Having His Cake (and eating it)
(left) Despondent Charlton fans make an early exit from the Riverside.Just about the only good thing about being a Charlton blogger these days is that you can begin writing your post long before the final whistle, and then quickly get on with the rest of your life.
I started my holidays in Florida last night and it's pissing down with rain. My mother-in-law is here and Charlton are diabolical. What have I done to deserve this? Without wishing to sound like Glenn Hoddle, what did I do so wrong in a former life?
I think I will again go for a long run to get this result out of my system; my Dad meanwhile has just informed me that he intends to have a large piece of cheesecake to take his mind off it. It's interesting how different Charlton fans have different ways of responding to defeats, and explains why my Dad weighs four stone more than me.
When I saw the team news before kick-off, my first thought was "..this is the most defensive line-up I've ever seen.." but perhaps it was understandable. No point learning to run until we can walk; let's grab an ugly 0-0, keep 'Boro in sight and look forward to a more expansive approach against Fulham.
Oops things haven't quite gone to plan.....we're 2-0 down after 52 minutes. I'm not listening to commentary because the link to BBC London isn't working (probably a blessing - Ed.) but Sky Sports are suggesting we haven't exactly been 'robbed.' [STOP PRESS: FT Result, 'Boro 2-0 Charlton and another correct score forecast for me, following the 3-0 Liverpool prediction.]
I've said as much this week as I want to say about Les Reed. Some people slated me for it, but how can he possibly be the answer in the Championship (where we are surely headed now), let alone the Premiership? Of the eleven players that began today, eight were at the club prior to Dowie, whilst one of the three that weren't is Scott Carson. Richard Murray and Peter Varney's comments this week are sounding even more hollow than perhaps they even did at the time.
The comments of Billy Davies in today's Mirror made interesting reading, confirming that he was uncomfortable with the new Continental-style structure at Charlton. So the Board publicly blames everyone from Dowie to Diawara, but the structure remains in place and the team collapses all around it. I don't get it, I just don't get it.
posted by New York Addick @ 4:23 PM
8 comments
Outstanding proformance from Carson, Karkouri active on defense but he's out of contract in May right. So basically the players who are awake on the field aren't with us next year?
What a f****ing shambles. Murray & Varney have turned this club into a complete laughing stock. How they can even consider keeping Lou Reed & Mark Robson in charge is staggering. These pair of clowns couldn’t manage a Sunday morning team on Hackney Marshes. Their record since taking charge is so poor that in comparison Dowie looks like a world beater. The club is dying (sorry has died) before our very eyes and the board are content to believe the absolute drivel that Lou Reed comes out with after every defeat.
I have had enough. My wife and myself will not be renewing our season tickets next year as will I suspect a fair few thousand other supporters.
It may be mathetically possible to survive, and looking back over previous seasons all that is needed is often just over 34 pts but the mountain to climb is inside the players heads.Portsmouth survived last year with 14 pts after 19 games.
Realistically the job in hand is to build for next season in the championship.
If a miracle can happen then it will only happen with strong vocal undivided support from the home crowd-we need to emulate the fever of the Portsmouth away fans who never flinch in the face of goals going in.
Either way the team will be in better shape with support than without it.
It's hard to believe 34 points will be enough given that Blackburn are 17th with 19 points from only 18 games. I suspect Watford/Charlton will become detached and there will be a mighty six-way struggle to avoid finishing 18th with 40 points required.
The difference between us and Pompey was that they were willing to bite the bullet, acknowledge a mistake (Perrin) and welcome back Redknapp.
Another crucial difference between Pompey last year and ourselves now is that Pompey had players who were prepared to roll their metaphorical sleeves up, do some work, and perform for the club, the manager and the fans.
A lot of the players in our squad haven't done that for over a year. It's easy to have a pop at Lou and Robbo but they're dealing with players who have chronically under-performed for three managerial teams now: Curbs, Dowie, and now Reed.
Everyone can talk about managerial structures, styles and tactics as much as they want and criticise the board but the players (and not just those bought in the summer) must shoulder the bulk of the responsibility for our current (piss-poor) league position and our inevitable fall into the fizzy pop.
Who have been our best performers this season?
Well, Carson is top of the list but he's not our player; he'll be off at the end of the year (if Benitez doesn't change his mind and call him back in January). A major motivation for him at the moment must be the chance to claim the Number One jersey at Anfield next season.
Andy Reid has had a few good games but he's too injury-prone; he's currently out for a few weeks at a time when we need him most.
Anyone else? Holland and Kish will always run their nuts off for the cause but other than that we're struggling. Darren Bent is looking forlorn on his own front; no support, no decent ball to work with. The only meaningful contribution he's able to make at the moment is in defence at set pieces.
Given the way some of the players have defiled the Charlton shirt in recent months it's a wonder they feel able to collect their exceptionally large wages. If they were on a performance-related package they'd have just about earnt their bus fare home AND they'd have to wash their own kit after every match.
Not that would take too long, theyve hardly done enough to get it dirty ...
Message to Billericay Dickie.
Don't renew your season ticket, and get on the waiting list for a season ticket at Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool. That way you are guarenteed to get what you want. I, however, am a Supporter of Charlton Athletic so I will continue to watch them.
I just find it sad that some "fans" think that by threatening to take their business elsewhere they are helping. That is exactly the same attitude that the players are showing. "This is rubbish, I'm off!" You (even if most Charlton Supporters don't) deserve this team and our currnet predicament. If the only good thing that comes out of a couple of seasons out of the Premiership is that "fans" like you find another club to patronise then it's not all bad.
Tillers, in fairness to Billericay Dickie I think that planning not to renew his CAFC season ticket is not the same as transferring his support to another club.
Whether we all like it or not, we have Charlton running through our veins. Chicago Addick described it as drug to me yesterday, but unfortunately what we probably need right not is rehab not another fix.
However I will support the decision of anyone who expresses their free will and chooses to attend fewer matches. We all have different life situations and priorities, and Charlton moving down that list for a while does not imply being not being a 'true' fan in my view.
I feel uncomfortable when fans call for the heads of Murray and the board, after all if it were not for them we would not be in the position to be relegated from the Prem, what would the alternative be a Ken Bates, Doug Ellis, an Abramovich. Murray and co do have a lot to answer for, but let no one forget or ignore the fact that they are sweating with us, holding their heads in their hands, feeling their hearts sink and additionally seeing thei investment on the club reduced to vcery little. Do I want them to gop ........ no, do I want them to admit mistakes ... yes