I've seen a lot of flak for Johnson (unlikeable character who has brought it on himself) and Slade (poor media responses, questionable whether he is good enough) but that aside not sure too many individuals have been singled out. But then again the season is young and a poor result at the weekend and all that might change!
I take @ShootersHillGuru 's point. Certainly condemning a player who is unknown, at least to most of us, is unfair. And judging on YouTube videos is just as ridiculous - I scored a couple of decent goals in my time, but I was hardly a star. I suppose the thing I am struggling with most is finding optimism. My biggest cause for optimism right now is the hope that Bauer, Tex, Kashi, Diarra and Lookman all stay and are all fit for most of the season. If they comes true, we should do well in this division. If, say, four of those five rarely or never play because they are sold or injured, I fear it will be a tough old season.
This Forum, like any community on the internet or otherwise, is what we make it. Contribute in such a way that steers it in the direction you'd like to see. It's a diverse community and opinions won't always align; it can help to take a step back.
People are angry, not because of individual decisions, but because they've seen hundreds of poor decisions accumulate, such that we are where we are. I think it's impossible to "get behind the boys" when the decision makers who brought those particular boys here continue to make decisions that only erode our situation further.
These are the decision makers who made decisions to sell the "boys" that were once here, many of whom should still be here, who decided to hire Slade only after making a balls up of the entire hiring process, who have made a balls up of sponsorship sales, and ticket sales, who have dismissed competent staff to replace them with incompetents, when they've been replaced at all, who have rather comically hired staff who then resigned rather than suffer further humiliation in untenable positions, who have created innovative forms of cruel and unusual punishment to alienate lifelong supporters and have turned the match day experience into a veritable battleground. They are continuing and will continue to make the situation worse.
People are complaining about signings because when it looks like deficiencies are addressed, new ones are created. The same mistake of understaffing, so to speak, is being made yet again!
The Charlton Athletic that is worth supporting is on life support, in a coma. The Belgian "doctors" that put it there are now presiding over it's resuscitation. Someone's just dropped your baby on it's head, picked it up again and said "Stand back... it's okay. I've got this!" before tossing it in the air again. That is madness. The owner has to go so that the healing can begin.
We have to make the club unmanageable under this owner. We have to show support for the Charlton Athletic we want to be again, not the stand in. Focussing on anything else is a distraction. Personally, "Support the team, not the regime" has outlived it's usefulness: our support didn't stave off relegation. We've in a different place and need to recalibrate accordingly.
I support CARD and any supporters organising to hasten Roland's departure and I'd humbly suggest using Charlton Life to do the same. We'll try and set the perimeters for acceptable behaviour, as we've always done, but people need to be the change they want to see. I'm proud that it can be used to organise and effect the end of Roland's experiment.
I take it with a pinch of salt, think there are people on here @Clem_Snide for example who go to games & tell it like it is - I value that as its the only real link i have at the moment with what is going on on the pitch.
Being thousands of miles away & with zero coverage on tv, I can only go on gut feeling - I haven't warmed to any manager since Powell left - Slade is much better on paper than his predecessors but i fear he has been wooed by Meire & is falling in line with her odious agenda.
This Forum, like any community on the internet or otherwise, is what we make it. Contribute in such a way that steers it in the direction you'd like to see. It's a diverse community and opinions won't always align; it can help to take a step back.
People are angry, not because of individual decisions, but because they've seen hundreds of poor decisions accumulate, such that we are where we are. I think it's impossible to "get behind the boys" when the decision makers who brought those particular boys here continue to make decisions that only erode our situation further.
These are the decision makers who made decisions to sell the "boys" that were once here, many of whom should still be here, who decided to hire Slade only after making a balls up of the entire hiring process, who have made a balls up of sponsorship sales, and ticket sales, who have dismissed competent staff to replace them with incompetents, when they've been replaced at all, who have rather comically hired staff who then resigned rather than suffer further humiliation in untenable positions, who have created innovative forms of cruel and unusual punishment to alienate lifelong supporters and have turned the match day experience into a veritable battleground. They are continuing and will continue to make the situation worse.
People are complaining about signings because when it looks like deficiencies are addressed, new ones are created. The same mistake of understaffing, so to speak, is being made yet again!
The Charlton Athletic that is worth supporting is on life support, in a coma. The Belgian "doctors" that put it there are now presiding over it's resuscitation. Someone's just dropped your baby on it's head, picked it up again and said "Stand back... it's okay. I've got this!" before tossing it in the air again. That is madness. The owner has to go so that the healing can begin.
We have to make the club unmanageable under this owner. We have to show support for the Charlton Athletic we want to be again, not the stand in. Focussing on anything else is a distraction. Personally, "Support the team, not the regime" has outlived it's usefulness: our support didn't stave off relegation. We've in a different place and need to recalibrate accordingly.
I support CARD and any supporters organising to hasten Roland's departure and I'd humbly suggest using Charlton Life to do the same. We'll try and set the perimeters for acceptable behaviour, as we've always done, but people need to be the change they want to see. I'm proud that it can be used to organise and effect the end of Roland's experiment.
So we are now Charlton supporters that don't support the team ?
I'm assuming you won't be going on Saturday but if you do go can you please tell me why, if it's not to "get behind the boys"
As a new CAFC supporter I completely agree with this opening statement. My first few visits to this forum were tainted with negative comments .... but after a while I have chosen to ignore them and concentrate on supporting the team thats taking to the pitch.
I have to admit I have a pretty negative view of Charlton Athletic at the moment. I would truly love this view to be changed by a new attitude from those that run this club. I really want the team to do well on the pitch. At the moment I am not convinced they will, but currently that is experience over hope. But I do agree we should give the new players and the team a chance despite our doubts
Selling for millions and buying for tens of thousands, hardly encourages optimism. First two.games seem to prove the pessimism. However, Saturday is already a big game, lose and God forbid what it will be like on here, an if we fail to score and lose !
We need a win. Am more importantly Slade needs it.
Couldn't agree more with SHG. I sometimes wonder if that's what people want to do all the time. Moan, moan, moan. And if that's part of their genetic DNA then I'm glad I'm not like that. It must be hard living your life as a 'Debbie Downer' all the time.
I'm not enjoying the forum much lately. Too much negativity does not breed good stuff and, believe it or not, a site like CL, and all that filters out from it, could actually affect the performances on the pitch.
I understand the negativity to a point, but some look for the slightest reason to moan on here. Even when we are doing well. Social media is pretty bad too.
We're a forum based around one topic, and invariably that topic is largely pretty bloody negative right now. Truth be told guys and girls, there's not a whole lot left to be positive about with Charlton Athletic right now.
We were relegated early enough for the club to launch preparations for this season, they failed to do so. We've just been beaten by a team from the bottom of The Football League who have only just gained League status themselves. We're being - quite rightly - pointed at in the media (and even opposition programmes!) as being ran by idiots. We have no communications with our esteemed owners and know not what their plan is. We've lost genuine Charlton members of staff along the journey too. Our club is not what it once was, and is not what we all fell in love with. Ultimately, the current frustration is that this situation has been going on for 30 months now.
When you have a community based around something which is so wrapped up in negativity, then sadly the community is going to be negative and frustrated too.
On the subject of the forum itself, I think it's absolutely great - with a brilliant mix of characters, sense of humours and attitudes. That's to be applauded. I do think there are one or two who are genuinely out to cause an argument, but fortunately there's more than enough posters who shrug it off or tell them to wind their neck in where appropriate.
Couldn't agree more with SHG. I sometimes wonder if that's what people want to do all the time. Moan, moan, moan. And if that's part of their genetic DNA then I'm glad I'm not like that. It must be hard living your life as a 'Debbie Downer' all the time.
I'm not enjoying the forum much lately. Too much negativity does not breed good stuff and, believe it or not, a site like CL, and all that filters out from it, could actually affect the performances on the pitch.
Selling for millions and buying for tens of thousands, hardly encourages optimism. First two.games seem to prove the pessimism. However, Saturday is already a big game, lose and God forbid what it will be like on here, an if we fail to score and lose !
We need a win. Am more importantly Slade needs it.
That's the regime. Not the team. The players that pull on the shirt will be trying to win. If they are not up to the job like many wearing the shirt before them then that's the regimes fault not those players.
I'm now seriously waiting for the point where we turn up and boo our team or all try to crowd into the away end.
I want RD gone but as long as I can draw breath I will want the shirt to be successful despite the owners.
Debbie Downer is a name of a fictional Saturday Night Live character who debuted in 2004, and who was portrayed by Rachel Dratch.
The character's name, Debbie Downer, is a slang phrase which refers to someone who frequently adds bad news and negative feelings to a gathering, thus bringing down the mood of everyone around them. Dratch's character would usually appear at social gatherings and interrupt the conversation to voice negative opinions and pronouncements.
@ShootersHillGuru Granted I'm an outlier. I'm closer in Charlton provenance to @JessieAddick than many of you, in that we're supporters at a distance (although, I had lived in SE London—in SE7 and surrounding areas—previously for many years, when I fell in love with the club). We were not born into Charlton, but chose the club and fell in love with whatever it is that one falls in love with when it comes to a football club. I can tell you, it wasn't the players! But, then again, we all know it when we feel it (Thank-you Alan, thank-you Chris!).
I don't get back to England often, so I tend not to measure my commitment in terms of the 11-15 first team regulars, especially during Roland's era (how could anyone?). If only Roland, who I'm sure had never heard of CAFC before "buying" it, had even a slight fraction of the sincere commitment to what Charlton is (was?) as Jessie has, we'd be in a much, much better place. Truth is, he bought the club because it ticked a few boxes important to him on a spreadsheet.
Managers, star players and industrial try hards alike, come and go. Kit makers, sponsors and paraphernalia come and go. Supporters and their ways and traditions evolve and shift, but remain committed in their love for their club, even if it's almost impossible to articulate. Maybe that's bull, but it's what I cling to.
If I were in England this season, I'd only turn up to The Valley for a few reasons. 1. To support pre and after-match protests. 2. To protest during a match on a freebie 3. To celebrate the end of Roland's experiment at Charlton.
I certainly don't expect everyone to have that view, but I can't get my head around the alternatives. But in saying that, it will take all sorts to rid ourselves of Roland and begin the rebuilding process, just as it did when we got back to The Valley. And that's just something that will get shaken out in the wash.
@ShootersHillGuru Granted I'm an outlier. I'm closer in Charlton provenance to @JessieAddick than many of you, in that we're supporters at a distance (although, I had lived in SE London—in SE7 and surrounding areas—previously for many years, when I fell in love with the club). We were not born into Charlton, but chose the club and fell in love with whatever it is that one falls in love with when it comes to a football club. I can tell you, it wasn't the players! But, then again, we all know it when we feel it (Thank-you Alan, thank-you Chris!).
I don't get back to England often, so I tend not to measure my commitment in terms of the 11-15 first team regulars, especially during Roland's era (how could anyone?). If only Roland, who I'm sure had never heard of CAFC before "buying" it, had even a slight fraction of the sincere commitment to what Charlton is (was?) as Jessie has, we'd be in a much, much better place. Truth is, he bought the club because it ticked a few boxes important to him on a spreadsheet.
Managers, star players and industrial try hards alike, come and go. Kit makers, sponsors and paraphernalia come and go. Supporters and their ways and traditions evolve and shift, but remain committed in their love for their club, even if it's almost impossible to articulate. Maybe that's bull, but it's what I cling to.
If I were in England this season, I'd only turn up to The Valley for a few reasons. 1. To support pre and after-match protests. 2. To protest during a match on a freebie 3. To celebrate the end of Roland's experiment at Charlton.
I certainly don't expect everyone to have that view, but I can't get my head around the alternatives. But in saying that, it will take all sorts to rid ourselves of Roland and begin the rebuilding process, just as it did when we got back to The Valley. And that's just something that will get shaken out in the wash.
I respect that view and understand that to all of us Charlton Athletic is far more than just the 11 players on the pitch. I respect the view to boycott although I realise it's differ for you and Jessie as well as others.
For those of us that attend the matches I would want to think that we attend the protests before after and if necessary during but still cheer on the players.
When it gets to the point where that's not the case I will put my Charlton support in a coffin and mourn it's loss.
These are the worst owners we have ever had. Let's get them out but I've never booed a Charlton player and I'm not starting down that route now.
I'll be getting behind the boys. Fuck Roland and Meire.
For what it's worth I don't think the forum is overly negative at the moment. When I come on here for me it's cathartic. I'm quite angry based on the last two years and what has happened. This won't be solved overnight or with a few new signings or a new manager.
However I'm not one to pre-judge and the new players and manager must be given a chance. That is why I was pleased CARD said they were stopping all in game protests for August.
A couple of things I do to add re: support the team and not the regime. At times last season I felt 'the team' hid behind the problems created by 'the regime'. That week in January was abysmal. I appreciate it was hard for the players, but it's about taking responsibility. The embarrassment at H'field to be followed with the Hull defeat wasn't taking responsibility.
I think the fans have been marvellous. I continue to go and have renewed my season ticket. I am there for them as I'm sure many of you are as well. However if I get the feeling that the players again are beginning to hide behind the unrest again, I will be disappointed. They need to rise above it. It's not up to us to blindly accept less than 100% should it start to creep in
Comments
People are angry, not because of individual decisions, but because they've seen hundreds of poor decisions accumulate, such that we are where we are. I think it's impossible to "get behind the boys" when the decision makers who brought those particular boys here continue to make decisions that only erode our situation further.
These are the decision makers who made decisions to sell the "boys" that were once here, many of whom should still be here, who decided to hire Slade only after making a balls up of the entire hiring process, who have made a balls up of sponsorship sales, and ticket sales, who have dismissed competent staff to replace them with incompetents, when they've been replaced at all, who have rather comically hired staff who then resigned rather than suffer further humiliation in untenable positions, who have created innovative forms of cruel and unusual punishment to alienate lifelong supporters and have turned the match day experience into a veritable battleground. They are continuing and will continue to make the situation worse.
People are complaining about signings because when it looks like deficiencies are addressed, new ones are created. The same mistake of understaffing, so to speak, is being made yet again!
The Charlton Athletic that is worth supporting is on life support, in a coma. The Belgian "doctors" that put it there are now presiding over it's resuscitation. Someone's just dropped your baby on it's head, picked it up again and said "Stand back... it's okay. I've got this!" before tossing it in the air again. That is madness. The owner has to go so that the healing can begin.
We have to make the club unmanageable under this owner. We have to show support for the Charlton Athletic we want to be again, not the stand in. Focussing on anything else is a distraction. Personally, "Support the team, not the regime" has outlived it's usefulness: our support didn't stave off relegation. We've in a different place and need to recalibrate accordingly.
I support CARD and any supporters organising to hasten Roland's departure and I'd humbly suggest using Charlton Life to do the same. We'll try and set the perimeters for acceptable behaviour, as we've always done, but people need to be the change they want to see. I'm proud that it can be used to organise and effect the end of Roland's experiment.
There'll be a few pumped over the next coupla months, YOU know who you are
Being thousands of miles away & with zero coverage on tv, I can only go on gut feeling - I haven't warmed to any manager since Powell left - Slade is much better on paper than his predecessors but i fear he has been wooed by Meire & is falling in line with her odious agenda.
Therefore it's not really any wonder that there is a lot of negativity on a Charlton forum. In fact I'd be astounded if everything was positive.
The Charlton outlook on life for many is currently a cess pool of incompetence, disappointment, despair and general bollocks.
I ain't knocking anyone with that view.
I'm assuming you won't be going on Saturday but if you do go can you please tell me why, if it's not to "get behind the boys"
Can't get my head around it.
I really want the team to do well on the pitch. At the moment I am not convinced they will, but currently that is experience over hope.
But I do agree we should give the new players and the team a chance despite our doubts
We need a win. Am more importantly Slade needs it.
I'm not enjoying the forum much lately. Too much negativity does not breed good stuff and, believe it or not, a site like CL, and all that filters out from it, could actually affect the performances on the pitch.
We were relegated early enough for the club to launch preparations for this season, they failed to do so. We've just been beaten by a team from the bottom of The Football League who have only just gained League status themselves. We're being - quite rightly - pointed at in the media (and even opposition programmes!) as being ran by idiots. We have no communications with our esteemed owners and know not what their plan is. We've lost genuine Charlton members of staff along the journey too. Our club is not what it once was, and is not what we all fell in love with. Ultimately, the current frustration is that this situation has been going on for 30 months now.
When you have a community based around something which is so wrapped up in negativity, then sadly the community is going to be negative and frustrated too.
On the subject of the forum itself, I think it's absolutely great - with a brilliant mix of characters, sense of humours and attitudes. That's to be applauded. I do think there are one or two who are genuinely out to cause an argument, but fortunately there's more than enough posters who shrug it off or tell them to wind their neck in where appropriate.
I'm now seriously waiting for the point where we turn up and boo our team or all try to crowd into the away end.
I want RD gone but as long as I can draw breath I will want the shirt to be successful despite the owners.
Debbie Downer is a name of a fictional Saturday Night Live character who debuted in 2004, and who was portrayed by Rachel Dratch.
The character's name, Debbie Downer, is a slang phrase which refers to someone who frequently adds bad news and negative feelings to a gathering, thus bringing down the mood of everyone around them. Dratch's character would usually appear at social gatherings and interrupt the conversation to voice negative opinions and pronouncements.
I don't get back to England often, so I tend not to measure my commitment in terms of the 11-15 first team regulars, especially during Roland's era (how could anyone?). If only Roland, who I'm sure had never heard of CAFC before "buying" it, had even a slight fraction of the sincere commitment to what Charlton is (was?) as Jessie has, we'd be in a much, much better place. Truth is, he bought the club because it ticked a few boxes important to him on a spreadsheet.
Managers, star players and industrial try hards alike, come and go. Kit makers, sponsors and paraphernalia come and go. Supporters and their ways and traditions evolve and shift, but remain committed in their love for their club, even if it's almost impossible to articulate. Maybe that's bull, but it's what I cling to.
If I were in England this season, I'd only turn up to The Valley for a few reasons. 1. To support pre and after-match protests. 2. To protest during a match on a freebie 3. To celebrate the end of Roland's experiment at Charlton.
I certainly don't expect everyone to have that view, but I can't get my head around the alternatives. But in saying that, it will take all sorts to rid ourselves of Roland and begin the rebuilding process, just as it did when we got back to The Valley. And that's just something that will get shaken out in the wash.
For those of us that attend the matches I would want to think that we attend the protests before after and if necessary during but still cheer on the players.
When it gets to the point where that's not the case I will put my Charlton support in a coffin and mourn it's loss.
These are the worst owners we have ever had. Let's get them out but I've never booed a Charlton player and I'm not starting down that route now.
I'll be getting behind the boys. Fuck Roland and Meire.
Classed as a swear word on here!
However I'm not one to pre-judge and the new players and manager must be given a chance. That is why I was pleased CARD said they were stopping all in game protests for August.
A couple of things I do to add re: support the team and not the regime. At times last season I felt 'the team' hid behind the problems created by 'the regime'. That week in January was abysmal. I appreciate it was hard for the players, but it's about taking responsibility. The embarrassment at H'field to be followed with the Hull defeat wasn't taking responsibility.
I think the fans have been marvellous. I continue to go and have renewed my season ticket. I am there for them as I'm sure many of you are as well. However if I get the feeling that the players again are beginning to hide behind the unrest again, I will be disappointed. They need to rise above it. It's not up to us to blindly accept less than 100% should it start to creep in
No.
No, no, no, I'm not having it.
No.