A quick re-cap. After 4 managers in 12 months, a Club heavily in debt and with 100% foreign management/ownership and at least 50% foreign transitory fly- by- night players, is in crisis. Many loyal, long term supporters - thousands of them - have abandoned the King Canute act favoured by some - and declined the attempt to turn back the Belgian tide. In another throwback to dark deeds in the last century, there is also the sour stench of appeasement in the air. Just as Polish villagers offered cheese and bread to German soldiers, so a few quislings fake rapture at the "brilliance" of Duchatelet's tatty, dented cast offs and loans. Instead of the magnificent French Resistance, real Charlton fans have rather less to fall back on as our football club is panzered - namely CAST. A few gullible fools continue to suggest that KM coming along to sip Bovril at Anorak Evenings is a sign that these are "nice" people, with the long term interests of our kids' Club at heart. Prediction from me: Luzon will be gone by Xmas, with a 5th patsy appointed in his place. Bulot won't stay - Mare already quoted this week as saying "he will be very expensive" (in other words, **** off we won't be having him...). And the same handful of try hards now in rapture over this "upturn" (LOL) in our fortunes will quickly find that hunting for a bargain prawn cocktail in Sittingbourne's Lidls is more attractive and appetising than what Douche serves up next season #LordHawHaw
I'm not sure of your reasoning for that statement although I agree with it. A number of scenarios spring to mind which would all lead to Luzon going before Christmas. He is certainly is achieving more at this stage than Riga did so will RD move him back to Liège in triumph or to one of the other failing network clubs to try and work his 'magic' there? Will his 'magic' desert him (4 wins in 5, 11 goals for and 3 against) and he'll be banished to coach the leading team in the 4th district of Budapest or one of RD's other playthings. Either way, longevity isn't in RD's vocabulary.
My very point - if Luzon succeeds - Liege, if Luzon loses 6 in a row - the dole...or Ujpest. Ridiculous position. Can't believe some can't see it.
I am just happy to see Charlton winning again, can't we just enjoy that? I take the credit for it, because it coincided with me not going to games.
I really can't see Luzon going back to Liege if he continues his good work, though maybe I'm being naive. It is noticeable that in the euphoria of our recent form the negative aspects of RD's administration have been overlooked somewhat. The process of appointing Luzon was a joke, and it could be the case that this is just a flash in the pan, and that this is a fleeting high before we resume our descent. There are some positive signs in terms of his tactics, team selection and use of substitutions, but he needs to keep it up to be a success. Stuart Pearce has showed that an early run of good form can quickly degenerate into a downward spiral. In terms of the signings RD's record improved in January. Notwithstanding Lepoint and Dmitrovic, who seem to offer very little, the additions of Johnson (pretty much exactly what many were asking for - a British player with experience of the Championship), Diarra, Eagles and most obviously Watt have given the whole squad a boost. Whilst Watt was an easy signing to make as he was already right under RD's nose, I think he still deserves some credit for bringing him in. Let's hope that the reported attitude problems have subsided and that he continues his blistering start to his Charlton career. This summer will be telling, I think. Will the successful players, both imports and home-grown, be shipped off either to the network or to the first bidder, or will they be retained as part of a squad that could push for promotion to the Premier League next season? Obviously we hope the latter, but we don't really know what RD's plans are. If we do sell, then it will surely be proof positive that he views us as subservient to the needs of Standard Liege. Until this recent run of form I would definitely have said that we were in crisis. Now, that is harder to argue, but we will have to wait until the summer (assuming we don't either collapse into relegation or miraculously make the play-offs) to find out what the future of this club really holds.
And dick - I stopped listening to games at half time against Norwich, so I will fight you for the credit for this good run.
It could all go pear shaped. Luzon could get sacked, or move on in the summer. Watt or Coysins could recieve big offers and move on. There are too many possibilities here. It's irrelevant just now. We're playng much better. Relegation is fading away again. If you want to look for negatives now, fair play. We're Charlton. I'm going to enjoy the sunshine while you do.
Agree with Dick, a Charlton win is a wonderful thing regardless. In term of Luzon's influence on the upturn... As I've said a lot Henderson's injury was a big factor in our downturn and his return a huge factor in our upturn. Playing Cousins in the centre has massively made us a more balanced side but it didn't take a tactical genius to figure tht out; so not sure Luzon can take the credit. Same with pairing Watt and Igor together; it is the only obvious decision (and even then didn't Luzon try Church first?!) Other players, JBG and Bulot particularly, have come into form but they re decent players so they should do anyway. Dropping Ben Haim and Bikey can't really be proved to have helped hugely; it's likely Henderson's return had more of an impact in shoring up a defence. Have we ever had a goalkeeper so good at gathering crosses? Some players have suggested Luzon is having a positive effect on her mentality and that he is having an influence on the style of play. To me it's the same style of play as it was when we were in good form at the start of the season under Bob. Also tellingly Bulot ran to Matthews last night and looked to ignore Luzon; as do all of the players throughout home games despite his attention grabbing antics. Like Dick implies, to me a Charlton win is a Charlton win; it still sets up my mood for tomorrow. And so long as we have a core of Charlton players, be they Academy graduates or characters like Watt and Henderson, then it makes it a lot easier to believe in this ethos.
Unfortunately our best run of form since 2012 (or "upturn lol") is torture for poor old Royston! He's currently like a fart in a colander - he doesn't know where to come out. First he demanded that Luzon piss off back to Belgium and take the useless network baggage of Watt and Bulot and Buyens with him. Now he's got his nappy in a twist because he's worried they won't stay. You couldn't make it up, as they say. You might call it chronically inconsistent - but he is actually totally consistent in his manic depression. He's miserable when we lose (although at the same time he takes a perversely masochistic delight in the misery). But he gets even more upset when we go on our best run in three seasons!
But it's another "false dawn" Kent. Lovely to see us winning, but its a bit like putting lipstick on a pig. Behind the scenes the same problems remain, unaltered. What happened to CAST after the public meeting? I know they signed up 200 new members, but are they now placated because we won a couple of games? Sub 10,000 attendances imminent.
I struggle to see what some of the fans of charlton want or expect from the club. There is no pleasing them, and it doesn't matter what the club or team do its a cause for misery. If we do very well until the end of the season, the team will undoubtedly be dismantled for its parts. If we don't do very well for the rest of the season its because we are sub-standard liege Either way its all the managements fault. What is expected of the fans, to not enjoy winning because we don't like the management? I am sorry but if CAFC hit 3 for no reply that will always make me smile. We seem to have a finally settled on a decent first team, that is winning games, and barring injury and fatigue hasn't been changed unless necessary. This team has picked up 12 points from a possible 15 in the last 5 games, only losing to a team chasing promotion. Yes it might take a downturn, and yes RD and KM might sell off everyone who doesn't fit in their plan (whatever that might be) but while the wins and decent football lasts I am going to enjoy it, as it might not last long.
We've seen false dawns before and will no doubt see others in the future. I don't claim to have any special insights into what might happen in the future. I can't predict what RD or KM or any other set of initials will do. What I do have is a gut instinct and although it is fallible, it's been right more often than not in the past. At this time, my gut instinct tells me that if we stay under the current regime, this club is unlikely to survive as anything remotely resembling the Charlton we know and love. Results may be on the up now and that's ok, but what is going on behind the scenes that we don't know about? RD does not strike me as a man who lets the grass grow under his feet. I don't trust him. I could be wrong and if, at some time in the future it has all worked out swimmingly and Charlton are a secure, stable, established Premier League club playing attractive attacking football to a packed Valley week in week out, then I would be deliriously happy. I am prepared to admit I'm wrong if events transpire to prove that and would be happy to do so, but right now, my gut instinct isn't telling me that.
I have no experience of what that feels like, but it if is anything akin to what I go through watching Charlton Athletic lurch from crisis to crisis, year after year, then I feel very sorry for sufferers indeed
The whole entire CAST is redundant. It's an archaic concept, that needs to be shot of. They sign up on masses, and yet it's is controlled by a select few. We need a new supporters group, one fit for the digital age, one which is free for anyone to join. We have no leadership, we only have ideas! People can contribute as much or as little as their time permits, but when we stand, we stand as one and united (or Athletic)!
