“Footballing issues”
Chris Powell has told the SLP that he has agreed the financial terms of a new contract but there still needs to be discussions over “footballing issues.”
Let’s look at the positive first. Duchâtelet has by offering him a fair financial incentive made it clear that he wants Powell to stay at the club. Powell likewise has made it public that financially the owner and he are on the same page, and that money will not be the principal factor.
However the footballing issues doesn’t surprise me, and this to Powell, and in fact many good young coaches, will be the ultimate driver.
Duchâtelet comes with fresh ideas, some ‘continental’ and some quite radical. Powell has to except that and I would hope he is looking for a balance, he will never get it all his own way, which manager or employee does? It is here, though, where Katrien Meire can be in Powell’s corner.
She will see him and his coaching team at work every day, she was at the QPR game and presumably at Hillsborough. She is open to ideas and her door she told us is always open.
She is not a football person, but she will spot talent, hard work and can’t help but notice the vocal endorsement of the manager by the fans, the same people that Duchâtelet wants to please and encourage to come to games for a better experience.
I noted that the first thing Duchâtelet did at AD Alcorcón was fire the head coach, maybe the Belgian was more comfortable with the set-up in Spain than he is in The Championship. Duchâtelet has shown a lot of naivety whilst in charge of Charlton. Throwing a mixture of players, mostly inexperienced and unfit at Powell was not what was required in January. Powell would have told Duchâtelet this, and Meire will hopefully be witnessing it for herself.
Powell puts a lot of importance on personalities, just like Curbs did, and I know from asking him myself, that any new player is thoroughly researched before they are signed. His promotion team, almost entirely built from scratch, prescribed to his philosophy.
Whilst Duchâtelet holds the cards, he has shown he not only wants Powell, but needs him. If CP were to leave, which good British manager is going to be willing to work within Duchâtelet’s model? Duchâtelet will turn to Europe and his network of course, but outside of the top, top foreign coaches, how many succeed in the English game, especially outside of the Premier League?
Yes, Duchatelet holds the aces, and time will tell if Powell holds a straight flush or a pair of duds, but he is prepared to play the waiting game, whilst working his socks off for the club and it’s supporters.
Alwyas good to read your blogs mate. Fingers crossed for Saturday, potentially worth £2 million which would be handy!
RD never budgeted for this little windfall I am sure. Jimenez and Slater will be kicking themselves!
Another great piece keep up the good work .
Thanks John.
Katrien Meire are Karren Brady!!
Which good British manager would be willing to take on the job? I would think a great many & why would British be an issue to the administration anyway?
I hope you are right about Meire fighting CP’s corner & it is encouraging that there is no issue with the financial aspects of the contract & that CP has stated that he would love to stay. However, he has already been massively undermined &, I think, placed in a very difficult situation.
Duchatelet is no fool & fully understands the stature of CP at the Valley but he must also allow him the chance to make the decisions about who goes & who stays, otherwise CP will walk. And who could blame him?. I understand the financial constraints & that we have been losing money hand over fist. The new regime offers some stability but the uncertainty helps no-one & is crippling to the confidence of those of us who continue to show our faith week in, week out &, more importantly, those who get on with job of trying to make our beloved side competitive .
The BBC report I take with a pinch of salt but it did still sow further seeds of doubt. The jury is still out on Duchatelet but I’m still willing to give him all chances.
Great balance in the comments , can’t help thinking that Roland must be very ambitious to buy a club like Charlton and that ambition will shine through eventually , I also get the feeling he is warming to CP not only as a man which is the easy bit but as a very good coach which he may not have thought when he first took over the club.
Can’t wait for Sunday
I always read your blogs with much interest CA & you never disappoint. Thank you & keep up the good work.
Thank you Sam.
For me Jury is still out on Powell, however his contract signing though will galvanise the players and fans for a fight to stay in the championship. I like the Belgian and the way he has mapped the next few years. We are financially stable, there is at least a vision, and let’s face it the Premiership is a huge pot of gold and that’s the reason why he bought us and will invest wisely to help that happen, thereafter we are a commodity with a nice little ROI.