winning the war' for some. I'm not saying I agree with that, nor am I saying I'm not, I just don't think that all fans would rather have third division football in front of 5,000 fans if that's the price to remove RD and KM.
Just my view.
I don't get your argument. I haven't spoken to a single fan that wants to come along and watch the dire football we've had to endure which has led to us being bottom of the Championship. What sort of atmosphere are you expecting?We're losing fans because of the dire way the club is being run not because of any protests that have happened. If RD continues with his ownership could you please enlighten me what sort of future you think lies ahead?
They want a target 20,000 initiative whilst driving fans away. How does that work? Is that what you mean Kings Hill Addick by the concept of wanting the best for the club?
I think you've misread my post Seth. I was talking about fans that 'want the best for the club'. Those fans are not driving other fans away.
Having said that I suspect that there are some fans that are not interested in CARD or the protests that are deciding to give up going because of the atmosphere among the support.
I realise that some of those involved in CARD believe that it is worth almost anything to get Roland out. Losing fans that just want to come along to watch the football and/or being relegated are deemed to be an acceptable price of 'winning the war' for some. I'm not saying I agree with that, nor am I saying I'm not, I just don't think that all fans would rather have third division football in front of 5,000 fans if that's the price to remove RD and KM.
Just my view.
I don't get your argument. I haven't spoken to a single fan that wants to come along and watch the dire football we've had to endure which has led to us being bottom of the Championship. What sort of atmosphere are you expecting?We're losing fans because of the dire way the club is being run not because of any protests that have happened. If RD continues with his ownership could you please enlighten me what sort of future you think lies ahead?
I have no idea.
I never said I supported him, just that he said what I expected him to say, and that it was, probably, the best thing he could have said on the basis that he is not going to do what the fans want him to do.
Just because I don't have confidence that we will see the changes CARD want, doesn't mean that I don't also want them.
Competent and well executed piece of PR. It's not designed to change the minds of the 2%. In my view it's been done to support KM and RM and to protect RD's business reputation.
RD (or more likely RD's advisers- I don't get the impression he spends much time thinking about the Charlton project) will probably be pleased with the SLP coverage. Presumably it will be used in Belgium too.
I understand the 'we're not planning for relegation' response. It's a Catch 22 question. However if KM hasn't done so already, the financial impact of relegation and any mitigations will worked through.
I agree it's mostly bollocks. Apart from the Academy there's no ambition for the club on show. Lessons aren't being learnt. Roland still doesn't understand how football works. Things will continue to deteriorate with RD, KM and footstool Murray. League 1 is calling us. League 2 will follow if the experiment is repeated with less money.
I picked up a couple of points from RD's direct quotes. First, he accepts his responsibility as owner for our league position, but invites the reader to mostly blame KM and RD. Second, although he is not ready to sell us yet, he does not regard the issue as a no-go subject.
My view is that he'll sell eventually once he realises that the Charlton project won't make money in League 1 and there is a risk of relegation (and increased losses) to League 2. Once he's gone the task of rebuilding the club can begin.
Bearing in mind I was not expecting RD to say he was going to sack KM and look to sell up, I’m not as disappointed as most with this interview.
Actually, he gave us some very useful information, for further clarity.
The main objection of fans, who do not agree with the protests, is that no one would buy Charlton. Well with the greatest respect you are wrong, because RD has said you are wrong.
“Obviously there are enquiries from people quite often about do you want to sell the club.”
A bit more clarity here on the Varney approach –
But the Addicks owner said: “I have to put something straight. It was an email which he sent and it read as follows ‘can we talk about an investment opportunity in Charlton’. Now, what is an investment opportunity? Maybe they want to invest in a new billboard or I don’t know. “I diverted this email to my CEO to handle it. It is only five or six months later it became clear that what he wanted to talk about was a takeover of the club. Such enquiries from middlemen we get every couple of weeks”
He confirms that he is aware that most fans are unhappy.
Duchatelet told the South London Press: “I think most of the fans are extremely unhappy now - at least a big part of them.”
I would very much like to hear what they recognise about what is going wrong.
“I have a lot of empathy for what they feel. Certainly now in this situation we are in, it’s very normal that they feel unhappy. For them it is more difficult for them to detect what the reasons are than me, they don’t know all the information that I have about what is going wrong - what led to this kind of situation.”
This is undeniably the MAIN reason. There were not big protests at the start of the season –
“The main reason [they are unhappy] is that we are now bottom of the league. That’s a very concerning situation for all of us.”
Once again recognition of failings -
“We got into trouble mainly because we had so many injuries and the squad size was not sufficient to cope with that high number in the first place. There were other reasons as well.”
I agree with this. But will he do this correctly in future ? –
“We chose in the beginning to not have such a large squad for two reasons. One to give enough chances to the academy players. The second reason is that if your squad is too big - let’s say you have a squad of 35 players which happens in the Championship - there are only 11 starting players. That means only one in three players are happy at the beginning of the game. “So the risk, which I also learned from my experience, is that if your squad is too big you create problems in the dressing room with the players, who are very good, that have only one career and believe they should play. “It’s a balancing act between a smaller squad - more opportunity to play and the risk of injuries - or having a very large number of players and creating this frustration. We thought when we had a lot of injuries we would fix that with loan players. But that appears to be quite difficult too. Sometimes it is okay - but sometimes it is not okay, because they are not always the best possible options. “If you introduce a player it can take him a number of weeks - depending on the character, type, position and relationship with the coaches - to adapt and integrate. It’s not such a good idea to do too many loans . “It’s better to have your work in order at the beginning of the season rather than to rely on loans.”
RD has apologised for KM’s Dublin interview -
“I’m very sorry some people may have misunderstood what she said.”
This is good that he is recognising this, but will he put it into practice ? –
“Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet says he wants to buy more British-based players as part of a recruitment rethink - but has vowed that any head coach must subscribe to promoting academy players.”
This concerns me, as we are already promoting the academy players too early –
“But our main goal remains that we grow our academy much more. That we rely even more on it.”
There is some good clarification here, but no recognition that you need an experienced first team coach, as well as one that is willing to give youth a chance.
“You need to have head coaches which are willing to take a risk for themselves by putting in young players. And that’s the profile of coaches we have been trying to have all the time. “The first season when Jose came he was really only an interim because that’s the idea we had at the beginning. He was then willing to stay, which was something not really expected but, okay, it was very interesting. “We seriously considered that possibility too. One of the things which triggered us to take Bob Peeters was that he had an experience of the Championship as a player. He was a young coach and also somebody not afraid at all to play with young players - that was a movement in that direction already. “Okay it didn’t finally work out. Guy Luzon was a coach who had a track record of working with young players in Israel before - he was very successful with them at Standard Liege also - and that was the reason we took Guy. “Karel Fraeye has been the academy manager of Gent, who became champions last season in Belgium. He also very good knowledge of working with young players and was willing to do so. He brought in players that other coaches would never have done, I think, and successfully.
In summary, I’m not surprised that he’s supporting Meire and that being the case, he is not going to point out her many failings. I’m pleased that he does appear to understand much of what has gone wrong and recognises that the vast majority of fans are unhappy.
I’m still extremely concerned that he is going to plough on regardless, but perhaps, just perhaps, they may start to execute the plans in a more competent manner in the future, as I don’t think he’ll sell up any time soon.
I shall be at the front of the demonstration tomorrow.
"- and it hurts her tremendously to be attacked that way by some fans. “She didn’t say what some people claim she said. She explained that running a football club is totally different to running another business. And in fact she used the word ‘weird’ in describing the difference between running a regular business and running a football club, because your customers are not really customers. “Some people, for some reason, turned around 180-degree what she really meant to say. She said you cannot run a football club like a regular commercial enterprise."
The lack of planning for League 1 is a mistake. Surprised from his business background that he is not taking appropriate steps for an outcome that is more likely to happen than not.
A lot of his rhetoric is the staple diet of football club owners around the world. All very well if you are top of the league but we are not.
Comes across as an old guy out of touch with reality and whats going on here , please sell up Roland you haven't got a clue, write off this season we're screwed , i'm not quite sure what he was hoping to achieve?
I'd love to know how St Truiden got promoted to the Belgian Pro League I really would.
Or was it an almighty cock up from Roland who didnt plan on it happening hence why he sold their best three player in the Transfer Window and gave the Manager to his mate @ Standard Liege?
Looking at those pictures you're getting no joy from this hobby are you Roly? Why not give it up and open a home for stray cats and dogs. Unlike us they will give you the pathetic gratitude you obviously crave.
@kings hill addick. I get most of that. I've felt for a while that all the Charlton forums, not just this one, are a bit like a room full of people who all read the same info and reach relatively similar conclusions. When you go out of the room, you meet people who have'nt read it, don't talk about football away from the match day, or simply are'nt aware of the issues. The result is one lot can't understand the passivity of the others while they in turn can' t see why the first lot are so worked up. I also agree the second bunch may see this as an excuse to sit back and relax. I would too, but my memory still works, and I remember reafing similar rubbish on other occasions. Itwould be great ( well, bits of it) if it weren't so far detached from reality. But defending KM, complaining about injuries...he knows more than the fans as he is privy to inside information when he is perpetually in Belgium. Sorry, it's corporate nothing-speak, aimed to sooth the mindless rabble. He's looking down at us because despite where he has lead us, he still knows best. Sod him.
"- and it hurts her tremendously to be attacked that way by some fans. “She didn’t say what some people claim she said. She explained that running a football club is totally different to running another business. And in fact she used the word ‘weird’ in describing the difference between running a regular business and running a football club, because your customers are not really customers. “Some people, for some reason, turned around 180-degree what she really meant to say. She said you cannot run a football club like a regular commercial enterprise."
So, what did she say ?
The thing is KM and RD keep talking about what she meant to say (FF and now); the time to have explained that was either at the Web Summit or immediately the video was being circulated. There was plenty of time in the discussion in Dublin.
Either she speaks without thinking and doesn't listen to what she says, or what she said accurately reflects her view, either way, she is unfit to be CEO (and might struggle in any public-facing role) at the club.
Comments
How does that work?
Is that what you mean Kings Hill Addick by the concept of wanting the best for the club?
He would rather have a day tripper or tourist visit the Valley, before or after going on the London Eye, or madam Tussauds.
Katrien latest Project set by RD, is to see if the Valley can be Included on the Merlin Pass on Match days.
We're right. You are wrong. There are no problems. Piss off you morons. The end.
Has there ever been a more foolish line uttered in an interview than
"But in my businesses we have a culture of learning from mistakes. This is very common in industry. If you don’t do that you are stupid".
He isn't going anywhere and we are fucked. Happy Friday.
As well as being loyal themselves, it will be your core fans that bring their family and friends, pass the love of the club on through the generations and act as champions of the club. Charlton probably have 4k or 5k of them I would guess, chipping away at them, as is surely happening, is a very dangerous business for the medium to long term sustainability of the club.
Having said that I suspect that there are some fans that are not interested in CARD or the protests that are deciding to give up going because of the atmosphere among the support.
I realise that some of those involved in CARD believe that it is worth almost anything to get Roland out. Losing fans that just want to come along to watch the football and/or being relegated are deemed to be an acceptable price of 'winning the war' for some. I'm not saying I agree with that, nor am I saying I'm not, I just don't think that all fans would rather have third division football in front of 5,000 fans if that's the price to remove RD and KM.
Just my view.
Never before have I heard radio commentators ridiculing a formation like those for the Colchester game that suggested that he had sent the players on and told them to spread out! To have employed him in the first place was criminal, to leave him in charge for so long almost looks malicious!
strike me downsay all this bullshit,ICARD shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.I read the title's from the URLs and decided not to click them, I have instead read the commentary on here.
What sort of atmosphere are you expecting?We're losing fans because of the dire way the club is being run not because of any protests that have happened.
If RD continues with his ownership could you please enlighten me what sort of future you think lies ahead?
“I fully understand their feelings. But the conclusion that I should sell is a bit too quick."
...but not out of the question.
Let's ramp things up and that time will get here quicker.
I never said I supported him, just that he said what I expected him to say, and that it was, probably, the best thing he could have said on the basis that he is not going to do what the fans want him to do.
Just because I don't have confidence that we will see the changes CARD want, doesn't mean that I don't also want them.
RD (or more likely RD's advisers- I don't get the impression he spends much time thinking about the Charlton project) will probably be pleased with the SLP coverage. Presumably it will be used in Belgium too.
I understand the 'we're not planning for relegation' response. It's a Catch 22 question. However if KM hasn't done so already, the financial impact of relegation and any mitigations will worked through.
I agree it's mostly bollocks. Apart from the Academy there's no ambition for the club on show. Lessons aren't being learnt. Roland still doesn't understand how football works. Things will continue to deteriorate with RD, KM and footstool Murray. League 1 is calling us. League 2 will follow if the experiment is repeated with less money.
I picked up a couple of points from RD's direct quotes. First, he accepts his responsibility as owner for our league position, but invites the reader to mostly blame KM and RD. Second, although he is not ready to sell us yet, he does not regard the issue as a no-go subject.
My view is that he'll sell eventually once he realises that the Charlton project won't make money in League 1 and there is a risk of relegation (and increased losses) to League 2. Once he's gone the task of rebuilding the club can begin.
Actually, he gave us some very useful information, for further clarity.
The main objection of fans, who do not agree with the protests, is that no one would buy Charlton. Well with the greatest respect you are wrong, because RD has said you are wrong.
“Obviously there are enquiries from people quite often about do you want to sell the club.”
A bit more clarity here on the Varney approach –
But the Addicks owner said: “I have to put something straight. It was an email which he sent and it read as follows ‘can we talk about an investment opportunity in Charlton’. Now, what is an investment opportunity? Maybe they want to invest in a new billboard or I don’t know.
“I diverted this email to my CEO to handle it. It is only five or six months later it became clear that what he wanted to talk about was a takeover of the club. Such enquiries from middlemen we get every couple of weeks”
He confirms that he is aware that most fans are unhappy.
Duchatelet told the South London Press: “I think most of the fans are extremely unhappy now - at least a big part of them.”
I would very much like to hear what they recognise about what is going wrong.
“I have a lot of empathy for what they feel. Certainly now in this situation we are in, it’s very normal that they feel unhappy. For them it is more difficult for them to detect what the reasons are than me, they don’t know all the information that I have about what is going wrong - what led to this kind of situation.”
This is undeniably the MAIN reason. There were not big protests at the start of the season –
“The main reason [they are unhappy] is that we are now bottom of the league. That’s a very concerning situation for all of us.”
Once again recognition of failings -
“We got into trouble mainly because we had so many injuries and the squad size was not sufficient to cope with that high number in the first place. There were other reasons as well.”
I agree with this. But will he do this correctly in future ? –
“We chose in the beginning to not have such a large squad for two reasons. One to give enough chances to the academy players. The second reason is that if your squad is too big - let’s say you have a squad of 35 players which happens in the Championship - there are only 11 starting players. That means only one in three players are happy at the beginning of the game.
“So the risk, which I also learned from my experience, is that if your squad is too big you create problems in the dressing room with the players, who are very good, that have only one career and believe they should play.
“It’s a balancing act between a smaller squad - more opportunity to play and the risk of injuries - or having a very large number of players and creating this frustration. We thought when we had a lot of injuries we would fix that with loan players. But that appears to be quite difficult too. Sometimes it is okay - but sometimes it is not okay, because they are not always the best possible options.
“If you introduce a player it can take him a number of weeks - depending on the character, type, position and relationship with the coaches - to adapt and integrate. It’s not such a good idea to do too many loans .
“It’s better to have your work in order at the beginning of the season rather than to rely on loans.”
RD has apologised for KM’s Dublin interview -
“I’m very sorry some people may have misunderstood what she said.”
This is good that he is recognising this, but will he put it into practice ? –
“Charlton owner Roland Duchatelet says he wants to buy more British-based players as part of a recruitment rethink - but has vowed that any head coach must subscribe to promoting academy players.”
This concerns me, as we are already promoting the academy players too early –
“But our main goal remains that we grow our academy much more. That we rely even more on it.”
There is some good clarification here, but no recognition that you need an experienced first team coach, as well as one that is willing to give youth a chance.
“You need to have head coaches which are willing to take a risk for themselves by putting in young players. And that’s the profile of coaches we have been trying to have all the time.
“The first season when Jose came he was really only an interim because that’s the idea we had at the beginning. He was then willing to stay, which was something not really expected but, okay, it was very interesting.
“We seriously considered that possibility too. One of the things which triggered us to take Bob Peeters was that he had an experience of the Championship as a player. He was a young coach and also somebody not afraid at all to play with young players - that was a movement in that direction already.
“Okay it didn’t finally work out. Guy Luzon was a coach who had a track record of working with young players in Israel before - he was very successful with them at Standard Liege also - and that was the reason we took Guy.
“Karel Fraeye has been the academy manager of Gent, who became champions last season in Belgium. He also very good knowledge of working with young players and was willing to do so. He brought in players that other coaches would never have done, I think, and successfully.
In summary, I’m not surprised that he’s supporting Meire and that being the case, he is not going to point out her many failings.
I’m pleased that he does appear to understand much of what has gone wrong and recognises that the vast majority of fans are unhappy.
I’m still extremely concerned that he is going to plough on regardless, but perhaps, just perhaps, they may start to execute the plans in a more competent manner in the future, as I don’t think he’ll sell up any time soon.
I shall be at the front of the demonstration tomorrow.
RD OUT !
OR,
a tiny squad of youngsters, stress free becuase they'll always get a game.
One of those teams competes for promotion, the other is bottom of the league.
“She didn’t say what some people claim she said. She explained that running a football club is totally different to running another business. And in fact she used the word ‘weird’ in describing the difference between running a regular business and running a football club, because your customers are not really customers.
“Some people, for some reason, turned around 180-degree what she really meant to say. She said you cannot run a football club like a regular commercial enterprise."
So, what did she say ?
A lot of his rhetoric is the staple diet of football club owners around the world. All very well if you are top of the league but we are not.
Or was it an almighty cock up from Roland who didnt plan on it happening hence why he sold their best three player in the Transfer Window and gave the Manager to his mate @ Standard Liege?
I also agree the second bunch may see this as an excuse to sit back and relax. I would too, but my memory still works, and I remember reafing similar rubbish on other occasions. Itwould be great ( well, bits of it) if it weren't so far detached from reality.
But defending KM, complaining about injuries...he knows more than the fans as he is privy to inside information when he is perpetually in Belgium. Sorry, it's corporate nothing-speak, aimed to sooth the mindless rabble. He's looking down at us because despite where he has lead us, he still knows best. Sod him.
Either she speaks without thinking and doesn't listen to what she says, or what she said accurately reflects her view, either way, she is unfit to be CEO (and might struggle in any public-facing role) at the club.