Too much has happened in a short time for us to start the relationship again. The chances of RD changing direction is the same as us storming into the Premier League in May. So the best thing is for them to go, and go now.
There's an awful lot of doom and gloom about the club at the moment, and I really hate it.
What for you would make you change your mind about their general running of the club, and put you in the happy camp / yep I know they've got some tough decisions to make, but I can see why they are doing what they are doing, and they've got my backing.
At the moment we seem to be a PR disaster, on and off the pitch.
If Roland and Katrien have got any sense, they'd realise you've got to listen to your 'customer' base if you want to have a future with them.
So what would you suggest?
How would they make me happy? Fekking off back to Belgium and selling the club would be a start.
Start running CAFC like a football club. Declare what the mysterious plan is. Start threating the fans with respect. Make realistic investments in the team and the club. Make us proud of your period of stewardship. Be open and honest.
I actually think it would be quite easy to win the fans back, as follows:
1. Sack KM (or she resigns) 2. Bring in a new CEO by the name of Varney 3. Get rid of Head Coach Karel Freaye 4. Bring in a new manager in the name of Chris Powell 5. Get rid of football advisor, Karel Feaye 6. Bring Curbs in as Director of football 7. Get rid of head of European scouting, Karel Feaye 8. Bring back Phil Chapple 9. Get rid of the number 2 to Karel Feaye 10. Bring back Nathan Jones 11. Get rid of network castoff Reza 12. Bring back Kermy 13. Get rid of rubbish like Bergdich 14. Bring back Wiggins 15. Get rid of Sarr 16. Bring back Morrison 17. Keep Bolder, Peacock and others. 18. Spend loads on the academy 19. Give everyone free season tickets as an apology 20. Spend £10M on team strengthening, all players chosen by Powell, Curbs and Chappell 21. Play amazing football 22. Get promoted to the PL 23. Gift 'The Valley' to the Trust 24. Put a fan back on the board 25. Open dialogue with the Trust 26. Find jobs / advisory roles for some of the stalwarts in the fan base 27. Have team lists on the score board. 28. Have tickets that work and are sent out on time. 29. Put customers/fans at the heart of their decisions.
If 1-29 are followed then RD can stay and I will personally give him the bumps on his 70th birthday.
I'm old fashioned, bunch of flowers, a box of chocolates, nice meal with more than 11 chips, three points on Tuesday, decent manager, in other words I'm easy!
Signing a player that I have heard of that isn't an out of contract cheapy that we'll bring in for a couple of months a la Johnson &'Eagles. Someone the fans can respect and be motivated by like when Curbs signed Mendonca or SCP signed Wright-Phillips. Would like to have seen us go in for Joey Barton.
I would like to apologise for the many mistakes I have made since taking over your football club.
First and foremost I would like to a apologise for being so dictatorial in all things Charlton. I now realise that the essence of any club is the sharing of a common interest. The very strength of any club is down to the people - whether they be supporters, staff or management. We must pool our ideas and aspirations in order to march forward in one cohesive force. Maybe I should look at every aspect of Charlton’s promotion/premiership years and try to learn from that?
I have completely misjudged the importance attached to the history of this little corner of SE London. Whilst the present and the future is vital to our very existence, I can now see that the heritage is of equal importance, and I would like to make a contribution to the museum in order to redress the balance. My ambition in future years is to take up a little corner of the museum with my own positive legacy.
It seems I have completely underestimated the strength of the Championship - and believe me I now feel really embarrassed by some of the footballers I have jetted in thinking that they would simply fit in and perform. You may have noticed that I have also changed the coach several times? I need to sit down and take some advice advice on this. Not everything the British have done this past 120 years is wrong. I will consequently tap into the talent that is within these shores in future.
Finally you may recall that I said this in June:
"I've been in the habit of counting my life expectancy. The average is seventy five years. That's my target. So I have 350 weeks left in good health. Quality of life and personal happiness are the most important things in my life".
Well for those of you not counting I am now 19 weeks down and have just 331 to go. I believe that I have seen the light and one’s happiness is most easily attained by making others happy. I have a few bob put by and let’s face it you can’t take it with you. I intend to massively increase my investment at the Valley. Although time is short I dream of my Charlton family chairing me round Wembley stadium - who knows what we could achieve together? COYR!
Clem your feelings come from your heart and is shared my me and sure the majority of us, im not one usually to over react with all things Charlton, but this is making me doubt if I care anymore, cant explain
I've been trying to work out what is going on at my club and my feelings and emotions around it. Grapevine's posts have helped a lot. I have heard many of my fellow supporters saying they just don't care anymore and when I was at Boro on Saturday it felt to me like I just didn't care anymore either. It was no surprise that we lost and I felt numb travelling home (5 hours an be a long time feeling numb!)
BUT I think in reality I CARE ENORMOUSLY and am trying to pretend that I don't to stop the dreadful pain of realising that the club I love, have supported for life, have followed all around the country (and Sweden for a dreadful pre-season tour) and has been a huge part of my identity is slipping away. Do I have any control over it slipping away? I am doubtful. Am I going to fight all the way to try? YES.
I would like to apologise for the many mistakes I have made since taking over your football club.
First and foremost I would like to a apologise for being so dictatorial in all things Charlton. I now realise that the essence of any club is the sharing of a common interest. The very strength of any club is down to the people - whether they be supporters, staff or management. We must pool our ideas and aspirations in order to march forward in one cohesive force. Maybe I should look at every aspect of Charlton’s promotion/premiership years and try to learn from that?
I have completely misjudged the importance attached to the history of this little corner of SE London. Whilst the present and the future is vital to our very existence, I can now see that the heritage is of equal importance, and I would like to make a contribution to the museum in order to redress the balance. My ambition in future years is to take up a little corner of the museum with my own positive legacy.
It seems I have completely underestimated the strength of the Championship - and believe me I now feel really embarrassed by some of the footballers I have jetted in thinking that they would simply fit in and perform. You may have noticed that I have also changed the coach several times? I need to sit down and take some advice advice on this. Not everything the British have done this past 120 years is wrong. I will consequently tap into the talent that is within these shores in future.
Finally you may recall that I said this in June:
"I've been in the habit of counting my life expectancy. The average is seventy five years. That's my target. So I have 350 weeks left in good health. Quality of life and personal happiness are the most important things in my life".
Well for those of you not counting I am now 19 weeks down and have just 331 to go. I believe that I have seen the light and one’s happiness is most easily attained by making others happy. I have a few bob put by and let’s face it you can’t take it with you. I intend to massively increase my investment at the Valley. Although time is short I dream of my Charlton family chairing me round Wembley stadium - who knows what we could achieve together? COYR!
This is going to be very difficult, as the time for talking themselves out of this mess has been well and truly reached and breached in my opinion. The time for assessment, comment and reflection can come once I see some action, and optimistically that wont happen until the transfer window opens. Yes, I want good communication with the club, and I want to know about their long term strategy. I'd also like to know what is their perception of a successful tenure for a manager at this level..however what we need now is action on the pitch.
We need some players, experienced players...players who "have something to prove" who "are hungry" as one manager used to say. We need them fast, no waiting until 2330 on deadline day. Our squad needs assistance, and I fear we are damaging some of our younger players.
It goes without saying that we need to stay in this division, then I'd welcome their comments about how they plan to regain (and retain) some stability to our club.
RESULTS If our August form continued and we were top 6 still there wouldn't be a peep let's be honest.
so true.........depressing, but true
But what does the original post actually mean ? Why is it depressingly true ?
If the owner was running the club properly, bringing-in the right coaching staff and players to get the results that put us in the top 6 - then nobody would be complaining ?
Are you just stating the obvious, or what is the point you are making ?
RESULTS If our August form continued and we were top 6 still there wouldn't be a peep let's be honest.
so true.........depressing, but true
But what does the original post actually mean ? Why is it depressingly true ?
If the owner was running the club properly, bringing-in the right coaching staff and players to get the results that put us in the top 6 - then nobody would be complaining ?
Are you just stating the obvious, or what is the point you are making ?
You're referring to my original post so allow me to elaborate, after the Hull win the sun was shining exiting the ground, we were 3rd/4th maybe? Addicks could be heard saying "shame brighton won we'd be top otherwise" or "cor that Kashi/Maikenok/Bauer what a signing!" There was no talk of protests or Roland out, Luzon out or Meire out was there?! I guess the point being us football fans, of all ages, shapes and sizes are fickle. Some of us just ashamed to admit it.
RESULTS If our August form continued and we were top 6 still there wouldn't be a peep let's be honest.
so true.........depressing, but true
But what does the original post actually mean ? Why is it depressingly true ?
If the owner was running the club properly, bringing-in the right coaching staff and players to get the results that put us in the top 6 - then nobody would be complaining ?
Are you just stating the obvious, or what is the point you are making ?
You're referring to my original post so allow me to elaborate, after the Hull win the sun was shining exiting the ground, we were 3rd/4th maybe? Addicks could be heard saying "shame brighton won we'd be top otherwise" or "cor that Kashi/Maikenok/Bauer what a signing!" There was no talk of protests or Roland out, Luzon out or Meire out was there?! I guess the point being us football fans, of all ages, shapes and sizes are fickle. Some of us just ashamed to admit it.
I take your point, BR7 .
Mr F pointed this out on our way back from Middlesbrough.
But what is happening on the pitch is only one of the symptoms of a serious health problem at our Club.
Together with the very worrying rumours we are now hearing, many loyal supporters fear that the "illness" could be terminal.
And we must pull together to ensure that a cure is found despite the best efforts of the current regime.
Failing that, a public acknowledgment that their initial strategy has failed, and that they are to pursue a new strategy based on on-going advice and management from British-based professionals with experience and in-depth knowledge of the Championship.
They don't need to apologise – just an admittance that they tried something in good faith, but it didn't work.
StigStig Moderator November 2 edited November 2 It's gonna take a lot now because frankly I don't trust them any more. I've listed six items below, I reckon that if they can get five of those right I might start to change my mind but it's not going to be easy because they are so so far away from doing things right at the moment.
1. Publicly explain what they are playing at with our club. This would need to include assurances that they are committed to staying at The Valley, that they aim to progress up the league and that they aim to facilitate entertaining football. 2. Enter into genuine dialog (not just one-off publicity stunts) with fans groups and experienced fans regarding how to arrest the decline in our club and get things on the right track. 3. Appoint a 'manager' (not a head coach) with a proven track record at a suitably high level - not someone that's cheap or is already on the payroll. Make it clear in word and deed that the new manager is in charge of all team issues. 4. Suitable investment in a team of sufficient strength and depth to stave off relegation this season and challenge at least to play-off level in following seasons. 5. End all petty tinkering with the nature of our club. No more nonsense from Little Miss Nightmeire: we keep our traditions. We play in red, at The Valley and we come out to the tune of the Red Red Robin (loud and proud) - no more shitty gimmicks or ill thought out changes. 6. Treat supporters with respect: Emails and correspondence to be replied to. Disabled supporters to be allowed correct and proper access. An end to rip-off prices over food and merchandising. Recognition that supporters are the life blood of the club, not just a bunch of cash cows to be milked for the benefit the 'owner'.
The above piece by Stig summarised very well the obvious and well thought out entries on this thread. But, there is a problem. I have read the article in the Times and the Football League paper, and I at last understand that Roland does not give a shit about our Club or it's supporters, or in fact anything else except himself. His network is a farce, proven in Belgium, he has dumped on us a series of second rate, presumably cheap coaches, and a CEO who hasn't got a clue. He knows it and he couldn't care less because he has got his own agenda. This Club is now in extreme danger, and there is no rescuer in sight. Don't expect anything from Roland or Katrien or anyone connected with them. We are like those poor people floating in the seas in a rubber dingy, helpness to save themselves. Bearing in mind other Clubs like Leeds and Blackpool I believe that its about time The Football League did something to earn their money, but don't hold your breath.
RESULTS If our August form continued and we were top 6 still there wouldn't be a peep let's be honest.
Nor would there be if we were top of the Premier League under Chris Powell. But we're not and, to be honest, both suggestions are distant dreams as things stand
RESULTS If our August form continued and we were top 6 still there wouldn't be a peep let's be honest.
Not sure about that.
People moaned on Netaddicks when Curbishley had us in the top half of the Premiership and demanded his sacking because he played 4-5-1 blah, blah, blah or played safe for the draw blah, blah, blah.
The difference is that now there genuinely is something to moan about. The Club has been a car crash since Curbs left in 2006, Chris Powell interlude excepted, and it is fast becoming evident that there is no desire to progress on the playing front and asset stripping is the exit plan.
@Goonerhater made an excellent post some days back essentially saying that the Club has always lacked ambition and let us down.
As one of similar vintage I empathised with much of what he said but feel, admittedly with the benefit of some hindsight, that Gliksten sold players to keep the Club afloat in his mind and did try to buy and replace shrewdly to maintain playing standards even if it often failed. Cliff Holton almost singlehandedly saved us from relegation one year. On the other hand Maurice Setters, a "name" player at the time, was a disaster, the defensive equivalent of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to give younger readers an idea.
I was as frustrated as anybody when Hinton, Bailey, Bonds, Glover, Hales etc were sold sometimes (Hales) just as it seemed we were on the verge of a real breakthrough.
What I am trying to say is that Gliksten, in his own way, tried to maintain and improve things even though ultimately unsuccessful. Duchatelet and looby loo simply don't give a toss about the Club on or off the pitch and that is the essential distinction between the situation now and the previous 50 plus years I have followed the Club in my humble opinion anyway.
Comments
1. Sack KM (or she resigns)
2. Bring in a new CEO by the name of Varney
3. Get rid of Head Coach Karel Freaye
4. Bring in a new manager in the name of Chris Powell
5. Get rid of football advisor, Karel Feaye
6. Bring Curbs in as Director of football
7. Get rid of head of European scouting, Karel Feaye
8. Bring back Phil Chapple
9. Get rid of the number 2 to Karel Feaye
10. Bring back Nathan Jones
11. Get rid of network castoff Reza
12. Bring back Kermy
13. Get rid of rubbish like Bergdich
14. Bring back Wiggins
15. Get rid of Sarr
16. Bring back Morrison
17. Keep Bolder, Peacock and others.
18. Spend loads on the academy
19. Give everyone free season tickets as an apology
20. Spend £10M on team strengthening, all players chosen by Powell, Curbs and Chappell
21. Play amazing football
22. Get promoted to the PL
23. Gift 'The Valley' to the Trust
24. Put a fan back on the board
25. Open dialogue with the Trust
26. Find jobs / advisory roles for some of the stalwarts in the fan base
27. Have team lists on the score board.
28. Have tickets that work and are sent out on time.
29. Put customers/fans at the heart of their decisions.
If 1-29 are followed then RD can stay and I will personally give him the bumps on his 70th birthday.
If our August form continued and we were top 6 still there wouldn't be a peep let's be honest.
Dear Charlton fans,
I would like to apologise for the many mistakes I have made since taking over your football club.
First and foremost I would like to a apologise for being so dictatorial in all things Charlton. I now realise that the essence of any club is the sharing of a common interest. The very strength of any club is down to the people - whether they be supporters, staff or management. We must pool our ideas and aspirations in order to march forward in one cohesive force. Maybe I should look at every aspect of Charlton’s promotion/premiership years and try to learn from that?
I have completely misjudged the importance attached to the history of this little corner of SE London. Whilst the present and the future is vital to our very existence, I can now see that the heritage is of equal importance, and I would like to make a contribution to the museum in order to redress the balance. My ambition in future years is to take up a little corner of the museum with my own positive legacy.
It seems I have completely underestimated the strength of the Championship - and believe me I now feel really embarrassed by some of the footballers I have jetted in thinking that they would simply fit in and perform. You may have noticed that I have also changed the coach several times? I need to sit down and take some advice advice on this. Not everything the British have done this past 120 years is wrong. I will consequently tap into the talent that is within these shores in future.
Finally you may recall that I said this in June:
"I've been in the habit of counting my life expectancy. The average is seventy five years. That's my target. So I have 350 weeks left in good health. Quality of life and personal happiness are the most important things in my life".
Well for those of you not counting I am now 19 weeks down and have just 331 to go. I believe that I have seen the light and one’s happiness is most easily attained by making others happy. I have a few bob put by and let’s face it you can’t take it with you. I intend to massively increase my investment at the Valley. Although time is short I dream of my Charlton family chairing me round Wembley stadium - who knows what we could achieve together? COYR!
Roly.
BUT I think in reality I CARE ENORMOUSLY and am trying to pretend that I don't to stop the dreadful pain of realising that the club I love, have supported for life, have followed all around the country (and Sweden for a dreadful pre-season tour) and has been a huge part of my identity is slipping away. Do I have any control over it slipping away? I am doubtful. Am I going to fight all the way to try? YES.
We need some players, experienced players...players who "have something to prove" who "are hungry" as one manager used to say. We need them fast, no waiting until 2330 on deadline day. Our squad needs assistance, and I fear we are damaging some of our younger players.
It goes without saying that we need to stay in this division, then I'd welcome their comments about how they plan to regain (and retain) some stability to our club.
Why is it depressingly true ?
If the owner was running the club properly, bringing-in the right coaching staff and players to get the results that put us in the top 6 - then nobody would be complaining ?
Are you just stating the obvious, or what is the point you are making ?
There was no talk of protests or Roland out, Luzon out or Meire out was there?!
I guess the point being us football fans, of all ages, shapes and sizes are fickle.
Some of us just ashamed to admit it.
Mr F pointed this out on our way back from Middlesbrough.
But what is happening on the pitch is only one of the symptoms of a serious health problem at our Club.
Together with the very worrying rumours we are now hearing, many loyal supporters fear that the "illness" could be terminal.
And we must pull together to ensure that a cure is found despite the best efforts of the current regime.
- decent players
- enough players
- experienced players
- decent manager
- experienced manager
- no f*cking gimmicks
They don't need to apologise – just an admittance that they tried something in good faith, but it didn't work.
November 2 edited November 2
It's gonna take a lot now because frankly I don't trust them any more. I've listed six items below, I reckon that if they can get five of those right I might start to change my mind but it's not going to be easy because they are so so far away from doing things right at the moment.
1. Publicly explain what they are playing at with our club. This would need to include assurances that they are committed to staying at The Valley, that they aim to progress up the league and that they aim to facilitate entertaining football.
2. Enter into genuine dialog (not just one-off publicity stunts) with fans groups and experienced fans regarding how to arrest the decline in our club and get things on the right track.
3. Appoint a 'manager' (not a head coach) with a proven track record at a suitably high level - not someone that's cheap or is already on the payroll. Make it clear in word and deed that the new manager is in charge of all team issues.
4. Suitable investment in a team of sufficient strength and depth to stave off relegation this season and challenge at least to play-off level in following seasons.
5. End all petty tinkering with the nature of our club. No more nonsense from Little Miss Nightmeire: we keep our traditions. We play in red, at The Valley and we come out to the tune of the Red Red Robin (loud and proud) - no more shitty gimmicks or ill thought out changes.
6. Treat supporters with respect: Emails and correspondence to be replied to. Disabled supporters to be allowed correct and proper access. An end to rip-off prices over food and merchandising. Recognition that supporters are the life blood of the club, not just a bunch of cash cows to be milked for the benefit the 'owner'.
The above piece by Stig summarised very well the obvious and well thought out entries on this thread. But, there is a problem. I have read the article in the Times and the Football League paper, and I at last understand that Roland does not give a shit about our Club or it's supporters, or in fact anything else except himself. His network is a farce, proven in Belgium, he has dumped on us a series of second rate, presumably cheap coaches, and a CEO who hasn't got a clue. He knows it and he couldn't care less because he has got his own agenda. This Club is now in extreme danger, and there is no rescuer in sight. Don't expect anything from Roland or Katrien or anyone connected with them. We are like those poor people floating in the seas in a rubber dingy, helpness to save themselves. Bearing in mind other Clubs like Leeds and Blackpool I believe that its about time The Football League did something to earn their money, but don't hold your breath.
I believe that KM stated recently that she isn't concerned about the effect West Ham's move to the OS will have on our Club.
Is that because our attendances will be so low by then, it will hardly matter ?
We HAVE to stop this downward spiral before it gains any further momentum & their Masterplan to destroy our beloved Club succeeds.
( Where is that knight on his white charger ?)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=E_g1FgDHUyM
People moaned on Netaddicks when Curbishley had us in the top half of the Premiership and demanded his sacking because he played 4-5-1 blah, blah, blah or played safe for the draw blah, blah, blah.
The difference is that now there genuinely is something to moan about. The Club has been a car crash since Curbs left in 2006, Chris Powell interlude excepted, and it is fast becoming evident that there is no desire to progress on the playing front and asset stripping is the exit plan.
@Goonerhater made an excellent post some days back essentially saying that the Club has always lacked ambition and let us down.
As one of similar vintage I empathised with much of what he said but feel, admittedly with the benefit of some hindsight, that Gliksten sold players to keep the Club afloat in his mind and did try to buy and replace shrewdly to maintain playing standards even if it often failed. Cliff Holton almost singlehandedly saved us from relegation one year. On the other hand Maurice Setters, a "name" player at the time, was a disaster, the defensive equivalent of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to give younger readers an idea.
I was as frustrated as anybody when Hinton, Bailey, Bonds, Glover, Hales etc were sold sometimes (Hales) just as it seemed we were on the verge of a real breakthrough.
What I am trying to say is that Gliksten, in his own way, tried to maintain and improve things even though ultimately unsuccessful. Duchatelet and looby loo simply don't give a toss about the Club on or off the pitch and that is the essential distinction between the situation now and the previous 50 plus years I have followed the Club in my humble opinion anyway.