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NEW ARTICLE: Love me or Luz me; will Roland ever Curb his approach?

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"Here is a box, a musical box, wound up and ready to play. But this box can hide a secret inside. Can you guess what is in it today?"
"Someone already on Roland's payroll by any chance?"


Well I don’t know about you lot, but I’m finding this all completely gut-wrenching.

For well over twenty five years, I’ll have you know that me and Charlton Athletic have been in a very happy relationship. Not always good times, and there’s no doubting that neither of us have been perfect. But as they say on the X-Factor, we’ve ‘been on a journey’ and most importantly, we’ve been on it together. Particularly through the bad times, and our in-it-together approach made most of that perversely enjoyable.

Now it feels so different.

She’s changed you see. My god, has she changed. And I’m not sure how much I love her anymore. It’s definitely not the unconditional love it once was. It’s almost begrudged; even the small things are really starting to wind me up. I genuinely think we need counselling, but what scares me is I really don’t think she is willing to meet me half way. I don’t think she really cares at all to be honest, which is making this all so much harder.

And then our old mucker Curbs pops up on the telly, offering a smidgen of hope by not ruling himself out for a return. Just as my anger of recent events was marginally starting to subside as well.
Why did he have to do it? It’s this kind of stuff that makes things so bloody frustrating and what makes me so fundamentally against the approach that Roland and his sidekick continue to maintain.

In the case of using Curbs as an example, try looking at things impartially.

At the moment you have a football club pretty much in crisis; it doesn’t really know where it is, or what it needs to exist at this level in this country. The football aspects are being destroyed by instability, inadequate planning and squad building, and inexperience of the requirements and demands of Championship football.

On the other hand, you will struggle to find many manager’s in the whole of the English game who have recorded such consistent relative success than Alan Curbishley. By relative, I mean taking into account budget constraints, getting the sum from parts etc. So successful was he working within that framework, he got to within a hair’s breadth of securing the England job. He particularly knows what it takes to succeed at Championship level, has impeccable contacts throughout the game, and through recent work for Fulham, has good working knowledge of Championship trends, players etc

Do you think the Belgium Naffia will make any attempt to reach out to dip into that wealth of Charlton-sympathising knowledge and experience? Whether as a manager, Director of Football or even a plain old advisor? Will they ‘eck.

Curbs made it perfectly clear publicly when Peters got the boot that he was interested in some involvement. Instead, Roland wound the key on his Camberwick Green-style musical box of European football Z-listers retained on his payroll, and out popped Guy Luzon. Nice guy, but he was out of work because he failed at his last job, he knew nothing about Championship football, and he was given no real scope to build a balanced squad right for this league.

Fast forward just 9 months and we are in exactly the same world. In fact this one that on paper is even worse.

It was widely reported that Fraeye made it clear seventeen months ago he was lined up for the manager’s job here. Which means that unless Roland really is operating a musical box-style approach, fourteen months ago he saw Bob Peters as a better bet. Ten months ago Luzon was then favoured to be next in line. So rewind fourteen months, and Fraeye was seen then as at best, third in line for the job. Since then, he has secured negligible experience in the bottom half of a regional league where isotonic drinks are probably replaced by boxes of cigarettes.

Fraeye is cheap and already on the books. Same old, same old.

Three days ago, I was completely lost to the RD regime. Bags were packed and the key was close to being posted back through the letterbox. I’ve counted to ten and softened a fraction now, and I think I can still be saved.

But I need some form of acceptance that the detached, budgetary constrained or inappropriately allocated, inexperienced European-based model just isn’t working. That it is appreciated that it is beginning to cause huge resentment and needs addressing immediately. That some approaches, measures, and appointments are made that aims to properly address what Charlton Athletic is about as a Club, and what it needs to survive and potentially progress at the level it is at. That if it loses any more waves of support, it is in real trouble.

If that does not occur, and the cheap retainer option fails to work out on the pitch and the regime makes no increased effort to address issues off the pitch, then I’m not sure I’ve anymore last chances in me left to give. Whether that means continuing to support but with increased emotional detachment and less enjoyment, or joining the growing numbers in simply walking away, I really don’t know.

Never thought I’d ever have to give it serious consideration to be honest. What a mess.
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Comments

  • The third article in as many days that completely sums everything up perfectly. How sad.
  • This would make Roland.......Windy Miller right?
  • You've hit on some of the frustration. If we were bankrupt, had a team of triers and a management doing the right things, it would be forgivable. Or, even two or maybe one of those things.

    I'm not qualified to run a football club. I'm not stupid enough to believe that if I was manager of the Man City squad that I would do better than to struggle to keep them up. However, call me big headed, but I think I could do at least as well as KM, the various coaches and some of the players (well, maybe not the players at my age).

    I've run a business for years and try not to make the same mistakes. You just know with this lot that there will be more summer wheeling and dealing, a whole lot of unknowns will arrive and unless we are very lucky, it will all go wrong.

    A point or even a shock win at Boro doesn't change it for me. We need some direction and some characters to make us proud again - JJ is about the only one and he is in the last part of his career. We need some hope.
  • Fumbluff said:

    This would make Roland.......Windy Miller right?

    Fits the bill.
  • Great post, AFKA.

    You always hit my spot....:-)

    Seriously, everything you say is true & , at the same time, very worrying.

    Today, I read Karel's first statement of intent and noted that Jason has now joined the interim team.

    The first indicates a U turn by KM as it was initially indicated that our new man would not speak to us until after the Boro game.

    The second was somewhat of a surprise, albeit a good one.

    But both appear to be in answer to the obvious anger & concerns of us, the supporters.

    So, does that mean this lady IS for turning ( apart from the cartwheels she performs for her boss...) ?

    Or does it show that the powers that be think we are easily pleased?

    Answers on the usual small, white, stiff thing, please.

  • I remember posting when we were last at this point with RD is that when you are alienating people who really love the club then you are doing something fundamentally wrong.
    And that sense of being regarded as some sort of gullible unimportant mug, Roland I can get that perfectly well at home from the wife, so that approach is really not going to drive any of us through the gates to support the latest give it a go experiment.
  • Cor... such eloquence... some fabulous words summing up my exact feelings on here today...

  • Totally agree , I can't believe my apathy for it all because of this freakish ownership

    I must still care cos I keep reading on here but until he goes i don't think my enthusiasm for Charlton will reach anywhere near previous highs even if we made it to the top flight


  • I must still care cos I keep reading on here but until he goes i don't think my enthusiasm for Charlton will reach anywhere near previous highs even if we made it to the top flight

    Exactly my thoughts. He'll go eventually and then we can rebuild. Until then though, forget it.
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  • The sensible play was to appoint Malky McKay until the end of the season.

    He has Championship experience and something to prove. If he were to fail then we would be in no worse place than we are today with some geezer from the Waffle third division taking over.

    Big Jace is ace, but his appointment is just an excuse to keep the fans quiet / get rid of him from the club.

    Belgians Out !
  • The sensible play was to appoint Malky McKay until the end of the season.

    He has Championship experience and something to prove. If he were to fail then we would be in no worse place than we are today with some geezer from the Waffle third division taking over.

    Big Jace is ace, but his appointment is just an excuse to keep the fans quiet / get rid of him from the club.

    Belgians Out !

    Happier with Fraeye than Mackay. I'll take an inexperienced manager over a ludicrous racist thank you very much
  • edited October 2015

    image

    "Here is a box, a musical box, wound up and ready to play. But this box can hide a secret inside. Can you guess what is in it today?"
    "Someone already on Roland's payroll by any chance?"


    Not me - must be Fumbluff ! :P
    I agree with your sentiments entirely. Been there before, but now know times like these, will eventually pass - We all try have things to look forward to, and on that common ground we all share - Charlton are high on that list - our weekends have suddenly been spoiled buy DM KM lack of understanding that our beloved club is not an experiment but a way of life.
    IMO, Curb's would unify club and supporter even in these hard times, without those faces of Charlton old, for me coming to the Valley - is starting to feel like I'm just a visitor in my own home.

  • Great post @AFKABartram, very well put together with tempered passion and disbelief as what is happening down at Floyd Rd.

    For the first time ever I'm not looking forward to doing the match thread tomorrow, but I will do it. However if this continues I can see the time coming, like many of you you who can get to The Valley that, like you we just give up. That time hasn't come yet, but it is only just round the corner. Like you I need hope re-ignited, will KM/RD give us that.....doubtful in my opinion...sad times indeed!!
  • Great post @AFKABartram, very well put together with tempered passion and disbelief as what is happening down at Floyd Rd.

    For the first time ever I'm not looking forward to doing the match thread tomorrow, but I will do it. However if this continues I can see the time coming, like many of you you who can get to The Valley that, like you we just give up. That time hasn't come yet, but it is only just round the corner. Like you I need hope re-ignited, will KM/RD give us that.....doubtful in my opinion...sad times indeed!!

    Just hold on Red, and keep those match threads coming (health permitting), there are quite a few supporters like me who rely on them
  • ross1 said:

    Great post @AFKABartram, very well put together with tempered passion and disbelief as what is happening down at Floyd Rd.

    For the first time ever I'm not looking forward to doing the match thread tomorrow, but I will do it. However if this continues I can see the time coming, like many of you you who can get to The Valley that, like you we just give up. That time hasn't come yet, but it is only just round the corner. Like you I need hope re-ignited, will KM/RD give us that.....doubtful in my opinion...sad times indeed!!

    Just hold on Red, and keep those match threads coming (health permitting), there are quite a few supporters like me who rely on them
    Don't worry @ross1 I'll keep them going for now, but its the draining of the enthusiasm that I'm not used to. The news that came out later today that KM and RM will meet with fans is a small step forward, so there's always hope, but they have to change and soon.
  • edited October 2015
    Fumbluff said:

    This would make Roland.......Windy Miller right?

    Yes, specifically the drunk on cider Windy Miller from this episode.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsj29y7URNk

    Great post AFKA and pretty much sums up my feelings too.
  • Great post @daveaddick cant argue with any of that.

    I know I wrote it deliberately a bit melodramatic in the linking it to a relationship angle, but I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has a different viewpoint
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  • Well AFKA, I am pretty well on your side of course, but then I am different. One thing I tend to disagree about is the return of Curbs although I know it sounds tempting. For me it's a bit like going back to a place where you had a brilliant holiday to try and repeat it. It can fall flat because things can change.
    My problem is that after 61 years I love this Club so much, I can't walk away from it. This Roland is a brilliant money maker, but when it comes to running an English football Club he is a complete idiot. He seems to be certain that he is always right, which is his first mistake because no one has ever achieved that and never will. But I am stuck like glue to Charlton Athletic even if I finish up watching them in the bottom Division. Also I have a great deal of empathy with the players such as Jordan Cousins who have committed to the Club, and to loyal staff members. So unfortunately I am stuck with Roland and his silly bloody sofa, because I don't believe he will ever accept that his way could be wrong.
  • Great piece!

    When we lived abroad, all I could think about was bringing my son down to the valley.
    In the last year we have been back, I can't bring myself to put my son through the same pain.

    I no longer look forward to the (football) weekends, I can't even bring myself to watch a stream on line, I even turned off the Fulham game when we went a goal down.

    Perhaps Curbs back would fire the enthusiasm, but the club is so far removed from what we loved it's hard to see it.
  • Interesting that it is now starting to impact on the way those distanced look at things, as well as the regular goers
  • Thanks for that AFKA....always enjoyed Camblewick Green as a kid...good article to.
  • Living in the Lowlands has Always made my trips back to The Valley costly and taking a large chunk of my weekend away from me.But over the years we have Always made the effort to attend as many games as we can.At first we even purchased season tickets even if we would see seven games aseason made you feel part of the family.Slowly over the recent years my feeling for certain people at the valley who are in control or in a position to take my enjoyment away from me has hit the target.I no longer want Charlton Athletic to win 3 points every game they play.
    How can afan that has been going to the valley since 1967 get to this point.My saturdays have Always involved Charlton, life would not be the same without them,but slowly over the years it has come tothe point that defeat on a match day is what i wish for.....All Charlton fans i am sorry for saying this ,it is not your fault but the fault of the people or persons that own and run the club that i LOVE that has made me feel this way.
    Things have to change i will do want i can to help get rid of the -------- that is growing at this club my club of 49years.
  • Thanks AFKA. We stopped going and yielded our seats so that we could use the money to spend time in France in our tin can. We've never regretted it until more recently because now we feel almost guilty that we have been so much enjoying our new life style whereas the totally loyal crew have spent ever more money on an unrecognisable and misery making product. But we will chip in if we can help in any way to get our Charlton back.
  • Or we just all get a caravan @stilladdicted and invade Europe!
  • Did Nero stop fiddling as Rome burned?
  • I've been coming to the Valley since 1956, there have been some gaps, family life, scared of the hooligans, Selhurst, etc, etc but a season ticket holder since our glorious return.

    A very good piece from AFKA, and mostly sensible stuff from lots of others. Sums up my feelings since Riga was appointed. Now we have the fourth Manager that I've never heard of and all with CVs that would not get them the job at Crockenhill or Greenwich Borough, and I think we've only signed about two players I have ever heard of. Some of them have been quite good, some absolute rubbish.

    I normally miss four to five games at home each season, and all for good reasons. This season I've seen just two games and I've only got reasons for missing about two of all the others. Will I be there this Saturday, if it is cold or raining, or I get a better offer, then probably not. Otherwise I might, and if we lose it will just be a shrug of the shoulders instead of what used to be genuine gloom.
This discussion has been closed.

Roland Out Forever!