great article, it's difficult not to like the fella and he always comes across well.
I think we are now also starting to see that they mean business with everything being done around the club and not just on the playing squad. A few real big statements of intent with the pitch upgrades and the work at the training ground.
long way to go, but I'm feeling more confident at the end of July that I have for many a year
I know Im going to be shot to pieces here but There is very little that this bloke says that I disagree with lol. I havent seen the Sunderland documentary and Im obviously aware of the reputation he has via comments on here but I still find it hard to find anything outlandish he says lol
great article, it's difficult not to like the fella and he always comes across well.
I think we are now also starting to see that they mean business with everything being done around the club and not just on the playing squad. A few real big statements of intent with the pitch upgrades and the work at the training ground.
long way to go, but I'm feeling more confident at the end of July that I have for many a year
Funny how some high profile ‘connected’ posters have simply vanished since things have started looking much better from an ownership point of view.
I guess it’s easier than accepting they got it wrong.
proof, pudding, eating of etc etc but it can't be denied that good work is going on at the Club whether that be hiring NJ, hiring Dr Will, work at the training ground, work at The Valley, bringing the Superstore back in house, player recruitment. We are definitely heading in the right direction. I never watched the Sunderland Netflix stuff so my judgement is not clouded by it but maybe he's learned from it because he comes across as being very competent and able. Long may it continue.
proof, pudding, eating of etc etc but it can't be denied that good work is going on at the Club whether that be hiring NJ, hiring Dr Will, work at the training ground, work at The Valley, bringing the Superstore back in house, player recruitment. We are definitely heading in the right direction. I never watched the Sunderland Netflix stuff so my judgement is not clouded by it but maybe he's learned from it because he comes across as being very competent and able. Long may it continue.
Exactly how I feel.
The last few years suggest we’re wrong but it does feel different this time
He was at the training ground this morning, pulled up in a pretty knackered BMW X1, and stopped to say hello to the kids going into the Trusts football courses.
It can't be denied that this new group of owners are making significant changes both on and off the pitch. These changes/additions won't be cheap but it does seem there is a 'root and branch' systematic plan being put in place. I think, so far, that with the changes already seen, it's time for all supporters to get behind this 'project'. People wanted to see the colour of their money, I believe we now are.
As a freely admitted member of the "Methven sceptics" I am more than happy to hold my hands up and say he has done very little wrong since Appleton was finally turfed out.
Whether it's because he's learned from his Sunderland experience, is being held on tighter reins or maybe his reputation always was a bit exaggerated I don't know, or care.
If he was to leave right now then he'd go with the club being in a generally better state and position (off the pitch) than when he came in, and it's been a while since any of our owners could say that.
Think he's very good at knowing what people want to hear, time will tell how good he is on everything else.
Judging them since January seems pretty convenient when they had their people at the club from the year before, their managers in Holden and then Appleton, and their guy in Scott trying to usher Dobson out of the door to get a few quid in while we were at risk of going down.
We finished last season as low as we ever have.
They may be doing good work off the pitch to add value that side (and that's good news, obviously), but the jury is very much still out on the playing side. I think the additions this summer look reasonably promising but it's not blown me away, and we've lost CBT, Dobson and May under them who were basically our only 3 decent players.
Hopefully I'm wrong and when we do judge them on this season and not the last, I'm more of the same opinion as a lot of you in thinking they're doing a good job!
Another good article. I've got to know Charlie reasonably well over the last year and have certainly come full circle - starting with large amounts of scepticism to where I now feel comfortable with him involved so much so we occasionally have a chat on the phone too about how things are going and how they are looking. He'll ask my opinion on players and he does actually listen too. Shortly before Appleton departed we spent 90 minutes on the phone after I sent him a rant about his demeanour and management of the team. He listened to what I said (much of which was being echoed on here) and agreed with some bits and disagreed with other bits as you would expect him to since he saw him more than any of us did.
He's certainly got more about him than the guy from the Sunderland / netflix days which has definitely clouded people's judgement.
He does know what we want to hear but we've had a few who lacked even that. Personally, i've always thought he talks a lot of sense and don't let the inverted snobbery regarding his accent and pink trousers cloud that. He's asking us to put that first 6 months last season behind us. I'm happy to look at things with a clean slate from now. Wouldn't be surprised to see Rodwell or Scott moving on mind you. If CM is calling the shots at the Valley and the non football side of the club, aren't Rodwell and Scott treading on each others toes at the training ground?
I do like a lot of what he says. I'm in the slightly optimistic camp on the owners I think. I'm wary that CM is a PR man so unlikely to say the wrong things to the media but a lot of the actual work seems to be being done too. It does feel like we're starting to get our club back on track, just need it to work on the pitch too.
proof, pudding, eating of etc etc but it can't be denied that good work is going on at the Club whether that be hiring NJ, hiring Dr Will, work at the training ground, work at The Valley, bringing the Superstore back in house, player recruitment. We are definitely heading in the right direction. I never watched the Sunderland Netflix stuff so my judgement is not clouded by it but maybe he's learned from it because he comes across as being very competent and able. Long may it continue.
I didn't see the Sunderland programs but CM's reputation preceded him loud and clear He arrived in SE7 very much the character in which he'd been portrayed and vilified His posho voice and demeanour will always wrankle wiv som sarfeast laandon geezers Can't say I was too pleased when he was elevated to an executive position by GFP recently The very least that can be said about him is that his deportment and style have been tuned up in the same way that all the training ground, Valley pitch, etc, etc improvements have been rolled out this summer. Much is being made of not many season ticket sales but at least that trajectory appears to be upward. The revenue from that ain't making a meaningful dent in the outgoings. All of that hanging together isn't coincidence or luck or Skintgaard type bluster. It must have cost fortunes. Rich people don't (often) get rich or stay rich by pissing their money around willy-nilly. They also tend not to keep tossers in jobs they can't actually do. GFP's major shareholders have made and lost more money than probably all we season ticket holders will ever do all added together. If they are entrusting CM with mitigating their losses on the commercial side of things then I ain't gonna question their judgement. If CM's actually no good at it, he'll be out on his ear. Same goes for Scott, Rodwell and others. Probably the biggest outlay has been on players, certainly the biggest commitment on the new blokes' contracts, GFP ain't mucking about. NJ has to get an acceptable return on the investment that's been made. We might have a reasonable guess at what that 'return' needs to be. How long he's got to turn his squad of bodies into a winning team, we don't know. Hopefully GFP are blessed with some patience. Duffers like Appleton need sacking pronto but generally managerial turmoil serves only to create an ever faster spinning whirlpool of failure and losses. It's very much in keeping with Britain in July 2024 as a whole to be blaming the impoverishment of today on the underinvestment and shitty management of the previous custodians but attributing injury problems to ropey training pitches is certainly backed up by all the effort and money devoted to remedying them. It is all seeming to hang together, they're all singing from the same hymn sheet. Fingers crossed that Wigan, Orient, Bolton and Reading are comparatively less well prepared and our season gets off to a decent start, nothing breeds success like success. A handful of points will make it much easier to top up the squad as the window nears closure.
great article, it's difficult not to like the fella and he always comes across well.
I think we are now also starting to see that they mean business with everything being done around the club and not just on the playing squad. A few real big statements of intent with the pitch upgrades and the work at the training ground.
long way to go, but I'm feeling more confident at the end of July that I have for many a year
Funny how some high profile ‘connected’ posters have simply vanished since things have started looking much better from an ownership point of view.
I guess it’s easier than accepting they got it wrong.
If you’re talking about me, I’m busy elsewhere and to be honest haven’t paid Charlton much attention for some time. The outcome on the pitch last season speaks for itself.
I’m not going to comment on Charlle Methven here one way or the other, but I haven’t forgotten that he stated last year that any half-competent management could reduce the operating loss to £1m-£2m and offset that with player trading. That was as silly in its way as any statement made by Sandgaard, but I’m pleased that as chief executive he won’t be able to escape responsibility for delivering on it.
great article, it's difficult not to like the fella and he always comes across well.
I think we are now also starting to see that they mean business with everything being done around the club and not just on the playing squad. A few real big statements of intent with the pitch upgrades and the work at the training ground.
long way to go, but I'm feeling more confident at the end of July that I have for many a year
Funny how some high profile ‘connected’ posters have simply vanished since things have started looking much better from an ownership point of view.
I guess it’s easier than accepting they got it wrong.
If you’re talking about me, I’m busy elsewhere and to be honest haven’t paid Charlton much attention for some time. The outcome on the pitch last season speaks for itself.
I’m not going to comment on Charlle Methven here one way or the other, but I haven’t forgotten that he stated last year that any half-competent management could reduce the operating loss to £1m-£2m and offset that with player trading. That was as silly in its way as any statement made by Sandgaard, but I’m pleased that as chief executive he won’t be able to escape responsibility for delivering on it.
So nothing at all to say about the long list of positive things being done at the club right now?
Costs aren’t being cut, solid investments are being made on and off the pitch, facilities are being upgraded left right and centre, but let’s focus on one comment instead.
Thankfully as Chief Executive he’ll be reporting to the owners, not you, and I very much doubt they’re expecting to break even, the evidence would suggest the absolute opposite.
great article, it's difficult not to like the fella and he always comes across well.
I think we are now also starting to see that they mean business with everything being done around the club and not just on the playing squad. A few real big statements of intent with the pitch upgrades and the work at the training ground.
long way to go, but I'm feeling more confident at the end of July that I have for many a year
Funny how some high profile ‘connected’ posters have simply vanished since things have started looking much better from an ownership point of view.
I guess it’s easier than accepting they got it wrong.
Was thinking that myself. Some people hate good news.
great article, it's difficult not to like the fella and he always comes across well.
I think we are now also starting to see that they mean business with everything being done around the club and not just on the playing squad. A few real big statements of intent with the pitch upgrades and the work at the training ground.
long way to go, but I'm feeling more confident at the end of July that I have for many a year
Funny how some high profile ‘connected’ posters have simply vanished since things have started looking much better from an ownership point of view.
I guess it’s easier than accepting they got it wrong.
If you’re talking about me, I’m busy elsewhere and to be honest haven’t paid Charlton much attention for some time. The outcome on the pitch last season speaks for itself.
I’m not going to comment on Charlle Methven here one way or the other, but I haven’t forgotten that he stated last year that any half-competent management could reduce the operating loss to £1m-£2m and offset that with player trading. That was as silly in its way as any statement made by Sandgaard, but I’m pleased that as chief executive he won’t be able to escape responsibility for delivering on it.
So nothing at all to say about the long list of positive things being done at the club right now?
Costs aren’t being cut, solid investments are being made on and off the pitch, facilities are being upgraded left right and centre, but let’s focus on one comment instead.
Thankfully as Chief Executive he’ll be reporting to the owners, not you, and I very much doubt they’re expecting to break even, the evidence would suggest the absolute opposite.
I haven’t said that I won’t comment in future. I’ve not posted anything much on here or elsewhere for months because I have not been paying much attention. I hope Charlie didn’t lead the investors to believe the operating loss could be cut to such an extent, but it’s not a small consideration if he did. It also speaks either to his competence or to his honesty.
What’s clear is that the executive management last season was hopelessly naive about the prospects of the playing side and made a series of big mistakes, which culminated in a complete mess. Those responsible are all still here.
I’ve no interest in negating any optimism people may feel, but I also recall the vacuous cheerleading which surrounded the less credible Matt Southall and Thomas Sandgaard, as well as the apologists for Jimenez, Slater and Duchatelet/Meire, none of whom deserved any respect at all.
I have a view about Methven and co, which doesn’t extend to the substantive owners. I may be right and I may be wrong but I’ll share it where and when it suits me. What matters is what happens on the pitch. I’m optimistic about Nathan Jones, but we have been let down too many times already.
Cmon lads, we all want the best for Charlton. Like opinions, people can change. I didn’t watch the Sunderland doc but heard the guy was a bell and we’ve had plenty of them to be aware of. But this ain’t Sunderland so lessons learnt.
To me things are looking up. Which when you finish 16th in league one, shit will.
great article, it's difficult not to like the fella and he always comes across well.
I think we are now also starting to see that they mean business with everything being done around the club and not just on the playing squad. A few real big statements of intent with the pitch upgrades and the work at the training ground.
long way to go, but I'm feeling more confident at the end of July that I have for many a year
Funny how some high profile ‘connected’ posters have simply vanished since things have started looking much better from an ownership point of view.
I guess it’s easier than accepting they got it wrong.
I was thinking that myself it is very noticeable. I’m not saying we are out of the woods and nobody knows what the future holds but all the posts about asset stripping the academy! Trying to flog investment packages in Texas ! Etc etc etc lots of drums being banged but now not a peep
Unfortunately after years of seeing incompetents 'run' the club this lot have started badly so the cynics have been concerned. Time will tell if lessons have been learnt.
great article, it's difficult not to like the fella and he always comes across well.
I think we are now also starting to see that they mean business with everything being done around the club and not just on the playing squad. A few real big statements of intent with the pitch upgrades and the work at the training ground.
long way to go, but I'm feeling more confident at the end of July that I have for many a year
Funny how some high profile ‘connected’ posters have simply vanished since things have started looking much better from an ownership point of view.
I guess it’s easier than accepting they got it wrong.
Mate that is a ridiculous post. We have achieved effing nothing. What are you congratulating them for? I’m sorry to be rude but to be blunt that post, you just sound like an idiot - if you’re patting an ownership on the back because they’ve painted the training ground so things “look better” then I have no idea what is going on in your head, presumably under the influence of something.
Have you forgotten the appointment of Michael Appleton? Pretty much every signing last season except May (where’s he now by the way?)? And most importantly and simply of all, our league position last season - the worst in our entire history!
Whatever you may think of the signings we’ve made (I struggle to believe many fans have any meaningful knowledge of most of them in reality, and I recall all sorts of rave reviews and excitement abouT signings the last couple of years who have been utter toilet - make a judgement when you’ve seen whether they’re any good not when you’ve read a few rival fans opinions on twitter) - I cannot fathom any Charlton supporter around for the last decade giving ANY owner credit at this moment in time, let alone calling out those who harbour very justified doubts.
If you’re not familiar with the term false dawn, revisit season 2014/15 - I think we began the championship season with a load of exciting , big money “champ man” signings who looked thrilling on paper, and we actually began the season unbeaten in 10 games or something? Our owner then; a freshly installed Roland Duchatalet. How did that turn out?
Im looking forward to getting behind the new players, Jones, the youth players who have already made names for themselves in difficult circumstances and pray to god we’re gonna be up there this season. I’ll chuck loads of praise their way if they get us out of this toilet league.
BUT. Congratulate an owner when they’ve actually achieved something, and when things ARE better, materially. They could sign Messi tomorrow but they’d still be very, very much in negative credit when they’ve just presided over the last year.
I too am looking forward to getting behind NJ and the lads. We have some good players, but as has been said already - we’ve been here before.
The sale of May still grinds my gears but we will see how that plays out. This is my one area of scepticism so far - you just don’t take goals out of a team.
We will know by the end of October what our prospects are, especially if the club start saying it’s a long season/plenty of points to play for etc etc. We need to average 2 points a game for auto promotion - simple as that.
Comments
I think we are now also starting to see that they mean business with everything being done around the club and not just on the playing squad. A few real big statements of intent with the pitch upgrades and the work at the training ground.
long way to go, but I'm feeling more confident at the end of July that I have for many a year
I guess it’s easier than accepting they got it wrong.
🤞🤞🤞
I think, so far, that with the changes already seen, it's time for all supporters to get behind this 'project'. People wanted to see the colour of their money, I believe we now are.
Whether it's because he's learned from his Sunderland experience, is being held on tighter reins or maybe his reputation always was a bit exaggerated I don't know, or care.
If he was to leave right now then he'd go with the club being in a generally better state and position (off the pitch) than when he came in, and it's been a while since any of our owners could say that.
Judging them since January seems pretty convenient when they had their people at the club from the year before, their managers in Holden and then Appleton, and their guy in Scott trying to usher Dobson out of the door to get a few quid in while we were at risk of going down.
We finished last season as low as we ever have.
They may be doing good work off the pitch to add value that side (and that's good news, obviously), but the jury is very much still out on the playing side. I think the additions this summer look reasonably promising but it's not blown me away, and we've lost CBT, Dobson and May under them who were basically our only 3 decent players.
Hopefully I'm wrong and when we do judge them on this season and not the last, I'm more of the same opinion as a lot of you in thinking they're doing a good job!
We are a football club at the end of the day and last season we came 16th under his ownership. Hopefully this season is a lot, lot better.
He's certainly got more about him than the guy from the Sunderland / netflix days which has definitely clouded people's judgement.
Cant we just have a bit more transparency on that?
He arrived in SE7 very much the character in which he'd been portrayed and vilified
His posho voice and demeanour will always wrankle wiv som sarfeast laandon geezers
Can't say I was too pleased when he was elevated to an executive position by GFP recently
The very least that can be said about him is that his deportment and style have been tuned up in the same way that all the training ground, Valley pitch, etc, etc improvements have been rolled out this summer. Much is being made of not many season ticket sales but at least that trajectory appears to be upward. The revenue from that ain't making a meaningful dent in the outgoings.
All of that hanging together isn't coincidence or luck or Skintgaard type bluster. It must have cost fortunes. Rich people don't (often) get rich or stay rich by pissing their money around willy-nilly. They also tend not to keep tossers in jobs they can't actually do. GFP's major shareholders have made and lost more money than probably all we season ticket holders will ever do all added together. If they are entrusting CM with mitigating their losses on the commercial side of things then I ain't gonna question their judgement. If CM's actually no good at it, he'll be out on his ear. Same goes for Scott, Rodwell and others.
Probably the biggest outlay has been on players, certainly the biggest commitment on the new blokes' contracts, GFP ain't mucking about.
NJ has to get an acceptable return on the investment that's been made. We might have a reasonable guess at what that 'return' needs to be. How long he's got to turn his squad of bodies into a winning team, we don't know. Hopefully GFP are blessed with some patience. Duffers like Appleton need sacking pronto but generally managerial turmoil serves only to create an ever faster spinning whirlpool of failure and losses.
It's very much in keeping with Britain in July 2024 as a whole to be blaming the impoverishment of today on the underinvestment and shitty management of the previous custodians but attributing injury problems to ropey training pitches is certainly backed up by all the effort and money devoted to remedying them. It is all seeming to hang together, they're all singing from the same hymn sheet.
Fingers crossed that Wigan, Orient, Bolton and Reading are comparatively less well prepared and our season gets off to a decent start, nothing breeds success like success.
A handful of points will make it much easier to top up the squad as the window nears closure.
Costs aren’t being cut, solid investments are being made on and off the pitch, facilities are being upgraded left right and centre, but let’s focus on one comment instead.
Two sides of the same coin.
Time will tell if lessons have been learnt.
Beyond parody 😂
Whatever you may think of the signings we’ve made (I struggle to believe many fans have any meaningful knowledge of most of them in reality, and I recall all sorts of rave reviews and excitement abouT signings the last couple of years who have been utter toilet - make a judgement when you’ve seen whether they’re any good not when you’ve read a few rival fans opinions on twitter) - I cannot fathom any Charlton supporter around for the last decade giving ANY owner credit at this moment in time, let alone calling out those who harbour very justified doubts.
If you’re not familiar with the term false dawn, revisit season 2014/15 - I think we began the championship season with a load of exciting , big money “champ man” signings who looked thrilling on paper, and we actually began the season unbeaten in 10 games or something? Our owner then; a freshly installed Roland Duchatalet. How did that turn out?
Im looking forward to getting behind the new players, Jones, the youth players who have already made names for themselves in difficult circumstances and pray to god we’re gonna be up there this season. I’ll chuck loads of praise their way if they get us out of this toilet league.
BUT. Congratulate an owner when they’ve actually achieved something, and when things ARE better, materially. They could sign Messi tomorrow but they’d still be very, very much in negative credit when they’ve just presided over the last year.
We need to average 2 points a game for auto promotion - simple as that.