Too much bitching and whining going on, on here and on Facebook and Twitter.
There are people complaining that people never walked out and people moaning about those that did, people complaining that people are or are not going at all. Some are wittering on about people buying food and merchandise, old men and people with children were getting jeered for leaving at full time and/or not protesting. Some people are complaining about the beach balls, loads are whinging about the whistles. There's a lot of arguments over who walked out and who didn't and who let who down. Even people debating over whether or not the protests helped the team.
Does any of that really matter in the whole scheme of things?
The whole point of all of this is to show RD and KM that as supporters we are a united front and the vast majority want them gone. By arguing with and questioning each other on their whereabouts, what people did and didn't do we are failing on the whole "united front" aspect. Which is a real shame because the protest campaigns are going so well and we have generated so much positive feedback.
The fundraising and efforts from CARD has been amazing and we don't want to and shouldn't squabble amongst ourselves over the differences of opinions because it will undermine their efforts. Some people chose not to protest and they have their reasons, this doesn't mean they are sympathisers, it could be health related, job related or any other number of reasons that keeps them away and none of us has the right to tell others what to do.
Yes there was a planned 74 minute walkout and when Charlton went up and supporters found themselves in a rare position of possibly seeing Charlton win at home if they stay, of course they would be reluctant to leave, also we have watched many games this season where the players simply didn't show up, we finally have a game where despite off pitch distractions they played well and tried hard, naturally some people didn't want to walk out on THEM. I get that the walk out was about things much more serious and long term than the team and that game and respect completely those that still took part but we've got to see both sides here. The same applies for the post match protest and the lack of a pitch invasion. Bottom line is loads walked out so a point was still made, hundreds protested, ditto and so on. Only 20 fans went to Belguim but they still made an impact and earned respect and admiration for doing so, no one is slating people for not going, quality over quantity.
We are doing very well With demonstrations, they are well planned and well documented and all those involved deserve a huge amount of appreciation, let's not ruin their hard work by arguing amongst ourselves, let everyone protest in their own way (or not protest) and just make the overall quality of the protests more important than the quantity, katrien is the one that likes to throw around unrealistic numbers we shouldn't play into her hands by turning on each other. All we can do is get the word out about planned action and its up to the individuals who hear whether or not they want to take part.
The whole idea of "sympathisers" is ridiculous beyond words, no fan wants Charlton destroyed, no one wants us to carry on being a club with no ambition and a farm and catwalk for young players with no interest in the competition side of things. It takes away the whole sport aspect and that's before we even get onto the very heart and soul and feeling being ripped from our club. There are no sympathisers only some people that want to ride it out rather than fight it. That is fine, it's the way it goes everywhere there's always some that don't want to or can't for a number of reasons get too involved it doesn't mean they don't care, it's wrong to assume otherwise.
With the whole sorry state our club is in at the moment and the efforts so many are going to to fight the regime I don't think the fact that some people would rather not get involved really matters, at least not enough to cause so much aggregation, arguments and abuse. Fight the regime, not each other!
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Love them, nurture them but don't antagonise them with specific comments.
Sing come and join us not where were you.
Make you right though with the op. However, there are a fair share of sympathisers unfortunately. Each to their own i guess.
I'll always stand up to the chant of getting the owners out and yesterday was singing the anti-board chants with as much gusto as anyone else but thats where I'll stop, I'll continue to buy a season ticket simply to support the team.
I could be completely wrong here but to those who refuse to buy a season ticket, yes it'll hit the owners hard with them losing maybe around £2m - £5m in pre-season sales yet in the words of the Bayern Munich owners (I know they're slightly bigger than us), whats that sort of money to a multi-millionaire to Roland Duchatalet I imagine the club would set season tickets lower if we werent competing with the rest of the Division in terms of FFP which has all but fallen.
So it comes down to his broken shoe which has been repaired with tape... Yes that money will hit Roland hard but he doesnt care, he wont splash to cash to repair what is broken and will just use a bit of tape to repair the damage.
Ultimately those that boycott the games will be those who make the most fuss and noise during the matches, it could all be ifs and buts yet having the peace and quiet of them not being inside the Valley could make the job harder for him to sell.
As I've said, they're my views...
Dont try to change my mind, I've decided what I'm going to do and if people dont like it then tough, I've always been my own man and if you try to get me to change my mind I'll just dig my heels in more, like many others are probably doing.
Top post btw mate.
I'm just tired of hearing the arguments that your either in one camp or your in the other... How can I be in one of them when I refuse to walk out (Cant be for the protest) but then call for the Belgians to get out of the club (Funny way for me to be for the board)
We are in a situation where thousands of people are being affected, and within that there will be thousands of views. Some with align, some won't. We just need to accept that and not micro-scrutinize every single action / event / division point.
The facts from yesterday were clear
1. - There were only 5-7,000 Charlton fans that actually turned up for a weekend game with good weather
2. - Of that, at least A THIRD participated in a pre-match funeral walk against the administration
3. - A THIRD reluctantly walked out of a game we were winning because they feel so strongly about 'the cause'.
4. Those in 2 and 3 were by no means the same people, and it could be clearly seen on telly that many who stayed for the 90 were still wearing anti-regime attire.
5. Actions that impacted in the stoppage of play (and from a traditionally reserved Charlton crowd would probably have been met with boos), were embraced by virtually the whole stadium and led to some of the most passionate and prolonged chanting I can remember in one of our lowest home turnouts in years.
5. The level of matchday-going people in support of Roland and Katrien are now down to just hundreds if yesterday was anything to go by.
6. SKY have been showing for 24 hours now images of thousands of people on the march, various in-play protest actions, and covered in all national and many international media. The hard-work and determination of the fanbase is now making this an on-going recognised national and international story. Chelsea bloke in office offered the view that it was amazing that in theory all the story should have been about Boro; going for promotion to the Prem, manager just walked out etc. Yet they were a mere accessory to an almost-complete Charlton show.
Not everything will appeal to everyone. Equally, not everyone is as committed as others and there is nothing you can do about that other than accept it, and if you believe what you are doing is right, then keep pushing on and hope you keep taking the majority with you.
if it is a relatively low,cut your losses offer then it will make someone like RD dig their heels in. (is @ForeverAddickted really RD?)
Look back at the Stand up for the 2% protest. The first of the organised event protests.
Far fewer people handing out flyers, far fewer people taking part, people saying "we're part of the 98%", people saying it was poor as only 50% stood up. Some people who are now very anti the regime still attacking the protests.
At the time I said it was a huge success and it was but it has been left in the shade but the far greater successes that followed.
That was only a few months ago.
The protests have grown game on game, event on event. It takes time to win people over but it is happening, partly as it always takes time to filter through and partly because relegation is closer and more likely and the Varney offer made an alternative concrete.
You will never change the mind of the 10% who will love whoever runs the club regardless.
The 80% who can be swayed have largely been swayed. Not all to the same degree yet, not all have walked out, some wear the black and white but still buy pints but I really don't care about that. The scarf is a form of protest, they are on our side, they are not the enemy, they are with us it's just that they aren't ready to go as far as others. That doesn't make them wrong or worthy of being slated as traitors, idiots etc.
Keep your eye on the prize as the civil rights protesters sang.
The prize is outing Roland and his regime. End of.
IMO
Well, it's my opinion, and it demonstrates what I mean. Can you not see that? In my opinion, they are. But I agree with everything else. Even agreed with then beach balls because it was early on. Leve pitch invasions and whistling to our friends at the New Den.
The point was well made that fans will have different levels they are willing to go to. And you also have some fans who shoot off about drastic action, but don’t actually go to the games! The trick is getting the action right, so the majority of fans feel comfortable with it. Yesterday was a great example of that. It isn’t about getting Roland to understand our feelings – we know he does already. It is also about letting him know that he is wasting his time and we are not going to help him at all. Even he must realise that he can’t run the club without the support of the fans.
The important thing is we stick together with the overall objective in mind. Each to support those they can and want to. We can encourage people to take part in more but not castigate them for not.
No one's match day experience was ruined, if anything it was enhanced, by the protests.