You cannot protest if you are not there. Protest is a positive action. Boycot is a negative action (whether it works or not). Be there to support the team and protest outside.
No to a boycott...as a fan you should support the team...as a customer you should give the management feedback on the quality of their product and service...you can't do either if you are not there...
It's up to you if you don't want to go. Giving these w****rs my money is not a positive action in my view, I personally don't like being urinated on by these people while they ruin something I love.
I would have no self-respect if I handed over my cash after everything they've said/done/haven't done. I have not set foot in The Valley for a year now for that reason. Happy to attend any protests though. The one last Saturday was extremely moving and impressive and was proud to be there.
The majority of fans don't give a shit / really know or care what's going on, that's what we're up against. Will always be like that in the world of football. Which is why we must keep the momentum up as much as we can.
On a positive note, it will be a joyful experience when I set foot in The Valley again. I hope I'm able to sooner rather than later.
Like many I have supported the club since the mid 60s, have been a season ticket holder for over 40 years, was part of the original Target 10,000 promoting our club to new generations , so love them with a passion. I do not profess to understand the business rationale or ethics of the current board, so apologies if my thoughts are off the mark, but these are my fears for our club.
What would a match boycott do? In my opinion play right into the hands of RD & KM.
To many , it doesn't make sense that they are prepared to let the club / business sink. Surely staying in the Championship with good players would make the club financially successful, so why let your business decline. What is the point.
My fear is that by doing this , supporters become dissalusioned, create a void and then - they have their answer , sell the only assets that are worth any real money to them the VALLEY. Their answer will be the supporters are not interested in the club!
This maybe a very simplistic view, but it is the fear that I have. KM and RD are trying to alienate us from our club, GReenwich council tried and failed because we stuck together and stayed with our team.
So protests yes, not entering the ground until 5 min before kick off yes , publicise our plight yes but don't lets leave the team that we support, because without our presence at games I trully believe we will loose our ground and club .
No to a boycott...as a fan you should support the team...as a customer you should give the management feedback on the quality of their product and service...you can't do either if you are not there...
Course you can. Ive boycotted and told them over email I won't be back for the foreseeable. Attended both protests Saturday. Enough people doing that registers and has an impact.
An empty ground preceded and followed by well attended protests would be very powerful. So even if people only do it for one game it would be a significant statement and a threat of what can happen.
West Ham ad in paper today offering season tickets for less than £300. That's a severe threat to new support and floating support so an empty ground would show what would happen if they keep abusing current supporters goodwill.
Dialogue has not worked with this lot in two years and yo not even acknowledge Saturday's scenes emphasises the contempt and indifference they hold for us their "customers".
Attending is to me like spending all week bemoaning tescos on the Internet then protesting outside before going in and doing your weekly shopping caveating it that you've previously paid for vouchers.
Fair play to those doing it but I can't understand the mentality.
If good vocal support in numbers made a real difference we would be champions of local derbies and would never win away up north on Tuesdays.
Can understand people still going and took a lot of willpower to not say sod it and just get a ticket on Saturday in between protests and I miss what has been an integral part of my life for nearly three decades.
But there is a bigger issue here at the moment than turning up to cheer on a team who in the main are only Charlton because they're running around in our shirt and that's getting this lot out before they destroy our club beyond repair.
what I found disappointing on saturday, were the streams of fans just walking away after the game. I wanted to grab them and drag them back to the protest, or ask why they didn't seem to care enough to lend their weight to our plight.
of course I don't know why they didn't but it felt like they simply weren't interested and are willing to put up with this, which I believe is a huge obstacle to overcome.
You shouldn't be so hard on people. Aside from those that don't agree with or are ambivalent towards the protest, there will be plenty of other reasons. Me? I had a shocking cold (still do) and could barely speak without coughing, let alone chant. At this time of year maybe up to 10% of people could have been in my situation and did not fancy catching pneumonia by standing in the rain for an hour. So I did my protest in silence in my car in the West Stand car park with the engine running and heater on! There will have been countless other "excuses" too.
If RD is still around in a few months then a pre-organised boycott of next season's season tickets would send a powerful message. We could still go to games on a match by match basis, but it would rob them of the big capital income they get at the start of each season.
I still think we need to be there but not to spend a penny in the ground, certainly not in the club shop. No food, no programmes, no drinks. Use the lounges but bring your own. A pre-season boycott of shirts etc will hit, and sponsors ought to be made aware why their kit will not be seen. Season ticket holders, if possible, should not renew but attend on a match-by-match basis - plenty of seats available! Above all, we continue to get behind the team BUT chanting etc against Meire, managerial puppets and Roland should continue.
This is not a short-term boycott but RD is not in this for the short term. And if that woman remains as CEO, the marked reduction in turnover will take a lot of explaining.
A commercial boycott would put the club in an awkward contractual position with its suppliers, season ticket holders boycotting might not have much of an impact. Sales of next years STs however is a different kettle of fish.
Yes/A boycott is absolutely necessary. As NightMeire said if we didn't like the food in the restaurant or cinema experience as Customers we wouldn't demonstrate or "scream at the Management" we just wouldn't use that restaurant or go to that cinema anymore. I am saying we should hold Nightmeire to her own logic and as "Customers" we should simply refuse to pay for something we were not happy with. Simple, a Boycott it is then.
Yes/A boycott is absolutely necessary. As NightMeire said if we didn't like the food in the restaurant or cinema experience as Customers we wouldn't demonstrate or "scream at the Management" we just wouldn't use that restaurant or go to that cinema anymore. I am saying we should hold Nightmeire to her own logic and as "Customers" we should simply refuse to pay for something we were not happy with. Simples, a Boycott it is then.
I've seen 'simples' used on this site twice in the last two days - Enough! I'm off to the "things that annoy you" thread. ;-)
Personally I agree with a boycott, but in reality it has to be accepted that until things got a lot, lot worse it just isn't really possible as enough people would still go to make the boycott a non-event.
Not buying stuff in the stadium etc. is about as close as we'll get for now - which is fine I guess, it's still a step in the right direction and will affect the owners somewhat.
A banner with the words "Sack Meire or We Boycott" should get the message across.
Suspect the Meire Secret Police (aka stewards) would have that down before it had been fully unfurled. These types don't like public shows of unhappiness.
A banner with the words "Sack Meire or We Boycott" should get the message across.
I like your style but it's no good threatening something you can't effectively deliver as sufficient fans will still be in attendance. The 5 minute absence at the start of a game with demos after this season and ST boycott next season is the way to go IMO.
The point i made to the 3 guys behind me on Saturday was, (Only watching because they turned up to protest) that you think by staying away your hitting Duchatelet in the pocket and making a point. Any normal businessman i would agree, and this would be a valid way to get at him. and see him leave. Unless you have read the Bizarre interview that was translated in which he talks about tax shifts, our dying planet, (agree with that) Keyboard warriors, who are out of work and his hopes for a utopian society you would realize that if we end up like CAFC (Crewe) with 5000 crowds in League 1 or 2 and half of them made up of tourists and customers experiencing a family day out with the result immaterial; then he has achieved HIS ambition. In league 1 or 2, no player would earn over 3 grand a week,(most players less) and he would sell the young talent for a couple of million every now and then.
By NOT turning up, and NOT protesting you will just make this scenario come around Quicker. Can anyone else see this point of Views ? Don't make that a one off boycotters, because you are in that corridor of uncertainty (i can't help myself)
Support the Team and not the regime (Borrowed from the Geordies 2013 Protests) The Black and white Protests works on every level of straight talking. Hence because i couldn't get hold of a B+W Scarf i had that B+W golf Umbrella ella ella, shame it was raining.
Ps. I did both shifts on Saturday and even got a quick glance from Murray with a Varney army,in the stadium ( My voice was Fuc#ed Saturday Night) and hope it is, every game until they go.
Great idea...funny i suggested a half game boycott here last week and got pelted by some of the idiots on here. Keep those ideas coming.
Problem is, as ever, the best you can hope for is 20-30% agreeing to this. And then if we are on the attack (just humour me for a second) or it's a cracking game (rememeber them) I suspect most people will stay to watch. This kind of protest needs large scale support or it will play into Meire's hands as she will claim it just shows all the old fans have weak bladders.
Yes/A boycott is absolutely necessary. As NightMeire said if we didn't like the food in the restaurant or cinema experience as Customers we wouldn't demonstrate or "scream at the Management" we just wouldn't use that restaurant or go to that cinema anymore. I am saying we should hold Nightmeire to her own logic and as "Customers" we should simply refuse to pay for something we were not happy with. Simple, a Boycott it is then.
this is the problem. in her eyes this would make sense but what she doesn't get is that we support the team as if it's an obligation, a marriage in a world of no divorces. many of us cant just say ahh screw it I'm boycotting. we can at a restaurant or in a pub we don't like but this is our football team, it means so much more. this is why I don't believe boycotting will work as I don't believe enough of us will want to do it to make it work.
A banner with the words "Sack Meire or We Boycott" should get the message across.
Football is different from other products though. If I had an issue with Sainsbury's, I could boycott them and go to a rival, ditto swapping chocolate bars or minicab firms or whatever. I've no emotional tie to a supermarket.
However much I distrust/dislike the owners, I still care about the 11 people on the pitch, even if it's not as much as it was a few years ago
what I found disappointing on saturday, were the streams of fans just walking away after the game. I wanted to grab them and drag them back to the protest, or ask why they didn't seem to care enough to lend their weight to our plight.
of course I don't know why they didn't but it felt like they simply weren't interested and are willing to put up with this, which I believe is a huge obstacle to overcome.
You shouldn't be so hard on people. Aside from those that don't agree with or are ambivalent towards the protest, there will be plenty of other reasons. Me? I had a shocking cold (still do) and could barely speak without coughing, let alone chant. At this time of year maybe up to 10% of people could have been in my situation and did not fancy catching pneumonia by standing in the rain for an hour. So I did my protest in silence in my car in the West Stand car park with the engine running and heater on! There will have been countless other "excuses" too.
I don't have a problem with people and excuses but apathy, I can't abide.
If literally everyone did it, it would be effective and I would follow. But it would be too hard to organise and would not work properly, a protest such as the one last week will be far more effective.
Comments
I would have no self-respect if I handed over my cash after everything they've said/done/haven't done. I have not set foot in The Valley for a year now for that reason. Happy to attend any protests though. The one last Saturday was extremely moving and impressive and was proud to be there.
The majority of fans don't give a shit / really know or care what's going on, that's what we're up against. Will always be like that in the world of football. Which is why we must keep the momentum up as much as we can.
On a positive note, it will be a joyful experience when I set foot in The Valley again. I hope I'm able to sooner rather than later.
Bring a tent, plenty of food / drink and a portaloo.
What would a match boycott do? In my opinion play right into the hands of RD & KM.
To many , it doesn't make sense that they are prepared to let the club / business sink. Surely staying in the Championship with good players would make the club financially successful, so why let your business decline. What is the point.
My fear is that by doing this , supporters become dissalusioned, create a void and then - they have their answer , sell the only assets that are worth any real money to them the VALLEY. Their answer will be the supporters are not interested in the club!
This maybe a very simplistic view, but it is the fear that I have. KM and RD are trying to alienate us from our club, GReenwich council tried and failed because we stuck together and stayed with our team.
So protests yes, not entering the ground until 5 min before kick off yes , publicise our plight yes but don't lets leave the team that we support, because without our presence at games I trully believe we will loose our ground and club .
An empty ground preceded and followed by well attended protests would be very powerful. So even if people only do it for one game it would be a significant statement and a threat of what can happen.
West Ham ad in paper today offering season tickets for less than £300. That's a severe threat to new support and floating support so an empty ground would show what would happen if they keep abusing current supporters goodwill.
Dialogue has not worked with this lot in two years and yo not even acknowledge Saturday's scenes emphasises the contempt and indifference they hold for us their "customers".
Attending is to me like spending all week bemoaning tescos on the Internet then protesting outside before going in and doing your weekly shopping caveating it that you've previously paid for vouchers.
Fair play to those doing it but I can't understand the mentality.
If good vocal support in numbers made a real difference we would be champions of local derbies and would never win away up north on Tuesdays.
Can understand people still going and took a lot of willpower to not say sod it and just get a ticket on Saturday in between protests and I miss what has been an integral part of my life for nearly three decades.
But there is a bigger issue here at the moment than turning up to cheer on a team who in the main are only Charlton because they're running around in our shirt and that's getting this lot out before they destroy our club beyond repair.
Aside from those that don't agree with or are ambivalent towards the protest, there will be plenty of other reasons. Me? I had a shocking cold (still do) and could barely speak without coughing, let alone chant. At this time of year maybe up to 10% of people could have been in my situation and did not fancy catching pneumonia by standing in the rain for an hour.
So I did my protest in silence in my car in the West Stand car park with the engine running and heater on!
There will have been countless other "excuses" too.
This is not a short-term boycott but RD is not in this for the short term. And if that woman remains as CEO, the marked reduction in turnover will take a lot of explaining.
Personally I agree with a boycott, but in reality it has to be accepted that until things got a lot, lot worse it just isn't really possible as enough people would still go to make the boycott a non-event.
Not buying stuff in the stadium etc. is about as close as we'll get for now - which is fine I guess, it's still a step in the right direction and will affect the owners somewhat.
Any normal businessman i would agree, and this would be a valid way to get at him. and see him leave.
Unless you have read the Bizarre interview that was translated in which he talks about tax shifts, our dying planet, (agree with that) Keyboard warriors, who are out of work and his hopes for a utopian society you would realize that if we end up like CAFC (Crewe) with 5000 crowds in League 1 or 2 and half of them made up of tourists and customers experiencing a family day out with the result immaterial; then he has achieved HIS ambition.
In league 1 or 2, no player would earn over 3 grand a week,(most players less) and he would sell the young talent for a couple of million every now and then.
By NOT turning up, and NOT protesting you will just make this scenario come around
Quicker.
Can anyone else see this point of Views ?
Don't make that a one off boycotters, because you are in that corridor of uncertainty (i can't help myself)
Support the Team and not the regime (Borrowed from the Geordies 2013 Protests)
The Black and white Protests works on every level of straight talking.
Hence because i couldn't get hold of a B+W Scarf i had that B+W golf
Umbrella ella ella, shame it was raining.
Ps. I did both shifts on Saturday and even got a quick glance from Murray with a Varney army,in the stadium ( My voice was Fuc#ed Saturday Night) and hope it is, every game until they go.
However much I distrust/dislike the owners, I still care about the 11 people on the pitch, even if it's not as much as it was a few years ago
hope your colds better.
We need to get hostile with them without breaking the law.