I do not think it is meant to build bridges. It is supposed to celebrate 25 years since our return. It will not and is not changing people's mind, it is however a decent thing to do.
There clearly are some very bitter people on here. Stop upsetting yourselves and support the club are working with fans to build bridges and sadly as highlighted for ages there are certain people that are bell bent on causing trouble.
They're building bridges to those buying STs. Doesn't have any effect on me and as an ex season ticket holder I'm actually who they need to reach. So the initiative is actually good but a waste if they want to increase the numbers attending.
Unfortunately it's a case of cutting your nose off to spite your face. As stated earlier there are no winners in this but only losers. Personally I couldn't imagine not having my Saturday football, away days, few pints with my mates, going to the game with my lad (forth generation) and we are travelling every week from Surrey. Do I agree with some things that have happened in the past ? No. However the pleasure I get from going to support the team in which I do and not fund an owner who is losing X million per month outweighs the bitterness. Sadly there are people who are doing this for there own personal agenda and they are as bad if not worse in terms of tearing the fan base apart. The reality is in life you have one team and you support them through good times but is more important to support them through the bad times as it is when they the players need you most.
Apologies for being annoyed at some having a jossle over a fancy box ( for the record not people on here the Facebook group ) the man has taken us from a stable championship club to a average joe league 1 side, we will be lucky to scrape playoffs, but of course I'm not a charlton fan and only want the club to fail and should praise them for it.
25 years - of course remember it, but I'm not going to praise them, I would rather be in the championship as a stable club instead of where we are now with an exclusive Hummel kit - if I'm wrong and they have changed then I'll scoff humble pie, personally I think I'll be going hungry.
One season in the championship after being promot d,from league one after being down there for three seasons in of which one of those we finished in our lowest position ever does not make us a "stable club" does it? Under the tenure of Jeminez and Slater can you remember the pitch in which we played on and the firce criticism it came under especially the adandonmemt of the match in August due to a waterlogged pitch? Everything costs money as well as time, there are clubs in the championship and yes I can comment about this as I work within the game and am aware how long decisions can take to be made within football, you think you are there with a deal and drags for weeks if not months, then you think it is a dead deal for it all to be resurrected and done in twenty four hours. There are clubs that at this moment in time all appears to be going wonderfully well on the outside however when you get inside the club itself the ownership is awful, staff unhappy, things are being scrapped in which there is no future for the club however we are the complete opposite and we should be positive about our future as it looks a lot brighter than most clubs including those above us and we are the envy of many in terms of facilities and wages in which we spend.
Whilst I would question your pronouncement that our club is "the complete opposite" of others seemingly well run, even successful , I would be going over old ground , albeit waterlogged or, as in SE7 last season, frozen, so I'll merely ask you one thing.
Let's suppose you could ask a selection of supporters, across the board, from the other 91 clubs to describe Charlton Athletic FC, in one short phrase, as they currently view our club, what do you think would be the overall perception ?
"Well respected" ? " Family friendly" ? " Well run" ? " Successful" ?
I want to challenge very strongly the idea that it's "a nice gesture". It isn't a nice gesture at all, it's a PR stunt. They are trying to bolster their damaged reputation by buying people off: Season ticket holders, who they know will be softer targets than lapsed attendees. This is the regime that has torn our club apart. They traded decent players for useless wannabes. They lied to fans. They drove people away. What they are doing now is the equivalent of giving your loved one a bunch of flowers after you've cheated on them. It stinks. It's just a manipulative ploy to try and fool people. And all for what? The cost of a scarf and a calendar, well whoopee do.
For those who think it's about building bridges, here's an idea. If they want to build bridges they should start by apologising. They should then produce a list of errors and formulate plans to ensure that they do not repeat them. They will not do that, because they are in denial about whose fault this mess is.
And as for all this Back the The Valley nonsense, it's sickening. They are not interested in that at all. We have an owner who has stated that competitive football is not important and a CEO who has said she does not care for the history of the club. They are piggy packing on this anniversary to try and gain brownie points. As @charltonkeston so eloquently put it, the PR company "are using some of my [our] best memories and associating them with the current vermin". Wake up, people. How many extra chances do this lot need?
But Stig, I think you're missing the point. It comes in a nice red box! - Oh alright then, I take it back they must be genuinely decent people who have learnt the error of their ways and are committed to change. Viva Duchatelet. Viva Meire. Viva The Regime.
Fancy little box of goodies to appease the faithful. A nice gesture and clever marketing. But when the current regime ends and I order my season ticket I will not require any 'extra's and will be perfectly happy to collect it at the ground to save the club unnecessary postage.
I do not think it is meant to build bridges. It is supposed to celebrate 25 years since our return. It will not and is not changing people's mind, it is however a decent thing to do.
Exactly, it's typical that this has now turned into a pro / anti regime thread. To celebrate the 25th aniversary they have packaged the season tickets in a presentation box with a scarf and a few odds & ends. Just see it for what it is and not as some sort of subliminal brain washing campaign.
I do not think it is meant to build bridges. It is supposed to celebrate 25 years since our return. It will not and is not changing people's mind, it is however a decent thing to do.
Exactly, it's typical that this has now turned into a pro / anti regime thread. To celebrate the 25th aniversary they have packaged the season tickets in a presentation box with a scarf and a few odds & ends. Just see it for what it is and not as some sort of subliminal brain washing campaign.
Why would they be doing this then, when they publicly stated that history is not important?
I do not think it is meant to build bridges. It is supposed to celebrate 25 years since our return. It will not and is not changing people's mind, it is however a decent thing to do.
Exactly, it's typical that this has now turned into a pro / anti regime thread. To celebrate the 25th aniversary they have packaged the season tickets in a presentation box with a scarf and a few odds & ends. Just see it for what it is and not as some sort of subliminal brain washing campaign.
Why would they be doing this then, when they publicly stated that history is not important?
I think someone in the marketing department had an idea that to celebrate the 25th aniversary it might be nice to send the season tickets out with some comemorative memorabilia. Why do you think they did it?
I do not think it is meant to build bridges. It is supposed to celebrate 25 years since our return. It will not and is not changing people's mind, it is however a decent thing to do.
Exactly, it's typical that this has now turned into a pro / anti regime thread. To celebrate the 25th aniversary they have packaged the season tickets in a presentation box with a scarf and a few odds & ends. Just see it for what it is and not as some sort of subliminal brain washing campaign.
You know this celebrating the anniversary thing? Do you think the club, or the celebration committee have much idea about the struggle to return? Do you think the footsoldiers in the struggle to return and indeed any movers and shakers are involved in any planning for any celebration? Is there anybody who worked on the Valley Party campaign having any say? It is nice that people are pleased with a couple of freebies, but below the surface, in the depth of the return story exist many people who will not be particularly celebrated, but it is on the backs of those people that there are any celebrations at all. The names of all the players from that season are on the shirt, perhaps the names of all the Valley Party candidates (and I am not one) should've been there instead. It is a generational thing too. Katrien Meire would have been five or six at the time of the return, a lot of people involved in the club now might look on the campaigning generation as quaint black and white figures to be faintly patronised, or ignored completely, and have no real idea, on a sweaty visceral level what it took to bring our club home. So far the 25 year thing has felt plastic and exploitative, not organic and real, as it was at the time.
I do not think it is meant to build bridges. It is supposed to celebrate 25 years since our return. It will not and is not changing people's mind, it is however a decent thing to do.
Exactly, it's typical that this has now turned into a pro / anti regime thread. To celebrate the 25th aniversary they have packaged the season tickets in a presentation box with a scarf and a few odds & ends. Just see it for what it is and not as some sort of subliminal brain washing campaign.
You know this celebrating the anniversary thing? Do you think the club, or the celebration committee have much idea about the struggle to return? Do you think the footsoldiers in the struggle to return and indeed any movers and shakers are involved in any planning for any celebration? Is there anybody who worked on the Valley Party campaign having any say? It is nice that people are pleased with a couple of freebies, but below the surface, in the depth of the return story exist many people who will not be particularly celebrated, but it is on the backs of those people that there are any celebrations at all. The names of all the players from that season are on the shirt, perhaps the names of all the Valley Party candidates (and I am not one) should've been there instead. It is a generational thing too. Katrien Meire would have been five or six at the time of the return, a lot of people involved in the club now might look on the campaigning generation as quaint black and white figures to be faintly patronised, or ignored completely, and have no real idea, on a sweaty visceral level what it took to bring our club home. So far the 25 year thing has felt plastic and exploitative, not organic and real, as it was at the time.
Fucking hell, talk about over analysing. A fucking presentation box with a scarf. Lets face it Seth you couldn't be more indignant if it had contained a palace scarf and a 2017-2018 premier fixture list.
Apologies for being annoyed at some having a jossle over a fancy box ( for the record not people on here the Facebook group ) the man has taken us from a stable championship club to a average joe league 1 side, we will be lucky to scrape playoffs, but of course I'm not a charlton fan and only want the club to fail and should praise them for it.
25 years - of course remember it, but I'm not going to praise them, I would rather be in the championship as a stable club instead of where we are now with an exclusive Hummel kit - if I'm wrong and they have changed then I'll scoff humble pie, personally I think I'll be going hungry.
One season in the championship after being promot d,from league one after being down there for three seasons in of which one of those we finished in our lowest position ever does not make us a "stable club" does it? Under the tenure of Jeminez and Slater can you remember the pitch in which we played on and the firce criticism it came under especially the adandonmemt of the match in August due to a waterlogged pitch? Everything costs money as well as time, there are clubs in the championship and yes I can comment about this as I work within the game and am aware how long decisions can take to be made within football, you think you are there with a deal and drags for weeks if not months, then you think it is a dead deal for it all to be resurrected and done in twenty four hours. There are clubs that at this moment in time all appears to be going wonderfully well on the outside however when you get inside the club itself the ownership is awful, staff unhappy, things are being scrapped in which there is no future for the club however we are the complete opposite and we should be positive about our future as it looks a lot brighter than most clubs including those above us and we are the envy of many in terms of facilities and wages in which we spend.
Whilst I would question your pronouncement that our club is "the complete opposite" of others seemingly well run, even successful , I would be going over old ground , albeit waterlogged or, as in SE7 last season, frozen, so I'll merely ask you one thing.
Let's suppose you could ask a selection of supporters, across the board, from the other 91 clubs to describe Charlton Athletic FC, in one short phrase, as they currently view our club, what do you think would be the overall perception ?
"Well respected" ? " Family friendly" ? " Well run" ? " Successful" ?
Or maybe "the complete opposite" ?
Point taken, however would you not agree that the likes of Portsmouth, Newcastle, Leeds, plus many more have had shall we say controversial owners but the fans have still stuck by their teams, if you then draw a parallel to Aston Villa, Leyton Orient, Blackpool, Coventry, Blackburn and ourselves in the way our fans have reacted by the protesting of the board and staying away rather than supporting the team I think there is an argument there to support the team rather than rip it apart.
I do not think it is meant to build bridges. It is supposed to celebrate 25 years since our return. It will not and is not changing people's mind, it is however a decent thing to do.
Exactly, it's typical that this has now turned into a pro / anti regime thread. To celebrate the 25th aniversary they have packaged the season tickets in a presentation box with a scarf and a few odds & ends. Just see it for what it is and not as some sort of subliminal brain washing campaign.
You know this celebrating the anniversary thing? Do you think the club, or the celebration committee have much idea about the struggle to return? Do you think the footsoldiers in the struggle to return and indeed any movers and shakers are involved in any planning for any celebration? Is there anybody who worked on the Valley Party campaign having any say? It is nice that people are pleased with a couple of freebies, but below the surface, in the depth of the return story exist many people who will not be particularly celebrated, but it is on the backs of those people that there are any celebrations at all. The names of all the players from that season are on the shirt, perhaps the names of all the Valley Party candidates (and I am not one) should've been there instead. It is a generational thing too. Katrien Meire would have been five or six at the time of the return, a lot of people involved in the club now might look on the campaigning generation as quaint black and white figures to be faintly patronised, or ignored completely, and have no real idea, on a sweaty visceral level what it took to bring our club home. So far the 25 year thing has felt plastic and exploitative, not organic and real, as it was at the time.
Fucking hell, talk about over analysing. A fucking presentation box with a scarf. Lets face it Seth you couldn't be more indignant if it had contained a palace scarf and a 2017-2018 premier fixture list.
Well yes, a presentation box and a scarf, but it was your good self who added above 'to celebrate the 25th anniversary' which is what i am on about, i even specifically say 'It is nice that people are pleased with a couple of freebies', that isn't indignation.
Apologies for being annoyed at some having a jossle over a fancy box ( for the record not people on here the Facebook group ) the man has taken us from a stable championship club to a average joe league 1 side, we will be lucky to scrape playoffs, but of course I'm not a charlton fan and only want the club to fail and should praise them for it.
25 years - of course remember it, but I'm not going to praise them, I would rather be in the championship as a stable club instead of where we are now with an exclusive Hummel kit - if I'm wrong and they have changed then I'll scoff humble pie, personally I think I'll be going hungry.
One season in the championship after being promot d,from league one after being down there for three seasons in of which one of those we finished in our lowest position ever does not make us a "stable club" does it? Under the tenure of Jeminez and Slater can you remember the pitch in which we played on and the firce criticism it came under especially the adandonmemt of the match in August due to a waterlogged pitch? Everything costs money as well as time, there are clubs in the championship and yes I can comment about this as I work within the game and am aware how long decisions can take to be made within football, you think you are there with a deal and drags for weeks if not months, then you think it is a dead deal for it all to be resurrected and done in twenty four hours. There are clubs that at this moment in time all appears to be going wonderfully well on the outside however when you get inside the club itself the ownership is awful, staff unhappy, things are being scrapped in which there is no future for the club however we are the complete opposite and we should be positive about our future as it looks a lot brighter than most clubs including those above us and we are the envy of many in terms of facilities and wages in which we spend.
Whilst I would question your pronouncement that our club is "the complete opposite" of others seemingly well run, even successful , I would be going over old ground , albeit waterlogged or, as in SE7 last season, frozen, so I'll merely ask you one thing.
Let's suppose you could ask a selection of supporters, across the board, from the other 91 clubs to describe Charlton Athletic FC, in one short phrase, as they currently view our club, what do you think would be the overall perception ?
"Well respected" ? " Family friendly" ? " Well run" ? " Successful" ?
Or maybe "the complete opposite" ?
Point taken, however would you not agree that the likes of Portsmouth, Newcastle, Leeds, plus many more have had shall we say controversial owners but the fans have still stuck by their teams, if you then draw a parallel to Aston Villa, Leyton Orient, Blackpool, Coventry, Blackburn and ourselves in the way our fans have reacted by the protesting of the board and staying away rather than supporting the team I think there is an argument there to support the team rather than rip it apart.
WIWALB, do you think the fans have ripped the club apart then? Obviously you and many are positive about things right now, which is good and things certainly seem to have taken a turn over the summer, of course we can only judge when we start playing competitive games. Do you think perhaps a change in approach by the club is in part due to thousands of fans protesting and showing their disapproval at the running of the club?
The people receiving this gift are probably the people that have renewed every year. So in that respect I don't see the point but that's a 'unique' relationship for you.
Not ordered a ticket and won't until he goes. Used to love the this time of the year.
Apologies for being annoyed at some having a jossle over a fancy box ( for the record not people on here the Facebook group ) the man has taken us from a stable championship club to a average joe league 1 side, we will be lucky to scrape playoffs, but of course I'm not a charlton fan and only want the club to fail and should praise them for it.
25 years - of course remember it, but I'm not going to praise them, I would rather be in the championship as a stable club instead of where we are now with an exclusive Hummel kit - if I'm wrong and they have changed then I'll scoff humble pie, personally I think I'll be going hungry.
One season in the championship after being promot d,from league one after being down there for three seasons in of which one of those we finished in our lowest position ever does not make us a "stable club" does it? Under the tenure of Jeminez and Slater can you remember the pitch in which we played on and the firce criticism it came under especially the adandonmemt of the match in August due to a waterlogged pitch? Everything costs money as well as time, there are clubs in the championship and yes I can comment about this as I work within the game and am aware how long decisions can take to be made within football, you think you are there with a deal and drags for weeks if not months, then you think it is a dead deal for it all to be resurrected and done in twenty four hours. There are clubs that at this moment in time all appears to be going wonderfully well on the outside however when you get inside the club itself the ownership is awful, staff unhappy, things are being scrapped in which there is no future for the club however we are the complete opposite and we should be positive about our future as it looks a lot brighter than most clubs including those above us and we are the envy of many in terms of facilities and wages in which we spend.
Whilst I would question your pronouncement that our club is "the complete opposite" of others seemingly well run, even successful , I would be going over old ground , albeit waterlogged or, as in SE7 last season, frozen, so I'll merely ask you one thing.
Let's suppose you could ask a selection of supporters, across the board, from the other 91 clubs to describe Charlton Athletic FC, in one short phrase, as they currently view our club, what do you think would be the overall perception ?
"Well respected" ? " Family friendly" ? " Well run" ? " Successful" ?
Or maybe "the complete opposite" ?
Point taken, however would you not agree that the likes of Portsmouth, Newcastle, Leeds, plus many more have had shall we say controversial owners but the fans have still stuck by their teams, if you then draw a parallel to Aston Villa, Leyton Orient, Blackpool, Coventry, Blackburn and ourselves in the way our fans have reacted by the protesting of the board and staying away rather than supporting the team I think there is an argument there to support the team rather than rip it apart.
WIWALB, do you think the fans have ripped the club apart then? Obviously you and many are positive about things right now, which is good and things certainly seem to have taken a turn over the summer, of course we can only judge when we start playing competitive games. Do you think perhaps a change in approach by the club is in part due to thousands of fans protesting and showing their disapproval at the running of the club?
I believe that the initial protests were justified and the club have clearly taken the fans views on board be it due to protests but more than likely after the fans meetings with the board which was huge step and to understand the feelings of the fans and interact with them. I don't agree with going to people's parents homes, posting leaflets through their neighbours doors, some of it got quite toxic, nasty and in the cold light of day this is a woman whom we are talking about that is someone's daughter/ sister/ partner etc and i am in no doubt a line was crossed. It has now reached a point where the fans who boycott or are anti the board and owner cannot and will not back down as they feel they will lose face and will continue to protest until the owner has gone and then claim victory regardless hat the club does or achieves which in my opinion is a sad time. What worries me more is some people wish for something but it is better the devil you know, and if the people leading this war on the current owner and are not happy with the next owner do they start another campaign. At what point does this stop. So in answer to the question there has to be an element of blame with certain parties and fans in which has been disruptive beyond reason and has killed part of the club.
Apologies for being annoyed at some having a jossle over a fancy box ( for the record not people on here the Facebook group ) the man has taken us from a stable championship club to a average joe league 1 side, we will be lucky to scrape playoffs, but of course I'm not a charlton fan and only want the club to fail and should praise them for it.
25 years - of course remember it, but I'm not going to praise them, I would rather be in the championship as a stable club instead of where we are now with an exclusive Hummel kit - if I'm wrong and they have changed then I'll scoff humble pie, personally I think I'll be going hungry.
One season in the championship after being promot d,from league one after being down there for three seasons in of which one of those we finished in our lowest position ever does not make us a "stable club" does it? Under the tenure of Jeminez and Slater can you remember the pitch in which we played on and the firce criticism it came under especially the adandonmemt of the match in August due to a waterlogged pitch? Everything costs money as well as time, there are clubs in the championship and yes I can comment about this as I work within the game and am aware how long decisions can take to be made within football, you think you are there with a deal and drags for weeks if not months, then you think it is a dead deal for it all to be resurrected and done in twenty four hours. There are clubs that at this moment in time all appears to be going wonderfully well on the outside however when you get inside the club itself the ownership is awful, staff unhappy, things are being scrapped in which there is no future for the club however we are the complete opposite and we should be positive about our future as it looks a lot brighter than most clubs including those above us and we are the envy of many in terms of facilities and wages in which we spend.
Whilst I would question your pronouncement that our club is "the complete opposite" of others seemingly well run, even successful , I would be going over old ground , albeit waterlogged or, as in SE7 last season, frozen, so I'll merely ask you one thing.
Let's suppose you could ask a selection of supporters, across the board, from the other 91 clubs to describe Charlton Athletic FC, in one short phrase, as they currently view our club, what do you think would be the overall perception ?
"Well respected" ? " Family friendly" ? " Well run" ? " Successful" ?
Or maybe "the complete opposite" ?
Point taken, however would you not agree that the likes of Portsmouth, Newcastle, Leeds, plus many more have had shall we say controversial owners but the fans have still stuck by their teams, if you then draw a parallel to Aston Villa, Leyton Orient, Blackpool, Coventry, Blackburn and ourselves in the way our fans have reacted by the protesting of the board and staying away rather than supporting the team I think there is an argument there to support the team rather than rip it apart.
But we were not discussing supporting the team , if you check your original post.
You were singing the praises of our club by comparing it with the infastructure /the management of others & concluded that Charlton Athletic FC is "the envy of many in terms of facilities & wages ".
In fact, you referred to those other clubs as being likely to have an "awful ownership" and indeed unhappy staff ! Maybe you need to have a quiet word with some of the latter when you're next at The Valley seeing as you work within the game.....And what's the opposite of awful owners ? Sadly, we can't remember....
I can't speak for those loyal Addicks who are currently choosing to stay away except to say their decision would not have been taken lightly -just the opposite- and after much difficult soul searching.
Neither they, nor myself , who continues to support the team both home & away ( albeit with a lesser degree of enthusiasm under this owner) seek to rip the team apart as you glibly state.
To return to the question that I originally posed, my belief is that the majority of non Charlton football fans would choose phrases like " basket case", " now a joke club" and similar, to describe our club at this moment in time.
And, despite the best efforts of the PR people with their free scarves & pretty red boxes, it will take much, much more to reach the stage when our reputation is regained & the faithful begin to believe again in their club.
A change of ownership to someone who cares about this football club and its supporters is the only solution.
Apologies for being annoyed at some having a jossle over a fancy box ( for the record not people on here the Facebook group ) the man has taken us from a stable championship club to a average joe league 1 side, we will be lucky to scrape playoffs, but of course I'm not a charlton fan and only want the club to fail and should praise them for it.
25 years - of course remember it, but I'm not going to praise them, I would rather be in the championship as a stable club instead of where we are now with an exclusive Hummel kit - if I'm wrong and they have changed then I'll scoff humble pie, personally I think I'll be going hungry.
One season in the championship after being promot d,from league one after being down there for three seasons in of which one of those we finished in our lowest position ever does not make us a "stable club" does it? Under the tenure of Jeminez and Slater can you remember the pitch in which we played on and the firce criticism it came under especially the adandonmemt of the match in August due to a waterlogged pitch? Everything costs money as well as time, there are clubs in the championship and yes I can comment about this as I work within the game and am aware how long decisions can take to be made within football, you think you are there with a deal and drags for weeks if not months, then you think it is a dead deal for it all to be resurrected and done in twenty four hours. There are clubs that at this moment in time all appears to be going wonderfully well on the outside however when you get inside the club itself the ownership is awful, staff unhappy, things are being scrapped in which there is no future for the club however we are the complete opposite and we should be positive about our future as it looks a lot brighter than most clubs including those above us and we are the envy of many in terms of facilities and wages in which we spend.
Whilst I would question your pronouncement that our club is "the complete opposite" of others seemingly well run, even successful , I would be going over old ground , albeit waterlogged or, as in SE7 last season, frozen, so I'll merely ask you one thing.
Let's suppose you could ask a selection of supporters, across the board, from the other 91 clubs to describe Charlton Athletic FC, in one short phrase, as they currently view our club, what do you think would be the overall perception ?
"Well respected" ? " Family friendly" ? " Well run" ? " Successful" ?
Or maybe "the complete opposite" ?
Point taken, however would you not agree that the likes of Portsmouth, Newcastle, Leeds, plus many more have had shall we say controversial owners but the fans have still stuck by their teams, if you then draw a parallel to Aston Villa, Leyton Orient, Blackpool, Coventry, Blackburn and ourselves in the way our fans have reacted by the protesting of the board and staying away rather than supporting the team I think there is an argument there to support the team rather than rip it apart.
WIWALB, do you think the fans have ripped the club apart then? Obviously you and many are positive about things right now, which is good and things certainly seem to have taken a turn over the summer, of course we can only judge when we start playing competitive games. Do you think perhaps a change in approach by the club is in part due to thousands of fans protesting and showing their disapproval at the running of the club?
I believe that the initial protests were justified and the club have clearly taken the fans views on board be it due to protests but more than likely after the fans meetings with the board which was huge step and to understand the feelings of the fans and interact with them. I don't agree with going to people's parents homes, posting leaflets through their neighbours doors, some of it got quite toxic, nasty and in the cold light of day this is a woman whom we are talking about that is someone's daughter/ sister/ partner etc and i am in no doubt a line was crossed. It has now reached a point where the fans who boycott or are anti the board and owner cannot and will not back down as they feel they will lose face and will continue to protest until the owner has gone and then claim victory regardless hat the club does or achieves which in my opinion is a sad time. What worries me more is some people wish for something but it is better the devil you know, and if the people leading this war on the current owner and are not happy with the next owner do they start another campaign. At what point does this stop. So in answer to the question there has to be an element of blame with certain parties and fans in which has been disruptive beyond reason and has killed part of the club.
Yours is a point of view expressed by some others. You say at the beginning that the club has clearly taken the fans views on board, I would dispute that sadly. It is not clear to me that beyond the shirt design possibly, that the club has taken any fans views on board, unless it is a few select ones. It was mentioned above that we have lost thousands of season ticket sales, the very people the club needs to attract back, how have the views of those fans been 'taken on board'? You make great play regarding the training ground and youth academy, and ironically it is the very notion of being a player farm that has actively turned some fans away. As I said above, if the team wins, and the seats get filled then something good is happening, and I mean seats at the Valley and wins for the first team, not the events at Sparrows Lane, worthy though that may turn out to be.
Apologies for being annoyed at some having a jossle over a fancy box ( for the record not people on here the Facebook group ) the man has taken us from a stable championship club to a average joe league 1 side, we will be lucky to scrape playoffs, but of course I'm not a charlton fan and only want the club to fail and should praise them for it.
25 years - of course remember it, but I'm not going to praise them, I would rather be in the championship as a stable club instead of where we are now with an exclusive Hummel kit - if I'm wrong and they have changed then I'll scoff humble pie, personally I think I'll be going hungry.
One season in the championship after being promot d,from league one after being down there for three seasons in of which one of those we finished in our lowest position ever does not make us a "stable club" does it? Under the tenure of Jeminez and Slater can you remember the pitch in which we played on and the firce criticism it came under especially the adandonmemt of the match in August due to a waterlogged pitch? Everything costs money as well as time, there are clubs in the championship and yes I can comment about this as I work within the game and am aware how long decisions can take to be made within football, you think you are there with a deal and drags for weeks if not months, then you think it is a dead deal for it all to be resurrected and done in twenty four hours. There are clubs that at this moment in time all appears to be going wonderfully well on the outside however when you get inside the club itself the ownership is awful, staff unhappy, things are being scrapped in which there is no future for the club however we are the complete opposite and we should be positive about our future as it looks a lot brighter than most clubs including those above us and we are the envy of many in terms of facilities and wages in which we spend.
Whilst I would question your pronouncement that our club is "the complete opposite" of others seemingly well run, even successful , I would be going over old ground , albeit waterlogged or, as in SE7 last season, frozen, so I'll merely ask you one thing.
Let's suppose you could ask a selection of supporters, across the board, from the other 91 clubs to describe Charlton Athletic FC, in one short phrase, as they currently view our club, what do you think would be the overall perception ?
"Well respected" ? " Family friendly" ? " Well run" ? " Successful" ?
Or maybe "the complete opposite" ?
Point taken, however would you not agree that the likes of Portsmouth, Newcastle, Leeds, plus many more have had shall we say controversial owners but the fans have still stuck by their teams, if you then draw a parallel to Aston Villa, Leyton Orient, Blackpool, Coventry, Blackburn and ourselves in the way our fans have reacted by the protesting of the board and staying away rather than supporting the team I think there is an argument there to support the team rather than rip it apart.
"Hundreds of angry Portsmouth supporters demonstrated yesterday before their side faced Sunderland in the FA Cup at Fratton Park. They blocked the main entrance into the director’s lounge, and called for the resignation of the rock-bottom club’s owners. Police and stewards were forced to erect a barrier around the main entrance.
Chief executive Peter Storrie did come out to collect a petition from the supporters and attempted to reason with them. But they soon turned on him and unleashed a torrent of abuse in his direction.
During Pompey’s 2-1 victory some home fans invaded the pitch. They confronted Pompey players and appeared to be trying to get to the area in front of the directors’ box."
"Leeds United fans plan to march in protest against the club owner Massimo Cellino through the city centre streets before Saturday’s home Championship game against Reading.
The fans’ group Time To Go Massimo will join other supporters opposed to the Italian’s ownership of the club at Leeds City Square before embarking on a march to Elland Road."
"A protest group is urging Newcastle fans to refuse to leave St James’ Park on Sunday one month after asking them to stay away.
The Ashley Out protest group has unveiled plans for a sit-in protest at St James’ following the final whistle on Sunday, writes Will Metcalfe in the Newcastle Chronicle.
Newcastle will take on West Ham in a game that could see them relegated for the second time in Mike Ashley’s tenure should Hull City beat Manchester United and the Magpies lose to West Ham.
The protest is the latest measure from the anonymous group which hopes to see Mr Ashley sell the club."
I guess it's a chicken & egg kind of question: what came first?
a. the toxic regime either left or had a complete strategic overhaul then the fans came back b. the fans started to support the toxic regime and things magically got better
Apologies for being annoyed at some having a jossle over a fancy box ( for the record not people on here the Facebook group ) the man has taken us from a stable championship club to a average joe league 1 side, we will be lucky to scrape playoffs, but of course I'm not a charlton fan and only want the club to fail and should praise them for it.
25 years - of course remember it, but I'm not going to praise them, I would rather be in the championship as a stable club instead of where we are now with an exclusive Hummel kit - if I'm wrong and they have changed then I'll scoff humble pie, personally I think I'll be going hungry.
One season in the championship after being promot d,from league one after being down there for three seasons in of which one of those we finished in our lowest position ever does not make us a "stable club" does it? Under the tenure of Jeminez and Slater can you remember the pitch in which we played on and the firce criticism it came under especially the adandonmemt of the match in August due to a waterlogged pitch? Everything costs money as well as time, there are clubs in the championship and yes I can comment about this as I work within the game and am aware how long decisions can take to be made within football, you think you are there with a deal and drags for weeks if not months, then you think it is a dead deal for it all to be resurrected and done in twenty four hours. There are clubs that at this moment in time all appears to be going wonderfully well on the outside however when you get inside the club itself the ownership is awful, staff unhappy, things are being scrapped in which there is no future for the club however we are the complete opposite and we should be positive about our future as it looks a lot brighter than most clubs including those above us and we are the envy of many in terms of facilities and wages in which we spend.
Whilst I would question your pronouncement that our club is "the complete opposite" of others seemingly well run, even successful , I would be going over old ground , albeit waterlogged or, as in SE7 last season, frozen, so I'll merely ask you one thing.
Let's suppose you could ask a selection of supporters, across the board, from the other 91 clubs to describe Charlton Athletic FC, in one short phrase, as they currently view our club, what do you think would be the overall perception ?
"Well respected" ? " Family friendly" ? " Well run" ? " Successful" ?
Or maybe "the complete opposite" ?
Point taken, however would you not agree that the likes of Portsmouth, Newcastle, Leeds, plus many more have had shall we say controversial owners but the fans have still stuck by their teams, if you then draw a parallel to Aston Villa, Leyton Orient, Blackpool, Coventry, Blackburn and ourselves in the way our fans have reacted by the protesting of the board and staying away rather than supporting the team I think there is an argument there to support the team rather than rip it apart.
"Hundreds of angry Portsmouth supporters demonstrated yesterday before their side faced Sunderland in the FA Cup at Fratton Park. They blocked the main entrance into the director’s lounge, and called for the resignation of the rock-bottom club’s owners. Police and stewards were forced to erect a barrier around the main entrance.
Chief executive Peter Storrie did come out to collect a petition from the supporters and attempted to reason with them. But they soon turned on him and unleashed a torrent of abuse in his direction.
During Pompey’s 2-1 victory some home fans invaded the pitch. They confronted Pompey players and appeared to be trying to get to the area in front of the directors’ box."
"Leeds United fans plan to march in protest against the club owner Massimo Cellino through the city centre streets before Saturday’s home Championship game against Reading.
The fans’ group Time To Go Massimo will join other supporters opposed to the Italian’s ownership of the club at Leeds City Square before embarking on a march to Elland Road."
"A protest group is urging Newcastle fans to refuse to leave St James’ Park on Sunday one month after asking them to stay away.
The Ashley Out protest group has unveiled plans for a sit-in protest at St James’ following the final whistle on Sunday, writes Will Metcalfe in the Newcastle Chronicle.
Newcastle will take on West Ham in a game that could see them relegated for the second time in Mike Ashley’s tenure should Hull City beat Manchester United and the Magpies lose to West Ham.
The protest is the latest measure from the anonymous group which hopes to see Mr Ashley sell the club."
I guess it's a chicken & egg kind of question: what came first?
a. the toxic regime either left or had a complete strategic overhaul then the fans came back b. the fans started to support the toxic regime and things magically got better
Be interesting to see how many of the supporters boycotted matches, didn't buy season tickets, wore different colour scarfs, or did they still continue to support their teams in their numbers as well as vocally?
Comments
Portsmouth 200000+
Charlton 14000
All of South London is theirs.
Personally I couldn't imagine not having my Saturday football, away days, few pints with my mates, going to the game with my lad (forth generation) and we are travelling every week from Surrey. Do I agree with some things that have happened in the past ? No. However the pleasure I get from going to support the team in which I do and not fund an owner who is losing X million per month outweighs the bitterness.
Sadly there are people who are doing this for there own personal agenda and they are as bad if not worse in terms of tearing the fan base apart.
The reality is in life you have one team and you support them through good times but is more important to support them through the bad times as it is when they the players need you most.
Let's suppose you could ask a selection of supporters, across the board, from the other 91 clubs to describe Charlton Athletic FC, in one short phrase, as they currently view our club, what do you think would be the overall perception ?
"Well respected" ? " Family friendly" ? " Well run" ? " Successful" ?
Or maybe "the complete opposite" ?
For those who think it's about building bridges, here's an idea. If they want to build bridges they should start by apologising. They should then produce a list of errors and formulate plans to ensure that they do not repeat them. They will not do that, because they are in denial about whose fault this mess is.
And as for all this Back the The Valley nonsense, it's sickening. They are not interested in that at all. We have an owner who has stated that competitive football is not important and a CEO who has said she does not care for the history of the club. They are piggy packing on this anniversary to try and gain brownie points. As @charltonkeston so eloquently put it, the PR company "are using some of my [our] best memories and associating them with the current vermin". Wake up, people. How many extra chances do this lot need?
But Stig, I think you're missing the point. It comes in a nice red box! - Oh alright then, I take it back they must be genuinely decent people who have learnt the error of their ways and are committed to change. Viva Duchatelet. Viva Meire. Viva The Regime.
But when the current regime ends and I order my season ticket I will not require any 'extra's and will be perfectly happy to collect it at the ground to save the club unnecessary postage.
It is nice that people are pleased with a couple of freebies, but below the surface, in the depth of the return story exist many people who will not be particularly celebrated, but it is on the backs of those people that there are any celebrations at all.
The names of all the players from that season are on the shirt, perhaps the names of all the Valley Party candidates (and I am not one) should've been there instead.
It is a generational thing too. Katrien Meire would have been five or six at the time of the return, a lot of people involved in the club now might look on the campaigning generation as quaint black and white figures to be faintly patronised, or ignored completely, and have no real idea, on a sweaty visceral level what it took to bring our club home.
So far the 25 year thing has felt plastic and exploitative, not organic and real, as it was at the time.
Not ordered a ticket and won't until he goes. Used to love the this time of the year.
I don't agree with going to people's parents homes, posting leaflets through their neighbours doors, some of it got quite toxic, nasty and in the cold light of day this is a woman whom we are talking about that is someone's daughter/ sister/ partner etc and i am in no doubt a line was crossed.
It has now reached a point where the fans who boycott or are anti the board and owner cannot and will not back down as they feel they will lose face and will continue to protest until the owner has gone and then claim victory regardless hat the club does or achieves which in my opinion is a sad time.
What worries me more is some people wish for something but it is better the devil you know, and if the people leading this war on the current owner and are not happy with the next owner do they start another campaign. At what point does this stop.
So in answer to the question there has to be an element of blame with certain parties and fans in which has been disruptive beyond reason and has killed part of the club.
You were singing the praises of our club by comparing it with the infastructure /the management of others & concluded that Charlton Athletic FC is "the envy of many in terms of facilities & wages ".
In fact, you referred to those other clubs as being likely to have an "awful ownership" and indeed unhappy staff ! Maybe you need to have a quiet word with some of the latter when you're next at The Valley seeing as you work within the game.....And what's the opposite of awful owners ? Sadly, we can't remember....
I can't speak for those loyal Addicks who are currently choosing to stay away except to say their decision would not have been taken lightly -just the opposite- and after much difficult soul searching.
Neither they, nor myself , who continues to support the team both home & away ( albeit with a lesser degree of enthusiasm under this owner) seek to rip the team apart as you glibly state.
To return to the question that I originally posed, my belief is that the majority of non Charlton football fans would choose phrases like " basket case", " now a joke club" and similar, to describe our club at this moment in time.
And, despite the best efforts of the PR people with their free scarves & pretty red boxes, it will take much, much more to reach the stage when our reputation is regained & the faithful begin to believe again in their club.
A change of ownership to someone who cares about this football club and its supporters is the only solution.
Simples.
You say at the beginning that the club has clearly taken the fans views on board, I would dispute that sadly. It is not clear to me that beyond the shirt design possibly, that the club has taken any fans views on board, unless it is a few select ones.
It was mentioned above that we have lost thousands of season ticket sales, the very people the club needs to attract back, how have the views of those fans been 'taken on board'? You make great play regarding the training ground and youth academy, and ironically it is the very notion of being a player farm that has actively turned some fans away.
As I said above, if the team wins, and the seats get filled then something good is happening, and I mean seats at the Valley and wins for the first team, not the events at Sparrows Lane, worthy though that may turn out to be.
"Hundreds of angry Portsmouth supporters demonstrated yesterday before their side faced Sunderland in the FA Cup at Fratton Park. They blocked the main entrance into the director’s lounge, and called for the resignation of the rock-bottom club’s owners. Police and stewards were forced to erect a barrier around the main entrance.
Chief executive Peter Storrie did come out to collect a petition from the supporters and attempted to reason with them. But they soon turned on him and unleashed a torrent of abuse in his direction.
During Pompey’s 2-1 victory some home fans invaded the pitch. They confronted Pompey players and appeared to be trying to get to the area in front of the directors’ box."
Leeds: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/15/leeds-fans-protest-massimo-cellino-reading
"Leeds United fans plan to march in protest against the club owner Massimo Cellino through the city centre streets before Saturday’s home Championship game against Reading.
The fans’ group Time To Go Massimo will join other supporters opposed to the Italian’s ownership of the club at Leeds City Square before embarking on a march to Elland Road."
Newcastle: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jan/12/newcastle-united-fans-unfurl-protest-banner-against-mike-ashleys-sports-direct
"A protest group is urging Newcastle fans to refuse to leave St James’ Park on Sunday one month after asking them to stay away.
The Ashley Out protest group has unveiled plans for a sit-in protest at St James’ following the final whistle on Sunday, writes Will Metcalfe in the Newcastle Chronicle.
Newcastle will take on West Ham in a game that could see them relegated for the second time in Mike Ashley’s tenure should Hull City beat Manchester United and the Magpies lose to West Ham.
The protest is the latest measure from the anonymous group which hopes to see Mr Ashley sell the club."
I guess it's a chicken & egg kind of question: what came first?
a. the toxic regime either left or had a complete strategic overhaul then the fans came back
b. the fans started to support the toxic regime and things magically got better