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Posts from the ‘Karl Robinson’ Category

Feb 2

6 Comments

Churn

Well, who is surprised that Roly just pocketed around £12m, around £8m of it up front and allowed Karl Robinson to bring in three loan players and Jake Forster-Caskey and Lewis Page on nominal fees during the January transfer window?

The club also moved off it’s wage bill Nicky Ajose, although not in it’s entirety and those of Kevin Foley. Ajose is another classic example of how many players the club has churned since the arrival of Roland Duchatelet. El-Hadji Ba and Oliver Muldoon were also released, Ba having is contract paid up until the summer of 2018.

Ba signed by Meire during the summer of 2015 with great fanfare. Four managers and a caretaker later, he refused to play and we had to pay him off. It is a wonder how Duchatelet has ever made any money in business, it really is.
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Jan 30

Transfer deadline

Just two days to go before the bloke from Sky Sports wets himself on national telly.

January is notoriously a tricky month to improve squads for the long term. Robinson has consistently talked a long term strategy flying in the face of anything we have witnessed under this regime. “In an ideal world I want to buy a player that’s ours, is under 24 years of age and can drive us forward. Not an older player, we’ve got enough older players with quality. I want to add someone who can give us some longevity.” (more)

Yep, in a ideal world Uncle Roly will allow you that marquee signing that you enthused about last week Karl, but it’s unlikely isn’t it. Just like installing the underground heating with no heating, Duchatelet will do the bare minimum to take the club forward, all the while selling young prospects of any value, loading the club with debt, and making empty promises, some of which are downright lies.

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Jan 16

11 Comments

Made in Charlton

It was great to see Ademola Lookman score for Everton yesterday. I was thrilled for the lovely young man. Every Addick can be rightly proud that he was ‘Made in Charlton’. It was equally as good to see Joe Gomez return from his long term injury for Liverpool last week in the FA Cup, and he too was on the bench yesterday at Old Trafford. It can be impossible to keep these players from moving to the next level, particularly when Charlton appears to be low on ambition, and the reality is that we have become a middling League One club.

I think under Robinson, if he is allowed a longer term to influence young prospects, we may see academy players stay to play closer to a century of games. Of course we know Katrien Meire’s view on moving our best young players on, and for Roland Duchatelet, it is just a way to make money for his network project.

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Jan 14

1 Comment

Charlton Athletic 0 Millwall 0

I think the biggest thing for me today was the atmosphere and the heartwarming sight of seeing the Covered End packed. There’s been some depressing sights at The Valley this season with woefully low attendances and depressingly soulless atmosphere’ but today showed what can be.

Although I’m on the fence with Karl Robinson, there is no denying his passion for the game and his new club. It’s a building block, and allowed time Robinson could make a real difference, even though our owner is intent on selling all of the concrete.

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Jan 9

6 Comments

Elliot Lee rumoured 

Robert Lee’s youngest son Elliot has found himself in the rumour mill and his Dad hasn’t denied it. I know the Lee family pretty well and they always had high hopes of Elliot emulating his Dad but I think he stayed too long at West Ham and was probably a bit too comfortable there, although to be fair he did suffer from various managerial changes and at the point when he should have been knocking on the first team door Big Sam shunned him, much to Rob’s disgust.

Elliot moved to Barnsley in the summer on a free after being released by the Hammers and is on a two-year deal at Oakwell but after only a few sub appearances he would like to move back south. Any move to SE7, which was supported by his Dad on social media would probably be a loan. It is thought that Colchester United, where Lee has had two previous loan spells, were in the driving seat to sign him.

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Jan 5

5 Comments

Lookman leaves, Forster Caskey signs

I wish Ade well at Everton, and I’m pleased that he has signed for a ‘proper club’ with no disrespect to the Chelsea’s of the world, where he would just populate their burgeoning unused or pawned out talent pool.

We saw it coming so it is no surprise, nor is it that the fee is “undisclosed,” although thought to be £7.5m up front rising to £11m. Question now is how much will go into Duchatelet’s pocket and how much will be given to Robinson for his mid-season rebuilding quest. If rumours are true it is only thought to be a single digit percentage.

Katrien Meire, who has kept a low profile recently said: “We have a fantastic academy here and it is testament to everyone at the club that Charlton continues to develop high-quality young players.” She did not add this time that it’s great that we can watch them for a handful of months before watching them on MOTD in the Premier League playing for someone else. Welcome to Roly’s player farm.

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Jan 1

2 Comments

Has Watt the balls? 

Karl Robinson has confirmed that Tony Watt will return for a 4th time in just two years. A move back to Scotland to be nearer family and play back in the SPL for Hearts has ended after signing for the season in July. Just 12 starts and a solitary goal (a last minute Hearts winner at the end of August) later the Scot is heading back to SE7 and his waterfront apartment.

Watt, who could easily gain hero status, has fallen over time and time again, and the 23-year old is now well and truly in the last chance hotel and Robinson knows it.
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Dec 31

4 Comments

Southend United 1 Charlton Athletic 1

A last minute equalizer by Andrew Crofts salavaged what sounded like an undeserved point at Roots Hall today. It was the Shrimpers who made the most chances and we had to thank Dillon Phillips and a missed open goal just before Aribo set up Crofts to smash home in the 90th minute.

For the longest time travelling Addicks had little to cheer although in a couple of minute spell in the 2nd half we had two chances well saved and the very impressive Joe Aribo hit the bar.

However it looked like another blank for Robinson until Crofts got his first Charlton goal to give us a point, which looking at the team and bench before kick off was probably more than we could have anticipated against an in form Southend.
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Dec 29

5 Comments

A social function

Wyn Grant found these quotes this morning and thanks to some good work by one of Charlton Life’s finest the whole interview with Duchatelet and his partner Mareike Höfte, who is the president and the front person of STVV, can be found here in two parts. Click part 1 and part 2.

I have paid close attention to Duchatelet and his family since they bought ‘my’ football club almost to the day 3 years ago, and I am convinced that they, more so him, are completely cuckoo.

He really has no concept of sporting integrity or ambition and the ultimate dream of any human being that has ever pulled on a pair of football boots or walked into a professional football club’s stadium for the first time.
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Dec 27

MK Dons 0 Charlton Athletic 1

Not what Karl Robinson would describe as vintage or even a potentially good harvest but a win is a win and Robinson’s first as Addicks’ manager.

We didn’t impress but defended resolutely enough and Ademola Lookman grabbed a fine winner from a superb Andrew Crofts pass in the first half to give us the Boxing Day points.

Needed as much as those 3 points were they won’t mean an awful lot unless we can build on them at Southend on Saturday. The Shrimpers lie 6th and to my mind if we can’t beat them then we have no real claim to be play-off contenders ourselves.
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Dec 22

11 Comments

Time to stop the talking

The best motivational speakers and trainers are also very good listeners. I wonder if Karl Robinson listened today when he met the players individually?

Robinson hasn’t stopped talking since he walked in the door. He loves a media appearance, he loves a press conference and he is particularly fond of a pre-match tactics discussion. Sadly we are still waiting to witness one come good.

His Scouse cheeky-chappy tone has changed though. From the best job in the world, we will play open attacking football scoring goals at will, and what a great set of lads I have, some of whom are the best in the league, to not my fault, have you seen the mess I inherited here, I can’t wait to sign a new team in January. And I’ve got more injuries than a Friday night in A&E!

Yes Karl, such a mess that we had lost only once in nine until you pitched up.
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Dec 20

10 Comments

Into the Lions’ Den

21 long years since we last beat our rivals just 3.7 miles up the road. That double in the 1995/6 season. The double. Can you imagine it?

Karl Robinson understands the significance of this game to Addicks, as does Andrew Crofts, although Robinson has never won at The Den either, he has had a lot less goes at it than recent Charlton managers.
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Dec 15

MK Dons 3 Charlton Athletic 1 (AET)

An early exit out of this season’s FA Cup. Not entirely unexpected bearing in mind the team Karl Robinson put out. Although on paper the mix of untried youth, the more familiar youngsters and those with plenty of experience looked as they could still pull off a result but according the eye witnesses we were rarely at the races.
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Dec 13

Pearce out for a while

When we signed Jason Pearce I called him as Slade’s best summer signing. He started slowly but has proven himself as a leader and a very accomplished defender. Today Pearce tweeted this:

That is a blow, but the silver lining is that this has to open up a return for Jorge Teixeira, who was outcasted by Slade, possibly under Duchatelet’s orders. However Karl Robinson involved the Portuguese straight away and he is undoubtedly a class act. Bauer is suspended but will be back for Saturday, and these two will still make a formidable central defensive pairing.
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Dec 3

Charlton Athletic 0 MK Dons 0

After a week of plenty of talking Karl Robinson’s team were rather mute on the pitch today in front of less than 5,000 supporters of Robinson’s new and old clubs. It was a lackluster performance that delivered none of the promise of goals, buckling up, entertainment and on the edge of your seat. Not much of any new manager bounce either.

But the Karl Robinson revolution is going to take time, and a few different players. Maybe more than a few. Neither of which Roland Duchatelet has been keen on giving Robinson’s umpteen predecessors. 
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Dec 2

2 Comments

And here’s to you Mr Robinson

Nothing to complain about of Karl Robinson’s first interaction with fans, in a much more controlled setting of the west stand with the fawning and fibbing Katrien Meire not to be seen.

Robinson came across honest and genuinely excited about his new job. He said all the right things, but what newly unveiled manager doesn’t, yet real enthusiasm spilled out of him like a kid on Christmas Eve and there was a lot to like.

Obviously he called for unity between fans and club, I can understand that, and there he is no doubt that he had a very good relationship with the supporters of MK Dons, not that us them can be categorized in anyway similarly.

His comments about Chris O’Loughlin were a little odd, and I understand he has made them again since. One word of advice Karl, don’t pull the wool over our eyes. In addition I see that the CAST has offered to meet up with Robinson to offer him support but importantly to give him background and substance to the majority of fan’s grievances towards the club’s owner and CEO.
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Nov 27

2 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Sheffield United 1

A thoroughly undeserved point on Saturday after Patrick Bauer equalized in taxi time against most people’s promotion favourites Sheffield United.

Despite United’s dominance and a superb display from young Dylan Phillips, the Blades only had a single goal to show for it, a well worked free kick move. As we all know one goal is never often enough and sure enough from a lovely Adam Chicksen free kick, the big German bundled in late.

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Nov 24

30 Comments

Marmite Robinson appointed

“Following a thorough appointment process.” Cut and paste and repeat.

Well welcome Karl and I sincerely hope that you don’t sell your Buckingshire home and buy that one in Greenwich that your missus has fallen in love with. Rent mate, rent.

I’ve always been a bit marmite on Karl Robinson. As a young coach he impressed at MK Dons with a limited budget and caught the eye of chairmen of bigger clubs but to his credit stayed loyal. They had a pleasing attacking style and Robinson has worked well with many young players, either homegrown or on loan. His record, although marred by nearly’s, does have a promotion on it, and despite a 20-year age gap is much better than Russell Slade’s.

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