i'm stepping it up next year - hoping to emulate my youngest and his mates - 10 of them, 16 years old done virtually every home and away game this year - was so pleased for them yesterday - following playing at the valley saturday, one of my best mates getting a season ticket again today, i've not had a bad weekend!!!!!!
I think people need to judge things by effectiveness. If boycotting had brought Duchatelet to his knees, I would have praised it. But it hasn't and it never will. It hasn't made the blind bit of difference. It might make people feel righteous but that's all, and in the meantime life goes on all around them. It is the boycotters' right to do what they are doing but one does have to ask - so what?
After 2 full seasons away from the valley I've renewed with our usual gang today. This wasn't solely based on yesterday, we would have renewed in league one regardless. We left last time (due to RD) as it didn't feel like watching Charlton anymore. We was watching a team of individuals. I've been to around 3/4 games leading up to the playoffs and the team bond and spirit is unrecognisable to the team under KR and Slade. I just hope (hope is the wrong word... PREY) that Bowyer and Jackson stay. It'll be nice to keep Beliek and Cullen, Williams I feel we could replace. Aribo I think is already gone regardless and Hope our BFG decides London is where he wants to settle with his new family.
Feels like we've got our Charlton back. For 5 days at least before Bowyers contract runs out!
Its a tough decision that's getting tougher I guess.
A couple of years ago I ebbed and flowed between renewing or not, ultimately I renewed and that was in part down to my daughters being so keen on going but I'd probably have come to that conclusion anyway. I'm glad I did. Life can be very cruel and very short, no one knows what's around the corner, so i'm glad to have been part of this season and to an extent the last, i've mostly been to the home games but a few aways as well including Doncaster.
I admire the boycotters, even more so now, but my own conclusion is (rightly or wrongly) that to RD it makes little difference, he'll sell players to make up for the losses regardless, if he could sell two Lookmans a year and make a profit he would, he wouldn't only sell one to break even, he won't not do so just because there are a few thousand more in the ground every week. Had we off been getting gates of 20,000 each week he'd have still have sold Grant to narrow the loss despite the extra income.
It isn't just about denying Duchatelet the money, although that is a very, very small aspect of it. For me, and many others, I think, it's a matter of principle. Fans who understand that under Duchatelet we are only one step away from chaos and want to do something, anything, to try to show that we won't just lay back and be shafted by him without some form of resistance.
I said I would boycott the Valley this season, and I did. I was at Wembley, and I loved it. I will probably go to a handful of games next season because I want to prioritise more the time I have with my son and my friends who go. But I'll never buy a season ticket while Duchatelet is still the owner, no matter if they were banging them out for £100. Conversely, the moment he goes, I'll be back with my ST, no matter if they were £1000.
The problem, it seems to me, is that there are two distinct versions of Charlton at the moment. Charlton as owned by Duchatelet, and the Charlton now owned by Bowyer and his team and the supporters. There is a huge disconnect between the two, they are incompatible with each other, and I really want to support one but not the other. I haven’t worked out quite how to do that yet. And I fully see both sides of the argument.
I suppose many people after the last fortnight now have to decide whether they want to provide support to the later on a regular basis or whether they only want to participate in big games when the team is doing well. Very much hope we see more of a fuller Valley roaring the team on.
I agree with this. However it is not currently clear, in the absence of any contract for Bowyer and his staff, nor for many of the existing team, that the Charlton as owned by Bowyer, his team and the fans will exist come the new season.
Can’t see why I would be forking out for season tickets to support Bowyer and team until I knew they were going to be there.
Imagine handing over money to Duchâtelet who then doesn’t give Bowyer a new contract, appoints Karel Fraeye as manager and gives Driesen full transfer activity responsibility.
I’m not ruling out getting season tickets and I want to be there (even if Duchâtelet has not sold) but I want to be sure what I’m paying for.
I think people need to judge things by effectiveness. If boycotting had brought Duchatelet to his knees, I would have praised it. But it hasn't and it never will. It hasn't made the blind bit of difference. It might make people feel righteous but that's all, and in the meantime life goes on all around them. It is the boycotters' right to do what they are doing but one does have to ask - so what?
This was always my thought on the matter. It could never work and if I thought it could I may have also boycotted. If I were at work and had devised a plan that I realised could never work, I'd swiftly abandon it. I wouldn't continue indefinitely.
Once again, good luck to the boycotters, everyone should do what they want. But by God some of you have made an awful sacrifice for absolutely no positive benefit.
I think people need to judge things by effectiveness. If boycotting had brought Duchatelet to his knees, I would have praised it. But it hasn't and it never will. It hasn't made the blind bit of difference. It might make people feel righteous but that's all, and in the meantime life goes on all around them. It is the boycotters' right to do what they are doing but one does have to ask - so what?
This was always my thought on the matter. It could never work and if I thought it could I may have also boycotted. If I were at work and had devised a plan that I realised could never work, I'd swiftly abandon it. I wouldn't continue indefinitely.
Once again, good luck to the boycotters, everyone should do what they want. But by God some of you have made an awful sacrifice for absolutely no positive benefit.
But for a lot of the boycotters it was never about the results.
I think people need to judge things by effectiveness. If boycotting had brought Duchatelet to his knees, I would have praised it. But it hasn't and it never will. It hasn't made the blind bit of difference. It might make people feel righteous but that's all, and in the meantime life goes on all around them. It is the boycotters' right to do what they are doing but one does have to ask - so what?
This was always my thought on the matter. It could never work and if I thought it could I may have also boycotted. If I were at work and had devised a plan that I realised could never work, I'd swiftly abandon it. I wouldn't continue indefinitely.
Once again, good luck to the boycotters, everyone should do what they want. But by God some of you have made an awful sacrifice for absolutely no positive benefit.
But for a lot of the boycotters it was never about the results.
I never said it was. But the boycott has achieved nothing, other than what Nadou said.
I think people need to judge things by effectiveness. If boycotting had brought Duchatelet to his knees, I would have praised it. But it hasn't and it never will. It hasn't made the blind bit of difference. It might make people feel righteous but that's all, and in the meantime life goes on all around them. It is the boycotters' right to do what they are doing but one does have to ask - so what?
This was always my thought on the matter. It could never work and if I thought it could I may have also boycotted. If I were at work and had devised a plan that I realised could never work, I'd swiftly abandon it. I wouldn't continue indefinitely.
Once again, good luck to the boycotters, everyone should do what they want. But by God some of you have made an awful sacrifice for absolutely no positive benefit.
But for a lot of the boycotters it was never about the results.
I never said it was. But the boycott has achieved nothing, other than what Nadou said.
Achieved nothing? If you say so.
Personally I'm quite happy that my season ticket money for the last two years has stayed in my bank account (for me to waste on other things) rather than go to reduce that old scroats losses.
It might not mean much to a multi millionaire like him in the grand scheme of things, but it means a lot to me. And that's why I did it. Not to preach or feel self righteous. I did it for me.
I went to the Donny home play-off leg and Wembley yesterday and enjoyed both massively (well Donny actually made me a bit sick until we won on pens but still). And despite what I've written below I'm enjoying the glow of seeing my team win at Wembley for the first time (honest!).
I work Saturdays fulltime at the moment so getting a season ticket for me would be pointless however if I was to have Saturdays free I would continue my boycott.
While it is obvious that Bowyer has built something special and worked a miracle, I feel that ultimately this still masks the huge problems off the pitch.
It is not right that pretty much the whole coaching staff and core of the team could not be with the club in less than a month (which makes our promotion even more remarkable). And following Roland's track record I do not habour much hope that they will still be here come the start of July.
IF Bowyer is kept on I just can't imagine him putting up with Roland's 'methodology' of short-termism and what is pretty much an underpriced firesale every transfer window with no funds being put back into the team (see Parker for Grant this year as an example) for very long.
This is just ontop of the contempt that Roland holds for the fanbase, his attitude and just general shithousery. I'm glad that some people can seperate that from the onfield success this season but for me it is a constant horrible lingering that this (insert multiple expletives here) still owns our club.
I also disagree with some comments on this thread that the boycott has been ineffective, I think it has put Roland into a position where he has to sell regardless of success of the club on the pitch or the level of protests, it is a slow constant always grinding him silently down by increasing his losses.
Personally as well I would go and watch us play in whatever league regardless of form or success if Roland was not our owner, even if we were in the Prem and Roland was running the club in the same manner I would still boycott, for me it has never been about the results on the pitch, its about the whole club feeling like it has come back, and while I think Bowyer has got that back on the pitch until Roland has gone the process will not be complete.
And IF Bowyer does continue on under Roland and we maintain stability in the Champ then do we have to say Roland's running of the club is succesful? I think thats a question for another day.
At the end of the day in my opinion despite the greatness of this season, the root of the problem is still here and until it is removed I think we'll continue seeing the same problems we've had under Roland's ownership. What are the chances of everyone being out of contract again next year for example (I'd say extremely likely)?
There are a lot of IF's as others have said on this thread, if by some magic Roland changes his ways, keeps the core of this team and staff togther on long term contracts, invests back into the team and stops being a (insert another expletive here) then yeah, maybe I'd consider going again. Or my preferable IF, he sells the club to someone who is decent and we can have a fresh start with Bowyer being fully backed then I'd come back in a heartbeat.
However this is Roland and I can't see either of those IF's happening anytime soon, I'd love to be proved wrong but until then my Boycott continues. #notapennymore
I think people need to judge things by effectiveness. If boycotting had brought Duchatelet to his knees, I would have praised it. But it hasn't and it never will. It hasn't made the blind bit of difference. It might make people feel righteous but that's all, and in the meantime life goes on all around them. It is the boycotters' right to do what they are doing but one does have to ask - so what?
This was always my thought on the matter. It could never work and if I thought it could I may have also boycotted. If I were at work and had devised a plan that I realised could never work, I'd swiftly abandon it. I wouldn't continue indefinitely.
Once again, good luck to the boycotters, everyone should do what they want. But by God some of you have made an awful sacrifice for absolutely no positive benefit.
But for a lot of the boycotters it was never about the results.
I never said it was. But the boycott has achieved nothing, other than what Nadou said.
Do you think so. On the other hand an influx of season ticket holders could see Roland remain at the club longer. I'm expecting us to average 15000 next season with 10000 season ticket holders.
After 2 full seasons away from the valley I've renewed with our usual gang today. This wasn't solely based on yesterday, we would have renewed in league one regardless. We left last time (due to RD) as it didn't feel like watching Charlton anymore. We was watching a team of individuals. I've been to around 3/4 games leading up to the playoffs and the team bond and spirit is unrecognisable to the team under KR and Slade. I just hope (hope is the wrong word... PREY) that Bowyer and Jackson stay. It'll be nice to keep Beliek and Cullen, Williams I feel we could replace. Aribo I think is already gone regardless and Hope our BFG decides London is where he wants to settle with his new family.
Feels like we've got our Charlton back. For 5 days at least before Bowyers contract runs out!
You knew PREY was the wrong word too right? You were just messing with us surely?
The key for me is whether Bowyer and staff get a new contract. We know that RD is a spiteful bastard and i would not be surprised that he makes a derisery offer and Bowyer walks away. No team or manager left, no money, straight back down again. If Bowyer stays then i might buy a season ticket again.
I'm not buying a season ticket because I don't live in the country. My two boys want me to get season tickets and I had to explain to them that we can't fly over every other week-end. The situation pains me but I made my choice to live here, sometimes it's not easy but it is what it is, as King Bowyer would say.
I was against Duchatelet from Day One. I remember talking to LargeAddick about it and he was saying to give him a chance, and I replied that you only have to read the Belgian press to understand what a disaster he will be. I even sang at a match at the beginning 'Duchatelet is full of shit, he's got a name like a Paris metro station, Duchatelet is full of shit' and people looked at me like I was mad. I didn't care, anyone who knows me will know that I don't get embarrassed easily, and in this case I was adamant that it would be an awful ownership.
However, I have felt for some time now that things have changed. Things have improved. I think that he has learned from past mistakes. The fact that he took on Bowyer at all is a massive change of approach. Don't get me wrong, I haven't been duped: I still think that he may play silly buggers during this close season. But no matter what else he does, IF he gives Lee Bowyer a new contarct then we just have to accept the way things are and get on with it. We HAVE TO carry on that good vibe from Wembley. It's an absolute MUST. Anyone still boycotting now is just biting their nose to spite their own face. The boycott has served its purpose, now it's time to stop.
Just accept the ownership and give Lee Bowyer and his team a chance to fight to keep our place in The Championship. Our new great manager could be the new Brian Clough in my opinion. I honestly think that he is the dog's bollocks. FFS if you really want to go then go. Go and get behind the team. Sod the bloody stupid owner. You're letting him win if you DON'T go. A few thousand / million quid in his pockets won't make any bloody difference to him either way. He's a nutcase who has more money than he knows what to do with anyway. A miserly, deranged, miserable sod. Live your lives and forget him. Live your Charlton Life to the full!
'What if I've been blue, now I'm walking through fields of flowers.' I cried as I sang those words at Wembley after the match on Sunday. I love this club and I want the best for it. I honestly think that right now, the best thing for the club is for the boycotters to listen to their heart, not to some now harmful ideology.
As you say, if he gives Bowyer a contract and lets him build a Championship squad. The next few days will see if that starts to happen. Personally i don't trust him but will be happy to be proved wrong
“The fact that he took on Bowyer at all is a massive change of approach”
Sorry, don’t agree. Do you think he knew who LB was before KR got him onto the coaching staff? One of the few good things RD has done was getting Bowyer as manager - but it was purely by accident, not by design (or a change of plan).
I'd be amazed if we don't get at least 11-12k season ticket holders next season. The play offs will have inspired some lapsed fans to return and maybe even new ones who enjoyed their day out yesterday. Add that to 2k (this is a guess, i'm sure Airman can predict better) walk ups for games plus a number of away sides selling out the away end and we'll easily have over 16-17k for most games.
I’d be surprised if we did. We sold 11,300 in 2012/13 without Duchatelet at bargain prices. That is the highest post-2009 relegation. There is still too much uncertainty. However get shot of him and all bets are off.
Mate of mine has ordered a season ticket for him and his daughter in the family stand today. He hasn't had a season ticket for about six years. When he asked me about it yesterday there was a fairly good choice of seats. Looking today there isn't many left with 2 seats together. Anyone know how many season tickets we've sold since Sunday?
Same here. Have one of my Son’s friend’s Mum looking to buy in Lower North near us, but a lot greyed out now.
I’m looking at moving back to next to my old seat in the East, it’s still available, and I thought it would be for a while. Now though, promotion may have made that less likely. Dammit!
All tied up x 2 West Lower after 2 year ST boycott. Whether he sells or not, didn’t want to risk my own owner agitation costing me more in the months to come, as I defo want to cheer us on in the Championship
I'd advise fans to beware how it'll look to the rest of the League
Doncaster and Wembley we sold out; Blackpool fans are already questioning the boycott
If fans stay away again when we're doing badly yet then have a sudden run to the Play-Offs (with another similar outcome) I imagine fans of other clubs (even the League) becoming rather unsympathetic towards the cause and it'll slowly look as though our fan base is nothing more than 8,000 with the rest being fair weather supporters rather than boycotters who only come along when we're doing well
The problem, it seems to me, is that there are two distinct versions of Charlton at the moment. Charlton as owned by Duchatelet, and the Charlton now owned by Bowyer and his team and the supporters. There is a huge disconnect between the two, they are incompatible with each other, and I really want to support one but not the other. I haven’t worked out quite how to do that yet. And I fully see both sides of the argument.
I suppose many people after the last fortnight now have to decide whether they want to provide support to the later on a regular basis or whether they only want to participate in big games when the team is doing well. Very much hope we see more of a fuller Valley roaring the team on.
I agree with this. However it is not currently clear, in the absence of any contract for Bowyer and his staff, nor for many of the existing team, that the Charlton as owned by Bowyer, his team and the fans will exist come the new season.
Can’t see why I would be forking out for season tickets to support Bowyer and team until I knew they were going to be there.
Imagine handing over money to Duchâtelet who then doesn’t give Bowyer a new contract, appoints Karel Fraeye as manager and gives Driesen full transfer activity responsibility.
I’m not ruling out getting season tickets and I want to be there (even if Duchâtelet has not sold) but I want to be sure what I’m paying for.
Comments
Put off potential buyers? ha ha
season doesnt start for weeks, why would I rush out and buy one now? Lets see what the summer brings.
This wasn't solely based on yesterday, we would have renewed in league one regardless. We left last time (due to RD) as it didn't feel like watching Charlton anymore. We was watching a team of individuals.
I've been to around 3/4 games leading up to the playoffs and the team bond and spirit is unrecognisable to the team under KR and Slade.
I just hope (hope is the wrong word... PREY) that Bowyer and Jackson stay. It'll be nice to keep Beliek and Cullen, Williams I feel we could replace. Aribo I think is already gone regardless and Hope our BFG decides London is where he wants to settle with his new family.
Feels like we've got our Charlton back. For 5 days at least before Bowyers contract runs out!
Can’t go back until he’s gone
I said I would boycott the Valley this season, and I did. I was at Wembley, and I loved it. I will probably go to a handful of games next season because I want to prioritise more the time I have with my son and my friends who go. But I'll never buy a season ticket while Duchatelet is still the owner, no matter if they were banging them out for £100. Conversely, the moment he goes, I'll be back with my ST, no matter if they were £1000.
It could never work and if I thought it could I may have also boycotted.
If I were at work and had devised a plan that I realised could never work, I'd swiftly abandon it.
I wouldn't continue indefinitely.
Once again, good luck to the boycotters, everyone should do what they want.
But by God some of you have made an awful sacrifice for absolutely no positive benefit.
But the boycott has achieved nothing, other than what Nadou said.
Personally I'm quite happy that my season ticket money for the last two years has stayed in my bank account (for me to waste on other things) rather than go to reduce that old scroats losses.
It might not mean much to a multi millionaire like him in the grand scheme of things, but it means a lot to me. And that's why I did it. Not to preach or feel self righteous. I did it for me.
I work Saturdays fulltime at the moment so getting a season ticket for me would be pointless however if I was to have Saturdays free I would continue my boycott.
While it is obvious that Bowyer has built something special and worked a miracle, I feel that ultimately this still masks the huge problems off the pitch.
It is not right that pretty much the whole coaching staff and core of the team could not be with the club in less than a month (which makes our promotion even more remarkable). And following Roland's track record I do not habour much hope that they will still be here come the start of July.
IF Bowyer is kept on I just can't imagine him putting up with Roland's 'methodology' of short-termism and what is pretty much an underpriced firesale every transfer window with no funds being put back into the team (see Parker for Grant this year as an example) for very long.
This is just ontop of the contempt that Roland holds for the fanbase, his attitude and just general shithousery. I'm glad that some people can seperate that from the onfield success this season but for me it is a constant horrible lingering that this (insert multiple expletives here) still owns our club.
I also disagree with some comments on this thread that the boycott has been ineffective, I think it has put Roland into a position where he has to sell regardless of success of the club on the pitch or the level of protests, it is a slow constant always grinding him silently down by increasing his losses.
Personally as well I would go and watch us play in whatever league regardless of form or success if Roland was not our owner, even if we were in the Prem and Roland was running the club in the same manner I would still boycott, for me it has never been about the results on the pitch, its about the whole club feeling like it has come back, and while I think Bowyer has got that back on the pitch until Roland has gone the process will not be complete.
And IF Bowyer does continue on under Roland and we maintain stability in the Champ then do we have to say Roland's running of the club is succesful? I think thats a question for another day.
At the end of the day in my opinion despite the greatness of this season, the root of the problem is still here and until it is removed I think we'll continue seeing the same problems we've had under Roland's ownership. What are the chances of everyone being out of contract again next year for example (I'd say extremely likely)?
There are a lot of IF's as others have said on this thread, if by some magic Roland changes his ways, keeps the core of this team and staff togther on long term contracts, invests back into the team and stops being a (insert another expletive here) then yeah, maybe I'd consider going again. Or my preferable IF, he sells the club to someone who is decent and we can have a fresh start with Bowyer being fully backed then I'd come back in a heartbeat.
However this is Roland and I can't see either of those IF's happening anytime soon, I'd love to be proved wrong but until then my Boycott continues. #notapennymore
On the other hand an influx of season ticket holders could see Roland remain at the club longer.
I'm expecting us to average 15000 next season with 10000 season ticket holders.
You were just messing with us surely?
I really cannot fathom why people can't wait until it is clear whether or not Bowyer is staying.
Surely otherwise RD and his cronies could intetpret that you don't care about that?
I was against Duchatelet from Day One. I remember talking to LargeAddick about it and he was saying to give him a chance, and I replied that you only have to read the Belgian press to understand what a disaster he will be. I even sang at a match at the beginning 'Duchatelet is full of shit, he's got a name like a Paris metro station, Duchatelet is full of shit' and people looked at me like I was mad. I didn't care, anyone who knows me will know that I don't get embarrassed easily, and in this case I was adamant that it would be an awful ownership.
However, I have felt for some time now that things have changed. Things have improved. I think that he has learned from past mistakes. The fact that he took on Bowyer at all is a massive change of approach. Don't get me wrong, I haven't been duped: I still think that he may play silly buggers during this close season. But no matter what else he does, IF he gives Lee Bowyer a new contarct then we just have to accept the way things are and get on with it. We HAVE TO carry on that good vibe from Wembley. It's an absolute MUST. Anyone still boycotting now is just biting their nose to spite their own face. The boycott has served its purpose, now it's time to stop.
Just accept the ownership and give Lee Bowyer and his team a chance to fight to keep our place in The Championship. Our new great manager could be the new Brian Clough in my opinion. I honestly think that he is the dog's bollocks. FFS if you really want to go then go. Go and get behind the team. Sod the bloody stupid owner. You're letting him win if you DON'T go. A few thousand / million quid in his pockets won't make any bloody difference to him either way. He's a nutcase who has more money than he knows what to do with anyway. A miserly, deranged, miserable sod. Live your lives and forget him. Live your Charlton Life to the full!
'What if I've been blue, now I'm walking through fields of flowers.'
I cried as I sang those words at Wembley after the match on Sunday. I love this club and I want the best for it. I honestly think that right now, the best thing for the club is for the boycotters to listen to their heart, not to some now harmful ideology.
Sorry, don’t agree. Do you think he knew who LB was before KR got him onto the coaching staff? One of the few good things RD has done was getting Bowyer as manager - but it was purely by accident, not by design (or a change of plan).
I’m looking at moving back to next to my old seat in the East, it’s still available, and I thought it would be for a while. Now though, promotion may have made that less likely. Dammit!