Can we please stop this endless comparison of the current regime to those of 30, 40, 50 yrs ago? The money for the last two decades in the game driven by television and particularly Sky has transformed the entire industry landscape.
It is akin to the comparative pursuit of warfare over the same period while ignoring the technicological advances in armaments.
The days of the local builder, baker, butcher and timber merchants dipping their hands in their pockets each and every season have long passed into history.
If you do not recognise the distinction then it is not surprising you do not recognise the fundamental flaw in the argument so many seem so desperate to hang on to.
Positioning any regime against what you see as the worst regimes is not an endorsement. It is the very definition of "damning with faint praise".
Mametz has summarised the profiles of past administrations very well.
The overriding theme through all of them, no matter their failings, was their intent to produce a first team able to compete successfully at the highest possible level.
THIS REGIME POSSESSES NO SUCH ASPIRATION.
The focus of this regime via its Belgian Corporate vehicle as evidenced by its policies, actions and decisions over 31 months is to trade profitably from player acquisition, development and sales.
NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS.
Anecdotal evidence from the € 20mn pulled out of Standard Liege which probably funded our purchase and the recent sale of the young Belgian striker by Marseille to Chelsea earning/ repaying Staprix circa £10mn testify to this approach.
Sadly so badly have they misunderstood their UK venture they consistently ignored the market needs and opportunities increasing our debt to nearer £45mn whilst now losing circa £5mn p.a. revenue in getting the club relegated to a level at which the current "Chairman" has long stated the club is not sustainable.
The consequence of these "club failures" is any "profit" which may finally accrue to the club on player turnaround (Gudmundsson will be the first) will for the foreseeable future merely reduce the debt including the ever accruing interest to Staprix created by an appalling performance overseen by the common key shareholder.
The club has become no more than a vehicle for the Staprix P&L.
The entire ambition and consequent strategy is determined by a financial business model which at best pays mere lip service to the underlying principle of producing team striving for sporting excellence.
It is a recipe for stagnation and decline.
I understand and commiserate with the regular churn about the decades of supporting your club but regrettably the fundamentals of the club you supported for all of those years no longer exist. It is your club in name only no matter how fervently you may wish it otherwise.
It is almost uniquely (Oyston and Blackpool seem to be on the same journey) a fundamental betrayal of the national game.
The current key shareholder is entirely ambivalent to the success of the first team. That is not an accusation you could levy at Gliksten, Hulyer, the Sunleys, the multiple iterations of Murray, the S&J duo all of whom sought first team success within their financial capacity.
Each administration regularly sold players for financial survival but at the same time did their best to support the manager of the day by reinvesting in the first team squad.
It matters not whether you are at Level 1 or Level 8 of the football pyramid that has to be the minimum expectation of the players, coaches, managers and supporters of any professional team organisation.
I repeat it is not the case today. So no, in sporting terms the club has not been in a worse state.
I could argue with an unprecedented level of debt it has never been in a worse financial position either.
For those wishing to embrace the "new approach" of an English manager and the arrival of the first 3 English senior professionals direct from other English senior clubs the club, now into its 2nd week of the preseason, is still grossly underprepared for the season ahead.
Our season starts just 4 Saturdays away.
How many senior operating positions across the business remain unfilled?
Preparation is key to building the foundations of a successful season.
Even if I concede there is an intent to change, and it is at this stage a huge assumption the manager will be properly supported in structuring an appropriate first team squad, there is little evidence to suggest the necessary competence to successfully deliver such change exists.
I do not suggest managing a relegation is easy. It isn't but in preparation for a new season it is important you generate and sustain a new momentum. An experienced, focused CEO will have recognised the need to make things happen to drive such change, to create momentum.
I regret there is little indication our corporate ownership even recognises such requirement let alone has the competence to deliver.
At the time of writing we have circa 42 professionals under contract of which 21 have minimal if any League experience.
Of the other 18 outfield players Bauer, Diarra, Lennon, and Kashi are not match fit.
Of the remaining players; - Gudmundsson and Bergdich will certainly be enjoying pastures. - Cousins, Texeira and probably Lookman are on the trading block - Solly and Jackson carry repeating injury profiles
So within 4 weeks we face having to build on the core of Johnson, Fox, Ba, Holmes, Novak, Ajose, Watt of whom 3 have only been at the club for a matter of days.
The squad despite its change in resourcing today carries a very great many of the pitfalls we have seen over the past 2 close seasons. The core of the squad in defence and in midfield looks as fragile as ever.
If such a framework represents to you a serious and competent attempt by the executive of the club to support Mr Slade in his endeavours to achieve success on the field on behalf of all of us then I seriously beg to differ.
The club is still to even appoint an assistant for Slade and a replacement Doctor.
I fully hope those who have chosen to invest in season tickets for the coming season enjoy the experience but at present it remains a huge leap of faith there has been any material change in the underlying management of the club.
Slade is a bright guy, articulate, educated and so on. Surely he must suss out the stuff Grapevine has written about footballing ambition soon enough, if he doesn't already know?
In Slade's original press conference he ominously mentioned that we have to remember this is a business. he has commented at least twice about not letting players go cheaply. My question is has Slade got into something he really didn't have a handle on, or is he accepting of this Duchatelet crap, even complicit? Or is he naive and innocent, bought easily by the offer of a job, and the signing of three players he quite fancied...but they had to be cheap!
Slade seems acquisitive in learning about our past, quoting our foundation as a club, maybe Slade should not look back so far, but concentrate on the happenings of the past 31 months.
I shall be looking at team selection with great interest under Slade, especially in terms of how 5 of the team compare with the other six. I know that sounds obtuse, but it is based on a whisper I heard that seemed rather incendiary and I need evidence for. I won't say any more and some of you might make a guess as to what i am getting at.
BTW whispers are not facts, until facts bear them out.
Slade is a bright guy, articulate, educated and so on. Surely he must suss out the stuff Grapevine has written about footballing ambition soon enough, if he doesn't already know?
In Slade's original press conference he ominously mentioned that we have to remember this is a business. he has commented at least twice about not letting players go cheaply. My question is has Slade got into something he really didn't have a handle on, or is he accepting of this Duchatelet crap, even complicit? Or is he naive and innocent, bought easily by the offer of a job, and the signing of three players he quite fancied...but they had to be cheap!
Slade seems acquisitive in learning about our past, quoting our foundation as a club, maybe Slade should not look back so far, but concentrate on the happenings of the past 31 months.
I shall be looking at team selection with great interest under Slade, especially in terms of how 5 of the team compare with the other six. I know that sounds obtuse, but it is based on a whisper I heard that seemed rather incendiary and I need evidence for. I won't say any more and some of you might make a guess as to what i am getting at.
BTW whispers are not facts, until facts bear them out.
I can honestly say I haven't an effing clue what you are on about:-)
Seems to me that those on here who just love spouting about having bought season tickets are in truth feeling a bit guilty about doing so. All the "it's my club" bollocks and encouraging others to buy STs too (because they know they are in an uncomfortable minority) is just covering up their embarrassment. Buying an ST while this shit regime is in charge is just wrong. You know it. I know it.
Just read this thread...I've renewed, I was at the first protest and all the subsequent protests, I bought the scarves and supported the protests, I have ordered the CARD shirt, I also set out personal stipulations that if met I would renew...they have...guess what? I dont feel guilty about it, I dont feel embarrassed...I have my reasons, reasons that you (having read your post) would not even have the intelligence to comprehend, they are personal reasons. Furthermore, guess what, I dont give a fuck what people on a football forum think about my decision (Cue some bell posting 'not enough not to post about it though' zzz). Carry on.
May I respectfully ask what were the personal stipulations that they met? I don't see any improvement (yet). Possibly three good league one players in. Jordan gone. JBG will go plus a few other of our better players. To me that makes a far inferior squad than that we had last season.
Not a season ticket holder, but got this email from the club today...
"Last season we can see you spent more than £150 buying tickets on a match-by-match basis, meaning a season ticket for the upcoming campaign could save you money!
Our season tickets start at just £175 in the North Lower next season, which means you could be at The Valley for all 23 league matches at just £7.60 per match."
I suppose fair dos for looking at the ticket buying history, but one look at my (Scottish) address should have told them a season ticket was unrealistic. Seems strange that they are trying this while based on the comments on here they obviously haven't exhausted contacting previous season ticket holders.
My maths is a bit poor but if you spent personally £155 last year on match day tickets for the championship, it seems unlikely you would be better off paying £175 for a season ticket at league 1 gate prices?
If you spent more than £175 I can see the point maybe but why use £150 as the comparison?
Not a season ticket holder, but got this email from the club today...
"Last season we can see you spent more than £150 buying tickets on a match-by-match basis, meaning a season ticket for the upcoming campaign could save you money!
Our season tickets start at just £175 in the North Lower next season, which means you could be at The Valley for all 23 league matches at just £7.60 per match."
I suppose fair dos for looking at the ticket buying history, but one look at my (Scottish) address should have told them a season ticket was unrealistic. Seems strange that they are trying this while based on the comments on here they obviously haven't exhausted contacting previous season ticket holders.
I received a similar email. The problem is that I was a season ticket holder last season. The match tickets I bought were for family members. So it's nonsense.
Not a season ticket holder, but got this email from the club today...
"Last season we can see you spent more than £150 buying tickets on a match-by-match basis, meaning a season ticket for the upcoming campaign could save you money!
Our season tickets start at just £175 in the North Lower next season, which means you could be at The Valley for all 23 league matches at just £7.60 per match."
I suppose fair dos for looking at the ticket buying history, but one look at my (Scottish) address should have told them a season ticket was unrealistic. Seems strange that they are trying this while based on the comments on here they obviously haven't exhausted contacting previous season ticket holders.
TBH, whether Mandy or A N Other is in charge , the Ticket Office staff must be hugely under whelmed with season ticket applications this summer....so the devil ( guess who?) makes work for Idle Hans ...
But really wanted to congratulate the imperious Grapevine on his latest epic post.
Yet another gold medal winning piece that should be compulsory reading for ALL Addicks, whether a "believer" or not.
My maths is a bit poor but if you spent personally £155 last year on match day tickets for the championship, it seems unlikely you would be better off paying £175 for a season ticket at league 1 gate prices?
If you spent more than £175 I can see the point maybe but why use £150 as the comparison?
I hadn't even thought about that! Looking back I only bought 6 tickets all season (and 1 of them was the "fiver" game), so I don't think I even got to £150. I suppose they were trying to lure me in with the equivalent of a BOGOF deal (just one letter out from my reaction as it happens)
Not a season ticket holder, but got this email from the club today...
"Last season we can see you spent more than £150 buying tickets on a match-by-match basis, meaning a season ticket for the upcoming campaign could save you money!
Our season tickets start at just £175 in the North Lower next season, which means you could be at The Valley for all 23 league matches at just £7.60 per match."
I suppose fair dos for looking at the ticket buying history, but one look at my (Scottish) address should have told them a season ticket was unrealistic. Seems strange that they are trying this while based on the comments on here they obviously haven't exhausted contacting previous season ticket holders.
The club are quite chuffed about their new fangled CRM database. The thing is, if you're going to be doing targeted, data-driven marketing, you better be very good at it. There are lots of variables that can catch you out and you need to master them all with every campaign, or your clever approach comes off as anything but.
Can we please stop this endless comparison of the current regime to those of 30, 40, 50 yrs ago? The money for the last two decades in the game driven by television and particularly Sky has transformed the entire industry landscape.
It is akin to the comparative pursuit of warfare over the same period while ignoring the technicological advances in armaments.
The days of the local builder, baker, butcher and timber merchants dipping their hands in their pockets each and every season have long passed into history.
If you do not recognise the distinction then it is not surprising you do not recognise the fundamental flaw in the argument so many seem so desperate to hang on to.
Positioning any regime against what you see as the worst regimes is not an endorsement. It is the very definition of "damning with faint praise".
Mametz has summarised the profiles of past administrations very well.
The overriding theme through all of them, no matter their failings, was their intent to produce a first team able to compete successfully at the highest possible level.
THIS REGIME POSSESSES NO SUCH ASPIRATION.
The focus of this regime via its Belgian Corporate vehicle as evidenced by its policies, actions and decisions over 31 months is to trade profitably from player acquisition, development and sales.
NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS.
Anecdotal evidence from the € 20mn pulled out of Standard Liege which probably funded our purchase and the recent sale of the young Belgian striker by Marseille to Chelsea earning/ repaying Staprix circa £10mn testify to this approach.
Sadly so badly have they misunderstood their UK venture they consistently ignored the market needs and opportunities increasing our debt to nearer £45mn whilst now losing circa £5mn p.a. revenue in getting the club relegated to a level at which the current "Chairman" has long stated the club is not sustainable.
The consequence of these "club failures" is any "profit" which may finally accrue to the club on player turnaround (Gudmundsson will be the first) will for the foreseeable future merely reduce the debt including the ever accruing interest to Staprix created by an appalling performance overseen by the common key shareholder.
The club has become no more than a vehicle for the Staprix P&L.
The entire ambition and consequent strategy is determined by a financial business model which at best pays mere lip service to the underlying principle of producing team striving for sporting excellence.
It is a recipe for stagnation and decline.
I understand and commiserate with the regular churn about the decades of supporting your club but regrettably the fundamentals of the club you supported for all of those years no longer exist. It is your club in name only no matter how fervently you may wish it otherwise.
It is almost uniquely (Oyston and Blackpool seem to be on the same journey) a fundamental betrayal of the national game.
The current key shareholder is entirely ambivalent to the success of the first team. That is not an accusation you could levy at Gliksten, Hulyer, the Sunleys, the multiple iterations of Murray, the S&J duo all of whom sought first team success within their financial capacity.
Each administration regularly sold players for financial survival but at the same time did their best to support the manager of the day by reinvesting in the first team squad.
It matters not whether you are at Level 1 or Level 8 of the football pyramid that has to be the minimum expectation of the players, coaches, managers and supporters of any professional team organisation.
I repeat it is not the case today. So no, in sporting terms the club has not been in a worse state.
I could argue with an unprecedented level of debt it has never been in a worse financial position either.
For those wishing to embrace the "new approach" of an English manager and the arrival of the first 3 English senior professionals direct from other English senior clubs the club, now into its 2nd week of the preseason, is still grossly underprepared for the season ahead.
Our season starts just 4 Saturdays away.
How many senior operating positions across the business remain unfilled?
Preparation is key to building the foundations of a successful season.
Even if I concede there is an intent to change, and it is at this stage a huge assumption the manager will be properly supported in structuring an appropriate first team squad, there is little evidence to suggest the necessary competence to successfully deliver such change exists.
I do not suggest managing a relegation is easy. It isn't but in preparation for a new season it is important you generate and sustain a new momentum. An experienced, focused CEO will have recognised the need to make things happen to drive such change, to create momentum.
I regret there is little indication our corporate ownership even recognises such requirement let alone has the competence to deliver.
At the time of writing we have circa 42 professionals under contract of which 21 have minimal if any League experience.
Of the other 18 outfield players Bauer, Diarra, Lennon, and Kashi are not match fit.
Of the remaining players; - Gudmundsson and Bergdich will certainly be enjoying pastures. - Cousins, Texeira and probably Lookman are on the trading block - Solly and Jackson carry repeating injury profiles
So within 4 weeks we face having to build on the core of Johnson, Fox, Ba, Holmes, Novak, Ajose, Watt of whom 3 have only been at the club for a matter of days.
The squad despite its change in resourcing today carries a very great many of the pitfalls we have seen over the past 2 close seasons. The core of the squad in defence and in midfield looks as fragile as ever.
If such a framework represents to you a serious and competent attempt by the executive of the club to support Mr Slade in his endeavours to achieve success on the field on behalf of all of us then I seriously beg to differ.
The club is still to even appoint an assistant for Slade and a replacement Doctor.
I fully hope those who have chosen to invest in season tickets for the coming season enjoy the experience but at present it remains a huge leap of faith there has been any material change in the underlying management of the club.
There is a very great deal to be done.
So, to summarise, you think we need more players, some of last seasons losing squad will go, RD's not ambitious for the team to succeed to reach the top flight and the increase in debt (of money that the business owes RD and/or other directors) is the road to disaster.
of course we were going to lose and offload some of last years squad but that creates a problem for most of the football world, not just charlton, in that it ties the club's hands until they do go. I would hope to see some movement now deals have been done for JC (and JBG ?). It could be others will follow but realistically Slade may have to wait until the end of August before he will know for sure what his final squad will look like. That's football.
The increasing debt is a worry but if it's owed to RD or other directors then it's their worry, not the clubs. They are the ones that have to find a way of recovering their loans and funnily enough there are two main options (there is a third but I'll come to that afterwards. The first is get promotion to the premier league and its riches. The second is sell the club, though unless we are at least in sight of promotion to the PL that might mean taking a haircut on the debt. The third could be to asset strip the business, sell the franchise, sell the ground etc.
So, two of the options are ones Charlton fans want and the third is an option Charlton fans want to prevent.
Would love to know if any of the "loyal" customers regrets buying yet? Not having a go but the small euphoria of a new manager and a few decent signings is long gone for me.
Would love to know if any of the "loyal" customers regrets buying yet? Not having a go but the small euphoria of a new manager and a few decent signings is long gone for me.
£175 for a season ticket. A new season looming.. Why on earth would I or any football fan have any regrets ?
To paraphrase a famous saying, when a man is tired of a new season of football he is tired of life.
Would love to know if any of the "loyal" customers regrets buying yet? Not having a go but the small euphoria of a new manager and a few decent signings is long gone for me.
£175 for a season ticket. A new season looming.. Why on earth would I or any football fan have any regrets ?
To paraphrase a famous saying, when a man is tired of a new season of football he is tired of life.
So who thinks I should email the club asking why I have not received a renewal pack, email or phone call about a new season ticket. As a season ticket holder for over two decades, five of which were spent as a VIP I find this rather discriminatory to be left out in this manner. I want a phone call so I can so no too.
To add to Grapevine's eloquent post, I, too, see then and now as entitely different situations. Information available to a normal everyday supporter upon the Selhurst exile was tiny compared to today. A single piece of A5 paper, what was written in the local press together with the info in programmes and that was about it. From a personal point of view, I continued with a season ticket at Selhurst, partially because it took me no longer to get there from deepest Essex than it took to get to The Valley. But mainly because the football, in the main, was actually quite entertaining.
My recollection from that time is that the boycott was more to do with the nightmare journey from SE7 to SE25 rather than any esoteric matters of principle.
So, now, I'm a supporter of the protests of course. But as things stand I have no desire at all to buy a season ticket. This is as much a surprise to me as to anyone else. But it is quite possible that I've broken the addicktion. And you know what, it feels pretty good. It would be churlish to compare it with kicking a drug habit, but I feel better for it already.
Matchdays over the last couple of seasons have become nothing more than a tiresome chore (akin to cleaning the toilet or some other drudgery): something done merely because it was familiar, part of the routine and for no other reason. No enjoyment, no lasting memories and, naturally no opportunity to lord it over any supporters of other teams. And then the thought of driving a total of 80 miles in crap traffic including the delights of either the Blackwall or Dartford river crossings.
I had thought I'd buy a ticket for maybe six or so home games a season and a similar number of away matches. But, now, I'm really not sure that will happen. The player aquisitions have been few and insufficient. The OS says the "first team squad" has flown off to Austria. But look at it, just look at that squad and ask yourself how it will perform in a few weeks time. No midfield No defence.
So the slighest excuse, cold, rainy, windy, even a Carry On movie on ITV4 is likely to be sufficient reason to stay away.
I sincerely hope those that have decided to buy into Roland's extraordinary experiment for another year feel, come season's end, that they have enjoyed the experience. However there is compelling evidence which indicates it is more likely that they will not. I shall not be there to share their anguish.
Seems to me that those on here who just love spouting about having bought season tickets are in truth feeling a bit guilty about doing so. All the "it's my club" bollocks and encouraging others to buy STs too (because they know they are in an uncomfortable minority) is just covering up their embarrassment. Buying an ST while this shit regime is in charge is just wrong. You know it. I know it.
Just read this thread...I've renewed, I was at the first protest and all the subsequent protests, I bought the scarves and supported the protests, I have ordered the CARD shirt, I also set out personal stipulations that if met I would renew...they have...guess what? I dont feel guilty about it, I dont feel embarrassed...I have my reasons, reasons that you (having read your post) would not even have the intelligence to comprehend, they are personal reasons. Furthermore, guess what, I dont give a fuck what people on a football forum think about my decision (Cue some bell posting 'not enough not to post about it though' zzz). Carry on.
May I respectfully ask what were the personal stipulations that they met? I don't see any improvement (yet). Possibly three good league one players in. Jordan gone. JBG will go plus a few other of our better players. To me that makes a far inferior squad than that we had last season.
Of course Pete Gage, no problem:- Myself and my mates I still go with (all our dads used to take as to Charlton from the early 70's onwards, so you get the idea of commitment from all of us, and our kids go) said at the end of last season, that I/we would only renew if one of two criteria would be met. They were, that The Rat and Liar sell up OR that they appoint a proven League 1/Championship British Manager and also start adding British players with League 1/Championship experience. Now Rat and Liar are not going to sell for the forceable future, it could be 2,3,4, seasons. I honestly didn't think they would appoint an English manager and U turn by buying English players. So my mates and myself said Ok lets go to Welling and meet for beers instead of going to the Valley, BUT they did U Turn, so we have renewed.
Also from a more personal point of view, my dad, an addict since he was a kid when his dad took him to the Valley, passed away a couple of months ago, right to the end he supported the protests from afar, he moved to Norfolk 25 years ago, but still came to the Valley (albeit rarely), however he would wear his Centenary Shirt to his local whenever we were on the box. My dad was a Trade Unionist, he was Father of The Chapel at the Evening Standard. He had the Black and White protest scarf and thanks to Curb_it on here, he had the protest beer mats which he put out at home and in his local. Just before he died we were discussing the protests while he was in hospital, I said that were we boycotting. An immensely intelligent man, he pointed out that any protest is much more powerful from within, and having overseen the protests/pickets in the '80's at Murdochs Sun and Shahs Today newspapers, successfully negotiating great settlements for his members, he knows what he is talking about. Also the team loses your support. So at the Valley this season I will not buy any food/drink in the ground, I will be wearing the BW scarf and the CARD shirt and I will make my voice heard against this regime, BUT I will also support the team. The loss of 'the old man' has put all my ducks in a row, aligning what is important to me. None of us have our dads anymore (the dads were best mates) and going to football keeps their spirit alive, for us its the right thing to do. So when someone says on a football forum that I must feel guilty and embarrassed about buying a season ticket, well they dont really know which way is up, do they!
Seems to me that those on here who just love spouting about having bought season tickets are in truth feeling a bit guilty about doing so. All the "it's my club" bollocks and encouraging others to buy STs too (because they know they are in an uncomfortable minority) is just covering up their embarrassment. Buying an ST while this shit regime is in charge is just wrong. You know it. I know it.
Just read this thread...I've renewed, I was at the first protest and all the subsequent protests, I bought the scarves and supported the protests, I have ordered the CARD shirt, I also set out personal stipulations that if met I would renew...they have...guess what? I dont feel guilty about it, I dont feel embarrassed...I have my reasons, reasons that you (having read your post) would not even have the intelligence to comprehend, they are personal reasons. Furthermore, guess what, I dont give a fuck what people on a football forum think about my decision (Cue some bell posting 'not enough not to post about it though' zzz). Carry on.
May I respectfully ask what were the personal stipulations that they met? I don't see any improvement (yet). Possibly three good league one players in. Jordan gone. JBG will go plus a few other of our better players. To me that makes a far inferior squad than that we had last season.
Of course Pete Gage, no problem:- Myself and my mates I still go with (all our dads used to take as to Charlton from the early 70's onwards, so you get the idea of commitment from all of us, and our kids go) said at the end of last season, that I/we would only renew if one of two criteria would be met. They were, that The Rat and Liar sell up OR that they appoint a proven League 1/Championship British Manager and also start adding British players with League 1/Championship experience. Now Rat and Liar are not going to sell for the forceable future, it could be 2,3,4, seasons. I honestly didn't think they would appoint an English manager and U turn by buying English players. So my mates and myself said Ok lets go to Welling and meet for beers instead of going to the Valley, BUT they did U Turn, so we have renewed.
Also from a more personal point of view, my dad, an addict since he was a kid when his dad took him to the Valley, passed away a couple of months ago, right to the end he supported the protests from afar, he moved to Norfolk 25 years ago, but still came to the Valley (albeit rarely), however he would wear his Centenary Shirt to his local whenever we were on the box. My dad was a Trade Unionist, he was Father of The Chapel at the Evening Standard. He had the Black and White protest scarf and thanks to Curb_it on here, he had the protest beer mats which he put out at home and in his local. Just before he died we were discussing the protests while he was in hospital, I said that were we boycotting. An immensely intelligent man, he pointed out that any protest is much more powerful from within, and having overseen the protests/pickets in the '80's at Murdochs Sun and Shahs Today newspapers, successfully negotiating great settlements for his members, he knows what he is talking about. Also the team loses your support. So at the Valley this season I will not buy any food/drink in the ground, I will be wearing the BW scarf and the CARD shirt and I will make my voice heard against this regime, BUT I will also support the team. The loss of 'the old man' has put all my ducks in a row, aligning what is important to me. None of us have our dads anymore (the dads were best mates) and going to football keeps their spirit alive, for us its the right thing to do. So when someone says on a football forum that I must feel guilty and embarrassed about buying a season ticket, well they dont really know which way is up, do they!
Well you did ask ! )
Cheers and sorry for the long post. Greenie
@Greenie I think you set the bar far too low with the "U turn" but I agree 100% with the rest and find myself in a not too dissimilar position.
"Last season we can see you spent more than £150 buying tickets on a match-by-match basis, meaning a season ticket for the upcoming campaign could save you money!
Our season tickets start at just £175 in the North Lower next season, which means you could be at The Valley for all 23 league matches at just £7.60 per match."
.
That maybe so, but they are now offering a less attractive product to their customers. This time last season we had the hope that maybe somehow we could fluke our way into the play-offs or even something better. This time round we know the best that can happen is a promotion back to more of the same as last season. Its the hope that gets us up for another season but now I think all hope has been removed from this club while these idiots are running the show.
Comments
Plus the fixture list is dire
I want to add some to it with regard to Slade.
Slade is a bright guy, articulate, educated and so on. Surely he must suss out the stuff Grapevine has written about footballing ambition soon enough, if he doesn't already know?
In Slade's original press conference he ominously mentioned that we have to remember this is a business. he has commented at least twice about not letting players go cheaply. My question is has Slade got into something he really didn't have a handle on, or is he accepting of this Duchatelet crap, even complicit? Or is he naive and innocent, bought easily by the offer of a job, and the signing of three players he quite fancied...but they had to be cheap!
Slade seems acquisitive in learning about our past, quoting our foundation as a club, maybe Slade should not look back so far, but concentrate on the happenings of the past 31 months.
I shall be looking at team selection with great interest under Slade, especially in terms of how 5 of the team compare with the other six. I know that sounds obtuse, but it is based on a whisper I heard that seemed rather incendiary and I need evidence for. I won't say any more and some of you might make a guess as to what i am getting at.
BTW whispers are not facts, until facts bear them out.
"Last season we can see you spent more than £150 buying tickets on a match-by-match basis, meaning a season ticket for the upcoming campaign could save you money!
Our season tickets start at just £175 in the North Lower next season, which means you could be at The Valley for all 23 league matches at just £7.60 per match."
I suppose fair dos for looking at the ticket buying history, but one look at my (Scottish) address should have told them a season ticket was unrealistic. Seems strange that they are trying this while based on the comments on here they obviously haven't exhausted contacting previous season ticket holders.
If you spent more than £175 I can see the point maybe but why use £150 as the comparison?
But really wanted to congratulate the imperious Grapevine on his latest epic post.
Yet another gold medal winning piece that should be compulsory reading for ALL Addicks, whether a "believer" or not.
Once more, I salute you, fellow Lifer !
We are not worthy.
of course we were going to lose and offload some of last years squad but that creates a problem for most of the football world, not just charlton, in that it ties the club's hands until they do go. I would hope to see some movement now deals have been done for JC (and JBG ?). It could be others will follow but realistically Slade may have to wait until the end of August before he will know for sure what his final squad will look like. That's football.
The increasing debt is a worry but if it's owed to RD or other directors then it's their worry, not the clubs. They are the ones that have to find a way of recovering their loans and funnily enough there are two main options (there is a third but I'll come to that afterwards. The first is get promotion to the premier league and its riches. The second is sell the club, though unless we are at least in sight of promotion to the PL that might mean taking a haircut on the debt. The third could be to asset strip the business, sell the franchise, sell the ground etc.
So, two of the options are ones Charlton fans want and the third is an option Charlton fans want to prevent.
Turning up and supporting the team may be the best course of action if we are going to achieve the outcome fans want.
To paraphrase a famous saying, when a man is tired of a new season of football he is tired of life.
From a personal point of view, I continued with a season ticket at Selhurst, partially because it took me no longer to get there from deepest Essex than it took to get to The Valley. But mainly because the football, in the main, was actually quite entertaining.
My recollection from that time is that the boycott was more to do with the nightmare journey from SE7 to SE25 rather than any esoteric matters of principle.
So, now, I'm a supporter of the protests of course. But as things stand I have no desire at all to buy a season ticket. This is as much a surprise to me as to anyone else. But it is quite possible that I've broken the addicktion. And you know what, it feels pretty good. It would be churlish to compare it with kicking a drug habit, but I feel better for it already.
Matchdays over the last couple of seasons have become nothing more than a tiresome chore (akin to cleaning the toilet or some other drudgery): something done merely because it was familiar, part of the routine and for no other reason.
No enjoyment, no lasting memories and, naturally no opportunity to lord it over any supporters of other teams. And then the thought of driving a total of 80 miles in crap traffic including the delights of either the Blackwall or Dartford river crossings.
I had thought I'd buy a ticket for maybe six or so home games a season and a similar number of away matches. But, now, I'm really not sure that will happen. The player aquisitions have been few and insufficient. The OS says the "first team squad" has flown off to Austria. But look at it, just look at that squad and ask yourself how it will perform in a few weeks time. No midfield No defence.
So the slighest excuse, cold, rainy, windy, even a Carry On movie on ITV4 is likely to be sufficient reason to stay away.
I sincerely hope those that have decided to buy into Roland's extraordinary experiment for another year feel, come season's end, that they have enjoyed the experience. However there is compelling evidence which indicates it is more likely that they will not. I shall not be there to share their anguish.
Myself and my mates I still go with (all our dads used to take as to Charlton from the early 70's onwards, so you get the idea of commitment from all of us, and our kids go) said at the end of last season, that I/we would only renew if one of two criteria would be met. They were, that The Rat and Liar sell up OR that they appoint a proven League 1/Championship British Manager and also start adding British players with League 1/Championship experience.
Now Rat and Liar are not going to sell for the forceable future, it could be 2,3,4, seasons.
I honestly didn't think they would appoint an English manager and U turn by buying English players.
So my mates and myself said Ok lets go to Welling and meet for beers instead of going to the Valley, BUT they did U Turn, so we have renewed.
Also from a more personal point of view, my dad, an addict since he was a kid when his dad took him to the Valley, passed away a couple of months ago, right to the end he supported the protests from afar, he moved to Norfolk 25 years ago, but still came to the Valley (albeit rarely), however he would wear his Centenary Shirt to his local whenever we were on the box. My dad was a Trade Unionist, he was Father of The Chapel at the Evening Standard.
He had the Black and White protest scarf and thanks to Curb_it on here, he had the protest beer mats which he put out at home and in his local.
Just before he died we were discussing the protests while he was in hospital, I said that were we boycotting. An immensely intelligent man, he pointed out that any protest is much more powerful from within, and having overseen the protests/pickets in the '80's at Murdochs Sun and Shahs Today newspapers, successfully negotiating great settlements for his members, he knows what he is talking about. Also the team loses your support. So at the Valley this season I will not buy any food/drink in the ground, I will be wearing the BW scarf and the CARD shirt and I will make my voice heard against this regime, BUT I will also support the team.
The loss of 'the old man' has put all my ducks in a row, aligning what is important to me. None of us have our dads anymore (the dads were best mates) and going to football keeps their spirit alive, for us its the right thing to do.
So when someone says on a football forum that I must feel guilty and embarrassed about buying a season ticket, well they dont really know which way is up, do they!
Well you did ask !
Cheers and sorry for the long post.
Greenie
I think you set the bar far too low with the "U turn" but I agree 100% with the rest and find myself in a not too dissimilar position.
This time last season we had the hope that maybe somehow we could fluke our way into the play-offs or even something better. This time round we know the best that can happen is a promotion back to more of the same as last season. Its the hope that gets us up for another season but now I think all hope has been removed from this club while these idiots are running the show.