We've had a brilliant day, so let's see if I can wind up some fellow fans and start a row.
unfortunately Masicat cant seem to do that, seems to write a new post on here everytime we win, and is always the first to do it
Yep it's my thread. Jog on...
as I have said before and now Uboat has said, why cant you just be happy we won, why do you have to come on here and try and cause arguments, was that song sung yesterday NO, when was the song sung: when he made subs that probably cost us 2 points
at the time it was deserved, now its not hence the reason its not being sung
No, it most certainly wasn't "deserved" What sort of mean, petulant attitude is that for a new manager of our club? It was pathetic. It wasn't Charlton. It wasn't the behaviour of a family club. And no amount of subsequent justification from the narrow minded children who chanted will alter that fact.
But I do agree with your point that we should ALL move on. Both sides should say Solly and move on, wiser and more compassionate.
We've had a brilliant day, so let's see if I can wind up some fellow fans and start a row.
unfortunately Masicat cant seem to do that, seems to write a new post on here everytime we win, and is always the first to do it
Yep it's my thread. Jog on...
as I have said before and now Uboat has said, why cant you just be happy we won, why do you have to come on here and try and cause arguments, was that song sung yesterday NO, when was the song sung: when he made subs that probably cost us 2 points
at the time it was deserved, now its not hence the reason its not being sung
No, it most certainly wasn't "deserved" What sort of mean, petulant attitude is that for a new manager of our club? It was pathetic. It wasn't Charlton. It wasn't the behaviour of a family club. And no amount of subsequent justification from the narrow minded children who chanted will alter that fact.
But I do agree with your point that we should ALL move on. Both sides should say Solly and move on, wiser and more compassionate.
Song was sung after he himself said he had never watched a championship game, and he made some poor decisions during the game, IMO it was deserved at the time, since then he has proved he does no what he is doing
Bringing Cousins back into CM playing Watt and Vetokele Dropping Bikey
Any charlton fan with any passion or life in them would have been disgusted with the 1st half against Norwich. Playing high balls to the one striker Igor was insane, playing Bulot out of position, that was the most frustrated in all my years of going down there. The fact since the second half of the Norwich game he have got it right can't take away the feeling he seemed well out of his depth and we were dropping like a stone.
The Brentford 3-0 and todays 3-0 were the most pro-active i have seen us under any of the last 4 coaches and at last we now play the ball to feet.
In my opinion and you can check out what i said since Brentford away if you don't play two strikers up front in the championship you don't know what your doing.
It help Johann and Bulot too as they have more people to pass to.
Luzon did kop too much too early but we were running out of time.
I take it Masicat you would of been happy to wait to April before you realized the Norwich 1st half would sent us down.
O sorry i forgot you have a Crystal ball, Masicat not always right.
Before you ask, i do have insomnia, so hello all you night birds.
Any charlton fan with any passion or life in them would have been disgusted with the 1st half against Norwich. Playing high balls to the one striker Igor was insane, playing Bulot out of position, that was the most frustrated in all my years of going down there. The fact since the second half of the Norwich game he have got it right can't take away the feeling he seemed well out of his depth and we were dropping like a stone.
The Brentford 3-0 and todays 3-0 were the most pro-active i have seen us under any of the last 4 coaches and at last we now play the ball to feet.
In my opinion and you can check out what i said since Brentford away if you don't play two strikers up front in the championship you don't know what your doing.
It help Johann and Bulot too as they have more people to pass to.
Luzon did kop too much too early but we were running out of time.
I take it Masicat you would of been happy to wait to April before you realized the Norwich 1st half would sent us down.
O sorry i forgot you have a Crystal ball, Masicat not always right.
Before you ask, i do have insomnia, so hello all you night birds.
I'm not always right. I said 3-1 today and got it wrong again. I remain upset at the treatment this manager received from some supporters having just arrived in SE7. Nothing will change my mind. Seriously though, do you think the chanting worked? Like Riga before him, this manager has injected common sense and simplicity in order to get results. We have just won 3 games 3-0 out of 4, must be some sort of record. Nobody knows how much of this is down to ability and his much is luck. However, we have gone from relegation certs to safety in a few games. This man deserves respect.
The man does deserve respect, with what he has done over the last four and a half matches. The last 2 home game are the best we have played in the championship since Curbs side got us up to the Prem. Did the chanting work ? hard to know but it focused his mind and he will win people over not just by getting results but i do love the crisp passing on the ground we played in these games. He had the baggage of being Roland man so that was also a handicap as so many folk were/are still not convinced on duchatelet Method. The last two home games will help Guy and Roland and might help Katrien as well plus most of the recent signing other than Lepoint so far,seem to be paying off. long may it last.
Its ok saying lets all just be happy today and cant we have a day with no arguing, but what if we lost three nil,
Imo if you are happy to cane the fella when we lose then those that defended him during that period are more than entitled to come on here and post vitriol, you have the choice to not open it or just read it and close it
And singining you dont know what your doing to a mgr in roll three games is not acceptable by anyone
I think there is a certain element that gets carried away with the whole anti network thing where everything RD is to be viewed with suspicion and "not the Charlton way". I agree there was a certain aspect of Guy Luzon's appointment that seemed a "fait accompli" but I don't actually remember the club ever asking for my opinion on who it hired as manager before either. At the time when Peeters went the club was certainly in a tailspin so fan emotion and anxiety would naturally be high but I personally thought that the focussed anti Luzon stuff was bang out of order and I might add also not "the Charlton Way"
Those of us that we're prepared to give GL a fair crack are imho justifiably coming out of the woodwork not to be smug but in my case certainly to highlight the initial injustice.
Those that slagged him off without any real knowledge of his ability imho opinion should expect a bit back now.
Of course the jury on whole network experiment is still very much out but that's what we have and I still insist that we are now miles better off under RD than we have been for a very long time. Yes I support the quest to get RD to communicate better but quite frankly some of the other stuff we are getting is way over the top.
We all know you need luck sometimes. I find the harder I work, the luckier I get.
The club including Guy have worked hard to turn things around on and off the pitch.
One of the biggest criticisms aimed at RD/KM was that their system didn't work and the inter - group transfer policy was a failure.
I would suggest that is nonsense - like it always was. Whatever system you have, success on the pitch depends on good players, good coaching, good tactical awareness and good motivation.
What I saw yesterday ticked all those boxes.
What has happened off the pitch also suggests things are being done right.
I understand there was a head of steam rising. Has been released? No not yet. Nothing short of good performances and a competitive team ready for next seasons assault will keep that at bay.
There are excellent players now in most positions in the team, and some positions are doubled up with decent players. In Watt we have a championship winning striker - if he plays like that every week. Will this team though be dismantled before the start of next season or will the main core of it survive. For me that is the key to the next 12 months or so.
Respect to those who protested/chanted It's your club as well as mine.
I think I might have said this elsewhere, but never mind. I'm struggling to reconcile a few things. 1. It is reported from a range of sources that in Belgium that GL is a laughing stock. 2. He comes across as some sort of care in the community case on the touchline. I sit almost directly behind him and it really is extraordinary how much energy he expends whilst being basically ignored by the players.
Versus
3. We keep thrashing other teams.
I really don't know what to think about the man.
One last thing I will say is that at the time of the chants, all we had was the first two points and the nature of his appointment. Viewed in that context I think the chants are at least understandable. I very much doubt they were helpful, but people were angry and frustrated, so I don't really blame them for lashing out verbally.
There was a group in front of me today who tried several times to get Guy Luzon's Red and White Army going. Fair play to them.
I've said all along I'll judge him on results and performances. He had a bumpy start but has definitely got us more organised and playing at a better tempo.
The usual suspects immediately told us all that bad things were happening on the training pitches and the players didn't like him.
I'd say the players have gone up a level under him and I definitely wouldn't say there appears to be a lack of motivation.
Do they like him? Who cares, they don't have to like him, they just need to respect his coaching ideas and implement his game plan on the pitch.
Ultimately a large proportion of success in football is fuelled by confidence. Under Peters for whatever reason, confidence was rock bottom. Probably the lowest I've seen since Pardew left, slowly its crept back. Yesterday the players were buzzing and long may it continue.
As we know Jackson has pubilically praised Luzon, I doubt he is a yes man and suspect if he had nothing good to say would have kept quiet. Is it beyond the realms of possibility that Luzon was initially viewed with trepidation, but through his own hard work and abilities has won the players over?
For a number on here he will always be the devil as he is RDs man. Posts saying I don't like him because he gets animated sum that view up. As do snidey comments from the chairman of the Trust.
At the moment he is well in credit and if we keep the squad together, add some depth and avoid injuries to key players I suspect the run in will be a good one and next season who knows?
Posts saying I don't like him because he gets animated sum that view up.
Not sure if that's for me, but I didn't say I don't like him because he gets animated, it's more that it makes it harder to take him seriously. What he does on the touchline is of no real importance I know, but if he spent the game calmly leaning on the dugout, watching us win 3-0 I would find that more reassuring for some reason.
Any charlton fan with any passion or life in them would have been disgusted with the 1st half against Norwich. Playing high balls to the one striker Igor was insane, playing Bulot out of position, that was the most frustrated in all my years of going down there. The fact since the second half of the Norwich game he have got it right can't take away the feeling he seemed well out of his depth and we were dropping like a stone.
The Brentford 3-0 and todays 3-0 were the most pro-active i have seen us under any of the last 4 coaches and at last we now play the ball to feet.
In my opinion and you can check out what i said since Brentford away if you don't play two strikers up front in the championship you don't know what your doing.
It help Johann and Bulot too as they have more people to pass to.
Luzon did kop too much too early but we were running out of time.
I take it Masicat you would of been happy to wait to April before you realized the Norwich 1st half would sent us down.
O sorry i forgot you have a Crystal ball, Masicat not always right.
Before you ask, i do have insomnia, so hello all you night birds.
I'm not always right. I said 3-1 today and got it wrong again. I remain upset at the treatment this manager received from some supporters having just arrived in SE7. Nothing will change my mind. Seriously though, do you think the chanting worked? Like Riga before him, this manager has injected common sense and simplicity in order to get results. We have just won 3 games 3-0 out of 4, must be some sort of record. Nobody knows how much of this is down to ability and his much is luck. However, we have gone from relegation certs to safety in a few games. This man deserves respect.
By all accounts we were awful in that game, the chant went up. Since then we have improved no end, so by the logic employed by many on this board, it must have worked...
Of course everyone could be sensible about it, and accept that we looked in dire straits and most people were seriously worried about where the club was going, the manner of GL's appointment and the clear web of lies from the boardroom regarding that appointment was also a factor. A few had blind faith, and as it happens their faith seems to have been justified, so far. Fair play to them, and along with everyone else who supports Charlton, but has their doubts about the chairman (contrary to popular belief, it really is possible to do both) I hope they continue to be right. I may not have been reading the right threads this morning, but I have not seen anyone criticising GL in the past 18 hours or so, no-one suggesting that "he will always be the devil as he is RDs man". Everyone seems to be delighted with the upturn in form, so lets all continue to support the team and look forward to three points on Tuesday. When by a fantastically annoying turn of fate, I shall be in effing Nottingham...
Some great points from Shooters hill guru, Bing addick, and U boat,
If Powell or Peeters with the players Luzon has at his disposal, have played the way Guy did yesterday ?
when was the last time a CAFC Head Manager/HC played all 11 players in their best position ? with Gomez playing centre half (where he has played most of his games in the academy) Cousins playing centre mid till Bulot went off, Bulot Lm/left wing, Johann thou very Left Footed( have we seen a sweeter left foot at the valley ?)most of his 8 goals are when he cuts in from the right.
I make U boat right in the chants thou not helpful, were understandable after not just three months of agony but losing 23 home matches in 2 and a half seasons plus all those bore draws. Not Guy Luzon's fault, but the best analogy is when you get road rage if someone cuts you up, and 20 years of being in traffic jams and being late for appointments get the better of you and you take that bitterness of all those years out on that person. Not right, and not logical but we are all flawed human beings (well i'm !)
I think I might have said this elsewhere, but never mind. I'm struggling to reconcile a few things. 1. It is reported from a range of sources that in Belgium that GL is a laughing stock. 2. He comes across as some sort of care in the community case on the touchline. I sit almost directly behind him and it really is extraordinary how much energy he expends whilst being basically ignored by the players.
Versus
3. We keep thrashing other teams.
I really don't know what to think about the man.
One last thing I will say is that at the time of the chants, all we had was the first two points and the nature of his appointment. Viewed in that context I think the chants are at least understandable. I very much doubt they were helpful, but people were angry and frustrated, so I don't really blame them for lashing out verbally.
In the spirit of honest assessment I must admit that sitting behind him yesterday was a bit alarming. He appears to be gesturing to the team who appear to be ignoring him. I used to watch Jack Parnell conducting an orchestra convinced that if he wasn't there with his stick they would sound just as good. Apparently they wouldn't. Luzon is either something of a genius or the luckiest manager ever. Those who think having Tony Watt is the simple answer are mistaken. Lionel Messi wouldn't have made a difference to the rubbish we were watching a month ago. Those of us who feel the chants were unfair are not saying he does know what he's doing, were saying you didn't know he doesn't know what he's doing. Time will tell.
We all know you need luck sometimes. I find the harder I work, the luckier I get.
The club including Guy have worked hard to turn things around on and off the pitch.
One of the biggest criticisms aimed at RD/KM was that their system didn't work and the inter - group transfer policy was a failure.
I would suggest that is nonsense - like it always was. Whatever system you have, success on the pitch depends on good players, good coaching, good tactical awareness and good motivation.
What I saw yesterday ticked all those boxes.
What has happened off the pitch also suggests things are being done right.
I understand there was a head of steam rising. Has been released? No not yet. Nothing short of good performances and a competitive team ready for next seasons assault will keep that at bay.
There are excellent players now in most positions in the team, and some positions are doubled up with decent players. In Watt we have a championship winning striker - if he plays like that every week. Will this team though be dismantled before the start of next season or will the main core of it survive. For me that is the key to the next 12 months or so.
Respect to those who protested/chanted It's your club as well as mine.
It's clear there's been a distinct change in policy very recently, which is to the club's credit provided as you say it's not just lip service for one window. The three recruitments since the turn of the year who are actually playing regularly all have good experience in the British game. Yesterday's back five were all British. I don't think the results that have followed are entirely coincidental.
I felt a bit for Powell yesterday, as I watched a first XI of decent players playing on a decent pitch. A year ago he'd had his best players taken from him, a load of inappropriate network rejects flown in, and a pitch that made Blackheath common look like a carpet.
Someone posted 'we've got our Charlton back' on Facebook today. I can't agree at all with that, because a few results don't cover over a year where the supporters have been cast aside, taken for fools (and I think the season ticket price 'freeze' suggests they're still underestimating our intelligence) and expected to swallow whatever the temporary owner wants to do with the club that's a lifetime for us, without comment or criticism.
That said, the football side feels more positive , and with Luzon - like Riga - we do we seem to have a head coach who understands that attacking is often the best form of defence. (We were awesome coming forward yesterday, and missed some really good chances).
I don't believe any of that is the result of expert planning though, and this will remain an Achilles heel for time to come if it doesn't sink in why the football side is going through a relative purple patch, and that 'working together' means more than just lip service when you want people to buy season tickets.
Change is difficult. Managing change can be very difficult. Tradition is fantastic as long as it doesn't anchor to the past.
Yesterday did not a summer make, it wasn't in my view either just one swallow.
If you always do what you did, you will always get what you got.
OK enough of the clichés.
I saw much to be optimistic about yesterday. A club - not in crisis with a full house and a buzz of excitement about it. Of course it helps when players turn up and perform.
Unhappy as I have been with the last few months and still unsure of the future destination, I think it's time to give RD some credit.
1. He took over from the Brothers Spiv when we were close to administration
2. He has invested in the infrastructure of the club - unarguable
3. He has used his "network" not only to provide network players to SE7, but also to scout other players from around Europe.
4. He has sacked two under-performing managers (one of course a legend).
5. He has strengthened the team. Any fool could see that yesterday.
6. The marketing of yesterday's game, from where I sit, looked pretty flawless
7. The viral video, in my view was refreshing, forward thinking and almost certainly a one off. It was (pardon the pun) thinking outside the box.
OK I am sure I can list some negatives but in my time supporting the club there have been massive negatives and a few real stellar moments, some average and most mediocre. Yesterday was good - excellent even.
Of course we have to keep the new regime accountable - as best we can.
It remains my view that clubs who stand still will whither. RM and Co knew that well during the boom years. Those went with the departure of Pardont and the failure of the Zabeel deal.
I also hold the view that RD did not buy the club to gut it or wreck it. He bought it to get it up to the PL. The specific plan (if there was a real blueprint which I doubt) may have altered or been seared by the reality of the league we are in. It may be he is fattening the calf now to sell it and retreat. No one can be certain but I am sure it wasn't purchased to fail.
If our club succeeds despite all the "network" stuff, despite Tin Tin becoming our mascot - I will be happy to watch the likes of Chelski etc back at the Valley sometime soon.
Days like yesterday tell me that we have it to be successful again. It certainly felt that way.
Comments
What sort of mean, petulant attitude is that for a new manager of our club?
It was pathetic.
It wasn't Charlton.
It wasn't the behaviour of a family club.
And no amount of subsequent justification from the narrow minded children who chanted will alter that fact.
But I do agree with your point that we should ALL move on. Both sides should say Solly and move on, wiser and more compassionate.
Bringing Cousins back into CM
playing Watt and Vetokele
Dropping Bikey
You got insomnia again?
playing Bulot out of position, that was the most frustrated in all my years of going down there.
The fact since the second half of the Norwich game he have got it right can't take away the feeling he seemed well out of his depth and we were dropping like a stone.
The Brentford 3-0 and todays 3-0 were the most pro-active i have seen us under any of the last 4 coaches and at last we now play the ball to feet.
In my opinion and you can check out what i said since Brentford away if you don't play two strikers up front in the championship you don't know what your doing.
It help Johann and Bulot too as they have more people to pass to.
Luzon did kop too much too early but we were running out of time.
I take it Masicat you would of been happy to wait to April before you realized the Norwich 1st half would sent us down.
O sorry i forgot you have a Crystal ball,
Masicat not always right.
Before you ask, i do have insomnia, so hello all you night birds.
Did the chanting work ? hard to know but it focused his mind and he will win people over not just by getting results but i do love the crisp passing on the ground we played in these games. He had the baggage of being Roland man so that was also a handicap as so many folk were/are still not convinced on duchatelet Method.
The last two home games will help Guy and Roland and might help Katrien as well plus most of the recent signing other than Lepoint so far,seem to be paying off.
long may it last.
Imo if you are happy to cane the fella when we lose then those that defended him during that period are more than entitled to come on here and post vitriol, you have the choice to not open it or just read it and close it
And singining you dont know what your doing to a mgr in roll three games is not acceptable by anyone
Guy Luzon whooooooa
He comes from the wailing wall
He farking hates millwall
Those of us that we're prepared to give GL a fair crack are imho justifiably coming out of the woodwork not to be smug but in my case certainly to highlight the initial injustice.
Those that slagged him off without any real knowledge of his ability imho opinion should expect a bit back now.
Of course the jury on whole network experiment is still very much out but that's what we have and I still insist that we are now miles better off under RD than we have been for a very long time. Yes I support the quest to get RD to communicate better but quite frankly some of the other stuff we are getting is way over the top.
;-)
The club including Guy have worked hard to turn things around on and off the pitch.
One of the biggest criticisms aimed at RD/KM was that their system didn't work and the inter - group transfer policy was a failure.
I would suggest that is nonsense - like it always was. Whatever system you have, success on the pitch depends on good players, good coaching, good tactical awareness and good motivation.
What I saw yesterday ticked all those boxes.
What has happened off the pitch also suggests things are being done right.
I understand there was a head of steam rising. Has been released? No not yet. Nothing short of good performances and a competitive team ready for next seasons assault will keep that at bay.
There are excellent players now in most positions in the team, and some positions are doubled up with decent players. In Watt we have a championship winning striker - if he plays like that every week. Will this team though be dismantled before the start of next season or will the main core of it survive. For me that is the key to the next 12 months or so.
Respect to those who protested/chanted It's your club as well as mine.
1. It is reported from a range of sources that in Belgium that GL is a laughing stock.
2. He comes across as some sort of care in the community case on the touchline. I sit almost directly behind him and it really is extraordinary how much energy he expends whilst being basically ignored by the players.
Versus
3. We keep thrashing other teams.
I really don't know what to think about the man.
One last thing I will say is that at the time of the chants, all we had was the first two points and the nature of his appointment. Viewed in that context I think the chants are at least understandable. I very much doubt they were helpful, but people were angry and frustrated, so I don't really blame them for lashing out verbally.
I've said all along I'll judge him on results and performances. He had a bumpy start but has definitely got us more organised and playing at a better tempo.
The usual suspects immediately told us all that bad things were happening on the training pitches and the players didn't like him.
I'd say the players have gone up a level under him and I definitely wouldn't say there appears to be a lack of motivation.
Do they like him? Who cares, they don't have to like him, they just need to respect his coaching ideas and implement his game plan on the pitch.
Ultimately a large proportion of success in football is fuelled by confidence. Under Peters for whatever reason, confidence was rock bottom. Probably the lowest I've seen since Pardew left, slowly its crept back. Yesterday the players were buzzing and long may it continue.
As we know Jackson has pubilically praised Luzon, I doubt he is a yes man and suspect if he had nothing good to say would have kept quiet. Is it beyond the realms of possibility that Luzon was initially viewed with trepidation, but through his own hard work and abilities has won the players over?
For a number on here he will always be the devil as he is RDs man. Posts saying I don't like him because he gets animated sum that view up. As do snidey comments from the chairman of the Trust.
At the moment he is well in credit and if we keep the squad together, add some depth and avoid injuries to key players I suspect the run in will be a good one and next season who knows?
Don't disagree with much of what you say though.
Of course everyone could be sensible about it, and accept that we looked in dire straits and most people were seriously worried about where the club was going, the manner of GL's appointment and the clear web of lies from the boardroom regarding that appointment was also a factor. A few had blind faith, and as it happens their faith seems to have been justified, so far. Fair play to them, and along with everyone else who supports Charlton, but has their doubts about the chairman (contrary to popular belief, it really is possible to do both) I hope they continue to be right. I may not have been reading the right threads this morning, but I have not seen anyone criticising GL in the past 18 hours or so, no-one suggesting that "he will always be the devil as he is RDs man". Everyone seems to be delighted with the upturn in form, so lets all continue to support the team and look forward to three points on Tuesday. When by a fantastically annoying turn of fate, I shall be in effing Nottingham...
Tuesday will be tough.
I'd say quite a few goals in the game.
If Powell or Peeters with the players Luzon has at his disposal, have played the way Guy did yesterday ?
when was the last time a CAFC Head Manager/HC played all 11 players in their best position ? with Gomez playing centre half (where he has played most of his games in the academy) Cousins playing centre mid till Bulot went off,
Bulot Lm/left wing,
Johann thou very Left Footed( have we seen a sweeter left foot at the valley ?)most of his 8 goals are when he cuts in from the right.
I make U boat right in the chants thou not helpful, were understandable after not just three months of agony but losing 23 home matches in 2 and a half seasons
plus all those bore draws. Not Guy Luzon's fault, but the best analogy is when you get road rage if someone cuts you up, and 20 years of being in traffic jams and being late for appointments get the better of you and you take that bitterness of all those years out on that person. Not right, and not logical but we are all flawed human beings (well i'm !)
In the spirit of honest assessment I must admit that sitting behind him yesterday was a bit alarming. He appears to be gesturing to the team who appear to be ignoring him. I used to watch Jack Parnell conducting an orchestra convinced that if he wasn't there with his stick they would sound just as good. Apparently they wouldn't. Luzon is either something of a genius or the luckiest manager ever. Those who think having Tony Watt is the simple answer are mistaken. Lionel Messi wouldn't have made a difference to the rubbish we were watching a month ago. Those of us who feel the chants were unfair are not saying he does know what he's doing, were saying you didn't know he doesn't know what he's doing. Time will tell.
I felt a bit for Powell yesterday, as I watched a first XI of decent players playing on a decent pitch. A year ago he'd had his best players taken from him, a load of inappropriate network rejects flown in, and a pitch that made Blackheath common look like a carpet.
Someone posted 'we've got our Charlton back' on Facebook today. I can't agree at all with that, because a few results don't cover over a year where the supporters have been cast aside, taken for fools (and I think the season ticket price 'freeze' suggests they're still underestimating our intelligence) and expected to swallow whatever the temporary owner wants to do with the club that's a lifetime for us, without comment or criticism.
That said, the football side feels more positive , and with Luzon - like Riga - we do we seem to have a head coach who understands that attacking is often the best form of defence. (We were awesome coming forward yesterday, and missed some really good chances).
I don't believe any of that is the result of expert planning though, and this will remain an Achilles heel for time to come if it doesn't sink in why the football side is going through a relative purple patch, and that 'working together' means more than just lip service when you want people to buy season tickets.
Luzon is making use of the players at his disposal and it seems to be working.
can i just say that after reading your post of 12.46 pm ?
Masicat hit nail on head sometimes !
Yesterday did not a summer make, it wasn't in my view either just one swallow.
If you always do what you did, you will always get what you got.
OK enough of the clichés.
I saw much to be optimistic about yesterday. A club - not in crisis with a full house and a buzz of excitement about it. Of course it helps when players turn up and perform.
Unhappy as I have been with the last few months and still unsure of the future destination, I think it's time to give RD some credit.
1. He took over from the Brothers Spiv when we were close to administration
2. He has invested in the infrastructure of the club - unarguable
3. He has used his "network" not only to provide network players to SE7, but also to scout other players from around Europe.
4. He has sacked two under-performing managers (one of course a legend).
5. He has strengthened the team. Any fool could see that yesterday.
6. The marketing of yesterday's game, from where I sit, looked pretty flawless
7. The viral video, in my view was refreshing, forward thinking and almost certainly a one off. It was (pardon the pun) thinking outside the box.
OK I am sure I can list some negatives but in my time supporting the club there have been massive negatives and a few real stellar moments, some average and most mediocre. Yesterday was good - excellent even.
Of course we have to keep the new regime accountable - as best we can.
It remains my view that clubs who stand still will whither. RM and Co knew that well during the boom years. Those went with the departure of Pardont and the failure of the Zabeel deal.
I also hold the view that RD did not buy the club to gut it or wreck it. He bought it to get it up to the PL. The specific plan (if there was a real blueprint which I doubt) may have altered or been seared by the reality of the league we are in. It may be he is fattening the calf now to sell it and retreat. No one can be certain but I am sure it wasn't purchased to fail.
If our club succeeds despite all the "network" stuff, despite Tin Tin becoming our mascot - I will be happy to watch the likes of Chelski etc back at the Valley sometime soon.
Days like yesterday tell me that we have it to be successful again. It certainly felt that way.