I was midway through a written draft in the CARD thread, but thought this probably deserved it's own spotlight. At some point during Saturdays match I was soaking in the comments from fellow fans re everything charlton, which is still largely dominated by the regime. Conflicting reports of what they had/hadn't done, several contradictions but mainly the division it's now caused with the fans. I'm apathetic about how the clubs being run - constantly expecting a gaffe by KM, and 'shocker' from Sue Parkes and the crap excuses by Slade for why we've failed to beat another league one (yep) team. I should be pissed off. I definitely was last season. Rightly or wrongly, I think every fan should be pissed off - but there's a pretty obvious reasons why we aren't. CARD wanted the responsibility for arranging and organising the protests, not forgetting they took that role from the 100 of us stood outside the west stand after Leeds and the massive last season. What they've fundamentally failed at is to unite a fan base which at different points have shared the same opinions and goals. I could dissect this further and mention the secrecy, the grave over exaggerations to their stories (which only serve to raise questions as to 'why'), the waste of resources provided by fans who felt betrayed by the club.... but instead I'll simply end this peace by saying I'll no longer be apart of their protests. We have a mutual dislike for everything Roland, but they no longer represent me. I used to enjoy the football - Roland ruined that. I used to enjoy heading on to social media and discussing everything charlton - CARD ruined that with their constant hijacking, whether it's them directly or those who blindly follow.
Excellent post super! Sums up exactly how I feel, hence my limited activity recently. I can't complain too much as it allows me to spend more time with my little ones - just a shame I can't do that whilst watching cafc!
There's so much baggage with being a charlton fan right now. We've had teams worse than this but following them was more fun. Purely going to go for the social now. Won't concern myself with anything that goes on around until it's something worthwhile.
i only go if it's free. i'll not hand over any money to charlton till roland is gone. and to show i'm not bias, i didnt buy a black and white scarf and i do not buy food or drinks either.
Good analysis, SuperC. There is still huge anger, that was plain as daylight on Saturday. CARD's approach is that they have to constantly be thinking of new ways every time there is a protest, and it seems at the moment they can't think of anything, so there is no protest.
It's just not representative of the fan base as a whole. Last season the opportunity was there to unite everyone, it wasn't taken but now they persist to hang around where 50% no longer want them. It's creating bad blood. Between them and the crap football, it's not fun anymore. Hence the ramble.
And they've got loads of money and don't know what to do with it. All these fund-raising ventures-for what?
But they will tell you it's not their money. They just seem to be able to get it easier than others. The new favourite is members of CARD asking on social media why people are starting to dislike them. Nothing strange with that you may think, but the guys asking don't let on they are part of it. Saw one guy pulled up on it (well, by me to be fair) and he went oddly quiet. Straaaaaaaange.
if i were card, i'd be spending that money on articles in belgian papers, organising more trips over to sint truident and getting games called off here. it's what people want. this happy clap dry mockery stuff is pointless.
£7000 went to charity from the money raised from the shirts sold. Easy for people to overlook that when giving CARD flak.
Don't think it's overlooked, nor do I think it was done with the bestest of intentions. Just my opinion there though.
So why would they give money away to a charity other than the best of intentions? More ridiculous than wearing my beautiful olive coat in August.
I've not donated money to C.A.R.D. but believe in protesting. Protesting is part of our basic human right to voice something that we do not agree with. Protesting should not cost money, and my only gripe with C.A.R.D. is that they are not aggressive enough against the regime or creative with their protests. There is so much more that can be done, but like Roland they're too embroiled in fan elitism and don't let the masses involved, rather keeping all planning to a select few. Therefore is it understandable why people are getting "fed up" with them.
It's not really. It's a secondary gesture - lots of companies do it. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but if you think it was a decision made out of conscience then you're making a similar mistake to when you shelled over your dosh for said olive jacket
Nope, not having that. It is too easy to bash CARD, they have done a lot of good things, this charity thing for one. Like I have done a good thing and introduced the primark people to how amazing you can look in a coat.
I thought they raised money to take on Roland, not to give to worthy causes. I'd rather give the money straight to the charity.
That's fair enough - as I said, it's an opinion of mine. Plenty of causes to get their hands dirty with during their spare Saturday's if they are that caring. Crisis at Christmas sign up opens in the next couple weeks
I'd be mad if I'd donated to CARD and they in turn gave it to charity; I would have just done that myself had I wanted to. Although that said I'd have been mad had I have given money to CARD in the first place; I think I've made my views on them clear since the off, so I'm glad that a wider consensus is forming.
Super- keep the faith, we have been here before. I was on the pitch at the Stoke game [as you would expect] after we got the piece of paper in 84. Talking of desperate, ask @Miketyson2007 what it was like to play at Selhurst in front of 800. Football goes in cycles, and at the moment we are going through a real rough patch. Charlton will be back because of us - the real fans We could play our home games at Arbroath and even that wouldn't stop me getting there, nor dent my love for CAFC