Bob Peeters | Chicago Addick

Aug 6

Network dynamics

The club have announced that Reza has moved on a season-long loan to Al Kuwait, one of the Arab state’s biggest clubs.

That makes good business sense for RD because he keeps the asset as part of the network, but moves an unhappy punter of his payroll. Reza has clearly been unsettled for a while ever since his move to Standard two years ago.

Not unpredictably the Iranian has exploited his success in the World Cup, and I understand Reza wanted a permanent move but Duchâtelet vetoed it. I think it is disappointing that he didn’t want to prove himself in a better league, a little bit easy street if you ask me, with a tax-free lifestyle thrown in for good measure.
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Aug 4

When Saturday comes

Almost there then, on Saturday afternoon 1,600 Addicks will be at Griffin Park, presumably a fair few after a pint in one, if not all of the pubs on the corners of the ground. A new era begins with a strange mix of optimism and foreboding being felt amongst Addicks in every corner of the world.

Addicks are still very torn on the direction of the football club, and there was fair amount of complaints about the family fun day on Sunday, which sadly true to form sounded like an PR cock up.

There are, however, many developments to be pleased about and not a lot we can do, or the owner wants us involved in, in some of the affairs we are not.
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Aug 3

5 Comments

2014/15 squad numbers

Squad numbers have always intrigued me. I think most modern coaches allow players now to pick their own number, within reason, although you would think if players couldn’t agree or the number was a ‘key positional’ number, then the manager would intervene and decide.

Footballers are a superstitious lot, but I find it funny that the modern day professional would rather pick no.36 than no.8 because it is lucky.

Charlton’s squad numbers for the new season were revealed today. A 27-man squad that includes Jack Munns, Kadell Daniels and Zac Ansah. The main talking point however being that no.9 has been left unoccupied fuelling more rumours of an immediate striker signing. No’s 12 and 15 are also blank, and Reza continues as no.8, but many will be surprised if we see him wear it.
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Jul 28

2 Comments

Have we got goals in Peeters new look team?

I wonder if the Addicks have finished their summer shopping, I hope not as I still think we look short on options and most importantly firepower.

Scoring goals last season was our biggest handicap and I still don’t think Peeters and Duchâtelet have done enough to address that. I have my reservations on Pigott, but Peeters has started the youngster in every friendly so far. Still only 20, and with time to bloom, he began last season in the 1st team picture but was eventually unable to unseat more experienced players. Even though those players weren’t doing it.

Other than Yann, those picked in front of Joe – Church, Obika, Tudgay, Reza and Sordell, except in the final fixtures – didn’t deliver goals either. Piotr Parzyszek wasn’t considered good enough by three managers and has now moved elsewhere in the network on loan.
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Jul 23

1 Comment

Reza future to be decided tomorrow

After the friendly tonight against Ebbsfleet, members of the media asked Bob Peeters to the whereabouts to Reza Ghoochannejhad. Bob said this:

“There was a transfer to the Middle East. Now there is no transfer anymore and he comes back tomorrow.

I will have a chat with him because he deserved a rest after the World Cup but I will talk to him about what his plans are because for me it is important if players come back they want to be at Charlton.

If you don’t want to be at Charlton then you don’t need to train with the first team. He needs to tell me whether he stays or not.” (more)
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Jul 20

2 Comments

Reza Ghoochannejhad gone?

Unsubstantiated rumours are building on whether Roland Duchâtelet has sold World Cup star Reza Ghoochannejhad. The club said that Reza was to meet up with the squad in Spain after an extended break following Iran’s World Cup exit. However he wasn’t in Spain and now all Addick eyes will be on Sparrows Lane tomorrow to see if he starts pre-season with Charlton or in fact has been moved on.

Reza signed a two and a half year contract in January, but struggled with the pace and physicality of The Championship despite some obvious skill and talent. He started just 10 games, 7 in which he was substituted and scored just once, albeit it was this cracking and decisive goal at Elland Road in April.
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Jul 18

2 Comments

Goalie coming

It sounds like the Addicks will steal a march on Brighton and sign West Ham’s Stephen Henderson on a season-long loan.

The Irishman has like many young ‘keepers played at a host of clubs, nearly all on loan. The 26-year old began his career at Aston Villa but moved to Bristol City without making his senior debut at Villa Park.

He made 25 appearances for Portsmouth after signing for them in 2011. West Ham signed him from Pompey after a loan spell in which he sat on the bench in the Championship play-off final. He then signed permanently but has never made a first team appearance for the Hammers.
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Jul 14

4 Comments

George Țucudean

André Bikey-Amougou plays the ball into Reza Ghoochannejhad, who lays the ball out wide to Jóhann Berg Gudmundsson, who crosses for Igor Vetekole to head back across the goal for George Țucudean to fire home.

Who’d be a commentator eh? Poor old Peter Finch must be waking up in cold sweats!

The reliable Doctor Kish has posted that the striker Bob Peeters mysteriously talked about yesterday after losing to Welling for the first time since 2006, was George Țucudean (pronounced zz-ucu-dean).
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Jul 11

Addicks sign Jóhann Berg Gudmundsson

Whilst a little underwhelmed this morning by the signing of Tal Ben Haim, I am certainly ‘whelmed’ by the capture of Icelandic winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

The 23-year old signs on a 2-year contract after leaving Dutch Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar on July 1st. Gudmundsson arrives with a very impressive reputation. He has 32 Icelandic caps and came to prominence with this cracking hat-trick against Switzerland in World Cup qualifying.
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Jul 9

On your Bikey

Not sure about you, but I’m still trying to get my head around last night. In the meantime the Addicks have made their 4th summer signing with 29-year old André Bikey joining the ranks on a 2-year deal.
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Jul 3

4 Comments

Fruity welcome in Sint-Truiden

Anyone else notice how the three Charlton shirts when stood together resemble the Belgium flag? They are not just all waffles and mussels you know.

Being a grown up, the design of a football shirt shouldn’t really bother me, but I’m sorry these three from Nike this season are atrocious and £61 for kids who want the full kit.

Actually I think my aversion to them stems from the Sunday league font used for Greenwich University. Anyway the wrapping doesn’t matter, it’s what’s inside that counts.
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Jun 23

7 Comments

Liking the cut of his jib

I quite liked what Bob Peeters had to say today. Sat in between his boss and Richard Murray, Peeters came across as eager, methodical, personable, witty and up for it.

Duchâtelet looked disinterested and was happy for Peeters to answer all the questions, except for the one about the difference between a head coach and a manager, which startled Roland into action. Meanwhile Murray happily jumped in to explain the benefit of one-year contract agreements, still aggrieved obviously, like we all are, at the £1m the club paid to say goodbye to Alan Pardew.
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Jun 20

It’s official

“Ex-KV Mechelen assistant head coach Patrick van Houdt who resigned his position yesterday is expected to become assistant to Peeters at The Valley. Guy Kiala, who assisted Peeters at Beveren is also expected to come.” – Chicago Addick, May 23rd.

What took them so long? The OS announced today that van Houdt and Kiala (photo) will join the club’s coaching staff effective July 1st. We can only hope they have some players to coach.

Damian Matthew will be Peeters first team coach, Ben Roberts continues as goalkeeping coach and Laurence Bloom as head of sports science.
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Jun 17

5 Comments

New striker signed

Charlton have agreed a fee with Danish side FC Copenhagen for the transfer of striker Igor Vetokele, a 22 year old Angolan international.

Prior to moving to Denmark, Vetokele played in Belgium for Gent and Cercle Brugge, where he played under Bob Peeters. Vetokele was born in Luanda but grew up in Belgium and played at every level for Belgium up to Under 21, but switched his allegience to his birthplace this year and has 2 caps.
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Jun 5

10 Comments

Bob speaks

It was nice to hear from Bob. Part 1 and Part 2 in case you’ve missed it.

It doesn’t answer why it took almost a week, but we have to move on and Peeters will be judged over a season, although so much work needs to be done between now and August 9th, that a judgement call will be made before the season kicks off whether the club or Peeters like it or not.
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Jun 3

3 Comments

Duchâtelet playing the wages game

The official Charlton Athletic courier, also known as the South London Press has said that Chris O’Grady’s move to The Valley is in jeopardy, if ever it wasn’t, due to Charlton failing to get anywhere near his wage demands. I am all for not paying over the top, but Barnsley had the second lowest wage bill in The Championship last season and potentially O’Grady will be forced to take a cut at Oakwell following relegation.

Many other clubs are in the hunt, including Millwall, for the 15-goal striker and £500,000 appears to be a decent fee for the 28-year old, when compared to what others of a similar ilk would cost. Although Sky Sports have also reported that the proposed structure of our fee has also frustrated the Tykes.

Whispers also say that Michael Morrison’s negotiations with the club are at a snails pace because of a paltry first offer from Duchâtelet.
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May 29

1 Comment

Katrien’s summer hol’s

“I’m just going to check my work emails luv.”

“Oh, do you have too?”

“I just need to check if anything’s going on at the office, maybe Roly has bought that club in Azerbaijan that he’s been banging on about.”

“Oh, okay then, but can you get me a Stella and a waffle on your way back to the pool, I’m going back in for a swim.”
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May 27

3 Comments

Peeters in

Not much of a surprise nor the unheralded announcement. The official statement also mentions that José Riga and Karel Fraeye have also moved on. Nice.

Damian Matthews will stay though as part of Peeters coaching staff, and two others are expected to join him from Belgium.

No mention of a contract period for Peeters, who will be head coach. I wonder if we are now worthy of a bit of an explanation from Duchâtelet or Katrien Meire?
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May 23

Peeters resigns from Waasland-Beveren

This morning Bob Peeters resigned from his role as manager of Waasland-Beveren and the club will now turn to Roland Duchatelet in order to settle the legal formalities and any compensation that can be agreed. This after meeting Duchatelet last night in London.
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May 21

1 Comment

Riga gone. Peeters in

A lot of drawing the dots this morning especially in Belgium where a number of good sources are reporting that Waasland-Beveren manager Bob Peeters has agreed to become the next manager of Charlton with Jose Riga moving back to AC Milan as Technical Director, the role he left to join us in March.

It is said that Riga is unhappy about not being offered the full time job at Charlton. He was quoted in a Belgium newspaper as saying “I do not imagine for a moment that it stops this way , so brutally. Without bragging on my part, including supporters, we had been very satisfied with the good turn of events and the work I could do in a competition that I had a lot of fun to discover. Now, to know why I have no voice, it remains a total mystery to me.”

This is exceptionally disappointing and shows Duchatelet’s cut throat nature, not to mention some poor man-management skills. Peeters is under contract with Waasland-Beveren until June 2015, so compensation will have to be agreed, although Waasland-Beveren have made a statement that they are “unpleasantly surprised by the reports in the press and if these rumours are correct, the negotiations were conducted without prior authorization for him.”
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