Wednesday 4 May 2022

Should Jacko have been sacked?

Without doing a poll it is difficult to judge the balance of views among Charlton supporters on the removal of Johnnie Jackson as manager.  Vote here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GBYMBZ6

Let's consider the case for and against.   One fan tweeted: 'Maybe not a popular opinion but Jacko was out of his depth. Will always be a club legend but as a manager the style of play was boring, performances were average at best, tactics were weak.'

Whilst I think the complaints about the 3-5-2 formation were overdone, his obstinacy in refusing to change it or having a Plan B was a concern.   It meant that the opposition knew what they had to do: get in behind a weak defence.

On the other hand, Jacko inherited a poor results platform from Adkins.   Things did get better and the poor run was as much to do with the absence of a forward line as anything.

I was a bit more sceptical about his appointment than some people because I think the preference for a 'Charlton man' means that sentiment often gets in the way of clear thinking and good decision-making.

On balance, I would have let him build a team over the summer and prepare them pre-season, but I also understand why Sandgaard took the decision he did.

However, a great delay in selecting a replacement would be damaging.   New players will be reluctant to sign until they know who the manager is going to be.   Remember that because of the World Cup the League One season starts on the weekend of 30th July, so there won't be much of a pre-season.

I do think the vitriol directed at Thomas Sandgaard is unfair.  The club was on the verge of disappearing when he took over and I don't accept that there was queue of prospective buyers.   If I put £12m into  a business, I would expect some say in what happened.

The concern is, of course, that he does not understand League One football and a number of his immediate aides don't either or don't display much judgment.   But like it or not, he is the owner.  Some fans may not renew their season tickets, but that was likely anyway.

CAS Trust chair Heather McKinlay reflects on the decision here: https://www.castrust.org/2022/05/goodbye-jacko-and-thanks-for-everything/

1 comment:

  1. Heather M's got it just about right.
    Complaints about Jackson's achievements as manager are ill founded. He inherited a side 3rd from bottom with just 9 points from 13 matches. Despite presiding over extended periods without recognised strikers and defenders he managed 50 points from 33 matches. With a threadbare and disrupted squad that's commendable. Lack of flexibility in formations or tactics was as much driven by players' availability as any tactical naiveté or conservatism.
    The worst of his dismissal is the manner of it and Sandgaard's risible blather since.
    It's his money to waste but the only indications are he'll be wasting loads more of it in the coming season

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