Shelvey, Elliott, Gomez and Pope all playing in the Premier League today. All playing with distinction too. Good luck to all of them, but gone are the days when I hoped that promising youngsters would grace the field at the Valley and help Charlton to better days. When I first became an Addick we had a terrific young goalie, Graham Tutt, who I could foresee as a full international. The difference between then and now is that I hoped it would be as a Charlton player, whereas now no-one harbours this illusion when a Lookman or Gomez appears in the U-18's. Our latest prospect, Konsa, has only a handful of appearances under his belt and is already being prepared for market. So if we want to follow Crewe's example, we'll end up where they are.
And this is why so many normal Charlton fans were nauseated by Robinson’s comments “it’s not if but when” regarding Ezri Konsa last Friday. Where is the incentive in supporting a club that has become little more than an Academy player farm? Why does GOBBO feel it necessary to disclose in September that Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal have all expressed an interest in Konsa ? We cannot even sell him until January. What does it achieve to go public with this interest now - other than to crank up the transfer interest and the bidding over the next 3 months. Robinson really is an unadulterated idiot.
I am convinced that there is not the normal connection between Gobbo's mouth and his brain.. and that his mouth has decided that it is in charge.
Of all the filth that has come out of Meire’s mouth these last 3 and a half years, her most revealing comment was made in Dublin when she uttered the classic about Charlton fans briefly being able to “enjoy” watching the Premier League stars of the future. Before Duchatelet sells them, and pockets the cash. There was a story in the Sunday paper yesterday that Spurs want Ademola Lookman in January. One assumes that the ace negotiator inserted a sell-on clause.
She didn't actually say "briefly" but she should have. As soon as they get into the first-team squad they get touted around, and sold on after a few games. And we are left with the ones who don't have the ability to play at a higher level, or maybe even at L1 level. It's difficult enough to accept losing youngsters to clubs with more financial clout when the club fights to keep them, but in our case it's club policy, that's the real sickener.
And what makes it unforgivable is that Duchatelet and Meire are the ones who made us what we are. They did not inherit this pitiful situation, they created it. They have dropped us into the lower leagues and halved our home attendance in just two seasons. By cutting ST prices as well they have probably reduced our match day takings by about 65-70% since RD bought the Club. Not only are the home stands two thirds empty, the Jimmy Seed stand now usually holds just a few hundred, whereas in the Championship it would likely be thousands at most games. Huge numbers of Charlton fans won't pay money to the owners of a Club where no ambition to better the first team and selling all good young academy players are the official policies. Roland Duchatelet is the enemy of Charlton Athletic, and he should be opposed until he is gone.
Wasn't it Lee Bowyer who said in July that it was unlikely Konsa would be with us by September? They all seem intent on putting him in the shop window.
