The Chris Powell era
After the drama of last week, a boon to us bloggers after an ostensibly endless period of gloom, we now begin the Chris Powell era, and with clearer heads we can begin to start to think what kind of manager he will be.
Yesterday at his first press conference he still came across as slightly dazzled by his appointment but he referred often to the hard work that now needs to take place. He asked for time and support and when quizzed on what type of manager he will be, he said he won’t be throwing tea-cups but will be a leader of men.
On how his teams will play football he remarked that he wanted to see the game played the right way, but equally football is about winning and the 3rd Division is not the best place to showcase keepy-uppies (he didn’t say that but you know what I mean if you didn’t hear it for yourselves).
But Powell left no one in any doubt that his team would play with a passion and honour in the red shirt. A team to be proud of again has been the message Powell has consistently talked about since his appointment on Friday.
I picked up on a couple of other things. One was that he never applied for the job, but Michael Slater said that 40 did. They interviewed just four, and in Powell’s case the interview lasted just 30 minutes. Also when quizzed on coaching staff, Chris was still a bit too vague for my liking in answering the question.
Keith Peacock and Damian Matthew will be kept, but I am hoping for an experienced non-Charlton man alongside him. Chris said he has a shortlist but won’t be rushed. It is a very important decision and not enough value I believe goes into the job an assistant manager or first team coach can do at a successful club. You think Sir Alex does it all on his own?
But overwhelmingly the interview left me with a tingle down my spine. At the end of the 30 minutes I almost switched to the British Airways site to book a ticket home for Saturday’s game, so much so does Chris Powell command hope and pride. If anyone inspires and summons support, then it is this man.
I’ll leave you with one final thought. Most journalists have focused on how few black managers there are in the game, two if you are wondering – Powell and Paul Ince, but how many England Internationals of recent times are working in the football league?
I can think of three. Powell, Ince ticks that box as well and Nigel Clough with Powell being the youngest. But think harder, which other of this generation of England full internationals have managed? I only get three more, and they are not very good examples – Alan Shearer, Tony Adams and John Barnes.
Chicago Addick 
Does Gareth Southgate not count? How about Carlton Palmer? Or Dennis Wise (spit!), Stuart Pearce, Paul Gascoigne, and Mark Wright – all capped subsequently to Clough’s last game and managers at league level (except Gazza). Mind you, they are also pretty poor examples of managers so maybe you have a point…
Alright, alright. Add them to the list Pedro. Any more for any more 😉
Wow that lot are a wonderful collection eh ? However, most of them didn’t served any kind of apprenticeship the most notable being John Barnes. As I recall he left us to manage Celtic and left soon after. As has frequently been proven it doesn’t matter how good you were as a player it won’t automatically make you a good manager. In fact the reverse is true quite often…..on that basis I don’t know why I didn’t make the shortlist !
I think Sir Chris is different to most of those. Clearly he’s an intelligent guy, who knows how to conduct himself on and off the field. His ultimate success came late on in his career and he worked bloody hard to get there. I think he’ll do just fine with our squad.
A news agent often used by Powell back in the day and used still by Tim Breaker told me this morning that when Breaker came in today, he’d told him , he was still at the club and that Powell was looking to bring in either Steve Brown or John Robinson as his number two.
You have to wonder how many of the England squad of recent years will enter club management. When you have been used to silly money every week and are a multiple-millionaire, the lure of long hours and stress for what you used to earn in a month on an annual basis isn’t a massive draw.
What do we gain with him really? It’s such a huge risk appointing an unknown, even an unknown with strong Charlton connections.
The squad/team are still terrible regardless of who’s in charge.
He fails, we’re even deeper in the shit. He suceeds, and along comes a bigger club and he’s gone.
I’m so pessimistic about Charlton right now.
Not wrong Chris.