Remarkably temperate post, Vol. They have got the balance of your meds right at last? I agree with every word. I don't think anyone is kidding themselves that A-G or C-C are "ready" yet. We are only playing them because there is no-one else (which supports your point). Agree that JBG needs to get involved more. What he does do is class. The attendance was disappointing because, if we continue at that level, it might discourage RD from investing further. But I can understand why. We have had so many false dawns (the most recent being the short-lived "Powellite Renaissance") when the owners have betrayed the fans, it will take some consistency to build up attendances again. I think we are three players short of a top six side (say three 2 million quid types). If we don't sign them we will end up mid-table and the new generation will continue to drift to West Ham and Palace. I have been in a 45,000 crowd at the Valley, but we used to get a lot more than that. Unlike (say) Ipswich or Bournemouth, we have a huge population within our catchment area, easily large enough to support a Premiership side, but the owners have to show good faith first. The fans have been bullshitted for too long by management.
I'm back in Spain, after a fantastic afternoon at the Valley, followed by more real ale in Greenwich than I see in a month in Barcelona. I'll pay Steve Bruce his due first, as his comments were by and large fair. We were better and Hull looked more likely to win as the game ended. However, the first half was especially bad for Hull fans as they literally did nothing. While we lacked punch, it was the reds who pushed in search of a win, and relentlessly closed every Hull option down. In the second half we scored and Hull woke up, but my original point on this thread about ex Premier clubs still being 11 against 11 matches held true, and we had enough chances to win it before they got their equaliser. After that, they shut up shop again (the disallowed goal notwithstanding) and it was us who went looking to win it. We scored a fantastic goal (great finish by JBG) and deservedly took the points. Makienok was a giant, after the goal injected him with a large dose of confidence, and we have signed some real class players Kashi was my MOTM, Diarra and Bauer all looked quality. Bergdych gave them a torrid time on the left in the first half, but perpetually took it too far and failed to deliver a cross, but the potential is there. Pope was nicely in control, and I won't blame him for the goal, as the defence left their player with an age to pick his spot and send in a pile driver on target, something we failed to do in similar circumstances a couple of times. Harriot was por in my opinión, but he was dropped in when the game was turning. I agree with Vol that to keep up the pressure, we still need to bolster the squad, as we have a team (and manager) to aim high, but the cover when the injuries kick in, is a bit short. Still, is'nt it nice that we go out to take the game by the scruff of the neck every time. God I'm happy today!!
I do rate Steve Bruce very highly. He's obviously a very good man manager; did you see how Jake Livermore was embarrassed to be on water boy duties but still did it? He probably had little choice but hopefully the shame of doing so and the support of Bruce will give him the chance to make up for whatever mistakes he may have made.
I got the train back to Orpington after the game, and there were Wham fans on it who got off at the same stop, something which hasn't happened since I moved here a year ago. Die-hard wham fans may well call them plastics, but their money is real enough, and as a Charlton fan and taxpayer it irks me to be subsidisng their day out at wham.
Reminds me when we played Tottenham in th FA Cup. Got the train back to New Eltham, and there was more Tottenham fans on it than us.
If money is scarce (although I can't see why, given the sale of Gomez....) then the priority this week must be to sign a proven striker. A 15-20 goal a season man. Makienok had his moment on Saturday, but I fear that with a touch reminiscent of a hod carrier attempting plastic surgery, his popularity is destined to fluctuate this season. Reza is simply a joke (pictured on Twitter apparently enjoying his latest injury FFS) and Aherne Grant needs a season playing at a very low level in front of small crowds. Has anyone got Neil Harris' phone number at Millwall ?
Landed at Luton on Saturday midday, and there were an obscene amount of spurs fans traveling in to London. Didn't expect that. Eddie touched on it, and have to agree about the attendance - especially when watching JBG's winner and Luzon's celebration over and over. The lower north looks so poor these days.
There is a strong argument for closing one of the stands while attendances continue to decline. The next home game is Rotherham, which could be a 12-14,000 job. How about an enforced mass displacement of tartan travel rugs and Bovril flasks from the East Stand ? With the TV gantry situated over there, you would not notice that it is closed.
Falling audiences is something I've spoken extensively about, and have done so on LBC on three occasions. Many have attributed to falling attendances to. poor quality of football/level of football, hatred with the owners, relegation, etc., whilst it could be applicable for a club such as Blackpool FC, it's something that can be applicable, but for the majority of the others, it's other factors. Away Attendances: I've put this down to the rising costs of transportation and current economic climate. Real wages increases have not occurred since the downturn a few years back, yet the price of fuel, utilities, food, etc continue to increase. With the average ticket (I accept that some clubs will be above or below this) for away attendances standing at £29 (£36 for Premier League), we do not have an issue with pricing. If you take the Bundesliga, their away tickets double up as free rail passes and they have some amazing away attendances. This incentive encourages people to travel and support their team away. The instances it has been used in this country, away attendances have been outstanding, thus indicating it's other costing that is keeping them down. Home Attendances: Again, pricing is not an issue. We have seen time and time again, Promotion game, football for a fiver, etc., that we can pack a stadium. Unless you're a top four premier league club, you won't sell out every game. It's not about the level of football, take Wigan for example, when they were in the Premier League, they rarely sell out. The same with Sunderland, Stoke, West Brom, Aston Villa. They do not sell out every match either. Again it's the cost of luxury to attend. Parking around the stadium will cost, or your paying for two/three/more rail tickets, lunch, drinks. All of this adds up. Even subsidising or free travel would see bumper increases in attendances, including the removal of stupid parking restrictions and car parking prices around stadiums (I refer to the rejuvenation of selected high streets in footfall, when they removed parking restrictions). Charlton Althetic as a club are seeming to lead the way with some of these initiatives, in trying to increase attendances. Meal deals, cheap season tickets, free entry to crossbars, Valley Express. But ultimately if they do not sort out the conundrum of expensive rail travel we won't see attendances rise anytime soon. Plus, it's Summer Holidays for many. They'll increase come mid September, albeit I'm off on my extended Summer Sun holidays.
I'll probably be back in the country for the Rotherham game, if not definitely Blackburn, don't expect great turnouts at either. Will annoy me next season when we've got an extra 8000 fans in the prem
We need a 15-20 goal-a-season to get us all in the mood. If we got back to prem football i think we'd be banging out 45k crowds in no time.
Oz, the ground only holds just over 27k and even with Murray's expansion plans in the Prem days he was only suggesting an increase to 35k
I'm pretty sure the two infills and the extra tier on the West was to bring us up to the mid thirties
nope, it was definitely for 40k http://853blog.com/2013/08/19/greenwich-council-in-new-charlton-athletic-stadium-talks/
Definitely40k since it involved squeezing a bigger stand onto the Jimmy Seed site two infills and a second tier on the East Stand. I think planning may have lapsed on this scheme but if we are to be prepared for any future promotion when the expansion would pay dividends then we need to keep the plans and permissions up to date.
i thought they did something behind the jimmy seed stand which made the last plans redundant? we'd need all new plans if we were to increase again. cant see it happening though. not unless we had 3-4 years of sell outs
