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?
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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.
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.......
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
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.
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?
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.
Haven't had that in so long and don't think we'll see it any time soon.
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)
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.