We are in the thick of it right now, so while we are taking yet another battering by all the recent performances it might be a good time to reflect on the bigger picture as this is as much a learning curve for us as fans as is it is for the board, management and players at Charlton. This is not all encompassing and is not meant to be more important sounding than anyone else's opinion, but I think it offers some scope on our current and recent situation.
Board: After many years solid building they lost their key man in Curbishley and took a big risk that didn't pay off on Dowie who by all accounts sold himself the best to people who hadn't had to appoint someone new in that position for 14 odd years. To compound the error they backed the new man with money which he mis-spent - the money was needed because the existing squad was not going to make the grade. Les came and went as he was in the right place at the wrong time and then we finally wound up with Pardew who most agreed was the best man for the job.
We then had very little money to back him and relegation followed knowing that D Bent was the asset that would help Charlton not fall into massive debt like other clubs have done. Pardew was given a budget based on the league we were in and within a spending structure Charlton were comfortable with. The board does not want to run Charlton the club or company into the ground.
They have learnt the hard way that getting the wrong man in is costly and that the head has to rule the heart in these decisions. They got carried away with Dowie and we are still paying the price. They have another situation brewing at the end of this season - how will they react if we don't go up? Replacing Peter Varney is another massive step.
Manager: Built a reputation through two clubs with above average spending power. The latter, West Ham, also carried a support and reputation that was attractive to players. Now he finds himself in a pretty rigid spending structure but carried on with his buy loads and discard those that don't meet his demands approach. On a lower budget the players that don't make the grade are going to be more numerous.
He has to learn that solid investment in proven players is just as important as buying wildcards that might give us the edge. A few million here and there on players that make up a backbone for the team now seems far more prudent than 250K's here and there on "Youtube talent". He also needs to learn some respect for the other teams in this division.
Players: The few that remained and get in the side are playing alongside an ever changing line-up with many that are not putting enough in. The players that have come in have met a manager full of confidence, bullish in his attitude that we deserve promotion from the outset as Charlton are a big fish. We aren't, we are a decent sized club that has had success in recent years based on solid understanding of football's finances and what is needed on the pitch to make the most of what we are.
They need to learn that getting the basics of football right at this level is just as important as any other level. Play as a team, mark, defend together, movement off of the ball, battling for each other, showing for the ball, passing. Working hard on how football is played at its most fundamental will then allow you to show if you have a bit more than the sides that are doing just the same. We are getting beaten by very workman like performances because we aren't even doing the basics. The playing management also have a responsibility for this.
Fans: We have gone from success to comfortable boredom to exciting failure. The team now is practically unrecognisable to that of a year or two ago. That, plus the ever changing line-up makes it really hard to form a bond with the players/team. We have an expectation of success based on the solid building we were used to, a manager who seemed to have all the answers and fresh, exciting players. Now our confidence is eroding many of us are lashing out or losing our focus.
We need to lower our expectations and stomach some of the performances an unsettled and inexperienced side are churning out and replace our expectant attitude with singing and to use a wooly phrase, togetherness. If we can get our act together and get some prolonged chants going from the stands and show that we stand together, maybe some of that fight will creep onto the pitch. I confess to losing patience on Saturday and having a rant, but when I sat with my pint after the match I realised that I hadn't really sung, encouraged players and fans around me on or got any satisfaction out of moaning. In other words I hadn't been a fan like I usually am.
Me: I don't think we will go up, but this is my club and I am up for the fight and maybe we will make it. It's all about hope supporting a club like Charlton - if you want to expect success, subscribe to Sky and take your pick from the top three of the premiership, just don't expect to feel any real involvement in their success as your pride will always be diluted by your lack of real connection to them.
My club.
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Comments
are you me perfectly summed up my feelings towards charlton and us all
best post i have read
And i agree with every word by the way.
AFKA - think it would be a good idea to make it a blog so it gets more coverage.
(Assuming Scott doesn't mind)
How great would it be for even half the fans that boo after a bad game to actually sung during the game. Drives me mad!
As AFKA says, it's the best thing that's been posted on here in months.
Great post, Sco.
This bit about the fans:
Back in the old Covered End standing days we used to have a great time - win or lose.
We'd have some bevvies before the match and most of us would treat it like one big party, singing & dancing the conga, Knees up Muvver Brown' - and we'd even make a racket & chant when we won a corner.
Sure, we had some disappointing times but despite following an often crap team, we'd have some fun.
These days, all seater stadiums don't let you dance or do a knees-up, but why do we treat a game as a life or death situation - where's the fun element of watching football now?
Instead of sitting there expecting the worst and slagging everybody off, couldn't we do our bit to lift the atmosphere of The Valley - and just have a good time?
It would change the whole dynamics of an atmosphere that is hostile and intimidating towards our own team.
As a relative newbie this is a pretty trying time for me as I'm sure it is for many. Having had several years in the top flight where all was good - maybe too good - it's too easy to think it's the way it's always been. A reality check was always on the cards and here we are.
If nothing else our current position asks a lot of questions of the fans and I for one am very much up for the challenge.
That said, I'm still struggling to see why a manager with a two year building plan is bringing in a load of panic loan players (sorry, I couldn't be all positive!)
http://www.charltonlife.com/blog/?p=180
Future comments should be directed here I should think.
I know many on here have followed Charlton for a long time but even some of us forget the bad old times (results and league position wise) but how we used to enjoy "the crack". I think we have all raised our own expectations and now think we should smash anything thats put in fornt of us. Sometimes we have to remember we are not The Arse or Manyoo or Chelski but we are Charlton, always have been and always will be.
Everyone is entitled to have a moan about performances, players etc but perhaps before we dive and slag of everyone from the tealady to the Chairman perhaps we should sit and think of where we came from and with a bit of good fortune, maybe this season, maybe next or some point in the future, we will be back in the "promised land" of the Premiership.
COME ON YOU REDS.
Well put
- A message to our fans.........
The depressing thing is that financially the world is more hostile now than back in 1984 and the financial differential between the top tier and lower tiers is greater too. We have a cushion in the parachute money but if most of it ends up in the pocket of Andy Gray and others what becomes of us when it runs out? Developers will circle round The Valley like vultures and one wonders how long the Board will be able to afford to resist the pressures to sell even though I don't doubt that they are genuine fans. As I say history has already shown us what can happen after too many years of second and third tier football.
I've said it before in my opinion promotion is essential sooner rather than later if Charlton Athletic is to survive, in Charlton at any rate.
Another aspect is Alan Pardew and his public persona. I've said more than once that he is as good as we can realistically hope for given our financial constraints. I'm therefore very much in the Pards "in" rather than Pards "out" camp. However it alienates people like me (I may not be typical admittedly) when he sneers at the traditions of our club like Red, Red Robin or throws up smokescreens to detract from poor performances like the home fans in the Jimmy Seed fiasco or slags off the fans for not going away when many ordinary people are struggling just to make ends meet in an economic climate of rising food, energy, petrol prices and train fares.
The fans will react negatively if what they hold dear is condescendingly mocked. You may not have liked the football Curbs played but he always said the buck stops with me. He rarely if ever blamed the fans for the shortcomings of the team.
The fans are at fault in some ways. There are longstanding supporters around me who slag off the likes of ZZ and Ambrose especially before the game even starts. The atmosphere at the Preston game was awful but then so was the performance. It's chicken and egg. I personally believe encouragement beats destructive criticism every time but I think I'm in a minority at Charlton thinking that way.
I do hope we can get a decent atmosphere for the last 4 home games and maybe, just maybe, we can scrape into the play - offs.
I will happily use Coca Cola money to print of those copies i might not get to 10-15000 but i reckon i could do a print run of 1000
Any chance of putting this in the programme? Of just sticking a copy on to every seat in the ground next week?