If he's having to fight just to get Crofts in on a free, he's got absolutely no chance of getting the 5-6 other players in that he needs. We're totally fucked.
I couldn't see this elsewhere - from Liam Happe, old youth team reporter and commentator on CAFC Player today:
Liam Happe @liamhappe 2h2 hours ago Eltham, London Was interesting to hear that Russell Slade became first #cafc boss to stand up to KM over signings... and he won the standoff (re: Crofts).
Also heard today that Slade continues to fight for more signings and is actively resisting the network loan cast-offs he's offered #cafc
The Charlton squad needs work & owners could easily sack Slade early for speaking far too much common sense but it's a glimmer of hope #cafc
Apparently her argument against signing Crofts was 'we have Diarra'. First 4 months don't count, it seems. #cafc
I know Liam well and trust what he says. On that basis I think Slade will probably be gone by January.
If these are true (and i fully believe they are), then it just proves they've learnt absolutely nothing from previous years.
Not really a surprise is it. Roland remains as tight-fisted and interfering as usual. Katrien is still as dumb as a sackful of hammers.
Slade has no chance with these two stitching him up at every turn
I couldn't see this elsewhere - from Liam Happe, old youth team reporter and commentator on CAFC Player today:
Liam Happe @liamhappe 2h2 hours ago Eltham, London Was interesting to hear that Russell Slade became first #cafc boss to stand up to KM over signings... and he won the standoff (re: Crofts).
Also heard today that Slade continues to fight for more signings and is actively resisting the network loan cast-offs he's offered #cafc
The Charlton squad needs work & owners could easily sack Slade early for speaking far too much common sense but it's a glimmer of hope #cafc
Apparently her argument against signing Crofts was 'we have Diarra'. First 4 months don't count, it seems. #cafc
I know Liam well and trust what he says. On that basis I think Slade will probably be gone by January.
Also, the more players he argues for and signs the less likely he is to resign, as he has persuaded these players to sign. If the above is true, you can see why Duchatelet & Meire don't like British managers. You can see some terse and difficult discussions. Duchatelet won't want to fire Slade and pay up his contract at this early stage. It is good to see Slade sticking to his guns and will get a lot of support from Charlton supporters if the above is true.
It is amazing to see Duchatelet & Meire completely underestimating what is required in every British division they compete in. Its really clueless stuff. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out & who wins the battle. How Charlton's season goes will depend on the outcome.
First of all heard the interview, now seen it on youtube.
My take is that Russell took the job, some written assurances and some verbal ones, but he took the job on the express understanding that he would be well supported in not simply keeping things going, but in creating a realistic challenging squad.
When I say supported it means decent fit players.
If being supported means asking 'why Crofts, we have Diarra? it speaks of the attitude and approach of the regime but it appears Slade won that particular battle because Crofts is here.
However the vibe right now is a degree of exasperation. The fault cannot be laid at Slade's door at the moment because he is doing his best with what he has (and then has taken away from him!). If I am right it might be Slade feeling exhausted about all the individual justifications he must continually make, or maybe Slade is losing faith that he will truly be supported in making the squad competitive. It may even be a dawning realisation of something we fans already know full well about this regime.
Lest we forget it is only two weeks until Bury away.
Slade arrived with enthusiasm, looked forward to Austria, crossed targets off lists, signed players in a rush of initial exhilaration, tried to improve the training ground, learn a little about the club, managed and organised what players he had.
But now. Now what?
Do we now have Richard Murray popping up and making pre-emptive excuses about our injuries?
We all know that we're not ready yet. So does Slade.
But now. Now what?
Out of this miasma the only single option is to magic up league victories somehow, and it looks like it will take a magician. Or possibly Alan Turing.
Or if I am reading the runes right there is soon to come a reckoning. The reckoning is likely to be a revelation to Slade that there is simply no money, but he ought to be open minded to the player options, and the coping mechanisms suggested by this regime, or he must resign.
However this time, the threat of Slade resigning with all the fall out that would follow might just enable Slade to get his own way.
I couldn't see this elsewhere - from Liam Happe, old youth team reporter and commentator on CAFC Player today:
Liam Happe @liamhappe 2h2 hours ago Eltham, London Was interesting to hear that Russell Slade became first #cafc boss to stand up to KM over signings... and he won the standoff (re: Crofts).
Also heard today that Slade continues to fight for more signings and is actively resisting the network loan cast-offs he's offered #cafc
The Charlton squad needs work & owners could easily sack Slade early for speaking far too much common sense but it's a glimmer of hope #cafc
Apparently her argument against signing Crofts was 'we have Diarra'. First 4 months don't count, it seems. #cafc
I know Liam well and trust what he says. On that basis I think Slade will probably be gone by January.
Sorry, but one of those statements from KM has been misquoted.
Apparently, what she DID say is that Crofts had diarrhoea and she refused to rubber stamp his signing until he was sh*t free.
Interview on You Tube. On seeing it, Slade compares Charlton with league 2 Orient, who were able to bring players on in the second half. Sounds like he is arguing with Meire about Buxton & Foley with a goalkeeper the priority. Slade talks with energy but does not look a happy man. If there's arguments about these players, what chance of getting a creative midfielder or further pace or quality up front ?
I hope that Russell Slade stays and continues to put public pressure on Duchatelet. I don't know what
(I've started, so I'll finish...)
I don't know what "a top 6 budget" equates to in League 1; nor, I'm sure, does Meire, although she stated in the first press conference that we were going to have one and the club's unequivocal position was that our minimum target was top 6 in the division. Yes, we may have got only £5million for JBG, Cousins and Pope, but that was down to her utterly inept negotiating skills and the regime telling the football world and anyone else who would listen that we were going to conduct a desperate fire sale and slash our wage bill at all costs.
As others have said, Duchatelet will be appalled by this interview but that is a good thing and Russell absolutely needs a direct line into him, rather than everything been filtered through Meire. Matters need to be brought to a head and the manager's position is as strong now as it is going to be, certainly in the short term. We are at a critical stage with the season only a fortnight away and if progress cannot be made now, it most certainly is going to occur later in the season.
I hope that Russell Slade stays and continues to put public pressure on Duchatelet. I don't know what
(I've started, so I'll finish...)
I don't know what "a top 6 budget" equates to in League 1; nor, I'm sure, does Meire, although she stated in the first press conference that we were going to have one and the club's unequivocal position was that our minimum target was top 6 in the division. Yes, we may have got only £5million for JBG, Cousins and Pope, but that was down to her utterly inept negotiating skills and the regime telling the football world and anyone else who would listen that we were going to conduct a desperate fire sale and slash our wage bill at all costs.
As others have said, Duchatelet will be appalled by this interview but that is a good thing and Russell absolutely needs a direct line into him, rather than everything been filtered through Meire. Matters need to be brought to a head and the manager's position is as strong now as it is going to be, certainly in the short term. We are at a critical stage with the season only a fortnight away and if progress cannot be made now, it most certainly is going to occur later in the season.
Totally agree with this. Especially the idea that Slade's position is at it's strongest point right now. However the situation between the manager and the regime should not be adversarial should it? Slade ought not to have to resort to brinkmanship of any kind. The regime should simply ask Slade on a daily basis 'Is everything OK? Tell us please how we can help and support you because we trust you totally'. Right now it looks like Oliver Twist in the orphanage asking Mr Bumble the Beadle and Mrs Mann for more.
If Slade is banging his head against the wall he should not resign. My advice to Russell would be to shout loud and long from whatever rooftops that he has been duped. Every press conference, every post match, have an open door policy for every journalist, but don't resign. Force their hand, and preferably do it now. Lets face it Mel Baroni and other staff have scarpered as soon as full realisation sinks in, don't do that Russell, let them pay you off. If BDL can be told off for something as innocuous as welcoming back a club legend, then if Russell tells it like it is, the regime is likely to go apeshit.
Comments
Slade has no chance with these two stitching him up at every turn
It is amazing to see Duchatelet & Meire completely underestimating what is required in every British division they compete in. Its really clueless stuff. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out & who wins the battle. How Charlton's season goes will depend on the outcome.
My take is that Russell took the job, some written assurances and some verbal ones, but he took the job on the express understanding that he would be well supported in not simply keeping things going, but in creating a realistic challenging squad.
When I say supported it means decent fit players.
If being supported means asking 'why Crofts, we have Diarra? it speaks of the attitude and approach of the regime but it appears Slade won that particular battle because Crofts is here.
However the vibe right now is a degree of exasperation. The fault cannot be laid at Slade's door at the moment because he is doing his best with what he has (and then has taken away from him!). If I am right it might be Slade feeling exhausted about all the individual justifications he must continually make, or maybe Slade is losing faith that he will truly be supported in making the squad competitive. It may even be a dawning realisation of something we fans already know full well about this regime.
Lest we forget it is only two weeks until Bury away.
Slade arrived with enthusiasm, looked forward to Austria, crossed targets off lists, signed players in a rush of initial exhilaration, tried to improve the training ground, learn a little about the club, managed and organised what players he had.
But now.
Now what?
Do we now have Richard Murray popping up and making pre-emptive excuses about our injuries?
We all know that we're not ready yet.
So does Slade.
But now.
Now what?
Out of this miasma the only single option is to magic up league victories somehow, and it looks like it will take a magician.
Or possibly Alan Turing.
Or if I am reading the runes right there is soon to come a reckoning. The reckoning is likely to be a revelation to Slade that there is simply no money, but he ought to be open minded to the player options, and the coping mechanisms suggested by this regime, or he must resign.
However this time, the threat of Slade resigning with all the fall out that would follow might just enable Slade to get his own way.
Apparently, what she DID say is that Crofts had diarrhoea and she refused to rubber stamp his signing until he was sh*t free.
Interview on You Tube. On seeing it, Slade compares Charlton with league 2 Orient, who were able to bring players on in the second half. Sounds like he is arguing with Meire about Buxton & Foley with a goalkeeper the priority. Slade talks with energy but does not look a happy man. If there's arguments about these players, what chance of getting a creative midfielder or further pace or quality up front ?
I don't know what "a top 6 budget" equates to in League 1; nor, I'm sure, does Meire, although she stated in the first press conference that we were going to have one and the club's unequivocal position was that our minimum target was top 6 in the division. Yes, we may have got only £5million for JBG, Cousins and Pope, but that was down to her utterly inept negotiating skills and the regime telling the football world and anyone else who would listen that we were going to conduct a desperate fire sale and slash our wage bill at all costs.
As others have said, Duchatelet will be appalled by this interview but that is a good thing and Russell absolutely needs a direct line into him, rather than everything been filtered through Meire. Matters need to be brought to a head and the manager's position is as strong now as it is going to be, certainly in the short term. We are at a critical stage with the season only a fortnight away and if progress cannot be made now, it most certainly is going to occur later in the season.
However the situation between the manager and the regime should not be adversarial should it? Slade ought not to have to resort to brinkmanship of any kind.
The regime should simply ask Slade on a daily basis 'Is everything OK? Tell us please how we can help and support you because we trust you totally'.
Right now it looks like Oliver Twist in the orphanage asking Mr Bumble the Beadle and Mrs Mann for more.
But this is going to end badly isn't it?
I don't think he will see out his contract though.
My advice to Russell would be to shout loud and long from whatever rooftops that he has been duped. Every press conference, every post match, have an open door policy for every journalist, but don't resign.
Force their hand, and preferably do it now.
Lets face it Mel Baroni and other staff have scarpered as soon as full realisation sinks in, don't do that Russell, let them pay you off. If BDL can be told off for something as innocuous as welcoming back a club legend, then if Russell tells it like it is, the regime is likely to go apeshit.
#justgo
Fraeye again? A non league boss who's desperate for a bigger job and will do as he's told? Nobby?