Whilst there are possibly issues behind the scenes (which I have taken the approach of ignorance is bliss) I think this is the most buoyant I have felt about the club since perhaps 98 and our first few seasons in the top flight before it started to go downhill.
Really enjoyed last season and one of the best I've personally experienced but at the same time it was completely nerve wracking and immensely pressured feeling like we would be bang in trouble on and off the pitch should we not get promoted.
For me, surviving this season mid table and consolidating to be in a position to push on next year is good enough for me and anything else is a bonus. So pleased we have been able to keep the squad together and there seems to be a massive unity between the manager, the players and importantly us, which has often been missing over the past decade with a noticeable disconnect sometimes between those on the pitch and the terraces.
Don't know why, we've been in higher positions in my lifetime with international players but even during those times I don't think I felt as good about Charlton as I do at present.
We seem to have restored our pride and ambition as a club and whilst I very much doubt we will do a Norwich or Southampton this season, and perhaps push on at the rate some would hope, we seem to have completely turned around as a club from only a short time ago and are heading in the right direction.
It might all go tits up on and off the pitch but then you can spend your whole life fretting about the "what ifs" so for now I'm just really embracing the feel good factor that has returned to SE7 and long may it continue.
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In the championship, at the moment with our ground, team and financial situation, we have found a level where we can compete in a very open competition. Expectations of success can be realistic. A relief from the Worry about premiership survival until we get promoted. 'It is better to travel in expectation than to arrive' (WHO said that ?)
Realistically this is our level until a billionaire with more money than sense decides to buy CAFC and turn us into the new ChelMan City
There still seem to be some idiots who want to keep rambling about the stuff behind the scenes at every corner, wish they would do one. Unless they're prepared to do something about it, stop moaning.
Rodney - good post.
I don't claim to know anything that's going on behind the scenes, other than the rumours I pick up on reading threads on here, but I'd personally rather know than not..................
:-(
People are indeed doing something about it. There is a Supporters Trust meeting tonight. Why don't you go along and tell them why they are such idiots ?
Nice one, anyone who cares about the club, raised money for the VIP scheme, ever campaigned to get back to the Valley, organised a supporters' trust, organised a Q & A session for Directors or did anything else other than go to a game is an idiot then according to you.
Sorry that other fans expressing legitimate concerns are beneath you and your superior intelligence but I'll carry on being interested in what goes on behind the scenes thanks because in case you haven't realised what happens in the board room has a big impact on what happens on the pitch.
In all seriousness I also think Tom's post is out of order and an insult to the many, many people who have put their heart and soul (and cash) into our club over the years. To suggest they go elsewhere because they express a (perfectly legitimate) view he just doesn't happen to agree with is short sighted in the extreme.
Harsh but fair as always BA ; - )
And it was a good post by RCT. I'm certainly feeling good about the team, manager and squad and looking forward to a good season.
It winds me up that certain fans couldn't stop themselves harping on about what's happening whilst there is a game on and we're supposed to be backing the players who are absolutely giving us 100% commitment out there on that pitch.
Fair play to those who are doing something about it, not once have I made remarks against those. As I put in an earlier post, for those who clearly didn't read it properly, those who wind me up are the people who moan about it and do not intend on doing something to help out
We all know we're going to lose games in this division at some point, but lets just enjoy the fact that we're back and appear (at least on the pitch) to be stabilising ourselves. We've got our Charlton back!
" I believe that us fans are being fed a line by those unhappy with the changes and taking it as gospel, ignoring the biases of those supplying this info in the first place."
I really wish you didn't have to make such a perjorative, evidence free comment about people who are every bit as much a "fan" as you and have often devoted an unreasonable part of their lives to helping to make CAFC a much better club than it would otherwise be.
I am all for comments like those that RCT started this thread with. Personally I'll join in with that when we get past August 31st and find that Chris Solly is lining up for us at the City Ground, if thats' OK with you?
However, the owners deserve a great deal of credit. Without Slater and Jimenez, our freefall would have continued unabated. Last year was amazing and I am very optimistic about our chances this year. Last season was a revolution, and this season is about consolidation. As the title of the thread says, the feel good factor is back and I for one am delighted.
As for those who own the club, i'm grateful they come in and invested when they did, i'm thankful for some of the decisions they have made, i'm frustrated that their model plan for financing the club wasn't robust enough to (on the outside) appear to last longer than one season, and i'm cautious of the convoluted and secretive way in which the ownership of the club, and the long-term intentions are governed.
This is all speculation but I can see this happening easily hence the alleged loss of the backer, but in respect the guys on the board isn't giving up on this ans this gives me hope unless there's another cadevaet for us going up again?!! A nice problem to have?
So you think the backer might have left, the budget might be unbalanced but at the same time think that people are feeding us a line and are all biased?
But without them I'd hate to imagine what state we'd be in. Floundering in L1, fighting against doing a Bradford or Luton?
They inherited a massive financial hole, and have steadied the ship and started turning things around. For their success so far they deserve the benefit of the doubt.
But without them I'd hate to imagine what state we'd be in. Floundering in L1, fighting against doing a Bradford or Luton?
They inherited a massive financial hole, and have steadied the ship and started turning things around. For their success so far they deserve the benefit of the doubt.
I agree up to a point.
You may want to give them the benefit of the doubt which is fine but then if all is well then what is the doubt?
Yes, they came in when we badly needed investment and deserve credit for that. But if the board did well last season then Peter Varney and Steve Kavanagh deserve just a little credit or even a word of thanks when they suddenly depart.
Money was spent on stabilising and moving the Club forward but the big question is "whose money?"
If it was TJ and MS's money then fine but I don't think that was every the case. It was nearly all Kevin Cash's money and now it seems Kevin isn't putting any more money in.
And because of that there is a lot of uncertainty and that has lead to concern.
Chris Powell is doing a wonderful job within supposed serious financial restraints. He and the players are presumably being paid on time, the cracked badge on the stand has been replaced (albeit crookedly according to some Lifers) and we have just signed Ricardo (The Monster) Fuller. There must be a few quid left in the kitty. The last thing the management and the players need is to hear and read tales of woe and doom concerning 'finance'. Any feel good factor in such circumstances will go right out the window.
If anything,he seems to have a genuine optimism about how much this squad of young players can achieve.