There seems to be an increasing realisation among fans that the problems facing Charlton are more fundamental than the manager and that replacing him will not solve them.
Some fans have interpreted the latest remarks by Nathan Jones as implying that he might leave of his own accord if he doesn't get something out of the next two home games. We would still be left with the question of a replacement and this is an area where many fans have shown a lack of realism. Thomas Frank has been mentioned. A great manager, but he has been in charge of two Premier League clubs and is hardly likely to want to come to a struggling Championship club with no money.
Recruitment was not well handled over the summer. I don't know how these decisions are taken, but there are surely more people than the manager involved, at the very least the chairman and the chief scout (aka, 'Chapple of rest') Admittedly, Jones does seem to have quite an influence on the disastrous Skipp decision which has been rightly criticised by Peter Varney.
Varney has pointed out that in the Curbishley/Murray era players were meticulously researched before an approach was made. The trick was to find good players at clubs who were desperate for the cash, e.g., Dale Stephers (Oldham); Dean Kiely (Bury); Darren Bent (Ipswich).
The budget provided for players over the summer was inadequate. I am always reluctant to criticise owners for not 'investing' more. After all, I am not putting any in myself, even though my tax advisers have told me to spend. However, there is a rational case for the owners being more generous in January to protect their investment. It is not easy to get value in the January window and the owners might think that good money was chasing bad.
If there is a new manager, he will face a squad largely made up of one fan described as 'has beens' and 'wanna bees'. Good luck with that.
