Our American owners have remained very much in the shadows, have no issue with that, and now will be the true test of how serious they are... I don't expect them to go silly with Transfers in the summer now we're back in the Championship, but we need to be serious strengthening the squad, whether that's with a few nice fees, or through sensible scouting and finding the next Ramsay etc.
However I'm most surprised by Brener so far... Houston Dynamo fans weren't exactly complimentary about him, after his time in charge of them - I guess I'm just surprised by how much interest they've shown in us. I wouldn't have been surprised if they hadn't been at Wembley yesterday, what with the low profile they take.
Certainly didn't expect to see any of them mingling with fans / having photos taken etc.
Third tier is being down with the dead men. It’s a money pit for clubs of Charltons size and is soul destroying. Tough to escape from and fans eventually drift away. Yesterday showed in more than one way that Nathan Jones has managed to reignite that Charlton passion or whatever you want to call it. The potential is definitely there and yesterday provides an opportunity that none of us thought possible a few months ago. I hope the owners have the wherewithal and drive to see that getting relegated would not only be a missed opportunity but a financial disaster.
Our American owners have remained very much in the shadows, have no issue with that, and now will be the true test of how serious they are... I don't expect them to go silly with Transfers in the summer now we're back in the Championship, but we need to be serious strengthening the squad, whether that's with a few nice fees, or through sensible scouting and finding the next Ramsay etc.
However I'm most surprised by Brener so far... Houston Dynamo fans weren't exactly complimentary about him, after his time in charge of them - I guess I'm just surprised by how much interest they've shown in us. I wouldn't have been surprised if they hadn't been at Wembley yesterday, what with the low profile they take.
I remember asking on the MLS subreddit about Brener when the deal was first mooted and the replies I got were the kind of stuff we'd tell anyone if some of our past owners rocked up somewhere else. Lots of talk about lack of investment and being cheap on squad construction even with the labyrinth of squad rules that MLS has.
Both Brener and Friedman have a bit of cash behind them don't they?
In 2012 Jiminez lost the backing of Cash so we couldn't strengthen and ended up with Roland taking over mid season and selling Yann in January
2019 Roland had given up and only signed Gallagher on loan having lost Aribo, Bielik and Bauer
I do feel/hope this time might be a bit different
According to Google Brenner has a net worth of $350 million & Friedman $5 billion
Brenner was giving big hugs to NJ, Jones and Godden and hopefully Friedman did the same if he was there yesterday ?
They didn't get where they are today by thinking you can have a loss making business long term and the 40k Charlton folk at Wembley and the 24k Charlton home enders in the semi will help their confidence. An average gates around the 20k mark at the valley in the Championship will help with the giant steps to breaking even which would be a great achievement to attain if we can sell out many games next season and keep the bandwagon gaining momentum.
A little light in the expensive purchasing of a struggling 3rd tier club which is now 2nd tier.
May Friedman and Brenner's Midas touch in business rub off on CAFC.
I hope the owners don’t think that Jones is a miracle worker and can achieve what he has this season, relatively on the cheap again next season. I think Jones is good but we definitely need to support him in the market.
Saw a tweet from Sandgaard yesterday congratulating us. Wasn't a fan but fair play to him for that.
These owners seem serious and glad to see them see and hear it with their own eyes and ears yesterday. Can't distill that into a spreadsheet or brochure so hopefully they clocked how much potential we have and will spur on their enthusiasm to propel the momentum we've got.
Third tier is being down with the dead men. It’s a money pit for clubs of Charltons size and is soul destroying.
To be fair, the Championship is an even bigger money pit just to stand still!
Looking at £15-20k a week I reckon for a proven Championship midfielder. Others will more knowledge on this sort of thing may correct me, but I think I am about right.
This is where good scouting & clever loans will have to come in. And having to sell the best player each season.
Great to see the reaction to Brener from Jones, but also some of the senior players. Demonstrated a connection I didn't know was there and gave a really good feeling about the owners. Suggests they're more than just money men. Even better if he stayed around box park afterwards.
Third tier is being down with the dead men. It’s a money pit for clubs of Charltons size and is soul destroying.
To be fair, the Championship is an even bigger money pit just to stand still!
Looking at £15-20k a week I reckon for a proven Championship midfielder. Others will more knowledge on this sort of thing may correct me, but I think I am about right.
This is where good scouting & clever loans will have to come in. And having to sell the best player each season.
The single biggest difference is that the prize in The Championship is worth £220 million pounds. That’s a very big carrot and why some owners get sucked into spending ridiculous sums. As much as it hurts me to say it our template should be Millwall. They’ve incrementally improved with a couple of wobbles and only just fell short of reaching the playoffs this season. I think they’ll be there or there abouts for a playoff spot next season too. The crucial thing is not to get relegated in that first transitional season and that’s not easy. We don’t currently have a Championship squad. Not anywhere near.
Great to see the reaction to Brener from Jones, but also some of the senior players. Demonstrated a connection I didn't know was there and gave a really good feeling about the owners. Suggests they're more than just money men. Even better if he stayed around box park afterwards.
What was the reaction?
Couple of bear hugs and acknowledgement. It's clear they know him and he must've been around the squad more than most people would imagine.
Great to see the reaction to Brener from Jones, but also some of the senior players. Demonstrated a connection I didn't know was there and gave a really good feeling about the owners. Suggests they're more than just money men. Even better if he stayed around box park afterwards.
What was the reaction?
He had a proper smile on his face after this hug as well (there was some proper back slapping from Jones too) - But there were also a lot of smiles / hand shakes with players, with the likes of Docherty going up to him, so interestingly they clearly knew who he was
You’d like to think yesterday showed them what a sleeping giant we can be.
Tbf nine clubs in the Championship averaged over 25,000 last season. Five of them outside the top six. The relegated clubs will all average between 25-30,000. Birmingham City will average close to 30,000 next season. The season ticket sales and commercial income will reflect these club’s sizes too. The reason being that they are all regional clubs. Charlton’s location means we have huge potential, but that potential has to be fulfilled by the owners or players. What I mean is, unlike Norwich City, Derby County or Sheffield Wednesday, we won’t sell 20,000+ season tickets for lower mid-table or even high mid-table football. Because in that sense, our location works against us. We don’t represent a region or a big one club city. Floating fans can easily catch a game at West Ham, Millwall, Palace, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Fulham or Brentford instead. Or have a day out somewhere else instead.
Therefore, I’d say Charlton Athletic is a potential giant. Not a sleeping one.
Hope a combination of increased ST sales, walk ups and away attendances sees the Valley hosting more than 20k every home game next season. Should be doable based on our 15k+ average this season.
There’s no better place when our home is back and the covered end choir is in full voice.
Third tier is being down with the dead men. It’s a money pit for clubs of Charltons size and is soul destroying.
To be fair, the Championship is an even bigger money pit just to stand still!
Looking at £15-20k a week I reckon for a proven Championship midfielder. Others will more knowledge on this sort of thing may correct me, but I think I am about right.
This is where good scouting & clever loans will have to come in. And having to sell the best player each season.
The single biggest difference is that the prize in The Championship is worth £220 million pounds. That’s a very big carrot and why some owners get sucked into spending ridiculous sums. As much as it hurts me to say it our template should be Millwall. They’ve incrementally improved with a couple of wobbles and only just fell short of reaching the playoffs this season. I think they’ll be there or there abouts for a playoff spot next season too. The crucial thing is not to get relegated in that first transitional season and that’s not easy. We don’t currently have a Championship squad. Not anywhere near.
Agreed to a point, millwall have done well but they always fall at the final hurdle - yes they have a bit of a curse over us head to head which is irritating but we do have a history of delivering more often than not on the big occasions (unrivalled success in play off finals) - them falling at the final hurdle has become as predictable as our inability to push on after we got 40 points in the prem - not the worst thing in the world by a long shot but i'm hoping to stabalise in the championship and then eventually have the odd pop at actually going up and maybe even a good fa cup run. A champ / prem yo yo club would do me - for now !!!
Third tier is being down with the dead men. It’s a money pit for clubs of Charltons size and is soul destroying.
To be fair, the Championship is an even bigger money pit just to stand still!
Looking at £15-20k a week I reckon for a proven Championship midfielder. Others will more knowledge on this sort of thing may correct me, but I think I am about right.
This is where good scouting & clever loans will have to come in. And having to sell the best player each season.
The single biggest difference is that the prize in The Championship is worth £220 million pounds. That’s a very big carrot and why some owners get sucked into spending ridiculous sums. As much as it hurts me to say it our template should be Millwall. They’ve incrementally improved with a couple of wobbles and only just fell short of reaching the playoffs this season. I think they’ll be there or there abouts for a playoff spot next season too. The crucial thing is not to get relegated in that first transitional season and that’s not easy. We don’t currently have a Championship squad. Not anywhere near.
Agreed to a point, millwall have done well but they always fall at the final hurdle - yes they have a bit of a curse over us head to head which is irritating but we do have a history of delivering more often than not on the big occasions (unrivalled success in play off finals) - them falling at the final hurdle has become as predictable as our inability to push on after we got 40 points in the prem - not the worst thing in the world by a long shot but i'm hoping to stabalise in the championship and then eventually have the odd pop at actually going up and maybe even a good fa cup run. A champ / prem yo yo club would do me - for now !!!
Would do for me too. The danger being becoming a Championship/ League One yo yo club. With respect to Millwall they look to be a very established Championship club to me.
You’d like to think yesterday showed them what a sleeping giant we can be.
Tbf nine clubs in the Championship averaged over 25,000 last season. Five of them outside the top six. The relegated clubs will all average between 25-30,000. Birmingham City will average close to 30,000 next season. The season ticket sales and commercial income will reflect these club’s sizes too. The reason being that they are all regional clubs. Charlton’s location means we have huge potential, but that potential has to be fulfilled by the owners or players. What I mean is, unlike Norwich City, Derby County or Sheffield Wednesday, we won’t sell 20,000+ season tickets for lower mid-table or even high mid-table football. Because in that sense, our location works against us. We don’t represent a region or a big one club city. Floating fans can easily catch a game at West Ham, Millwall, Palace, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Fulham or Brentford instead. Or have a day out somewhere else instead.
Therefore, I’d say Charlton Athletic is a potential giant. Not a sleeping one.
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However I'm most surprised by Brener so far... Houston Dynamo fans weren't exactly complimentary about him, after his time in charge of them - I guess I'm just surprised by how much interest they've shown in us. I wouldn't have been surprised if they hadn't been at Wembley yesterday, what with the low profile they take.
Certainly didn't expect to see any of them mingling with fans / having photos taken etc.
I remember asking on the MLS subreddit about Brener when the deal was first mooted and the replies I got were the kind of stuff we'd tell anyone if some of our past owners rocked up somewhere else. Lots of talk about lack of investment and being cheap on squad construction even with the labyrinth of squad rules that MLS has.
Not sure that day has come yet, but it’s the hope that kills you.
These owners seem serious and glad to see them see and hear it with their own eyes and ears yesterday. Can't distill that into a spreadsheet or brochure so hopefully they clocked how much potential we have and will spur on their enthusiasm to propel the momentum we've got.
;-)
He had a proper smile on his face after this hug as well (there was some proper back slapping from Jones too) - But there were also a lot of smiles / hand shakes with players, with the likes of Docherty going up to him, so interestingly they clearly knew who he was