New Article: Bothered?

dickplumb said:

PeterGage said:

Nice post addicted. I admire your passion and that of others like you.

I am however in the opposite camp. I have "fallen out of love" with Charlton (having attended the first three home games this season) but find it difficult to quantify the reasons on paper. It doesn't seem to me to be the Charlton anymore that I have followed since my first game at The Valley in 1955. I cant relate to the majority of the current players, some of whom are short term loanees who to me are disinterested. I cant relate to the Business Model that is not applicable, in my eyes, to soccer. If the problem was simply one of poor results alone, I would still attend, having, like many people have stated on here, seen worst teams than the current one. The sad thing is I cant see it improving on or off the pitch. I have no hope. I cant see the owners vision for the future and therefore I cant buy into it.

I didn't just turn off an "attendance" switch in my brain. I just suddenly felt I could do more enjoyable activities on a Saturday, and that is sad. I should miss the buzz of getting up on a Saturday, thinking of nothing but the game, setting off from home at 1000am and watching my team; but I don't.

The three games I saw this season followed the same pattern. We would take the lead and sit back and allow the opposition to attack us, attack us and attack us again. I would be constantly looking at my watch, willing it to move to the 90th minute. That cant be entertainment, when you are praying for the "entertainment" to finish.

Today, I will go to my local, watch the early game, go home and watch the results develop on Sky. I will of course be keen to see our result. If we lose, I shall simply feel sad for five minutes and rue what could, and should be. In the past if we lost, I would be upset all weekend at least. The "Charlton" fire in my belly has gone.

I support the actions of the Trust to call a meeting but will defer any comments until I know the outcome, the attendance numbers and the agreed way forward.

That sums up my feelings very well. I do not like feeling this way and I long for the return of how I used to feel on match days. Waking up with a feeling of nervous anticipation and enjoying the day, win, lose or draw.

Now I just feel ambivalent, win, lose or draw.

I am hoping that a spell away from watching Charlton will help me find my mojo.

Clearly a lot of us going back a lot of years feeling this way DP.

We're not feeling the love Roly. Engage with us man

Brilliant post and sums it up perfectly.My first game was in 1977 and only missed one home game since 1981 plus many away games and a few seasons with every game attended and you have summed up my feelings.Have also done work for the club and the Premier League years are certainly not the greatest years for me supporting this great club of ours.

Our club was here long before Duchatelet and will be long after he's gone.
The only thing he can affect is his legacy and our current status.
Charlton Athletic Football Club will live on

Great post, and good to see that so many other people share my total lack of understanding about all the hand wringing & wailing currently going on. I've been going regularly since 1968, apart from the last 4 years living here in Dubai, but I'm still in regular touch with 10 - 12 people back home who are still regulars. Not one of these people feels any particular concern over the current ownership or their intentions for the club. They mostly just shrug their shoulders & say "I've seen far worse in the past, this is just normal when supporting a team like Charlton". I suspect that we are the silent majority & therefore our views need to count for something.

82 likes now for the opening post!

Made me chuckle especially the bit about getting moaned at for saying ex Charlton every five minutes. Snap.
As for grounds, loads, and going to Highbury and Rodney Parade would be a great excuse for a beer.

Red_Pete in Dubai said:

Great post, and good to see that so many other people share my total lack of understanding about all the hand wringing & wailing currently going on. I've been going regularly since 1968, apart from the last 4 years living here in Dubai, but I'm still in regular touch with 10 - 12 people back home who are still regulars. Not one of these people feels any particular concern over the current ownership or their intentions for the club. They mostly just shrug their shoulders & say "I've seen far worse in the past, this is just normal when supporting a team like Charlton". I suspect that we are the silent majority & therefore our views need to count for something.

82 likes now for the opening post!

I agree about the opening post - a well balanced, emotional and well written perspective. It deserves all the plaudits.

But can we please drop this bollocks about "hand wringing and wailing" about anyone who sees things differently?

I feel every bit as emotional about Charlton as Addickted or anyone else on this forum. Unlike some are saying I also still care massively about what is going on and how the team do. It hurts when we lose, it hurts when we do something daft and other clubs supporters have a dig, it hurts when we get negative coverage in the media. I care and I always will. I haven't fallen out of love with Charlton, I'm just devastated that it seems to be falling out of love with me.

I am really grateful to RD for taking over, making us solvent, sorting the pitch, bringing in some decent players.

But I am, equally, very concerned that RD does not appear to make decisions to the benefit of Charlton (rather than the wider network) when it comes to head coach and player recruitment, that the club is being managed in a shambolic and amateur way, that he doesn't seem to be prepared to finance transfers or wage budget to address clear gaps in the team. I can't see the plan. I am not looking for much; all I am looking for is a well managed and competitive Charlton that cares about it's supporters - and that seems to me a long way from where we are currently.

That isn't hand wringing and wailing. It is why I think the fans meeting is worthwhile, and why I'll be there.

vff said:

Red_Pete in Dubai said:

Great post, and good to see that so many other people share my total lack of understanding about all the hand wringing & wailing currently going on. I've been going regularly since 1968, apart from the last 4 years living here in Dubai, but I'm still in regular touch with 10 - 12 people back home who are still regulars. Not one of these people feels any particular concern over the current ownership or their intentions for the club. They mostly just shrug their shoulders & say "I've seen far worse in the past, this is just normal when supporting a team like Charlton". I suspect that we are the silent majority & therefore our views need to count for something.

82 likes now for the opening post!

Thats not 82 agreements though is it ffs.

No, you're quite correct; it's 86 now.

I'm resigned to is similar outlook. Hate the ownership structure but he is keeping the club running.

He's so minted he could decide to pull the plug and write off his investment and just walk away tomorrow leaving us wondering who is going to pay for the electricity let alone the players for the rest of the month.

Doesn't appear to be a queue of eager investors lining up to take his place. Until one of us becomes a billionaire we will likely be the plaything of a succession ego driven money men who have little to no genuine affection for the club and may or may not strike lucky.

But I have pretty much felt like that to varying degrees since we failed to keep Curbishley at the club.

RodneyCharltonTrotta said:

I'm resigned to is similar outlook. Hate the ownership structure but he is keeping the club running.

He's so minted if he pulled the plug and wrote off his investment and just walked away tomorrow who is going to pay for the electricity let alone the players for the rest of the month.

Until one of us becomes a billionaire we will likely be the plaything of a succession ego driven money men who have little to no genuine affection for the club and may or may not strike lucky.

But I have pretty much felt like that to varying degrees since we failed to keep Curbishley at the club.

Good to see you back Rodney.

Red_Pete in Dubai said:

vff said:

Red_Pete in Dubai said:

Great post, and good to see that so many other people share my total lack of understanding about all the hand wringing & wailing currently going on. I've been going regularly since 1968, apart from the last 4 years living here in Dubai, but I'm still in regular touch with 10 - 12 people back home who are still regulars. Not one of these people feels any particular concern over the current ownership or their intentions for the club. They mostly just shrug their shoulders & say "I've seen far worse in the past, this is just normal when supporting a team like Charlton". I suspect that we are the silent majority & therefore our views need to count for something.

82 likes now for the opening post!

Thats not 82 agreements though is it ffs.

No, you're quite correct; it's 86 now.

Very funny, one more position drop down to the relegation bottom 3. It's a laugh innit ?

kentred2 said:

stonemuse said:

Can't see how its far off the mark kentred

Because unlike most on this thread I don't want to sit back as I can't do anything and just let the barstards kick me in the face.

Good job that wasn't done at Selhurst to get the valley back.

I always thought some of the supporters too would become an issue

Completely agree, Kentred!

Out of interest, anyone know why this has been granted 'Announcement' status? Is the author someone of note, rather just a frustrated ranter like most of us?!

Addickted said:

stevietwells said:

Out of interest, anyone know why this has been granted 'Announcement' status? Is the author someone of note, rather just a frustrated ranter like most of us?!

I'm AFKAs wife.

I applied for that position, but it made my knees hurt and the clothing just wan't my colour

Addickted said:

I use the term 'wife' loosely.

"I realise that there is nothing I can do in defining the direction in the Club...."

Look forward to hearing from you at Woolwich Theatre on 18th