Having lurked on here viewing and enjoying the differing opinions and debate I thought I would put my thoughts forward. First let me introduce myself. I have been a supporter since 1977 ( first game a 7-1 defeat away at Luton!!). I was a season ticket holder from 10 year old to about 35 but then work got in the way. I have just returned to Kent from North East Scotland after three years away. I have watched the gradual decline of the club we all live from afar and can honestly say that it breaks my heart. We have all seen the club go through some really tough times Glickstiens, Sunley, Selhurst, Pardew etc. and we came out the other side of it all because there was an affinity and passion for CAFC. The game against Fulham was the first time I had seen a game for yonks ( admittedly on the TV) but I was shocked to see a group of players so devoid of confidence or passion. It is clear to me that our Belgian owners have ripped the heart out of the club. Turned supporters against each other in a way I have never witnessed. It is understandable that the likes of dickp are only going to see the youth teams as they at least will show the passion that can forge bonds with the likes of us. It doesn't matter what players we sign as they will not be able to shine in a organisational system that is nothing more than a wealthy mans whim. There is no plan that we seem to be told regularly exists. This club I love will continue to crumble until we have someone with the same passion and affinity for maybe not CAFC but English football and I don't care what part of the world they are from. I admit that when the Belgians arrived I was hopefull but soon disappointed. It has and will take some longer to see the wood for the trees but see the wood they will. Having said all that I will be glued to Twitter and here hoping for three points tonight as I'm sure you guys will be too. Hats off to you all for going and thank you for letting me keep in touch with a club I've loved since a boy. Respect to you all.
Good post Andy. I agree with pretty much all of that. After not going for much of last Season I decided to get a Season ticket for this season, more out of a feeling of obligation. I don't get the same feeling going to the Valley as I used to, maybe it is age but it is more likely that the Belgians are sucking the lifeblood out of the Club.
Agree with you mate and remember the 7 1 defeat at LutonI. Was there too I think Alan Mullery may of been the boss then it was possibly first game of the season I think. A lot of water flowed under the bridge since then a lot of highs and lows bee witnessed the current low is as low as I've felt to be honest .
though not technically a first post - a very good introduction The argument from those that still back RD is "things will change after a couple of wins". Will it? The problems from a lot of fans seem to stem a lot deeper than that, the trust has gone. There is little to no affinity with the players. Above all - it's just not fun. Heading to the ground shortly and I'm looking forward to a few beers more being honest.
I remember that 7-1 but was'nt there. I did suffer terrible psychological damage after a 5-1 home defeat by Luton though (I was young and innocent). As for this lot, I thought it would work out fine when they came along. After each season, I thought they would learn from their previous mistakes. Maybe they have, but it does'nt stop them repeating the same ones again and again.
Cheers chaps I will still be hoping for a win but in all honesty the defeats don't affect me as much as they should and think that seems to be the general mood. There is something fundamentally wrong with the way the club is wrong. If there was a clear direction then maybe people would cut a bit of slack for decisions being made but you can't expect people to just believe there is a mysterious plan!! After all we have sold players before for the long term benefit of the club. But with these owners we just seem to lurch from one disaster to another.
Ah, the 7-1!.... when the ref Roger Kirkpatrick, of the sideburns, felt sorry for us and gave us a mystery penalty when it was 7-0. Our best player was Jeff Wood, the lanky goalie, who is now, I believe, managing Gibralter.
To be honest as a nine year old it was all a bit of a blur but apparently I asked him on the way home if we were always that bad and he said no. Little did I know eh Naivety at its best!!
Great post Andy I am sort of hoping that last night was a tipping point. Charlton fans are a ridiculously passive bunch in the main, but the reaction at full time and on social media makes me hope that things will turn hostile towards the owner on Saturday. I would sack Luzon anyway, as tactically he isn't up to it (just as Standard fans warned us), and he has now fallen into the fatal Parky habit of just juggling players at random out of position. Holmes Dennis will have been set back miles by last night.
That's what I thought. He's normally a very positive player, a real workhorse, but last night he seemed afraid to try anything, just choosing the short backwards or sideways pass every time until the last 10 minutes or so.
Whilst I agree that Luzon appears bereft of any tactical know how what will his replacement be? Any better? In all reality probably not. And there in lies the problem. All the ills that are affecting this club of ours comes from the top not the manager. I'm not sticking up for him but you can treat the symptoms of an illness as much as you like but unless you deal with the root source of it you will never change things. There will only ever be one way of arresting the decline at CAFC and that will be a change of ownership. Unfortunately I can't see that happening any time soon. The Belgians are to stubborn and any potentially interested parties would sensibly wait to see how far we can drop and therefore pay a price comparable with our standing. As someone has said elsewhere I don't think we have reached the bottom yet and it will get worse. I just hope and pray that there will be people left who care because if not that will be the death knell of this club. I hope and pray that I'm wrong but fear that I could be proved right.
Very good post, Andy. I fear it's pretty accurate. I left the house at 6.15 last night and got there at 7.25, but what about those fans who travel long distances? They are bound to withdraw their support, Valley Express will stop and there will be a hard core of disgruntled fans left. We all want the Belgians out, but where is the next buyer coming from?
Any sensible investor will be sitting on their hands waiting for us to bottom out and therefore be able to pay an appropriate price. Unfortunately for those who actually love the club that means we have to suffer as we sink further. I'm am positive that there are people out there that see CAFC as an attractive proposition but would you, if you could see what's happening currently, pay a price now that is over inflated because of out championship status when in 10 months time you could get it for a knockdown price as a league one club?
So - we've all seen the image of "made in charlton, destroyed in Belgium" flag making the rounds. Why don't we get it made up and take it to a game? If anything it will garner media attention. I'd happily throw a score or two in for it.
Great idea mate did anyone see the flag that was taken down by stewards at half time in the north upper wondered if it said anything anti RD and co as it wasn't blocking anyone's view
