Not a happless firm of solicitors from a Carry On film, but as the Chris Powell rateometer heads south as quickly as it advanced north, it’s been interesting to read the understandable re-emergence of whether the Club were right to dispose of the previous incumbent.
Parky was not the great revolutionary, nor tactical genius, but he was honest and committed. His overriding sin was not to prevent us from being relegated to League One, but by failing to get us promoted back out of it.
If you look back on the previous campaign with the benefit of hindsight, there were two noticeable things in play:
1. It was a very decent squad for League 1
2. It was unfortunate that Norwich and Leeds were also particularly strong.
Whether those two were that much stronger than us is highly up for debate. In Norwich's case, i think the core of our squad was stronger than theirs, but they possessed a creative influence in Hoolihan and a match winner in Holt that we simply did not have.
Leeds looked more similar to us but were boosted by both Beckford, and having a manager who had either built a squad of players with the right lower league mentality, or was able to get them 'up for it' more than we could. The big club on the rise scenario also helped give them momentum.
However, were the squad we had capable of more than they produced ?
Most definitely, and reflections of far too many underpar performances re-iterates that point.
A great start fizzled out and only really returned for the last 4 games of the season.
Where Grayson, Lambert or Jackett at Millwall, were able to get under the skin of their troops and coax a reaction on a regular basis, Parky despite his core attitude and intentions was unable to garner such a response.
The respective goal difference for the last half hour of games for last season (ultimately where draws become wins, and defeats become draws) was:
Norwich +33, Millwall +23, Leeds +18, Charlton +8.
Onto this campaign, and if you compare now the squad to last season does that show that Parky was doing a good job following a severe reduction in budget in the Summer to have us in a play-off position ? Or is it reflective that this appears a lower standard league this season ?
I think the answer is probably a bit of both.
I wasn't a ranter who wanted him sacked, but i could see more likelihood in our season fizzling out after once again a decent start, than i could see a side that was improving the more they played together. A disappointing replication of last season was emerging. And something from the application and co-ordination shown in those couple of dire home games leading up to his dismissal told you that something clearly wasn't right.
Now i see a squad that is pretty much ok in ability, but maybe lacking in heart, confidence and determination. It also now has little settled structure or balance. We are currently positioned where we deserve to be.
The one good thing is that if you can get things right, its pretty easy to progress. Getting things right with our budget though is obviously a lot more difficult than you would think it is. Mentality overcomes ability in this league, and sadly if the players don't have the right ingrained approach then you are always playing with a handicap.
Are those currently getting on Powell’s back after this run of defeats justified ?
Of course not, it’s frustration overcoming realism. It is ridiculous to make such judgements after just a few weeks when injuries appear to be having an impact on an already imbalanced squad of players. Football managers are largely governed by their budget, but on a flat budget are effectively guardians entrusted to deliver steady improvement over time. They are not miracle workers, who unless the previous regime had completely fallen apart, are able to deliver instant results within a couple of weeks, or get a player who has been playing football for 20 years to suddenly trap a ball.
Does that currently exonerate Powell from criticism ?
Equally no, it is his job to pick the best eleven to win games, and at present they are not winning. Formations are being tinkered with, players are being played out of position, we look defensively frail as a unit and the desire to include Ecclestone somewhere in the side provides further imbalance.
Powell’s ethos so far appears to be to try and get the team playing improved football. It is a run ahead of a walk, as what is by far the most important approach to this league is matching the desire of the opposition. Win the personal battles, adopt a will-not-lose mentality and then build on the football from there.
Winners come in all forms but at this level it is not just centred on those who can play, but built around a core of those who are organised and those who will fight. Without those values, the ability to play improved football with rightly see you as a soft touch who can be got at.
We must somehow change that mentality as soon as possible. Our home games are not just attractive to opponents because they are coming to a decent arena. First and foremost they are looking forward to it because they know they’re going to face a team that can be got at. We need to become the team that others don’t want to play, not lick their lips ahead of it.
Our manager needs to be given time to rebuild a squad to his preference and assert his values, yet the supporters are rightly frustrated and disappointed with the offerings that are currently on show. It is a horrible, undesirable catch-22 scenario, that cannot just be looked at in isolation because it has blossomed from a backdrop of incompetence and disappointment.
Patience in the stands at this crossroads stage is vital, but it is equally importance that this is a two-way street, and being a soft touch is never something football supporters at any club wilfully accept.
Show the desire, show the mentality and you’ll find the supporters will be willing to be patient for a lot longer than they currently are.
Comments
Yep, wouldn't want that to happen again !!!! 10 minutes away from Wembley.........
Dick, if your aunt had bollox she would be your uncle.
Good article AFKA
I believe our squad is probably weaker this year than it was last year, although we have now got a goal striker that we didnt have then. I don't think we can judge Powell yet, he hasnt even had a chance to get players in that he wants, to suit his style of play. That being said, I think Parky got alot out of a team that are probably quite average for this level (I really can't understand people who think we have one of the best teams in the league). Powell should be judge in may 2012, after his first full season as manager, with players that he has got in himself.
We are not far away from the play off places and a late run of wins (especially against rivals) could propel us into them, in which it is a lottery (as we found our to our detriment last year). We can still go up this year, keep the faith...
I didn't go to Carlisle. Did you go to either Millwall game? Whilst I wasnt at Carlisle Im sure the Millwall performances hurt a lot more?
No of course parkinson didnt play, cherlish question. It was his job to motivate the players, pick the team, fire them up and select the tactics. I saw little over either game that suggested he would outwit Jackett in the playoff final.
Yes I agree that CP should also be judged on performances and results but my original response was to your point that getting within 10 minutes of the Play off final against Millwall was some kind of achievment. It wasnt....it was failure.
Sadly the fans patience has been totally eroded in the last five years. The board made a correct judgement in that who ever came in was going to have their work cut out and have little time from the fans to get it right. On that basis Powell was a great appointment - the fans were always going to give him more support and time than an experienced manager unknown to us. Sadly he is both inexperienced as a manager and, more importantly, at this end of the league.
Parkinson had a good grasp of what was needed to win games in this division. I didn't particularly want him kept, but despite having little resources, and no recognisable playing style, we were hard to beat. Ignoring the Millwall local derbies we only conceded three goals twice last season, and in 22 games this term it was at two before his last two games, and I think the pressure on him and the team might have had something to do with that.
In 5 home games we've conceded 8 goals under Powell (that doesn't include the Colchester one that was stolen from them).
I'm not looking to blame Powell, but we seem to have completely changed our aspirations without much increase in resources. Lee Martin might have disappointed on occasion, but there's no doubt that he has talent. With him leaving and Eccleston and BWP coming in we haven't really increased our pool of talent significantly, yet we seem to be trying to play like Arsenal rather than trying to battle it out and start by not losing. We have also let Sodje and Abbott go, the former of which went early and was a really good option for the latter stages of a game we were chasing.
We are getting to the point now where loan signings are going to have to make a huge impact. If the board had sanctioned the signings in January it might have been better. I read somewhere that Powell wanted a young, fast, centre half and a creative midfielder. Here we are in March and we still, obviously, need those two players. We have played 8 games since Powell came in and if either of those players had played four of those games we might be in a much better position.
Basically Powell is being asked to achieve success with the same players that Parkinson signed without the vision and plans that Parkinson had for them when he signed them. If the board had decided to back up the first four games with some real quality then we might still be chasing for the automatics. Instead it looks like we are going to have to find a way to achieve success with little or no improvements in the squad with a manager with significantly less experience of this division than the one that couldn't do so. We should remember that Parkinson built a side from scratch at Colchester that won promotion from this division. Maybe he was lucky, but in all honesty we have been flirting with the top four with a free or cheap squad for most of this season.
Big screens and cheap tickets are all well and good, but at the end of the day people have got to be willing to pay money to watch the football, and right now I don’t want to watch it if it's free
Shame that some of the comments are going back over same old ground of last season although as the article does refer in some depth to that time it's to be expected.
Personally I found the analysis of this current team more relevant.
Our home games are not just attractive to opponents because they are coming to a decent arena. First and foremost they are looking forward to it because they know they’re going to face a team that can be got at. We need to become the team that others don’t want to play, not lick their lips ahead of it.
That, for me is the crux of the matter. I still believe that we have, by division 3 levels, talented footballers in this squad. We do not, or at least not often enough, have an effective TEAM. We have relied on individual pieces of skill or expect our fast players to outrun their full backs and goals to somehow appear because of it. Other teams and their coaches have worked that out and know that if they hold out long enough they will be given a chance or three by our defence.
The nine men who played against Swindon and the ten v Orient did not lack spirit or graft so it is not as simple as saying that they are "no good" or "gutless".
if parky had half a brain this would have happened earlier and we wouldn't be sloshing about in this mess
and his failure to recognise who was our best keeper has led to the poor position we are in keeper wise
the point being powell needs to the end of next season to be properly judged
Any good team at any level is built around the spine of the team GK, 2CD, 2CM and a striker and we don't have a strong spine nor has CP, or the Board done much to improve it except for the purchase of BWP. Without that strong spine the team will not achieve promotion and I doubt if a couple of loan signings will make enough difference. The team must be strengthened in these areas and it can't be done until the summer but it would be nice if the current team played with a bit more cohesion and guts which might, just might, sneak us into the playoffs.
So he is being played wide, which isn't his natural game because in this league you need to do a hell of a lot defensively in those positions and that isn't his natural instinct. We then tweak the formation on paper so its meant to be a 433, but ultimately to me it leaves us exposed at right midfield. The knock on effort is Francis becoming exposed, and the impact it has on Semedo / Racon.
The Semedo / Racon partnership has worked best and looked effective in the games they have Bailey / Jackson on left, and Sam / Wagstaff on right; relatively disciplined up and downers on one side, and another playing slightly more narrow on the other. Throw a defensively indiscipled Kyel Reid, Ecclestone or Martin into those slots and its no coincidence we then start getting stretched across the middle and Semdo and Racon lose their individual battles (i actually think like you we need to change the midfield combo, but i'm basing this on what i've seen over the last 18 months).
I think Ecclestone is being consistently played because we have to justify the loan. I think he is going to be a good player, but like Martin i'm still not convinced what his best position is, and i'm not sure we've seen him playing in it.
I don't think the current problems are due to lack of effort or even spirit at all. It's coherency as a team as you rightly say, Henry. Look at the highlights on the BBC website - numerous times one of their strikers drops deep just in behind Semedo and Racon then a simple ball between them slices us apart, then the huge gap between defence and midfield is quickly apparent as our back 4 keep back peddling and Semedo/Racon don't get back. I don't know enough about tactics to know what we should be doing in this situation but it seems to happen in most games to me.
All successful teams need 3 things: character, defensive solidity, attacking flair. I think we could match teams for Character and defence but we were sadly lacking the player to stick it in the onion bag in tight games. If we'd had BWP playing alongside Burton, I think we may well have won away at Leeds and at home to Norwich as well as other games - away at Wallsall is one that has always stuck in my mind that was there for the taking for the want of a goal poacher. We'd surely have buried one on the many chances we had to seal the play-off semi too. I think knowing we struggled to put away chances there were times he chose to hold what we had instead of chasing something more and risking losing everything - that mentality never plays too well with fans but it's a style which has served managers of less talented teams well through the years, except for a handfull of season when w had the like's of Mendonca, Bent, Di Canio Curbs managed things in much the same way.
The fact we did not have that striker isn't, imo, Parky's fault - goalscorers always cost money and we just did not have that and without that luxury I think Parky got everything it is reasonable to expect from that team - 4th place, just outside the top 2, in a very tight and very strong division (lets not forget how well the promoted 3 have faired this season) and with one exception we gave each of our promotion rivals tough afternoons whenever we played them.
Parky's downfall was this season. He struggled manfully to assemble a decent squad on very little cash. I think overall he did a good job of this in the circumstances, but after a steady start and a real purple patch, we expected things to push on and us to become a balanced and coherent looking team who would give teams a good game - Parky himself said he expected us to get better as the season wore on. We went backwards through December though and were very poor at a very poor time for Parky's career prospects. I think somewhat unfairly he never had total backing from the crowd and I think a significant minority were never going to give him any credit - if he had got us up I think some would have just kept quiet rather that applaud him. For that reason I think he had to go for the good of club unity.
He was getting roughly what there was to get out of this sqaud out of it though - as Powell is finding out it's still lacking a few key cogs and as such is inconsistent. At it's best this team is a top 6 side, at it's worst it's botom half potential, I'm therefore neither surprised or angry by the last couple of results - I beleieve we could just as easily win the next four as we could lose them.
What I do find worrying is there is certian rudderless feel about us. We're loose tactically, positionally and defensively - all things I think Parky worked hard to improve. The flip side of that is, when it clicks, we look more threatening in attack than we have for a while but we also often look a bit lacking in ideas and our attacks focus on someone breaking through with a dribble or a sharp chance falling to BWP. There doesn't appear to be clear pattern of play about us very often and I think Powell needs to work out exactly how he wants us to play and get on with making them do it.
It will take time, and I'm not in anyway getting on Powell's back but I think it has to be acknowledged that we seem to lack a bit of direction at the moment - we're starting to drift a bit in the way we did 3 years ago after Reidy was sold and Pardew started to try a different system and 11 every week .
Agree with AFKA on Eccleston. I can't see a way to fit him and BWP into the team from the start of games. Like AFKA said, BWP is rightly picking himself. I don't see them as a partnership, I can't see them both playing in a 4-3-3 either. BWP can't really play one of the wide roles, but the central striker in that formation needs to be someone that can challenge in the air and hold up the ball - even if you play passing football on the ground.
As for his best position, I think he's definitely a striker but Abbott, a Burton or Iwelumo would suit both him and BWP better as a partner. They're too similar and their weaknesses when playing together put even more pressure on Semedo and Racon (especially if we play 4-4-2 with two wingers).
Having signed BWP, Ecclestone has become a bit of a waste of a loan really, imo. He's a good player but that loan slot would be bettre used in other areas imo. Letting Abbot go has just meant we need to use another slot on another forward too - I know Abbott is limited but his last two games hinted he could do a job for the rest of the year if his confidence could be restored so I just can't make it make snese to let him leave knowing he'd need replacing. That will leave 1 loan slot which means choosing between a midfielder and defender - both which are desparately needed imo.
And Eccleston takes off down another avenue.
The activity in the transfer market since the takeover has left me scratching my head. Who signed Eccles? Not Powell as we had even spoken to him. Parky might have had him on a wanted listed or was it Jimenez.
Since the TO we've signed BWP and Bessone but since them both arriving early on no more loans. The wait to ensure players were available at Old Trafford if we got there made sense but why the delay now. OK, we've missed out (Hobbs to Hull perhaps) but if he wanted a CH who was 2nd, 3rd, etc on the list and why haven't they come in? Puzzling.
I see it a bit differently and would contemplate playing him as the attacking midfielder we so sorely lack.
You can set football teams up in two contrasting ways ... decide on a style of play and then try to make the players fit that style ... or ... settle on a style that plays to the strengths of the players you have. That's what I'd do with Ecclestone, and what I would have done with Martin.
Put Semedo (and maybe even McCormack too) in behind Ecclestone, with clearly-defined roles for all three of them (Semedo - protect the defence: McCormack - chase down the opposition, get in their face for 90 minutes then give the ball to someone who can play: Ecclestone - run at the opposing defence and slip the ball through to Wright-Phillips when the opportunity presents itself). On top of that, generally avoid trying to play two out-and-out wingers and play the ball through midfield rather than lumping it up to the target man we don't have (are you listening, Doherty?) and you have the basis for a style of play that fits our current playing squad. Not saying that we'll win the league this way, but we'll stop getting over-run in midfield and that will bring its own rewards.
I understand if he missed out on his top two targets but surely he or whoever is making the signings had other targets to go after as back-ups?
I stated before the Notts County game that I didn't think we could afford to wait till after Carlisle to bring someone in which now seems to have been the case. I'm worried going into Saturday that we still won't have added anyone.
And speaking as one who went to most of the away games last season, if the opposition had taken their chances on the numerous occasions when we were the worst team but managed to come away with points, we wouldn't have got into the playoffs.
And if Swindon had finished off even a few of their numerous chances when they totally battered us in the 1st leg then we wouldn't have been within 10 minutes of Wembley.
Lots and if's and buts and we can all select the ones that suit our arguement..
Sensible writing AFKA.
My problem isnt with Powell, he is doing perfectly well for a new manager at a club in a sticky period. I wont get on his back because he is inexperienced and is bound to make mistakes.
My problem is with the owners for the timing of Parkinsons sacking and their changing of strategy from one day to the next. First Parky was doing a good job, then he was sacked, promotion is vital this season, then its not. As I said countless times at the time, it smacked of a PR exercise to get the fans on board. Only a moron wouldnt want Chris Powell in charge of Charlton at some point, but for me not now, we were ticking along quite nicely albeit with the odd shit result, he did pretty well with some very average players. I personally think he should have been given to the end of the season to get us up, and I would have rated our chances similiar to last year - Play Offs and a lottery, I am not convinced we will get there now.
If you going to play someone in the hole they need to be able to link play and ideally pick a pass or two - Danny Murphy and Di Canio are the two we've had who've succesfully played in that position. Ecceletsone is a front runner imo, he want to try and get in behind or run at isolated defenders - he'sgame rvolves around receiveing the ball in those advanced positions, not being the one passing those balls. We don't really have that player in the squad, which has been one of our problems for a while.
We got the goal scorer we needed in BWP but we still need that passing midfielder and the dominant centre half. Jackson might still be the first if we can't bring someone else in. I think Jack Hobbs would have been the other if he hadn't gone to Hull. Who else is out there? Martin Rowlands has gone to Millwall so Wilson from Bolton who did well for Swindon last year?
Regardless as AFKA said we look better with 442 with one wide player playing narrowly and both being willing to work up and down the line.
Regardless of whether anyone else has mentioned it,I feel one of the main differences between last season's squad and this, is a certain Mr N Bailey.
Much maligned at times by some on here but a bullish, fearless competitor...no doubt about that. What formation would SCP be employing on Saturday if he had the current suspects PLUS Nicky in his squad , and would his inclusion make it a more likely to win side ?
No guesses as to my answer...
Being even more simplistic. Just scoring one goal at Elland Road would have seen us up!
If I put my conclusions first, I am in the "Henry", camp in that I believe that in team affairs, the whole is not greater than the sum of the parts. I believe that Chris can get this group of players, playing better and with a winning mentality.
I am more concerned that blame seems to be bandied around far too much. Is the previous Board to blame? Is/was Parky to blame? Is CP now to blame? Can we blame this player or that player? Is it the lack of pace in central defence that is to blame? Do we blame a lack of creativity in midfield? Can we blame Eccleston for failing to play effectively alongside BWP? Are we as fans to blame for getting too quickly on the backs of the team when things go wrong?
In short its blame, blame, blame.
What does a blame culture signal? It signals failure, massive failure and collective guilt that flows from it.
It is not a new problem, this has been part of our demise for a number of years.
Collectively the clubs mentality has to change, from board, to management, to fans before the iceberg spotted Titanic that is this club in recent years, can be steered away from disaster and back to a safe and forward heading. Responsibility and acceptance of where we are is the first thing that is required. Beyond that a winning mentality based on a cohesive team is an absolute priority.
I believe despite the poor results of late, that progress has been made.
The first thing to change is arresting the failed feeling that surrounded the club up to the start of this year.
A new Board, with a new vision, has done that. They have swept away the old failed management team and brought in a new exciting manager. They have shown physical signs of renewal by replacing the screen, and they have shown intent to invest the opportunity costs of funding tickets for £5 for the Exeter game. This is good as far as I am concerned.
I feel sorry for Parky but he was associated with failure and under-achievement and that had to change. I don't blame him but he did have responsibility for what happened on the pitch and he had to be judged on that basis.
Chris Powell now has, in the short term, to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. I don't think he has done this yet, but I wont blame him if he doesn't achieve this. There is talent in the team but an awful lot of it is not performing to a consistent level to make a real difference to the rather stuttering season that has prevailed since the beginning of November. There is also great imbalance in the team/squad. He has to have time to turn this around.
There may be a couple of new loan signings but essentially the squad, with the addition of BWP, (and the injured Bessone) is the one he inherited. As fans, we must accept that. As somebody said earlier this week on the "pink oboe" list, in the end "you can't polish a turd". Its a bit harsh and we do have some talent but there is no point in expecting miracles with this team. Chris just needs to find a balance which gets this team playing better than the sum of its parts.
Please, please, please, let us throw out the blame game and get behind Chris and the team. He'll win through for us anyway in my view but it will be much easier if we can get out of the habit of slagging off the players and the manager especially during the game.
What I thought Carlisle were was a well organised team who knew their roles, had a game plan, stuck to it even when they went behind, got the break (the first very fortunate deflected goal) and then pushed on. As a team they were greater than the sum of their parts, which as Bing has said before, we have rarely been.
It's all very well saying "we were crap against Carlisle" and then starting to point the finger but what can we learn from them? What did they do well that we didn't and could we adapt that to our players?
We are here and we need to start working to get out of here. It is possible. Other teams and Clubs have managed it. As someone texted me today "it will be a long road back but it will happen".
What is an acceptable target this season?
http://www.charltonlife.com/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=38841&page=1#Item_0
Seems like one or two of us have developed a little more patience since those earlier days.