8 months on from Woolwich Grand Theatre - where now?
We're only into the third month of the season, but the tone of discussions has changed rapidly on CL over those three months - from cautious optimism to over-optimism to cautious optimism to a mix of despair and "it'll be OK as soon as everyone's fit".
The meeting called at Woolwich Grand
For me, some of the life has disappeared from the club. I don't know why. I can't put all the blame on RD, I can't put all the blame on the manager or the players. Perhaps, I am just an aging supporter who finds it hard to follow a football club in 2015 - I don't think for one moment that Charlton is the only Club that has disenchanted supporters. For me, the changing personnel and the disparity between Premiership and the rest drive me round the bend. Could you name three players that will be here in two years' time with any degree of certainty?
So, are we planning to re-convene at Woolwich Grand Theatre on 18 February 2016 and get up another head of steam? Or, will it be too late? Or, will Vetokele and Big Mak come back from injury and see us around the promotion spots soon so that some of us can say "You didn't need to panic" and others will wonder why they were in a panic as early as 18 October? I just feel uncomfortable about where we are. There's a big difference between a bumpy ride and a slippery slope - I hope it's the former.
Comments
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Woolwich Grand Theatre is closed and will be sold for flats.
As for Charlton. RD's plan is working, so why would he be bothered ?
Sell off everything you can to try and break even. If you are successful, you're reward is almost certain relegation.
Anyway, we have insufficient decent players, but are playing a load of kids, on low wages, so job done.
If you're not happy with that, at least you can have a good laugh looking at the sofa.2 -
Well its Rolands club and we have to accept the boring Belgians way
or not bother going and just watch the life being slowly sucked out of us as the training facilities at sparrows lane improve6 -
Improving the facilities at Sparrows Lane only adds to the value of an asset he already owns - just like putting a decent stereo in an ordinary car. RD is not actually doing the club a "direct" favour - but he could choose not to do the upgrade.
We have to like the RD regime - or lump it, until he sells (which will be about money and not about supporter influence).
Bad times ahead.1 -
I believe the shit is slowly starting to hit the fan, when all is dandy on the pitch people could not see RD for what he is... now the going is getting a bit tough, we see his true colours that a few of us saw early. I think the general level of interest to these sort of events may drop as the apathy is spreading around the club. An apathy that RD is causing and the problem with apathy is the lost feeling doesn't always return as it was.15
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I firmly place the blame on those teams that score more than us.6
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I think we can only really judge matters when February comes and I for one feel no sense of apathy about supporting Charlton. As for RD; again I think he would be wise to keep Luzon who I think is doing no better or worse with the players he has at his disposal. In many ways I would be looking at the fitness and training regime and the recuperation speeds of all the injured/unfit players to see if anything better can be done.1
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This years meeting should be on Brighton Pier in February ?
1. It will be warmer than Woolwich grand Theatre last year.
2. It will be good to go up north again.
3.The wind should blow away, any apathy9 -
I am fed up of this bloody experiment. There is no sense of purpose in the club. Supporters concerns are not a priority, in fact they are completely ignored, 'It is my club I'll do what I like' is the mantra from RD capably seconded by the increasingly useless Ms M.
RD is playing his fiddle while Charlton burns.6 -
RD and KM are here for the long term and there is sod all we can do about it because they just don't care what we think or what we do. Luzon might not last the season but it will make bugger all difference because he'll simply be replaced with another patsy who will have to do what he is told with the limitations such a piss poor budget places on him.
Roland will invest just enough to make sure we stay in the Championship. At some stage we will have our injured players back. We will hit some form and go on a decent run. There'll be some smiles and excitement now and then. But, underlying the occasional highs, there will be the grindingly monotonous dirge that life under Roland and Katrien has brought us.
Individually, we either put up with it and ride out the next several years. Or we don't - and they had better be a lot better at attracting thousands of new fans than they have at keeping us long term fans engaged.12 -
Davo I completely agree with your comments, put far more succinctly than I could. Changing managers will not alter a thing - changing owners might.Davo55 said:RD and KM are here for the long term and there is sod all we can do about it because they just don't care what we think or what we do. Luzon might not last the season but it will make bugger all difference because he'll simply be replaced with another patsy who will have to do what he is told with the limitations such a piss poor budget places on him.
Roland will invest just enough to make sure we stay in the Championship. At some stage we will have our injured players back. We will hit some form and go on a decent run. There'll be some smiles and excitement now and then. But, underlying the occasional highs, there will be the grindingly monotonous dirge that life under Roland and Katrien has brought us.
Individually, we either put up with it and ride out the next several years. Or we don't - and they had better be a lot better at attracting thousands of new fans than they have at keeping us long term fans engaged.5 - Sponsored links:
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Think there's a general 'plus ca change' attitude this year. I don't see the justification for another meeting, the consensus then was 'talk to us' and the message is still the same I'm sure because - well - who's any the wiser today?
Best part of a year on, perhaps people are showing their feelings through their attendance. Several thousand season ticket holders missing every week, beyond the usual profiles, and the club is noticing. Results are always a big influence, of course, but I'm clearly not alone in sensing a general malaise, an apathy, that's the product of the fans being overlooked for so long. Lip service doesn't cut it, PR campaigns without substance won't change a thing, telling us everything's rosy won't cut it.
Respect us, understand we have a track record of helping to build the club and have always been ready to do so again, and talk to us openly about what you're trying to achieve. Charlton fans with a genuine stake are formidable friends to say the least.15 -
I hope. I'm beginning to worry about what sort of mess we could get/are in now. Do we have the squad/players to keep us up. Yes, based on the first four games if everyone is fit we should be okay (plus others that might come in). However, I am worried about Watt and JBG's lack of form. In addition we may get someone like Mak back in the next week or so, but we could lose Bauer. Morale in that dressing room must be very low at the moment. Have we got the leaders in the club to get us out of this run?Davo55 said:RD and KM are here for the long term and there is sod all we can do about it because they just don't care what we think or what we do. Luzon might not last the season but it will make bugger all difference because he'll simply be replaced with another patsy who will have to do what he is told with the limitations such a piss poor budget places on him.
Roland will invest just enough to make sure we stay in the Championship. At some stage we will have our injured players back. We will hit some form and go on a decent run. There'll be some smiles and excitement now and then. But, underlying the occasional highs, there will be the grindingly monotonous dirge that life under Roland and Katrien has brought us.
Individually, we either put up with it and ride out the next several years. Or we don't - and they had better be a lot better at attracting thousands of new fans than they have at keeping us long term fans engaged.0 -
That is a good question. Sadly, I doubt that we have.cabbles said:
I hope. I'm beginning to worry about what sort of mess we could get/are in now. Do we have the squad/players to keep us up. Yes, based on the first four games if everyone is fit we should be okay (plus others that might come in). However, I am worried about Watt and JBG's lack of form. In addition we may get someone like Mak back in the next week or so, but we could lose Bauer. Morale in that dressing room must be very low at the moment. Have we got the leaders in the club to get us out of this run?Davo55 said:RD and KM are here for the long term and there is sod all we can do about it because they just don't care what we think or what we do. Luzon might not last the season but it will make bugger all difference because he'll simply be replaced with another patsy who will have to do what he is told with the limitations such a piss poor budget places on him.
Roland will invest just enough to make sure we stay in the Championship. At some stage we will have our injured players back. We will hit some form and go on a decent run. There'll be some smiles and excitement now and then. But, underlying the occasional highs, there will be the grindingly monotonous dirge that life under Roland and Katrien has brought us.
Individually, we either put up with it and ride out the next several years. Or we don't - and they had better be a lot better at attracting thousands of new fans than they have at keeping us long term fans engaged.
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It has gone past the stage of Duchatelet and Meire having any thoughts about the supporters.rikofold said:Think there's a general 'plus ca change' attitude this year. I don't see the justification for another meeting, the consensus then was 'talk to us' and the message is still the same I'm sure because - well - who's any the wiser today?
Best part of a year on, perhaps people are showing their feelings through their attendance. Several thousand season ticket holders missing every week, beyond the usual profiles, and the club is noticing. Results are always a big influence, of course, but I'm clearly not alone in sensing a general malaise, an apathy, that's the product of the fans being overlooked for so long. Lip service doesn't cut it, PR campaigns without substance won't change a thing, telling us everything's rosy won't cut it.
Respect us, understand we have a track record of helping to build the club and have always been ready to do so again, and talk to us openly about what you're trying to achieve. Charlton fans with a genuine stake are formidable friends to say the least.
If they were going to have meaningful dialogue with us it would have been long ago.4 -
Venue is the slightly warmer Long Pond this Friday.. I will be there with my roving
micPint, getting opinions
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Photoshop a pint in and ill tell ye
and remember to invite KM this time0 -
The demolition crews started work on the Woolwich Grand last month, sadly.0
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Did they pull it down because of our meeting?InspectorSands said:The demolition crews started work on the Woolwich Grand last month, sadly.
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Les Mes brought the house down with his speech..
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It looks like he has bought it for someone else, so a clear photoshop if ever I've seen one Ken :-)2
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The club (through results, as the OP said if we were winning then no probs) has lost its way. RD appears to be a stubborn git!
That said I would rather have RD and KM at the helm than the previous owners. Be careful what you wish for!1 -
I'm getting quite nostalgic for the previous pair now.2
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CASTrust AGM, Thu 29 Oct 7.30pm, Bugle Horn, Charlton Village and/or please give your views on the current survey.0
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Season ticket scandal at the start of the season
Treatment of long term hospitality facilities users
Willingness to sell out a 110 year history of club ethic with stunts like the centre circle video disgrace, pitch side sofa and general adoption of crystal palace Approach to the "match day experience"
Slowly eroding a consultation pyramid that previously was superb in making fans feel part of the club
These are things that have pissed me off no end. Far more important to me than results which can not excuse these strategic decisions but compound them when you are getting tanned and serving up shite to your stakeholders
Club could get 16k comfortably in the Championship IMO. Go back to the community based approach of the target 10K mentality and that's probably 18k-20k with a half decent product on the pitch.
But no we get shagging in the centre circle. 1 million you tube hits from Troy in Texas and Kim in South Korea who usually spend their time looking at funny cat videos. Absolutely zero appeal to the true fanbase13 -
Back in February, a show of hands was raised in Flamin Jo's that regardless we win lose or draw, we wanted the trust to push on to try and get communication with M.Roly and Meire.
Since then, not a dicky bird. Long term the Olympic stadium is a factor, but short term and the here and now, is the owners who will take us down to League One very shortly.
Why the silence eight months on?4 -
Silence on whose part, Shirty? The CAST Trust has tried to engage with management and has been met pretty well throughout by a closed door (marked 'Do It This Way'?)
I don't much like Mr D's Master Plan, and have voiced this at numerous times. But the club's management has to recognise that the fans pay (a large proportion of) the wages and should not be fobbed off with sofas, cheerleaders, price 'freezes', slogans and it's all the Post Office's fault. The management has the time and the budget to engage with us, the fans. They have our dosh quick enough.
Can we have some proper discussion, please, Katrien?1 -
There were plenty on here who were more than happy with Rolys way , due to good results and that's FairPlay they are allowed their view
There were many , like me , who even though results were good felt that this boring Belgian experiment made us feel different about our club but it was hard to say why because the whole set up is all so weird
Who knows what we can do
It's still the bores club
But those who were prepared to do something were ridiculed as results turned
And even if results turn again in the near future , unless there is a dramatic change of plan , things at Charlton still won't sit pretty with me4 -
Discussion discussion discussion. Just come up with a plan to force her out.Anna_Kissed said:Silence on whose part, Shirty? The CAST Trust has tried to engage with management and has been met pretty well throughout by a closed door (marked 'Do It This Way'?)
I don't much like Mr D's Master Plan, and have voiced this at numerous times. But the club's management has to recognise that the fans pay (a large proportion of) the wages and should not be fobbed off with sofas, cheerleaders, price 'freezes', slogans and it's all the Post Office's fault. The management has the time and the budget to engage with us, the fans. They have our dosh quick enough.
Can we have some proper discussion, please, Katrien?4
