Fatigue with all things CAFC

cabbles

I think this latest episode is one in what feels like a long list of events that is starting to wear me down when it comes to Charlton.

These last few years, apart from that promotion season and time in the run up to Covid in the championship, it’s been pretty bleak.  

It feels like death from 1000 cuts.  

After the whole ESI episode and TS coming into save us, I know we should be grateful to still have a club, and I am, but I’ve just got very little appetite for it all.

I don’t really like any of the players, I’m not quite sure what to make of TS and the direction we’re headed, wasn’t particularly fussed with Jackson leaving and there were times last season when I didn’t even react when we scored.  

I’ve no doubt it’s just a phase, and I am sure if we get a good group of players together again under a decent manager and put a decent season together, I’ll have my passion reignited, but it feels like I am engaging with the club by going to games as well as posting on here for example, very much in body but not in spirit.  

I just wondered how many others have been worn down with what feels like the last 8–10 years now? 

Gribbo

Thoroughly enjoyed it meself

cafctom

The division within the fanbase is what gets to me more than anything. Those who snipe at others who like Sandgaard and vice versa.

The rebound from COVID definitely gave me an extra gear to go to more games than usual, which on reflection was probably a blessing. God knows how miserable I’d have been if it had just been a regular season.

Rob7Lee

100%, for the first time in over 30 years I'm seriously considering not renewing my ST. I had to force myself a few times this season to go (to home games) and only did one away, the least I think since the the year I got married, 1999. I often didn't even follow the away games and just looked at the result about 5pm.

It's not this season alone or the performances, I've seen us perform just as bad, but a culmination that I think came to a head in Covid when we couldn't go, it's never quite felt the same since.

I think fatigue is a good word for it, I'm hoping my Charlton batteries get recharged over the next 10 weeks! But it feels like these old batteries have been recharged a bit beyond their lifespan and just like my ageing iPhone XR they aren't quite what they used to be.......

LargeAddick

Think you have summed it up there @cabbles. I’ve renewed for next season not because I think things will get better, I’ve no confidence they will, but because I’m retiring in June and want to ensure I have something to do on a Saturday every other week. I do feel ground down by the last six years or so and supporting the Club isn’t enjoyable at the moment. I hope things will improve, of course I do, and I don’t see TS as the enemy as I think he’s trying to do things the way he sees will be a success but he’s out of his depth and too stubborn to take advice and make the right choices. I think it will come to an end for him with us still in League One and having new owners within a couple of years. Hope to God I’m wrong but I won’t be holding my breath.

fenlandaddick

Was hoping for a bit of recruitment and perhaps some success next year. Instead more drama, exhausting really.

Covered End

The season has just finished, it's normal to have football fatigue.

BigRedEvil

I really haven't enjoyed this season, mainly as I just couldn't bring myself to care about any of the players, even JJ appointment went downhill quickly.

We're miles behind other clubs on and off the field. Good news, on the pitch in L1 we can turn that round quickly. Bad news I'm not sure under TS ownership that will happen, I'll probably still renew but I've got more important things to spend an afternoon on than watching a guy 500 miles away and his son thinking they know better 

RodneyCharltonTrotta

Nah I still love us and love going. The procession of wankers that "own" us or play for us are temporary.

The fans are the constant. Generations of us and always will be. 

Will take a lot more than this and past decade of shenanigans to wane my interest in this joyless morbid wonderful club.

seth plum

I miss it already and wish the season was starting tomorrow.
Awaiting news of the upcoming U18 game.
Will avidly follow the shenanigans what with the new manager and player movement and so on.
My attitude is if I could face up to the third division last season, I can face up to it next season.
Do I hope for success? Of course, who doesn't?
But there is still a lot that interests me, and someone once said golf is a good walk spoiled, so what else is there to do?

JamesSeed

Still get excited when we score. 

Only went to a couple of away games, but have watched all the others on CTV (barring one?). 

Have to admit that some of the joy went out of it after the bad start to the season, and it’s been depressing watching so many teams outplaying us, even at the Valley.
My youngest has stopped coming, but I’ve still bought him a new season ticket, in case he changes his mind. Can upgrade his ticket for mates who come occasionally. 

I’m still hopeful that things will look up this season, but although I believe TS means well, I’ve been alarmed at some of the things he’s said and done recently, and suspect we’re in for more suffering while he learns from his mistakes. 

carly burn

I miss the vibe around the place when we've got a side to really get behind who give it all for the shirt and play other teams off the park.
Haven't had that in so long and don't think we'll see it any time soon.

CharltonKerry

Unfortunately I agree, had my season ticket for 23 years, given it up this year. Ok I will be missing around 3 to 4 months of the season due to a holiday of a lifetime, but I would normally have still brought one. I think the constant sniping of the fans on here and at the games have worn me down, frankly the pleasure has gone, I now feel it’s a chore to attend, rather than fun it used to be. Admittedly it’s also getting more painful physically to attend as I get older. I used to go away a fair bit, but I can’t stand for 90 minutes, and the younger element want to, so the only option is to stop going. The quality and standard of football dished up over the last couple of years has been abysmal, with the obvious odd exception. The atmosphere at the ground which I used to love (especially under the lights) has in my opinion turned toxic. 

The constant and unremitting criticism of Thomas is in my opinion the is one of thing that has finished me off, yes I totally agree he’s done thing wrong, he’s to over optimistic, he’s got a big ego, but the criticism has gone way over the top, how, every word is micro inspected and dissected, by all the so called football experts on here and at the ground, then they pile in with there differing views, and then the petty arguments starts. The fan base is now split into the pro Thomas, anti Thomas and those like me who are thankful he’s spent his own money to save us (so that probably means I’m pro Thomas) but have been slowly ground down by this constant arguing, sniping and micro analysis of tactics and delusional cobblers being spouted by each side. 

So will a year off away from my one time love of Charlton and for that matter football will it solve my issues, I hope it does, but I really doubt that it will. After coming to the valley for 64 years, I really think that I seen my last game there. Sorry for my ranting, I could go on for a few more pages. However to finish up, thanks for the past enjoyments, the great times, even the bad times, to answer the opening posts question then, yes I have been totally worn down, no it worse than that, I feel that I have applied for divorce proceeding to start.

se9addick

I definitely think the “not feeling a connection to the players” is a big thing. Charlton have had rubbish teams in the past, but this is something new for me.

AdTheAddicK

I agree with you. I couldn't tell you our next fixture at any given time this year. Which for me Is odd I used to know them all etc. I think it's my love for football overall is on the decline, but I just don't know why... 

Raith_C_Chattonell

As a boy I had to put up with insults from glory seeking class mates who supported whichever team had just won the league, or the cup.

When I went to work in an all male environment the abuse from ArsenalTottenhamWestHamChelsea fans reached a crescendo.  Abusive banter that I learnt to volley and react to.  My repartee became (if I say so myself) second to none.  I had developed tricks and one liners that could disarm these self righteous whatsits in a matter of nanoseconds. 

Then there were the Millwall fans -  most of whom never attended matches - who I would neutralise quickly and efficiently.  (A rare genuine Millwall fan who overly enjoyed his success over Charlton was worth avoiding to be honest)  .  A genuine Crystal Palace fan I never met ... fortunately.

Anyway I recognise the fact that over the years it has given me mental toughness and fortitude over adversity. In fact I even thought it would be good for my three kids who I (some say cruelly) indoctrinated into the system.

Today I renew my season ticket.  I know that nothing can hurt me.  I'm tough, I'm strong, I'm ready for disaster ... but just think, you never know, could this be one of those 'successful' seasons that come along every blue Moon?  I'd hate to miss it.

 

 

robinofottershaw

I am coming up to 60 years supporting the club. God knows, I appreciate Charlton isn’t about the glory but the fact we are simply just not very good is starting to wear thin.

Sillybilly

Anything I say needs to be caveated by the fact that I now can’t go (at least for the moment) due to my relocation and disability. That said, I find myself in something of a quandary.  I have been utterly ground down by the rubbish football on offer in league 1 which, to my mind has got worse rather than better (admittedly watching on stream doesn’t help although I’m grateful for the service). Also, like others, I feel no affinity whatsoever for this squad of players (again, never having seen the majority of them in the flesh doesn’t help). To be honest, I never quite recovered from the horlicks we made of things after Wembley. I genuinely thought that was the new beginning after Roland with the makings of a great side with Taylor our talisman and a young manager who, despite himself, was one of our own. That all turned to dust so quickly. The stench of our Belgian twonk is still around, the squad crumbled and our two aforementioned heros turned out to be cnuts after all. Then of course covid arrived. So I now feel utterly disillusioned with the football side of things. To be honest, I was getting fed up before our relocation. The match day travel was becoming a chore, the pubs were gradually closing down and some of my mates had given up. But I soldiered on. I now barely care about our results. There have been days where I’ve forgotten we were playing. 

But on the flip side, I’ve become even more captivated by the rolling soap opera that is CAFC. From one fruitloop owner to another. The managerial conveyor belt. The anticipation of the hatchet finally being taken to this bunch of losers. It’s not what I want but blimey it’s got me addicted (see what I did there) and this site, the Charlton Live podcasts and my various WhatsApp groups/friendship circles have become compelling. All for the wrong reasons of course but they certainly pass the time. 

So, yes,  I’ve been worn down. Wearing that Charlton hat as I scoot round the leafy lanes is now attracting ridicule rather than the friendly inquisitive banter that it once attracted. But Like a dog, CAFC is for life. The support I’ve received and continue to receive from this community over the last year shows what a special thing we have going. It’s a hard habit to break even if, at least for now, it’s not what it was. Plus ça change!

Danny Addick

Agree wholeheartedly. Gave up my long-standing season ticket during the Roland saga and haven’t gone back. I felt like Bowyer made it ‘feel Charlton’ again but even that ended in tears with fans seemingly out to get him by the end. Just really tired of it all. 

Six-a-bag-of-nuts

Yeh I'm disillusioned and fed up with Charlton, not for the first time.
I don't think publicly wallowing in self-pity is a good look though.
I trust we will bounce back at some point (hopefully in my lifetime  )

rananegra

I've renewed mine and my daughter's S/Ts. And she now counts as an adult

I'll settle for a team that at least tries to be competitive. Ideally a manager who leaves Gilbey on the bench (or sells him if managers are allowed to do that in our new era).  And aiming for top 6 minimum. 
It's not impossible. I still see mates and sometimes go to the pub. Outside of the 1st team, things are fairly positive. But there's a lot of division - we're in Lower North and there have been fights, things thrown onto the pitch, I really didn't like the abuse of Burstow ... but then I guess things like this have always happened, it just feels a bit worse because we had all that lost time for Covid. 

Scoham

I think what’s fading and for some completely gone is the hope that better times are ahead. 

We thought it was happening under Powell and again under Bowyer.

We’re also in a time where if things aren’t going well fans don’t just want a new manager or squad but a new owner.

It’s been a very poor season but with TS appointing his son as director of analytics and other questionable appointments (which look like cheap options) it does nothing to give confidence that things will improve.

Anything could happen from here. Unlikely but TS might get lucky with his next manager, Pope/Gomez moneys coming in and a good set of signings. It wouldn’t be surprising if it went horribly wrong and we found ourselves in the fourth tier for the first time in our history.

It felt like we had more hope in 10/11 and 16/17 because despite finishing 13th we had a recent takeover or one was potentially on the horizon. At the moment we’re having to let TS try and likely fail at implementing his ideas on how to run a football club.

For me I can see another year maybe two of mid table finishes resulting in TS selling the club.

IAgree

Can’t wait for the hundred!

th0rryy

I can completely understand the fatigue.

There's plenty of things to not be happy with right now:

• The disconnect and general apathy towards the vast majority of the squad.
• A very poor finish in the league against our expectations at the start.
• The sacking of two managers in a season, the latter of the two being one many of whom could connect with because of his time at the club.
• An owner who talks of playoffs being a minimum, but doesn't currently have a manager nor squad in place to support that.

Supporting your football club is an escape, a way to forget the stresses of (for most of us) working life. When it feels similar to the challenges of modern life that many of experience on a daily basis, it just feels like another thing to add to the list. Another thing to worry about. Another stress to consider.

For many, there's not a huge amount to be happy about. However, I try to look it from the perspective that there will be work going on right now to resolve all those things. I didn't want JJ to be sacked, but here we are. I wanted focus to be purely on players, but, again, here we are. You can tweet at TS with all your ire, but tbh, we're going to line up next season with new players and a new manager, with even a smallest amount of hope it might all come together.

I've got my season ticket and I'll be there. Things may still be a bit of a mess at the minute, but I am just pleased the club is still here and I can keep going during a global pandemic. Take a break from it all for a few days. Come back when we have our new gaffer in charge. Watch the various playoff games or the PL.

We'll get there

DaveMehmet

Have never been less interested in Charlton since I started going in '78. The Shrewsbury game was my first in over 2 years and I only really went as I'd done the upbeats walk in the morning. Only lasted until half time and pissed off to The Oak. Normally when I go after a break I really enjoy being back and realise how much I've missed it.

ShootersHillGuru

Great OP and certainly one I can relate to. I’ve been falling out of love with football year on year for a very long time. As far as Charlton are concerned it’s been a hard slog but I will say that no matter what mistakes Thomas has made in his short ownership, I still have no doubts that he’s the first owner we’ve had since Murray that actually gave a toss about the club and the fans. He’s not a crook or a chancer. I’m hoping that the last two years have opened Thomas’s eyes and he gets that the next appointment must be the right one. I’m more positive about next season than I was a week ago. 

bromleyjohn

How  you see football is how you will see life. You can always put a positive meaning to any experience.  Wembley was never seen as fantastic as it was without such a shit few years beforehand. The highs and the lows supporting Charlton are no different from any other clubs in league one. Be positive and look for the optimistic take on what has just happened this last season. Yes it could get worse but it’s more likely to get better.

Leuth

There's a thread like this every few months. It isn't Charlton, it's you. Enjoy the cricket season and see you in July  

T_C_E

Not had a season ticket since I hit 60 and RD shifted the seniors ticket to 65 I simply couldn’t afford it. Since then I’ve found better rewards in what I do with my spare cash with our Therapy dogs although Saturdays are rest days so I can alway watch the game.
Despite kind offers of free s/t something I declined my reluctance to attend was nothing to do with performance on the pitch but more matters off it.
The clubs dealings with an on site bullying are nothing short of appalling, should the culprit have been a lesser senior member of staff they would have left the club long ago with a Jason Pearce size boot print up their arse. 

My last dog free visit was at the the kind invitation of my dad @Redmidland and after grabbing a bag of chips I stood in the west stand car park eating them as I waited when I saw him, as usual he was swerving fans looking at tickets even from where I was I could see several fans needing help to get in, I watched him weave through the parked cars towards the entrance of the security point in the corner, before I knew it I’d thrown the chips in the skip and was off towards him, what I was going to say or do who knows but I was getting angrier by the step suddenly the realisation on what I stood to lose hit me head on and I kept walking.
Only once since then (The Upbeats walk) have I returned and I have told TS and Raelynn directly why, just as we did when we sat in front of them in a Mayfair hotel and named the culprit. 

Until he’s gone I won’t be back. 

Mendonca In Asdas

Yeah , of course i'm ground down , just been watching 'Feel the Fear' or whatever its called with Wim Hoff, would love to stick a few of our players in a barrel of ice to wake em up!

Mametz

I moved to Wales four and a half years ago. I do miss going to virtually every home game with all that entails, meeting up and having some beers with friends before the game etc. However, in many ways, I am pleased that I no longer have the self imposed obligation of seeing nearly every home game. I can choose the occasional home game to attend and throw in those away games that are in comparatively each reach of the land of my wife’s fathers. Cardiff and Swansea disappointed me by not being relegated and Newport’s failure to get promoted robbed me of adding another new ground to see. However,  Forest Green Rovers and Exeter await and hopefully Bristol Rovers or Swindon will join them.