Valley Viewpoint

Darragh MacAnthony Vs Roland  Duchâtelet. One of the best owners in the Football League Vs one of the worst. MacAnthony is an owner any club would love to have in charge; willing to invest, cares about the club he owns and understands football; as well as being clear, open and transparent with fans. On the other side of the spectrum,  Duchâtelet was, and still is, hated by fans of the clubs he owns. No investment and a failing European network led to Charlton's relegation from the Championship and halted any progress the club was making.  After taking over the club in 2014, Charlton finished 9th in their first season back in the Championship, 3 points away from the Play-offs, after being crowned League One champions with a record 102 points the previous year under club legend, Chris Powell.  Duchâtelet sacked Powell the following season when the club were in a relegation battle, but news leaked that  Duchâtelet sacked Powell on the basis that he wouldn't use the...

Both teams have had rather poor Summers in terms of transfers, Charlton much more so, however. Shrewsbury have lost the majority of their key players in their promotion chasing team of last season. With the likes of Toto Nsiala, Jon Nolan and manager Paul Hurst joining Ipswich, Stefan Payne and Alex Rodman joining Bristol Rovers and Abu Ogogo and Junior Brown joining newly promoted Coventry City. The players that have been signed also haven't matched the calibre or quality of the players that have left. After the departure of Paul Hurst to Ipswich, Shrewsbury turned to Macclesfield's John Askey, who won promotion to the football league with the Silkmen last season. Whether he will be able to prove successful at League One level will be found out this season. It would always have been hard to match last season's efforts even with the same players or players of a similar quality, but with the losses and the signings made, I'd back them for a lower mid-table finish. Meanw...