I have just read Sco's post, brilliant reading. He has summed it up better then all of us combined. I have posted my reply but my thoughts may get lost on how we can progress his thoughts. Anything to get the singing back!!
"Best post i have read mate. One thing, how do we communicate this post to all our fans? On this forum there are maybe 40-50 users tops. Most fans dont go on forums. I know this has been blogged so that might help. How about someone printing this and handing it out at the games.
Just a thought and thanks again for the post, great reading!!"
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I have noticed my love of Charlton change over the years, not saying I love them any less, just differently. When I was younger and started supporting the team the players we had were not necessarily that gifted. But the thing the majority of them were was honest and hard working. There were always at least 5 players on the pitch that looked as if they cared, and I honestly believed they did. We can all tell stories of "special moments" involving certain players between 1996-2004. Johnny Robinson and Steve Brown being prime examples. They were never the most gifted of players but there was something about them that made me feel connected to them.
That sort of attitude on the pitch I think reflected on us as fans, I remember the old covered end always being buzzing, going away used to be a bit of a party and I have very little recollection of "booing" the players. Supporting Charlton was fun, for me "I knew my place" as a football fan and was quite content with what I had. I had my club and my little bit of hope.
I think our "success" of surviving and growing in the Premier League has changed us all as fans (me especially). The money and expectation levels have ultimately changed a number of things. Mostly (and probably most importantly) the type of playing staff we now have on our books. I don't blame anybody in particular for this but I think the attitude of the players and the type of football we've been playing has changed all of our relationship with with club. I can probably only really think of one (maybe 2 or 3) player/s at the club now that when I watch them looks as if they really actually care. Is it the money? Is it the crowd? Who knows?
We've also aquired a number of new fans which the club needed to grow and the more new fans we get financially the club will be better off. But expecting these people to come in and suddenly have a massive affection for the club is quite blinded, they're just not going to have the same enthusiasm as the rest of us and ultimately that will affect the attmosphere. I don't blame them like I said we need them to grow financially but its still affecting the "matchday experience" for those that do have the love and enthusiasm.
Basically to sum up I don't feel "connected" to virtually the whole of our squad at the moment, some of them I just plain don't like! But they're better players than any of my "boyhood heroes" they just don't have the same commitment. I think it's the money in the game today and I honestly don't think football will ever be the same. Its something I've thought about for a while it does sadden me but my love for my club will never waver I just struggle sometimes to get behind them the way I used to when it seems to me no one on the pitch gives a damn.
I might be wrong on some cases but I reckon a few people might feel the same.
I can empathise with a lot of what you say but the worse moaners and "booers" near me have quite clearly been going quite a few years. The worst culprits are certainly not "plastic premiership fans" as far as I can see. Maybe they simply didn't renew free season ticket offer notwithstanding!