Harsh on Riga. Arrived early Jan. Had to teach squad how to play Champ not Belgian L3 football. Window open but cavalry didn't arrive until mid Feb. Only Tex half fit. Diarra and Cuz missing for spells. No clever hold up striker for any manager. Solly loan debacle. Many on short-term deals. Was there any scouting oppo? No back room. Euell demoted because offered minimum wage. Protests will get at players. Not Riga's fault.
Felt like a pantomine today. Ludicrous first goal and constant stream of interruptions.
Brighton fans seemed to love the 'Roland out' chant and Stockdale took the protests in good humour - seemed happy to use the bog roll that had been lobbed at him.
What was going on with the East stand turnstiles today, myself and others around me were going a message on the screen saying Access Denied.... hang on you don't think the bitch is barring fans already who haven't renewed.
The stewards didn't have a clue what was going on, so i just walked in through a side gate.
The march excellent, the balloons looked good with the beachballs. During the delay, the Sky cameras focused on the many banners and were sympathetic. Meire looked alternately grim, a bit shaken and only brightened up when the flare went on the pitch so she could shake her head and will likely go on about that to the exclusion of everything else. I also thought that she looked like she was thinking about something else / like she didn't want to be there. Maybe she is on the way out or has accepted another job ?
* (Edit When Meire was shaking her head, I think it was putting on a brave face when confronted by the the supporters infront of the Directors Box, smiling and attempting to front it out. She appears to smile when feeling under the greatest pressure).
The Brighton goal was defensively a shambles. Brighton then just went along in second gear for the first half. Charlton didn't really threaten but there was some brighter approach play.
A bit of protest and delay at start of the second. Gudmundsson, looking brighter than he has for a while got a tap in. Brighton showed their class and went straight up the over end, Sam Baldock nearly scored straight away, but defensively Charlton were no where again and Brighton got a second. The play was quite open and there was some nice passing. Brighton always looked like they could go up a gear. Fanni was put over onto the right back position after being injured on the knee, which totally non plussed me. Why put an injured defender up against a quick left wing ? Riga, who looked totally dejected is a decent person but not the sharpest tactically. I think he will depart very shortly. Fanni predictably fouled Knockhart on the left wing, penalty and all over.
The Directors Box confronted. I hope that Meire and Murray were knocked out of their complacency. A protest in the car park. All supported by excellent Brighton & Hove Albion supporters. A special mention which will cement the bonds between the two clubs (alongside disliking Palace).
Duchatelet, Miere & Murray has got to go. The only good thing that can come from this season.
I thought the west stand invasion was superb. They've asked for it. It may have come across as aggressive but that unfortunately is what they've invited on.
If she didn't realise just how much she's not wanted, I think she does now. Not that I would condone any threat of violence, but I do condone that pure aggression and very clear message.
Great work all round from everyone involved today
Let's go again at Burnley
I couldn't see it from the west upper. What happened?
About 85 mins in some blokes came up through the stairwell and gathered at the gate you enter/exit the directors area seating from. Stewards completely unprepared. I dare say if any of them had wanted to there would've been enough force to get into the area, no problem. All of them thought better of it however, and just gathered by the gate and stairs. Then to the left of me some more chaps (even good old @AFKABartram) was with a few blokes on the stairwell to the left of me as I face the pitch.
Very forceful and aggressive move, but fully justified and no one over stepped the mark. She now realises what's she's up against. Unfortunately if she fears for her personal safety, perhaps she might think about why the fuck she's still here.
The amazing thing for me is that we're just going to carry on with this, so why the fuck do they want to be here for next season. There's no way back, there's not anything they can do to turn it round. It's a lost cause. If they want a war of attrition and they want to carry on, then so be it.
The most pumped I've felt leaving the Valley this season, and nothing to do with the team
If I'd have known this was going on I'd have been all over it.
Need this on a bigger scale next match! Occupy the west stand?!
Flat atmosphere when the game started. Played at the same tempo as a pre-season friendly for at least the whole of the first half. We actually played quite well for stretches, particularly in the second half. And some of our players, individually, as they haven't properly gelled as a team, are classy: Fanni, Diarra, Teixeira, Motta, Gudmundsson (though a bit erratic). Didn't think Brighton were that special - if promoted expect a quick demise by them. However, didn't expect a result today anyway.
Story of our season really. The damage was done with the terrible run through September, October, November and December. Frankly we were lucky to stay up in 2013-14 and 2014-15 because in both those seasons there were really poor sides who finished below us. (Yeovil, Blackpool). The quality gap is clear when you consider that Millwall went down with 41 points last season, so 42 would have been sufficient to stay up. Not this year. We've been an accident waiting to happen since the spivs stripped us down to the basics in 2013 prior to selling.
Will Roland sell? No idea. (Suspect not). If he sold any idea who the buyers might be? (No).
Will Roland sell? No idea. (Suspect not). If he sold any idea who the buyers might be? (No).
Paul Elliot, Peter Varney to name just two who are fronting groups who want to own Charlton and try to move us forward rather than actually to move us backwards like these idiots.
By the way the classy players you mentioned Fanni, Diarra, Teixeira, Motta, Gudmundsson will all be gone in 2 weeks time.
Although there were some decent individual perfomances, Pope and JBG stood out, we were incredibly disjointed as we have been for most of the season. Very noticeable how when there were stoppages in play how the Brighton players were all talking to each other and pointing out different things to try - our lot just stood around like statues with hardly a word being said.
Need to somehow galvanize Charlton to put up their best fight of the season to try and beat Burnley or scrap a draw. The team owe us and we owe Brighton.
Although there were some decent individual perfomances, Pope and JBG stood out, we were incredibly disjointed as we have been for most of the season. Very noticeable how when there were stoppages in play how the Brighton players were all talking to each other and pointing out different things to try - our lot just stood around like statues with hardly a word being said.
To be fair, getting a good team spirit is hard enough with a relegated side, never mind one in which the majority of players won't be around in a month's time anyway
Comments
Brighton fans seemed to love the 'Roland out' chant and Stockdale took the protests in good humour - seemed happy to use the bog roll that had been lobbed at him.
Protests were what it was all about today.
The stewards didn't have a clue what was going on, so i just walked in through a side gate.
Conspiracy theorists discuss...
* (Edit When Meire was shaking her head, I think it was putting on a brave face when confronted by the the supporters infront of the Directors Box, smiling and attempting to front it out. She appears to smile when feeling under the greatest pressure).
The Brighton goal was defensively a shambles. Brighton then just went along in second gear for the first half. Charlton didn't really threaten but there was some brighter approach play.
A bit of protest and delay at start of the second. Gudmundsson, looking brighter than he has for a while got a tap in. Brighton showed their class and went straight up the over end, Sam Baldock nearly scored straight away, but defensively Charlton were no where again and Brighton got a second. The play was quite open and there was some nice passing. Brighton always looked like they could go up a gear. Fanni was put over onto the right back position after being injured on the knee, which totally non plussed me. Why put an injured defender up against a quick left wing ? Riga, who looked totally dejected is a decent person but not the sharpest tactically. I think he will depart very shortly. Fanni predictably fouled Knockhart on the left wing, penalty and all over.
The Directors Box confronted. I hope that Meire and Murray were knocked out of their complacency. A protest in the car park. All supported by excellent Brighton & Hove Albion supporters. A special mention which will cement the bonds between the two clubs (alongside disliking Palace).
Duchatelet, Miere & Murray has got to go. The only good thing that can come from this season.
Need this on a bigger scale next match! Occupy the west stand?!
Story of our season really. The damage was done with the terrible run through September, October, November and December. Frankly we were lucky to stay up in 2013-14 and 2014-15 because in both those seasons there were really poor sides who finished below us. (Yeovil, Blackpool). The quality gap is clear when you consider that Millwall went down with 41 points last season, so 42 would have been sufficient to stay up. Not this year. We've been an accident waiting to happen since the spivs stripped us down to the basics in 2013 prior to selling.
Will Roland sell? No idea. (Suspect not). If he sold any idea who the buyers might be? (No).
By the way the classy players you mentioned Fanni, Diarra, Teixeira, Motta, Gudmundsson will all be gone in 2 weeks time.
It does mean that our final game against Burnley will be crucial for them, especially as GD is close as well