They will think they have won. No one has won, the club is fractured, thousands of fans are missing. We have the makings of a decent League One team and have won a couple of games. Roland Out.
Are thousands of fans missing? Looking at the home attendances so far I would not expect any more for the opening games of a season in league 1.
I said this on another thread the other day and that is I feel as if I am the only one still boycotting, I am sure I am not.
5000 lost season ticket holders suggests thousands of fans are missing.
A few more performances and results like we've seen so far and those missing fans and more will be filling the Valley
Some will return.
And others will take their places if the team looks like it's making a credible challenge for promotion, that's football and there's a lot of fans that went to the Valley when we were a winning team once before. It's why the boycott was flawed...
How can a boycott be flawed when the people boycotting are individuals who've made a personal decision? Or are you suggesting that there has been a plot to mass boycott? Because there hasn't.
It's flawed because it took place at a time when the team was shit and got relegated. Every team loses support when that happens. Now the team is looking like it could do something special crowds will go to the Valley to watch it. Nobody will notice there has been a boycott.
They will think they have won. No one has won, the club is fractured, thousands of fans are missing. We have the makings of a decent League One team and have won a couple of games. Roland Out.
Are thousands of fans missing? Looking at the home attendances so far I would not expect any more for the opening games of a season in league 1.
I said this on another thread the other day and that is I feel as if I am the only one still boycotting, I am sure I am not.
5000 lost season ticket holders suggests thousands of fans are missing.
A few more performances and results like we've seen so far and those missing fans and more will be filling the Valley
Some will return.
And others will take their places if the team looks like it's making a credible challenge for promotion, that's football and there's a lot of fans that went to the Valley when we were a winning team once before. It's why the boycott was flawed...
How can a boycott be flawed when the people boycotting are individuals who've made a personal decision? Or are you suggesting that there has been a plot to mass boycott? Because there hasn't.
It's flawed because it took place at a time when the team was shit and got relegated. Every team loses support when that happens. Now the team is looking like it could do something special crowds will go to the Valley to watch it. Nobody will notice there has been a boycott.
They will think they have won. No one has won, the club is fractured, thousands of fans are missing. We have the makings of a decent League One team and have won a couple of games. Roland Out.
Are thousands of fans missing? Looking at the home attendances so far I would not expect any more for the opening games of a season in league 1.
I said this on another thread the other day and that is I feel as if I am the only one still boycotting, I am sure I am not.
5000 lost season ticket holders suggests thousands of fans are missing.
A few more performances and results like we've seen so far and those missing fans and more will be filling the Valley
Some will return.
And others will take their places if the team looks like it's making a credible challenge for promotion, that's football and there's a lot of fans that went to the Valley when we were a winning team once before. It's why the boycott was flawed...
How can a boycott be flawed when the people boycotting are individuals who've made a personal decision? Or are you suggesting that there has been a plot to mass boycott? Because there hasn't.
It's flawed because it took place at a time when the team was shit and got relegated. Every team loses support when that happens. Now the team is looking like it could do something special crowds will go to the Valley to watch it. Nobody will notice there has been a boycott.
There was no official boycott. I've never been into the protests, but as we go on our magical promotion run this season we will still notice the gaps . There are probably hundreds maybe running into the 1000s who are not going to return under this ownership.
They will think they have won. No one has won, the club is fractured, thousands of fans are missing. We have the makings of a decent League One team and have won a couple of games. Roland Out.
Are thousands of fans missing? Looking at the home attendances so far I would not expect any more for the opening games of a season in league 1.
I said this on another thread the other day and that is I feel as if I am the only one still boycotting, I am sure I am not.
5000 lost season ticket holders suggests thousands of fans are missing.
A few more performances and results like we've seen so far and those missing fans and more will be filling the Valley
Some will return.
And others will take their places if the team looks like it's making a credible challenge for promotion, that's football and there's a lot of fans that went to the Valley when we were a winning team once before. It's why the boycott was flawed...
How can a boycott be flawed when the people boycotting are individuals who've made a personal decision? Or are you suggesting that there has been a plot to mass boycott? Because there hasn't.
It's flawed because it took place at a time when the team was shit and got relegated. Every team loses support when that happens. Now the team is looking like it could do something special crowds will go to the Valley to watch it. Nobody will notice there has been a boycott.
Mmmmm, a very sweeping statement ltgtr. Yes, of course the crowds will get bigger, that's only to be expected .......but by how much is questionable.
They will think they have won. No one has won, the club is fractured, thousands of fans are missing. We have the makings of a decent League One team and have won a couple of games. Roland Out.
Are thousands of fans missing? Looking at the home attendances so far I would not expect any more for the opening games of a season in league 1.
I said this on another thread the other day and that is I feel as if I am the only one still boycotting, I am sure I am not.
5000 lost season ticket holders suggests thousands of fans are missing.
A few more performances and results like we've seen so far and those missing fans and more will be filling the Valley
Some will return.
And others will take their places if the team looks like it's making a credible challenge for promotion, that's football and there's a lot of fans that went to the Valley when we were a winning team once before. It's why the boycott was flawed...
How can a boycott be flawed when the people boycotting are individuals who've made a personal decision? Or are you suggesting that there has been a plot to mass boycott? Because there hasn't.
It's flawed because it took place at a time when the team was shit and got relegated. Every team loses support when that happens. Now the team is looking like it could do something special crowds will go to the Valley to watch it. Nobody will notice there has been a boycott.
Meire and Duchetalet have noticed that people have been keeping away in their droves, that's why we have a better squad and manager.
They will think they have won. No one has won, the club is fractured, thousands of fans are missing. We have the makings of a decent League One team and have won a couple of games. Roland Out.
Are thousands of fans missing? Looking at the home attendances so far I would not expect any more for the opening games of a season in league 1.
I said this on another thread the other day and that is I feel as if I am the only one still boycotting, I am sure I am not.
5000 lost season ticket holders suggests thousands of fans are missing.
A few more performances and results like we've seen so far and those missing fans and more will be filling the Valley
Some will return.
And others will take their places if the team looks like it's making a credible challenge for promotion, that's football and there's a lot of fans that went to the Valley when we were a winning team once before. It's why the boycott was flawed...
How can a boycott be flawed when the people boycotting are individuals who've made a personal decision? Or are you suggesting that there has been a plot to mass boycott? Because there hasn't.
It's flawed because it took place at a time when the team was shit and got relegated. Every team loses support when that happens. Now the team is looking like it could do something special crowds will go to the Valley to watch it. Nobody will notice there has been a boycott.
Meire and Duchetalet have noticed that people have been keeping away in their droves, that's why we have a better squad and manager.
It could be argued we have a better squad because the law of averages meant that we'd eventually get a manager who would want to put together a team that attacks rather than one that invites the opposition to constantly attack it.
They will think they have won. No one has won, the club is fractured, thousands of fans are missing. We have the makings of a decent League One team and have won a couple of games. Roland Out.
Are thousands of fans missing? Looking at the home attendances so far I would not expect any more for the opening games of a season in league 1.
I said this on another thread the other day and that is I feel as if I am the only one still boycotting, I am sure I am not.
5000 lost season ticket holders suggests thousands of fans are missing.
A few more performances and results like we've seen so far and those missing fans and more will be filling the Valley
Some will return.
And others will take their places if the team looks like it's making a credible challenge for promotion, that's football and there's a lot of fans that went to the Valley when we were a winning team once before. It's why the boycott was flawed...
How can a boycott be flawed when the people boycotting are individuals who've made a personal decision? Or are you suggesting that there has been a plot to mass boycott? Because there hasn't.
It's flawed because it took place at a time when the team was shit and got relegated. Every team loses support when that happens. Now the team is looking like it could do something special crowds will go to the Valley to watch it. Nobody will notice there has been a boycott.
Meire and Duchetalet have noticed that people have been keeping away in their droves, that's why we have a better squad and manager.
It could be argued we have a better squad because the law of averages meant that we'd eventually get a manager who would want to put together a team that attacks rather than one that invites the opposition to constantly attack it.
What a load of crap.
We now have a semi decent manager who has the contacts and the knowledge of third division football. Unlike the clowns before Slade.
The Belgians were pushed into a corner once we went down. They could not continue bringing in more carthorses from abroad for third division football.
They will think they have won. No one has won, the club is fractured, thousands of fans are missing. We have the makings of a decent League One team and have won a couple of games. Roland Out.
Are thousands of fans missing? Looking at the home attendances so far I would not expect any more for the opening games of a season in league 1.
I said this on another thread the other day and that is I feel as if I am the only one still boycotting, I am sure I am not.
5000 lost season ticket holders suggests thousands of fans are missing.
A few more performances and results like we've seen so far and those missing fans and more will be filling the Valley
Some will return.
And others will take their places if the team looks like it's making a credible challenge for promotion, that's football and there's a lot of fans that went to the Valley when we were a winning team once before. It's why the boycott was flawed...
How can a boycott be flawed when the people boycotting are individuals who've made a personal decision? Or are you suggesting that there has been a plot to mass boycott? Because there hasn't.
It's flawed because it took place at a time when the team was shit and got relegated. Every team loses support when that happens. Now the team is looking like it could do something special crowds will go to the Valley to watch it. Nobody will notice there has been a boycott.
Meire and Duchetalet have noticed that people have been keeping away in their droves, that's why we have a better squad and manager.
It could be argued we have a better squad because the law of averages meant that we'd eventually get a manager who would want to put together a team that attacks rather than one that invites the opposition to constantly attack it.
Luzon played attacking football. Difference is Robinson wasn't sacked after his first bad run, he's signing his own players, appointing his own coaches, has his own scouts and has much more experience in English football.
I struggle to see how all that could have happened without action from the fans (protests, boycotts, whatever else) and instead just happily clapped along and accepted as owner RD could run the club however he wanted to.
They will think they have won. No one has won, the club is fractured, thousands of fans are missing. We have the makings of a decent League One team and have won a couple of games. Roland Out.
Are thousands of fans missing? Looking at the home attendances so far I would not expect any more for the opening games of a season in league 1.
I said this on another thread the other day and that is I feel as if I am the only one still boycotting, I am sure I am not.
5000 lost season ticket holders suggests thousands of fans are missing.
A few more performances and results like we've seen so far and those missing fans and more will be filling the Valley
Some will return.
And others will take their places if the team looks like it's making a credible challenge for promotion, that's football and there's a lot of fans that went to the Valley when we were a winning team once before. It's why the boycott was flawed...
How can a boycott be flawed when the people boycotting are individuals who've made a personal decision? Or are you suggesting that there has been a plot to mass boycott? Because there hasn't.
It's flawed because it took place at a time when the team was shit and got relegated. Every team loses support when that happens. Now the team is looking like it could do something special crowds will go to the Valley to watch it. Nobody will notice there has been a boycott.
Meire and Duchetalet have noticed that people have been keeping away in their droves, that's why we have a better squad and manager.
It could be argued we have a better squad because the law of averages meant that we'd eventually get a manager who would want to put together a team that attacks rather than one that invites the opposition to constantly attack it.
Yes, that could be true.
I still think though that CAFC is a vanity project for Duchetalet to give Meire an English football club. That said, he is a businessman and he will want bums on seats and money trickling in.
They will think they have won. No one has won, the club is fractured, thousands of fans are missing. We have the makings of a decent League One team and have won a couple of games. Roland Out.
Are thousands of fans missing? Looking at the home attendances so far I would not expect any more for the opening games of a season in league 1.
I said this on another thread the other day and that is I feel as if I am the only one still boycotting, I am sure I am not.
5000 lost season ticket holders suggests thousands of fans are missing.
A few more performances and results like we've seen so far and those missing fans and more will be filling the Valley
Some will return.
And others will take their places if the team looks like it's making a credible challenge for promotion, that's football and there's a lot of fans that went to the Valley when we were a winning team once before. It's why the boycott was flawed...
How can a boycott be flawed when the people boycotting are individuals who've made a personal decision? Or are you suggesting that there has been a plot to mass boycott? Because there hasn't.
It's flawed because it took place at a time when the team was shit and got relegated. Every team loses support when that happens. Now the team is looking like it could do something special crowds will go to the Valley to watch it. Nobody will notice there has been a boycott.
Meire and Duchetalet have noticed that people have been keeping away in their droves, that's why we have a better squad and manager.
It could be argued we have a better squad because the law of averages meant that we'd eventually get a manager who would want to put together a team that attacks rather than one that invites the opposition to constantly attack it.
Luzon played attacking football. Difference is Robinson wasn't sacked after his first bad run, he's signing his own players, appointing his own coaches, has his own scouts and has much more experience in English football.
I struggle to see how all that could have happened without action from the fans (protests, boycotts, whatever else) and instead just happily clapped along and accepted as owner RD could run the club however he wanted to.
For one glorious moment, Luzon's team played what was probably one if the best bits of football ever by a charlton team. Unfortunately it wasnt sustained and his game plan, once it stalled, went into freefall
The supporters will only win, when they see new owners of Charlton Athletic.
The club will only win in their eyes, when the team are promoted back to the Championship this season.
The team have made a good start in a long season, but with the quality of the squad and the awful standard of this league, I expect nothing less. Even without any new more signings in this window, the squad should be top 2 up to the end of this year. Then get in a couple of more new players for that final push over the line.
The nonsense coming out of the club has subsided, but this appears to be since the appointment of Rubashow, and the silence from Meire. No more of her meetings this season? Fed up with asking the same questions?
However if everything is rosy, how comes the club have not announced Season Ticket figures? Not that great?
Why close parts of the East and West Stand if everything is lovely? Improving the atmosphere! A bit of spin that Deadly Derek would be proud of.
Attendances will stay around the 10 - 12k mark, depending on the away fans, and creative arthmatic in the home areas. They won't improve regardless of how well the team will do
The club will keep losing money, and sooner rather than later, the owner will sell.
We've known for a considerable time that one day we would get the who won discussion.
Generally speaking as we are all individuals, the fans who are anti RD will always feel their actions have made a difference.
The fans that are generally pro RD, will be more inclined to say that the fans actions made no difference and he came to his own conclusions/decisions, no matter what the fans did.
It will always be thus and so we are wasting our time debating it imo.
Personally, I've felt for sometime that what RD would like, before he sells up, is to see the Academy completed.
It has always been about the Academy, it is more important to him than the first team, so I believe he would like the satisfaction of seeing it completed before he sells up and I can understand that, as we have a reasonable understanding of what he is trying to achieve.
We've known for a considerable time that one day we would get the who won discussion.
Generally speaking as we are all individuals, the fans who are anti RD will always feel their actions have made a difference.
The fans that are generally pro RD, will be more inclined to say that the fans actions made no difference and he came to his own conclusions/decisions, no matter what the fans did.
It will always be thus and so we are wasting our time debating it imo.
Personally, I've felt for sometime that what RD would like, before he sells up, is to see the Academy completed.
It has always been about the Academy, it is more important to him than the first team, so I believe he would like the satisfaction of seeing it completed before he sells up and I can understand that, as we have a reasonable understanding of what he is trying to achieve.
You make him sound like a philanthropic old man. Why would he want the academy finished if he wasn't then going to milk it afterwards?
I have stopped buying a season ticket but still go on a match by match basis and I want the regime out. From my personal experience there are many others like me, from a sort of objective basis the drop in season ticket sales and attendances, as well as trust surveys, also suggests there are many who want them out. If there is an assumption that those who attend are automatically pro regime then I disagree. They are pro their club and the loyalty they feel. Some people anyway talk of a divided fanbase. Really? If about 50 apologists are a balanced divide against 5000 lapsed season ticket holders then it is news to me. Having an internet platform for views does not mean you command legions of people who share those views, probably a small rump of apologists like the Sue Parkes platform. We may be divided but in my view it is a long way from 50/50
We've known for a considerable time that one day we would get the who won discussion.
Generally speaking as we are all individuals, the fans who are anti RD will always feel their actions have made a difference.
The fans that are generally pro RD, will be more inclined to say that the fans actions made no difference and he came to his own conclusions/decisions, no matter what the fans did.
It will always be thus and so we are wasting our time debating it imo.
Personally, I've felt for sometime that what RD would like, before he sells up, is to see the Academy completed.
It has always been about the Academy, it is more important to him than the first team, so I believe he would like the satisfaction of seeing it completed before he sells up and I can understand that, as we have a reasonable understanding of what he is trying to achieve.
You make him sound like a philanthropic old man. Why would he want the academy finished if he wasn't then going to milk it afterwards?
You have misunderstood me. I mentioned nothing of philanthropy.
I'm simply saying that what appears most important to RD is the training ground project and then Charlton being able to continue to produce young players. This seems more important than how our first team gets on.
So my personal view is that he would probably like to see the training ground completed for his own satisfaction, before he sells up. It's just a feeling I've had now for about a year.
What I can never understand is that RD is supposed to be an intelligent man, how could you make the money he has if he wasn't?, how come if he is so intelligent, it took him all this time to realise he was making a complete cock-up of our club. I do not buy he isn't interested in the football, he is interested in making money. How can he make money by letting us get relegated?
We've known for a considerable time that one day we would get the who won discussion.
Generally speaking as we are all individuals, the fans who are anti RD will always feel their actions have made a difference.
The fans that are generally pro RD, will be more inclined to say that the fans actions made no difference and he came to his own conclusions/decisions, no matter what the fans did.
It will always be thus and so we are wasting our time debating it imo.
Personally, I've felt for sometime that what RD would like, before he sells up, is to see the Academy completed.
It has always been about the Academy, it is more important to him than the first team, so I believe he would like the satisfaction of seeing it completed before he sells up and I can understand that, as we have a reasonable understanding of what he is trying to achieve.
You make him sound like a philanthropic old man. Why would he want the academy finished if he wasn't then going to milk it afterwards?
You have misunderstood me. I mentioned nothing of philanthropy.
I'm simply saying that what appears most important to RD is the training ground project and then Charlton being able to continue to produce young players. This seems more important than how our first team gets on.
So my personal view is that he would probably like to see the training ground completed for his own satisfaction, before he sells up. It's just a feeling I've had now for about a year.
Slightly worrying is that were he to complete it, he may wish to continue with the next phase of his mad experiment. I ask myself why would he wish to complete it if he wasn't going to use it? I can't see that he would get a return even on the building costs by merely selling up once finished.....maybe someone could come up with the cost effectiveness of selling uncompleted or completed? Of course I realise it will be priced as to what building stage it was/is at at time of sale.....so that makes it rather difficult to ascertain at this stage. Nothing but nothing is ever straightforward with this guy!
Worryingly, Roland Out will want to recoup his outlay and the rumours on placing houses on the valley plus renting the valley keeps nagging me. Also worrying is the land issue with our troublesome neighbours and the likelihood they will have to move [Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh says the club may relocate if they are forced to sell land near their stadium.] Groundsharing makes financial sense and as Roland Out doesnt understand UK football or local rivalry or our history, he (or his dolly) is likely to explore this as part of a business venture.
They will think they have won. No one has won, the club is fractured, thousands of fans are missing. We have the makings of a decent League One team and have won a couple of games. Roland Out.
Are thousands of fans missing? Looking at the home attendances so far I would not expect any more for the opening games of a season in league 1.
I said this on another thread the other day and that is I feel as if I am the only one still boycotting, I am sure I am not.
5000 lost season ticket holders suggests thousands of fans are missing.
A few more performances and results like we've seen so far and those missing fans and more will be filling the Valley
Some will return.
And others will take their places if the team looks like it's making a credible challenge for promotion, that's football and there's a lot of fans that went to the Valley when we were a winning team once before. It's why the boycott was flawed...
How can a boycott be flawed when the people boycotting are individuals who've made a personal decision? Or are you suggesting that there has been a plot to mass boycott? Because there hasn't.
It's flawed because it took place at a time when the team was shit and got relegated. Every team loses support when that happens. Now the team is looking like it could do something special crowds will go to the Valley to watch it. Nobody will notice there has been a boycott.
There was no official boycott. I've never been into the protests, but as we go on our magical promotion run this season we will still notice the gaps . There are probably hundreds maybe running into the 1000s who are not going to return under this ownership.
Indeed, clb74.
Faithful supporters have boycotted in their droves - many of whom are in my age group & who may have already been wondering how long they could continue to a) travel to matches, b) afford to attend and c) suffer the fortnightly angst . RD's shennanigans would have assisted in making up their minds- not only have they been lost prematurely but also the family/grandkids who have always looked forward to their footballing day together. A domino effect, in effect!
Others have invariably been worn down over the past 3 years or more by the regime's ineptitude, gross misconduct in managing their football club, the disrespect shown to them by all concerned & the inevitability of the swift downturn in on the pitch success. For some, albeit with CAFC emblazoned on their hearts, enough was enough. They will question how any supporter can bear to see their beloved club dismantled before their very eyes ( Thanks, TT) As difficult as it may be, their physical support has been put on hold until this slow death is halted on the departure of the Belgians. And who can blame them ?
The protests gave the faithful a vehicle in which to show their anger & more. And, IMHO , have played a hugely significant part in "educating" the regime. Others have already elaborated on this issue so suffice to say, I'm proud to have supported CARD /WAR in their creative & highly successful initiatives...and will continue to do if/when the call to arms comes again.
So, where do we go from here ?
Has stalemate been achieved ? ie RD has been forced to change his modus operandi in an effort to gain promotion to the Championship where he is more likely to recoup some of his outgoings , whilst those continuing to attend matches at The Valley are finally witnessing some decent football under a better quality of manager, which will inevitably draw SOME of the boycotters back to their seats.
I still have my doubts as to whether The Rat will sell if we are promoted...
In an ideal world, a contract would be drawn up between RD & the fans for the remainder of the current season.
For RD's part, he would agree to continue funding Robbo in order to achieve promotion by May when he WOULD sell the club.
For the fans' part, they would agree to attend home games( if possible) to support the team to the max , hence reducing the amount of income lost in the season whilst also making The Valley a difficult place to come to for the visitors, by enhancing the volume of noise etc.
I know, I know.....The BH sun has clearly fried my remaining grey cell.
But I can dream.....
...and picture a benevolent, smiling Roland , handing out free rolls of duck/duct tape to his "children" as we all come together post match for the fortnightly Funky Chicken.
Throw another bucket of cold water over me, Richaaard !
Roland's original project was to run Charlton as part of his Network, with THomas Driesen doing the scouting, and managers getting parachuted in from his other clubs. He appears to have givenup this mad idea, but I'd say that he did this because it was failing badly, not because of any victory by anybody. I've participated in all the protests including the Belgian one, I've stopped buying a S/T, but still go to a few home and away games, and don't feel the slightest sense of victory.
Worryingly, Roland Out will want to recoup his outlay and the rumours on placing houses on the valley plus renting the valley keeps nagging me. Also worrying is the land issue with our troublesome neighbours and the likelihood they will have to move [Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh says the club may relocate if they are forced to sell land near their stadium.] Groundsharing makes financial sense and as Roland Out doesnt understand UK football or local rivalry or our history, he (or his dolly) is likely to explore this as part of a business venture.
Roland Out!
These scenarios have been done to death and ruled out, they aren't going to happen.
Worryingly, Roland Out will want to recoup his outlay and the rumours on placing houses on the valley plus renting the valley keeps nagging me. Also worrying is the land issue with our troublesome neighbours and the likelihood they will have to move [Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh says the club may relocate if they are forced to sell land near their stadium.] Groundsharing makes financial sense and as Roland Out doesnt understand UK football or local rivalry or our history, he (or his dolly) is likely to explore this as part of a business venture.
Roland Out!
These scenarios have been done to death and ruled out, they aren't going to happen.
Thanks for the reassurance but I just don't trust the Regime or that anybody on here knows what he us up to. Unless you know something?
They will think they have won. No one has won, the club is fractured, thousands of fans are missing. We have the makings of a decent League One team and have won a couple of games. Roland Out.
Are thousands of fans missing? Looking at the home attendances so far I would not expect any more for the opening games of a season in league 1.
I said this on another thread the other day and that is I feel as if I am the only one still boycotting, I am sure I am not.
5000 lost season ticket holders suggests thousands of fans are missing.
A few more performances and results like we've seen so far and those missing fans and more will be filling the Valley
Some will return.
And others will take their places if the team looks like it's making a credible challenge for promotion, that's football and there's a lot of fans that went to the Valley when we were a winning team once before. It's why the boycott was flawed...
How can a boycott be flawed when the people boycotting are individuals who've made a personal decision? Or are you suggesting that there has been a plot to mass boycott? Because there hasn't.
It's flawed because it took place at a time when the team was shit and got relegated. Every team loses support when that happens. Now the team is looking like it could do something special crowds will go to the Valley to watch it. Nobody will notice there has been a boycott.
I'll say it again, the people boycotting have taken a personal decision, there was no organised boycott. I said this in the post you quoted yet you chose to ignore it so thought it was worth repeating.
Comments
I've never been into the protests, but as we go on our magical promotion run this season we will still notice the gaps .
There are probably hundreds maybe running into the 1000s who are not going to return under this ownership.
Yes, of course the crowds will get bigger, that's only to be expected .......but by how much is questionable.
We now have a semi decent manager who has the contacts and the knowledge of third division football. Unlike the clowns before Slade.
The Belgians were pushed into a corner once we went down. They could not continue bringing in more carthorses from abroad for third division football.
I struggle to see how all that could have happened without action from the fans (protests, boycotts, whatever else) and instead just happily clapped along and accepted as owner RD could run the club however he wanted to.
I still think though that CAFC is a vanity project for Duchetalet to give Meire an English football club. That said, he is a businessman and he will want bums on seats and money trickling in.
Keep Kashi
Keep Konsa
Buy a striker
This will tell us whether the Belgians want success or are just playing Monopoly with the club.
Roland out
No.
Have the club won?
No
The supporters will only win, when they see new owners of Charlton Athletic.
The club will only win in their eyes, when the team are promoted back to the Championship this season.
The team have made a good start in a long season, but with the quality of the squad and the awful standard of this league, I expect nothing less. Even without any new more signings in this window, the squad should be top 2 up to the end of this year. Then get in a couple of more new players for that final push over the line.
The nonsense coming out of the club has subsided, but this appears to be since the appointment of Rubashow, and the silence from Meire. No more of her meetings this season? Fed up with asking the same questions?
However if everything is rosy, how comes the club have not announced Season Ticket figures? Not that great?
Why close parts of the East and West Stand if everything is lovely? Improving the atmosphere! A bit of spin that Deadly Derek would be proud of.
Attendances will stay around the 10 - 12k mark, depending on the away fans, and creative arthmatic in the home areas. They won't improve regardless of how well the team will do
The club will keep losing money, and sooner rather than later, the owner will sell.
Generally speaking as we are all individuals, the fans who are anti RD will always feel their actions have made a difference.
The fans that are generally pro RD, will be more inclined to say that the fans actions made no difference and he came to his own conclusions/decisions, no matter what the fans did.
It will always be thus and so we are wasting our time debating it imo.
Personally, I've felt for sometime that what RD would like, before he sells up, is to see the Academy completed.
It has always been about the Academy, it is more important to him than the first team, so I believe he would like the satisfaction of seeing it completed before he sells up and I can understand that, as we have a reasonable understanding of what he is trying to achieve.
If there is an assumption that those who attend are automatically pro regime then I disagree. They are pro their club and the loyalty they feel.
Some people anyway talk of a divided fanbase. Really? If about 50 apologists are a balanced divide against 5000 lapsed season ticket holders then it is news to me.
Having an internet platform for views does not mean you command legions of people who share those views, probably a small rump of apologists like the Sue Parkes platform.
We may be divided but in my view it is a long way from 50/50
I'm simply saying that what appears most important to RD is the training ground project and then Charlton being able to continue to produce young players. This seems more important than how our first team gets on.
So my personal view is that he would probably like to see the training ground completed for his own satisfaction, before he sells up. It's just a feeling I've had now for about a year.
I ask myself why would he wish to complete it if he wasn't going to use it? I can't see that he would get a return even on the building costs by merely selling up once finished.....maybe someone could come up with the cost effectiveness of selling uncompleted or completed?
Of course I realise it will be priced as to what building stage it was/is at at time of sale.....so that makes it rather difficult to ascertain at this stage.
Nothing but nothing is ever straightforward with this guy!
Roland Out!
Faithful supporters have boycotted in their droves - many of whom are in my age group & who may have already been wondering how long they could continue to a) travel to matches, b) afford to attend and c) suffer the fortnightly angst . RD's shennanigans would have assisted in making up their minds- not only have they been lost prematurely but also the family/grandkids who have always looked forward to their footballing day together. A domino effect, in effect!
Others have invariably been worn down over the past 3 years or more by the regime's ineptitude, gross misconduct in managing their football club, the disrespect shown to them by all concerned & the inevitability of the swift downturn in on the pitch success. For some, albeit with CAFC emblazoned on their hearts, enough was enough. They will question how any supporter can bear to see their beloved club dismantled before their very eyes ( Thanks, TT) As difficult as it may be, their physical support has been put on hold until this slow death is halted on the departure of the Belgians. And who can blame them ?
The protests gave the faithful a vehicle in which to show their anger & more. And, IMHO , have played a hugely significant part in "educating" the regime. Others have already elaborated on this issue so suffice to say, I'm proud to have supported CARD /WAR in their creative & highly successful initiatives...and will continue to do if/when the call to arms comes again.
So, where do we go from here ?
Has stalemate been achieved ? ie RD has been forced to change his modus operandi in an effort to gain promotion to the Championship where he is more likely to recoup some of his outgoings , whilst those continuing to attend matches at The Valley are finally witnessing some decent football under a better quality of manager, which will inevitably draw SOME of the boycotters back to their seats.
I still have my doubts as to whether The Rat will sell if we are promoted...
In an ideal world, a contract would be drawn up between RD & the fans for the remainder of the current season.
For RD's part, he would agree to continue funding Robbo in order to achieve promotion by May when he WOULD sell the club.
For the fans' part, they would agree to attend home games( if possible) to support the team to the max , hence reducing the amount of income lost in the season whilst also making The Valley a difficult place to come to for the visitors, by enhancing the volume of noise etc.
I know, I know.....The BH sun has clearly fried my remaining grey cell.
But I can dream.....
...and picture a benevolent, smiling Roland , handing out free rolls of duck/duct tape to his "children" as we all come together post match for the fortnightly Funky Chicken.
Throw another bucket of cold water over me, Richaaard !
Roland Out.
Well............ imagine you did.