Despair
There is a real air of despair amongst Addicks at the moment. After the furore of Powell’s return and an immediate call for calm and all that getting our Charlton back stuff, just 6 weeks later, whilst only the insane are calling for Powell’s head, the majority are writing off promotion and questioning his ability to be a coach and a manager.
After Parky left I was championing for a new manager without any previous Charlton connections, I felt we needed to move on as a club and not dwell on the past. I was excited about the prospect of Eddie Howe but it didn’t happen. I was bloody excited about Chris Powell, but in a different way and made some reservations at the time.
I was anxious over Powell’s appointment and on the day before he was unveiled I wrote: “I just wonder if we as fans need to adjust our immediate expectations a little. A Wise/Poyet or Wise/Wilkins combo rightly or wrongly would have got us all thinking about instant success, but with Chris it has to be about rebuilding the confidence, stopping the decline and the beginning of a new era. This just might take some time. Climbing up the cliff face certainly takes longer than falling of it.”
The thing is, I was, and still am happy to accept that we have to take stock and rebuild under Powell. Of course this could be a mitigating disaster but I believe we have to commit to a long-term view and allow him to grow into the job.
Nevertheless within the first eight games some of his decisions appear questionable although some do stand up to some scrutiny. The signing of BWP and Bessone, an attempt to play a more patient game (more often than Parky at least) and the inclusion of Jenkinson for example.
The most worrying aspect for me however has been the extremely sluggish starts and the apparent lack of ideas when we have been behind. I can forgive Powell for tactical inadequacies at this stage of his managerial learning curve but if he hasn’t got the scope for motivation or isn’t able to get the best out of players from the touchline either from pure drive or by making effective or intelligent changes (and this applies to Dyer and Matthew too) then I am worried.
Tomorrow is about winning and I am not looking to listen to a tactical masterclass but some old fashioned balls and determination to put right some wrongs will do me fine. Come on you reds!
Who’s questioning Powell’s ability? He’s inherited a squad that would be described as shite if there were a tad better than they are. Promotion is a pipe dream, if it’s achieved he’s a miracle worked
I really hope CP gets the boys playing as a team.
When Parky had team spirit in the squad, he was awarded manager of the month, without a BWP! He also left us in the play off places with games in hand, but I see us struggling to stay in the top 8 unless performances improve.
Negative I know, but I am going to matches expecting us to lose. Would be so happy to not only come away from the ground after a Charlton win, but to see CP turning it around and securing at least the play offs this seaon.
Come on you reds, give us something to cheer today.