it must be happening, katrien finally replied to me earlier
From: katrien To: the best moderator Sent: 17.04pm 19th October 2017
My darling Cabbles,
Let me first start by saying that although I have stayed silent all this time and you haven't received one single response from me, please be rest assured that I have thought of little else during my time as CEO of Charlton. I remember receiving your first email inviting Roland and I to that award winning Thai restaurant. I so wanted to go. I love Thai and hear Peckham is really upmarket compared to how it used to be. Unfortunately Roland does not share our love of Thai and does not do well with spicy food.
I was also all for the film rolling with Roland. Michael Douglas was a great choice and I was furious with his agent for not coming back to you. The club would've fully cooperated and Roland would've made himself available for filming an away game on the dj coach. It would've been pretty special to have done both the Huddersfield and Hull trips in succession during Jan 2016. The coach sounds like so much fun. All gathering at anchor and hope lane at 8am for a long trip north. I would've enjoyed meeting your uncle, this 31 year man. From how you describe him he sounds like a loser, with his book on the railways and his pariah status on the coach, but a loveable loser all the same
You have to understand that it was also very hard for me to respond by email because I was so busy working on strategic initiatives like the fan's sofa and latterly, afternoon tea versus Peterborough. I was taken aback at how popular the sofa was on the final home game of the 15/16 season against Burnley, when all the fans were stampeding to get a piece of it, much like they were back in the 80s and getting some turf after our final game at the valley. It was at that point I knew the bond between us and the fans was at its strongest
Do you remember Preston at home that season during the night when we lost 3-0 and played 7 left backs, oh what pioneers we are. It was oh so special. Roland's emails to Chris Powell, thomas driesen's team based on him winning FIFA.
But now sadly it has come to end. But the end of my time as CEO is the start of our time together. I can still be involved in the club vicariously through you as this position you have on here as moderator. I will support you 100% in this role as I know it hasn't been easy for you recently. You've been disrespected and your username misappropriated but the others mean nothing to you now you've finally got me.
Aside from that, you generally find a new board bring in another manager. I think we should let Powell carry on with unfinished business and that will galvanise the support and hopefully after 18 months the previous term will be a distant memory.
I've missed out on a whole evening of posts having just spent the entire evening driving back from Devon.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
It seems not. I hear a well-respected Australian diplomat has been lined up to take on the role of CEO. He's had a number of important roles for the Aussies, has previously worked in the UK, had a lengthy and varied career and been honoured with a knighthood. He hopes to bring his personal assistant with him. They go back a long way.
In fact she said to him only the other day: "Les you go back a long way".
Come on mate, that's a bit unfair on him. He's not emotionally invested in CAFC like the rest of us and has blagged a very good career at a very young age from relative football playing obscurity.
He's done well for us with the owners and albeit may be platitudes to the fanbase seems really passionate about the club and the fans. Our best manager since Powell and doing a good job I think.
I've missed out on a whole evening of posts having just spent the entire evening driving back from Devon.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
Come on mate, that's a bit unfair on him. He's not emotionally invested in CAFC like the rest of us and has blagged a very good career at a very young age from relative football playing obscurity.
He's done well for us with the owners and albeit may be platitudes to the fanbase seems really passionate about the club and the fans. Our best manager since Powell and doing a good job I think.
That's a fair enough arguement but he should not have opened his trap about them in the first place.
Forgetting that I still stand by my comment about Powell.
I've missed out on a whole evening of posts having just spent the entire evening driving back from Devon.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
Just saying.
I don't care (well i do, anyone but Roly for now , we can worry about how pony the new owners are once these bells have left) my kids have got the shittiest kits falling apart or too tight on them and the mrs is desperate for new football gear for them to wear , I need these back and fronts out the club asap, my boys look ridiculous in their old kits
Aside from that, you generally find a new board bring in another manager. I think we should let Powell carry on with unfinished business and that will galvanise the support and hopefully after 18 months the previous term will be a distant memory.
This is not a Chris Powell team. Bringing Powell in would mean we'd need to buy three or four players to play a flat 4-4-2 in January, and that would be really difficult at this level.
And that's just the logistical side. I don't think bringing Powell makes sense just because he was good in this division five years ago. Just because something worked once, doesn't mean it will work again, especially in football.
He's a lovely man, which is far more important than how he is as a manager. But five years is a long time in football. And in that time his career hasn't exactly flourished, whereas I think the standard of play in the Championship and League One has improved. That league winning side was fantastic, and I get that that was the last time where it felt good to be a Charlton fan and when we were winning things consistently. But we can't just helicopter Powell in to any situation and anticipate he will succeed just because he's Chris Powell.
Lastly, I still feel he would do very well to go overseas as a coach and learn some things. I think that his style of play, 4-4-2, one wide player, one more narrow, target man and poacher up front is becoming outdated even at this level. He's such a fantastic person and so good at building a cohesive unit I would hate for the game to pass him by as it seems to be doing with many Englishman of his age.
I've missed out on a whole evening of posts having just spent the entire evening driving back from Devon.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
Just saying.
These are my thoughts exactly.
What exactly is their business model?
Being overlooked hugely in the optimism of seeing this ownership go. The economics of football ownership particularly at this level are crazy in 2017....for all the bad under this mob we are a going concern and at least seem to have turned a corner football wise with more apparent autonomy with a manager who knows this league and some good signings in Fosu, Holmes etc whilst the CEO hasn't spoken publicly for yonks.
Many are praising these new speculated owners without knowing anything about them, their competence,their resources, their ambition and their agenda.
We would do well to revisit the takeover thread from 3 years ago when this mob rocked up and the same jubilation was being pumped all over the message board due to the relief of being able to see a glimmer of optimism after the Cash went with Jiminez and Slater.
IF a takeover even happens the new lot will have a lot to prove and whilst they should be supported and I hope we see a return to bumper crowds the scepticism will be their now for me for a good while until their is evidence that we've not gone from a bad situation to another or worse.
No way should Robinson be removed, as overall he's doing a decent job. Changing the manager now would be a disaster for the team spirit and style, as they have to adjust to a new boss and new tactics, and would derail this season.
I've missed out on a whole evening of posts having just spent the entire evening driving back from Devon.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
Just saying.
These are my thoughts exactly.
What exactly is their business model?
Being overlooked hugely in the optimism of seeing this ownership go. The economics of football ownership particularly at this level are crazy in 2017....for all the bad under this mob we are a going concern and at least seem to have turned a corner football wise with more apparent autonomy with a manager who knows this league and some good signings in Fosu, Holmes etc whilst the CEO hasn't spoken publicly for yonks.
Many are praising these new speculated owners without knowing anything about them, their competence,their resources, their ambition and their agenda.
We would do well to revisit the takeover thread from 3 years ago when this mob rocked up and the same jubilation was being pumped all over the message board due to the relief of being able to see a glimmer of optimism after the Cash went with Jiminez and Slater.
IF a takeover even happens the new lot will have a lot to prove and whilst they should be supported and I hope we see a return to bumper crowds the scepticism will be their now for me for a good while until their is evidence that we've not gone from a bad situation to another or worse.
I am included in this, but I think so many people are so f***** off with the vermin the fans are of the view the next board cannot be any worse than the current ones and are prepared to sit back and wait.
I've missed out on a whole evening of posts having just spent the entire evening driving back from Devon.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
Just saying.
These are my thoughts exactly.
What exactly is their business model?
Being overlooked hugely in the optimism of seeing this ownership go. The economics of football ownership particularly at this level are crazy in 2017....for all the bad under this mob we are a going concern and at least seem to have turned a corner football wise with more apparent autonomy with a manager who knows this league and some good signings in Fosu, Holmes etc whilst the CEO hasn't spoken publicly for yonks.
Many are praising these new speculated owners without knowing anything about them, their competence,their resources, their ambition and their agenda.
We would do well to revisit the takeover thread from 3 years ago when this mob rocked up and the same jubilation was being pumped all over the message board due to the relief of being able to see a glimmer of optimism after the Cash went with Jiminez and Slater.
IF a takeover even happens the new lot will have a lot to prove and whilst they should be supported and I hope we see a return to bumper crowds the scepticism will be their now for me for a good while until their is evidence that we've not gone from a bad situation to another or worse.
I am included in this, but I think so many people are so f***** off with the vermin the fans are of the view the next board cannot be any worse than the current ones and are prepared to sit back and wait.
We are due some luck as a fanbase so fingers crossed!
I've missed out on a whole evening of posts having just spent the entire evening driving back from Devon.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
Just saying.
These are my thoughts exactly.
What exactly is their business model?
Being overlooked hugely in the optimism of seeing this ownership go. The economics of football ownership particularly at this level are crazy in 2017....for all the bad under this mob we are a going concern and at least seem to have turned a corner football wise with more apparent autonomy with a manager who knows this league and some good signings in Fosu, Holmes etc whilst the CEO hasn't spoken publicly for yonks.
Many are praising these new speculated owners without knowing anything about them, their competence,their resources, their ambition and their agenda.
We would do well to revisit the takeover thread from 3 years ago when this mob rocked up and the same jubilation was being pumped all over the message board due to the relief of being able to see a glimmer of optimism after the Cash went with Jiminez and Slater.
IF a takeover even happens the new lot will have a lot to prove and whilst they should be supported and I hope we see a return to bumper crowds the scepticism will be their now for me for a good while until their is evidence that we've not gone from a bad situation to another or worse.
My optimism about RD lasted for probably two hours, before an STVV fan came on here and basically said, 'You're f**ked'. Of course, no-one wanted to hear that at the time, so he was largely ignored.
If this one is who we think it is, do we have anything to go on?
(You have to admit though, to be worse than RD and KM would be quite an achievement.)
I've missed out on a whole evening of posts having just spent the entire evening driving back from Devon.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
Just saying.
These are my thoughts exactly.
What exactly is their business model?
Being overlooked hugely in the optimism of seeing this ownership go. The economics of football ownership particularly at this level are crazy in 2017....for all the bad under this mob we are a going concern and at least seem to have turned a corner football wise with more apparent autonomy with a manager who knows this league and some good signings in Fosu, Holmes etc whilst the CEO hasn't spoken publicly for yonks.
Many are praising these new speculated owners without knowing anything about them, their competence,their resources, their ambition and their agenda.
We would do well to revisit the takeover thread from 3 years ago when this mob rocked up and the same jubilation was being pumped all over the message board due to the relief of being able to see a glimmer of optimism after the Cash went with Jiminez and Slater.
IF a takeover even happens the new lot will have a lot to prove and whilst they should be supported and I hope we see a return to bumper crowds the scepticism will be their now for me for a good while until their is evidence that we've not gone from a bad situation to another or worse.
I am included in this, but I think so many people are so f***** off with the vermin the fans are of the view the next board cannot be any worse than the current ones and are prepared to sit back and wait.
We are due some luck as a fanbase so fingers crossed!
I've missed out on a whole evening of posts having just spent the entire evening driving back from Devon.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
Just saying.
These are my thoughts exactly.
What exactly is their business model?
What's the current business model, alienate the fans and sell any young player with an ounce of talent? Amazing how quickly people forget what's gone on for the last 3 years after a half decent start to the season in a shit league. I think it's worth a gamble.
I've missed out on a whole evening of posts having just spent the entire evening driving back from Devon.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
Just saying.
These are my thoughts exactly.
What exactly is their business model?
Being overlooked hugely in the optimism of seeing this ownership go. The economics of football ownership particularly at this level are crazy in 2017....for all the bad under this mob we are a going concern and at least seem to have turned a corner football wise with more apparent autonomy with a manager who knows this league and some good signings in Fosu, Holmes etc whilst the CEO hasn't spoken publicly for yonks.
Many are praising these new speculated owners without knowing anything about them, their competence,their resources, their ambition and their agenda.
We would do well to revisit the takeover thread from 3 years ago when this mob rocked up and the same jubilation was being pumped all over the message board due to the relief of being able to see a glimmer of optimism after the Cash went with Jiminez and Slater.
IF a takeover even happens the new lot will have a lot to prove and whilst they should be supported and I hope we see a return to bumper crowds the scepticism will be their now for me for a good while until their is evidence that we've not gone from a bad situation to another or worse.
Yeah, excellently put. I worry that, with the level of initial investment, any owner is going to rock up and think "we can be in the Premier League in 2-3 years." There is the challenge of just getting out of this division, and looking up to the Championship, it's a massive arms race where there are hugely wealthy owners and clubs with massive parachute payments to contend with.
And we are, or at least were, operating at a loss. Whether the Lookman sale and the sale of other players last summer covers that remains to be seen. But it means that not only will investors need to meet Roland's initial asking price, they'll need to pump money in just to keep us going.
And this all goes back to my big underlying fear which is: who would want to buy us right now, in the third tier, operating at (estimated) 1m/month losses, and with a training ground that needs an overhaul?
No way should Robinson be removed, as overall he's doing a decent job. Changing the manager now would be a disaster for the team spirit and style, as they have to adjust to a new boss and new tactics, and would derail this season.
I still can’t believe a genuine sale will happen imminently ,as Duchalet is a stubborn old man and his pride will get in the way (really hope I’m wrong!) but if it did I’d keep Robbo until the Summer, back him in the January transfer window and tell him promotion this season, or your out the door in the summer.
I've missed out on a whole evening of posts having just spent the entire evening driving back from Devon.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
Just saying.
These are my thoughts exactly.
What exactly is their business model?
What's the current business model, alienate the fans and sell any young player with an ounce of talent? Amazing how quickly people forget what's gone on for the last 3 years after a half decent start to the season in a shit league. I think it's worth a gamble.
No no no, no one is forgetting here. It's just going back to my last point, who would want to buy us now?
As far as selling any decent young players, while we're in this division I don't know of any other business model. How else are we going to bring in revenue to match our losses? And if we're not making money, do we expect an owner who will come in and just pump money into the club in the form of philanthropy, and not loans? Because I think that's really unlikely.
I've missed out on a whole evening of posts having just spent the entire evening driving back from Devon.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
Just saying.
These are my thoughts exactly.
What exactly is their business model?
What's the current business model, alienate the fans and sell any young player with an ounce of talent? Amazing how quickly people forget what's gone on for the last 3 years after a half decent start to the season in a shit league. I think it's worth a gamble.
Well possibly. Pretty much everything has turned out shitty under Duchatelet but one thing has to be recognised. The bills get paid on time.
I'm certainly praying for the new owners to be honourable but there are plenty of chancers out there.
How much they have doesn't matter as we've seen for the last 3+ years, it's what they do with it. Anyway the Aussies are a consortium aren't they so hopefully a few more with similar funds.
I've missed out on a whole evening of posts having just spent the entire evening driving back from Devon.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
Just saying.
These are my thoughts exactly.
What exactly is their business model?
Being overlooked hugely in the optimism of seeing this ownership go. The economics of football ownership particularly at this level are crazy in 2017....for all the bad under this mob we are a going concern and at least seem to have turned a corner football wise with more apparent autonomy with a manager who knows this league and some good signings in Fosu, Holmes etc whilst the CEO hasn't spoken publicly for yonks.
Many are praising these new speculated owners without knowing anything about them, their competence,their resources, their ambition and their agenda.
We would do well to revisit the takeover thread from 3 years ago when this mob rocked up and the same jubilation was being pumped all over the message board due to the relief of being able to see a glimmer of optimism after the Cash went with Jiminez and Slater.
IF a takeover even happens the new lot will have a lot to prove and whilst they should be supported and I hope we see a return to bumper crowds the scepticism will be their now for me for a good while until their is evidence that we've not gone from a bad situation to another or worse.
I am included in this, but I think so many people are so f***** off with the vermin the fans are of the view the next board cannot be any worse than the current ones and are prepared to sit back and wait.
We are due some luck as a fanbase so fingers crossed!
We used it all up on turning Naby Sarr from Franz Kafka-esque nightmare into Franz Beckenbauer.
Comments
Aside from that, you generally find a new board bring in another manager. I think we should let Powell carry on with unfinished business and that will galvanise the support and hopefully after 18 months the previous term will be a distant memory.
Was hoping a little more detail had leaked out but seems not.
Based on the likelihood that it's the Aussies we're talking about just how certain are we that their ownership would be a safe pair of hands ? All the talk of not having enough funds have persisted although I guess that at least must have changed.
I presume we know their business model and we know that they have ambition but is that enough ?
I would hate us to jump out of the frying pan straight into the fire.
Just saying.
Come on mate, that's a bit unfair on him. He's not emotionally invested in CAFC like the rest of us and has blagged a very good career at a very young age from relative football playing obscurity.
He's done well for us with the owners and albeit may be platitudes to the fanbase seems really passionate about the club and the fans. Our best manager since Powell and doing a good job I think.
What exactly is their business model?
Forgetting that I still stand by my comment about Powell.
And that's just the logistical side. I don't think bringing Powell makes sense just because he was good in this division five years ago. Just because something worked once, doesn't mean it will work again, especially in football.
He's a lovely man, which is far more important than how he is as a manager. But five years is a long time in football. And in that time his career hasn't exactly flourished, whereas I think the standard of play in the Championship and League One has improved. That league winning side was fantastic, and I get that that was the last time where it felt good to be a Charlton fan and when we were winning things consistently. But we can't just helicopter Powell in to any situation and anticipate he will succeed just because he's Chris Powell.
Lastly, I still feel he would do very well to go overseas as a coach and learn some things. I think that his style of play, 4-4-2, one wide player, one more narrow, target man and poacher up front is becoming outdated even at this level. He's such a fantastic person and so good at building a cohesive unit I would hate for the game to pass him by as it seems to be doing with many Englishman of his age.
Many are praising these new speculated owners without knowing anything about them, their competence,their resources, their ambition and their agenda.
We would do well to revisit the takeover thread from 3 years ago when this mob rocked up and the same jubilation was being pumped all over the message board due to the relief of being able to see a glimmer of optimism after the Cash went with Jiminez and Slater.
IF a takeover even happens the new lot will have a lot to prove and whilst they should be supported and I hope we see a return to bumper crowds the scepticism will be their now for me for a good while until their is evidence that we've not gone from a bad situation to another or worse.
If this one is who we think it is, do we have anything to go on?
(You have to admit though, to be worse than RD and KM would be quite an achievement.)
And we are, or at least were, operating at a loss. Whether the Lookman sale and the sale of other players last summer covers that remains to be seen. But it means that not only will investors need to meet Roland's initial asking price, they'll need to pump money in just to keep us going.
And this all goes back to my big underlying fear which is: who would want to buy us right now, in the third tier, operating at (estimated) 1m/month losses, and with a training ground that needs an overhaul?
As far as selling any decent young players, while we're in this division I don't know of any other business model. How else are we going to bring in revenue to match our losses? And if we're not making money, do we expect an owner who will come in and just pump money into the club in the form of philanthropy, and not loans? Because I think that's really unlikely.
I'm certainly praying for the new owners to be honourable but there are plenty of chancers out there.