Following the Four Four Two Valley Parade gaffe, The Times has been the latest to pile in and suggest that the Addicks are going down with the Tangerines (no third candidate is mentioned). It seems to me that the same gloomy narrative keeps being recycled.
At least The Times (who recently let go their most experienced football journalist to cut costs) put it succinctly: 'Don't worry, Charlton fans, Roland Duchâtelet, your Belgian owner, has a plan. It involves selling all your best players, making you a feeder club to Standard Liège and appointing a manager, Bob Peeters, who recently guided Waasland-Beveren to 14th place in the Belgian Pro-League.'
I don't recall any key players going to SL, although the standard critique is that the 'January Six' was made up of naff players, although I would exclude Astrid and would argue that Nego was essentially a development player. In any event, Roland can potentially make a lot of money out of Charlton so he has no interest in running it down.
The Times match preview this morning is almost a page long column, but only mentions Charlton as the opposition team.
I have just heard the Leeds head coach, Dave Hockaday, describe himself on Radio 5 as 'not daft'. I don't think he is, but I am less sure about the Leeds chairman. Hockaday admittedly built his reputation at Cirencester Academy, but then had four-and-a-half years at Forest Green Rovers which were relatively undistinguished and ended with him being let go. But then he is costing about £100k a year whereas Brian McDermott cost £750k.
At least the fans seem to be in good heart and ready to cheer on the team, if messages posted on boards are any guide. Of course, a defeat this afternoon would quickly puncture that bubble.
9 comments:
Who was The Times journo that left?
Simon Barnes, he was actually chief sports writer, but I thought he wrote well about football.
http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/journalism-news/shocked-barnes-says-times-cannot-afford-his-wages/
In The Sunday Times last weekend, it was their Millwall supporter, Liddle, that had us down for relegation. It is difficult to see that as the serious journalism that you would expect of such a distinguished newspaper.
Obviously they do not know what they are talking about.
telegraph put simon church as key player knob
One might indeed ask why Liddle is writing in the Sunday Times at all, but then he spouts rubbish in the Spectator every week. There is clearly a view that controversy of itself is good, regardless of whether it has any foundation.
"distinguished newspaper", Brian?
ST is Murdoch's flagship and nothing more.
I am not sure whether anyone was listening to 606 last night but a Charlton fan from Gloucester called up going over the same old ground...feeder club...Bob Peeters is "Coco The Clown"...why did we sell Kermogant...harking back to Alan Curbishley and the great days in the Premiership..etc..etc.
Not one to get wound up but I found his comments ignorant and offensive and so steeped in the past I wanted to scream.
I only want to get excited about the future and I think that Roland has invested signficantly in our (his)club and I for one am very excited about it. Our current squad is better than last year and from what I have seen so far there is a passing game that I have not seen for many years.
I know people are entitled to their opinion but frankly I am bored with negative backward looking comments as it is futile exzercise. Pick your neck up and move on...
Good point, Geoff.
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