I started going to football in the mid 70's and started going regularly when I left school in 82. Then there was such a thing as stability, both players and managers would stick around for probably 3 seasons at a minimum. For the past 15 seasons clubs have 10-15 debut players each season. Being a manager is fantastic, they last a season at the most, these ones who have even had a decent track record. Why is all this? In part because football fans nowadays are impatient and have no idea. We rode the storm and stuck with Little Ivor and look where we are now. If we pulled the trigger we'd almost certainly be playing the likes of Exeter and Peterborough.
I can’t believe how football has changed from 1961/62 when I first started going. It is like chalk and cheese. I must say I enjoyed it more back in the day. But football like life is constantly changing. It has got more money oriented. But for me it has always been about community and friends and belonging.
We live in a fast turnaround age now. Many people get new phones every year, or new cars. Change jobs, move home (usually renting). In and out of relationships too sometimes. There is much less stability in the whole of life. The paymasters of modern football (broadcasters) always are hunting for the next new thing, the next sensation. Modern life is all about the next new thrill. The next distraction. The turnover at CAFC is dreadful now, but sadly typical. 500 players in our first 70 years. Less than half that time for the second 500. How much of our squad remains from the last time Charlton was in the Championship?
Look what they've done to cricket. In a couple of seasons we'll have 7 subs in football, then eventually all 11. Games split into quarters too rather than halves. Already there are conveniently timed injuries mid-way through every first half, when most players stop for a drink of magic water or a chat with the gaffer. Would not be surprised to hear if that happened today at the Valley. Every year there has to be some silly innovation. Like interviewing players at half time
Sky has ruined football for fans of my age, 59(a very young looking one I hasten to add). It is no longer a working class game where you can take the kids, unless you want to spend £200 plus in a day. Fans that been going from the mid 90's onwards do not know any different and offloading large amounts of dough is an accepted thing.
Social media is a development that football has struggled to adapt to . 50 years ago we used to call Michael Glikstein or Andy Nelson useless cnuts at full time, and then go home for our tea. This afternoon saw social media orchestrated fans protests at Norwich & Southampton.
Andy Nelson opened up the club shop for my granddad years ago, a true story. Wellens at Orient will be the next manager of Norwich, get down to the bookies for a windfall.
Five tennis balls chucked on the pitch at Norwich, amateurs. Fish/Lloyd/Allam out. The views expressed in my posts are not necessarily mine.
That's a cracking shout, he spent a couple of seasons there as a player so knows the place. He lives around the corner from my gaff in Locksbottom. Have spoke to him once and is a very nice fella.
A steak and kidney pie in a football ground nowadays, whatever next? The views expressed in my posts are not necessarily mine.
