Anyone that thinks the CEO of a football club can get away with statements like not caring about the clubs history, calling fans customers, watching the premier league stars of the future, improving our status with each new coach and treating the clubs loyal staff with utter contempt probably aren't proper Charlton and will believe in any old chuff fed to them and is beyond help. Fair enough, they are entitled to believe what they like but when you belong to a forum run by the wife of a club secretary who tells you everything is going to be alright without going into any details because she is in the know is a rat following a tune blown by the pied piper.
So if someone 'just wants to watch the football' rather than protest then it is fair to assume they are unconcerned about the future of the club. In which case should we refer to them as football supporters rather than Charlton supporters ?
There is nothing to be gained by saying some are better Charlton fans than others. In fact it only alienates groups. It's exactly what goes on in SE7 Valiants and I'd be keen to avoid anything they do.
I'm not saying that at all.
If someone just wants to go to a match this week, watch 90 minutes of football and does not care if the team exists next week then surely they have no attachment to that team ? In which case they support football rather than a team.
But I doubt that is what they think.
They don't see the regime as a threat or something to worry about.
But If a Saudi Arabian takes over is that Fine ? What would the Woolwich army boys think of that.
If an American Property developer takes over is that OK.
Talking to many Coventry fans before and after the game on the train Made me realize how shocking SISU are. The hedge fund guys have probably had a punt on them getting relegated. It's in their DNA. The same type who made a killing on Brexit.
Why would Duchatlet sell to an Owner who cares any more than he does ? The Days Duchatelet goes i'm not too sure the street party should be straight away unless we hear that Peter Varney got someone else to be the middle man in a deal. If so let's party all year.
If your charlton glass isn't smashed you must be on some new wonder drug.
But If a Saudi Arabian takes over is that Fine ? What would the Woolwich army boys think of that.
If an American Property developer takes over is that OK.
Talking to many Coventry fans before and after the game on the train Made me realize how shocking SISU are. The hedge fund guys have probably had a punt on them getting relegated. It's in their DNA. The same type who made a killing on Brexit.
Why would Duchatlet sell to an Owner who cares any more than he does ? The Days Duchatelet goes i'm not too sure the street party should be straight away unless we hear that Peter Varney got someone else to be the middle man in a deal. If so let's party all year.
If your charlton glass isn't smashed you must be on some new wonder drug.
But presumably, in all of those hypothetical options, we judge the new owner by the same standards that Roland has been judged ?
Getting rid of RD is the start of getting our club back, it's not necessarily the end.
I'd be interested to hear any regime supporters thoughts after the Belgians have gone.
I get that some fans just want to watch football and spend that time with friends and family. But there are genuinely people who are supportive of them - I really really don't understand that.
You can count the amount of good things the Belgians have done on the fingers of one foot.
You can count the number of good things they've done on this foot.
Without wishing to come across as ageist, I have found that the vast majority of those who complain about protests on matchdays (not including the attention seekers with vendettas) are elder supporters. Those who maybe don't follow things on Twitter, Charlton Life etc and therefore don't care too much about the politics outside of the 90 mins.
Fair enough I say, but I won't cease protesting inside or outside the ground for anyone who claims it is ruining their experience. I want to have a club to support for decades and decades, just like they have.
But If a Saudi Arabian takes over is that Fine ? What would the Woolwich army boys think of that.
If an American Property developer takes over is that OK.
Talking to many Coventry fans before and after the game on the train Made me realize how shocking SISU are. The hedge fund guys have probably had a punt on them getting relegated. It's in their DNA. The same type who made a killing on Brexit.
Why would Duchatlet sell to an Owner who cares any more than he does ? The Days Duchatelet goes i'm not too sure the street party should be straight away unless we hear that Peter Varney got someone else to be the middle man in a deal. If so let's party all year.
If your charlton glass isn't smashed you must be on some new wonder drug.
But presumably, in all of those hypothetical options, we judge the new owner by the same standards that Roland has been judged ?
Getting rid of RD is the start of getting our club back, it's not necessarily the end.
Even suggests that KM has told Slade and the players not to mention the protests - if you take a look at the post match interviews, they're all asked questions but no definitive answers
That is my opinion too. Some fans just want to see the match and don't even think about who owns the club.
I should point out that was not my view, it was in answer to se9addick's post. Should have quoted. I do believe that many are oblivious to who owns the club, and probably never give it a thought. Does that make them less Charlton fans than those who do? I have no idea, but I know the regime's greatest strength is the division between the two groups. Divide and rule is their motto.
So if someone 'just wants to watch the football' rather than protest then it is fair to assume they are unconcerned about the future of the club. In which case should we refer to them as football supporters rather than Charlton supporters ?
There is nothing to be gained by saying some are better Charlton fans than others. In fact it only alienates groups. It's exactly what goes on in SE7 Valiants and I'd be keen to avoid anything they do.
I'm not saying that at all.
If someone just wants to go to a match this week, watch 90 minutes of football and does not care if the team exists next week then surely they have no attachment to that team ? In which case they support football rather than a team.
But I doubt that is what they think.
They don't see the regime as a threat or something to worry about.
Their threshold is different from others.
They are still fans regardless.
But I'm talking about people that DO think like that. If they don't then by definition they are probably supporters of the club. I've spoken to people who like to go to matches but have no particular affinity to any club or their club is too far to travel to. They may go more often to a particular club due to proximity or other reasons but would not profess to support them.
These are the fans who won't mind if the club drops into the Conference or lower because at the end of the day, it's still 'Charlton' on the badge and on the ticket. You can't fault that. However, if they don't mind watching players that are simply not good enough or fit enough to play professional football or players that swear at the fans or do not play for the badge then why are they happy for their ticket prices to stay at a level where we ought to be signing ambitious, talent players at the price you need to pay in order to fund such players? Surely they must understand they are being completely ripped off?
As you get old you experience all types of strange behaviours. There will be all sorts of reasons, some just like being different - it makes them feel important, some have agendas against certain personalities, and some feel that the only way is to support the team. Before the war, there were many people who wanted peace with Germany despite what was happening. You just have to accept it, and realise that with the numbers involved, there will always be a small number. I think it is best to ignore them. Situations sometimes need Winston Churchills over Neville Chamberlains.
People who " just want to watch football" fair enough, but they are not fans. No one can be a true fan of Charlton and be happy with what the regime and especially KM has done to the club.
As you get old you experience all types of strange behaviours. There will be all sorts of reasons, some just like being different - it makes them feel important, some have agendas against certain personalities, and some feel that the only way is to support the team. Before the war, there were many people who wanted peace with Germany despite what was happening. You just have to accept it, and realise that with the numbers involved, there will always be a small number. I think it is best to ignore them. Situations sometimes need Winston Churchills over Neville Chamberlains.
People who " just want to watch football" fair enough, but they are not fans. No one can be a true fan of Charlton and be happy with what the regime and especially KM has done to the club.
Again, I don't think they are "happy with what the regime...has done to the club" - they just want to watch football. Your assuming not supporting the protests means that they are happy with the regime. I'm arguing there's a middle ground where a large number of our fans sit where they have no feeling one way or another toward the regime and just want to watch a football match. This group of fans probably don't spend every waking moment of their lives on Charlton Life or worrying about the actions of our CEO, it's probably a thoroughly decent way to live !
I would hazard a guess that the the apologists are thinly spread although there is more concentration around the prawn sandwich 'siddarn' brigade in the West Stand who seem more vociferous. There is also a sprinkling in the East Stand but they really are the vast MINORITY.
Thanks - good to know! Reading various reports on here it would seem that this minority is not afraid to make itself heard though.
Last time I was in the East Stand I heard someone moaning about "pillocks in black and white scarves" and that the Belgians saved the club. Yes, they saved it so you could watch the likes of Thuram, Vaz Te and Johnson lose to teams so low down the table their stadiums don't even have a roof you total berk.
Like when Sunley saved the club. That was fine with some and ultimately may have seen us merge with Palace left unchallenged.
So if someone 'just wants to watch the football' rather than protest then it is fair to assume they are unconcerned about the future of the club. In which case should we refer to them as football supporters rather than Charlton supporters ?
There is nothing to be gained by saying some are better Charlton fans than others. In fact it only alienates groups. It's exactly what goes on in SE7 Valiants and I'd be keen to avoid anything they do.
I'm not saying that at all.
If someone just wants to go to a match this week, watch 90 minutes of football and does not care if the team exists next week then surely they have no attachment to that team ? In which case they support football rather than a team.
It's more nuanced than that, as LenGlover says, there are many reasons and motivations for being a supporter and attending games.
I can't say as I have met anyone who claims to be a supporter of the regime, but there are people who aren't interested in the regime stuff, and I assume they don't believe the club to be in real danger. Maybe to some it's just another downswing that will eventually swing the other way.
These are the fans who won't mind if the club drops into the Conference or lower because at the end of the day, it's still 'Charlton' on the badge and on the ticket. You can't fault that. However, if they don't mind watching players that are simply not good enough or fit enough to play professional football or players that swear at the fans or do not play for the badge then why are they happy for their ticket prices to stay at a level where we ought to be signing ambitious, talent players at the price you need to pay in order to fund such players? Surely they must understand they are being completely ripped off?
The standard of the football doesn't affect my support much either. What I don my understand is how these types of fans don't seem to care about the contempt they are being treated with by our ownership.
I recall the Middlesbrough game last year when half the fans walked out as part of the planned protest and 'missed' a goal. All the happy clappers on the coach going home seemed to be very smug about being there to see the goal and being 'proper supporters''
As you get old you experience all types of strange behaviours. There will be all sorts of reasons, some just like being different - it makes them feel important, some have agendas against certain personalities, and some feel that the only way is to support the team. Before the war, there were many people who wanted peace with Germany despite what was happening. You just have to accept it, and realise that with the numbers involved, there will always be a small number. I think it is best to ignore them. Situations sometimes need Winston Churchills over Neville Chamberlains.
Like Gallipoli ?
For some one Voted "the Greatest Britain"
Other than 1940-45 when he was the right man in the right place, Churchill's record was dubious to say the least.
Without wishing to come across as ageist, I have found that the vast majority of those who complain about protests on matchdays (not including the attention seekers with vendettas) are elder supporters. Those who maybe don't follow things on Twitter, Charlton Life etc and therefore don't care too much about the politics outside of the 90 mins.
Fair enough I say, but I won't cease protesting inside or outside the ground for anyone who claims it is ruining their experience. I want to have a club to support for decades and decades, just like they have.
Back in my ST days I used to sit next to a lovely old bloke who had been a ST holder for decades. He used to take the piss out of me for my loyalty to Powell and really couldn't understand my dislike of Roland (This was 14/15). He once said to me, 'What's everyone got against Palace anyway? They let us groundshare with them.' He just seemed to experience football in a totally different way to me. I would imagine he doesn't get the protests.
To my mind, there are several reasons why supporters are either pro or anti the regime fans.
There is the faction that honestly have little or no idea what all the fuss is about ! They may invariably be of the older generation - those who do not have access to forums, Facebook, twitter or even the internet and who trust their fortnightly purchase of VR to give them all the news they require about their club . They will have witnessed many reincarnations of CAFC over the years, including questionable owners, managers and players so what's different this time, they ask ? We've overcome similar challenges before & come out the other side so don't worry ! I DO appreciate that the older you get, the less energy you want to use on stressing about things you think you can't change anyway (anything for a quiet life) .....
Then we have the group that believes the dissenters are the Devil's spawn . They tend to view RD as our Messiah - The One sent to save us mere mortals from the clutches of the Administrators after Mr Cash pulled the plug. They refuse to believe that the regime's modus operandi is in any way questionable and that , as it's the owner's money , he can do what he wants with it and NO-ONE should question his methods. Anyway, even if he did want to sell up, there's no-one out there busting a gut to take our club off his hands. We should be grateful for what we have ! Sit down, shut up and stop spoiling our view of the football on offer !
The 3rd group I would call The Indifferent Ones. Their allegiance to our club may have been forged during the Premiership years & they may well be first generation fans. They invariably buy a season ticket each year because it's a habit they've never bothered to break but they don't cancel every or any other commitments to attend a home game. Their matchday experience at The Valley is 50% watching the match and 50% catching up & socialising with their friends. Some may already have realised that The Olympic Stadium can offer them a better quality of football & a chance to see top teams at a reasonable price whilst some maybe can't be a*sed to change their routine. These guys and gals will invariably sit back & watch the protests until such time as a match might be abandoned, spoiling their day, when they could be galvanised into action one way or t'other.
Finally, there are those like myself and the vast majority of Lifers who post regularly & whose aim & raison d'etre is crystal clear.
The question is, what would it take for the 2nd group to waver in their beliefs & for the 1st & 3rd groups to wake up & smell the coffee ?
Would relegation to L2 ( heaven forbid) be the catalyst ?
Or indeed, should "we" simply continue to fight the good fight in the knowledge that ALL of the above will ultimately be the beneficiaries when the battle for our club is won ?
Good post @Uboat and there's few of them out there I'm afraid on the same wavelength. Fortunately they are vastly outnumbered. No point trying to convince them we just press on and divert round them.
Anyone that thinks the CEO of a football club can get away with statements like not caring about the clubs history, calling fans customers, watching the premier league stars of the future, improving our status with each new coach and treating the clubs loyal staff with utter contempt probably aren't proper Charlton and will believe in any old chuff fed to them and is beyond help. Fair enough, they are entitled to believe what they like but when you belong to a forum run by the wife of a club secretary who tells you everything is going to be alright without going into any details because she is in the know is a rat following a tune blown by the pied piper.
The thing about those statements are that she had no reason to make them and they were insulting. If she doesn't care about the clubs history, fine, don't say it to a reporter though - unles syou are stupid. As Charlton fans, we accept that talented players will be sold at some point, but teh way she put it was very damaging and alongside insulting remarks about supporters. If teh owner cannot understand this level of incompetence, you should know all you need to know about his judgement or lack of it. This has allowed stupid ideas to take precidence over sensible ones. If he sacked Meire and explained what lessons he had learned, maybe there would be a way forwards for him, but the fact he doesn't and won't says it all for me.
Comments
They don't see the regime as a threat or something to worry about.
Their threshold is different from others.
They are still fans regardless.
But If a Saudi Arabian takes over is that Fine ?
What would the Woolwich army boys think of that.
If an American Property developer takes over is that OK.
Talking to many Coventry fans before and after the game on the train
Made me realize how shocking SISU are.
The hedge fund guys have probably had a punt on them getting relegated.
It's in their DNA.
The same type who made a killing on Brexit.
Why would Duchatlet sell to an Owner who cares any more than he does ?
The Days Duchatelet goes i'm not too sure the street party should be straight away unless we hear that Peter Varney got someone else to be the middle man in a deal. If so let's party all year.
If your charlton glass isn't smashed you must be on some new wonder drug.
Getting rid of RD is the start of getting our club back, it's not necessarily the end.
Fair enough I say, but I won't cease protesting inside or outside the ground for anyone who claims it is ruining their experience. I want to have a club to support for decades and decades, just like they have.
I agree 100% with the last sentence.
No one can be a true fan of Charlton and be happy with what the regime and especially KM has done to the club.
Belgiums are deluded or thought a easy buck was there to make.
I can't say as I have met anyone who claims to be a supporter of the regime, but there are people who aren't interested in the regime stuff, and I assume they don't believe the club to be in real danger. Maybe to some it's just another downswing that will eventually swing the other way.
I recall the Middlesbrough game last year when half the fans walked out as part of the planned protest and 'missed' a goal. All the happy clappers on the coach going home seemed to be very smug about being there to see the goal and being 'proper supporters''
It winds me up no end
Other than 1940-45 when he was the right man in the right place,
Churchill's record was dubious to say the least.
There is the faction that honestly have little or no idea what all the fuss is about ! They may invariably be of the older generation - those who do not have access to forums, Facebook, twitter or even the internet and who trust their fortnightly purchase of VR to give them all the news they require about their club . They will have witnessed many reincarnations of CAFC over the years, including questionable owners, managers and players so what's different this time, they ask ? We've overcome similar challenges before & come out the other side so don't worry ! I DO appreciate that the older you get, the less energy you want to use on stressing about things you think you can't change anyway (anything for a quiet life) .....
Then we have the group that believes the dissenters are the Devil's spawn . They tend to view RD as our Messiah - The One sent to save us mere mortals from the clutches of the Administrators after Mr Cash pulled the plug. They refuse to believe that the regime's modus operandi is in any way questionable and that , as it's the owner's money , he can do what he wants with it and NO-ONE should question his methods. Anyway, even if he did want to sell up, there's no-one out there busting a gut to take our club off his hands. We should be grateful for what we have ! Sit down, shut up and stop spoiling our view of the football on offer !
The 3rd group I would call The Indifferent Ones. Their allegiance to our club may have been forged during the Premiership years & they may well be first generation fans. They invariably buy a season ticket each year because it's a habit they've never bothered to break but they don't cancel every or any other commitments to attend a home game. Their matchday experience at The Valley is 50% watching the match and 50% catching up & socialising with their friends. Some may already have realised that The Olympic Stadium can offer them a better quality of football & a chance to see top teams at a reasonable price whilst some maybe can't be a*sed to change their routine. These guys and gals will invariably sit back & watch the protests until such time as a match might be abandoned, spoiling their day, when they could be galvanised into action one way or t'other.
Finally, there are those like myself and the vast majority of Lifers who post regularly & whose aim & raison d'etre is crystal clear.
The question is, what would it take for the 2nd group to waver in their beliefs & for the 1st & 3rd groups to wake up & smell the coffee ?
Would relegation to L2 ( heaven forbid) be the catalyst ?
Or indeed, should "we" simply continue to fight the good fight in the knowledge that ALL of the above will ultimately be the beneficiaries when the battle for our club is won ?