Another home grown talent sold off to line you know who's pockets...

I've written and not posted several pieces to try and get across how I feel about Charlton at the moment.  It's all so confusing.

One things for certain, we could definitely have better owners and a more sensible/competent CEO.

Worries about our inexperienced and paper thin squad were alleviated a touch with the signings of Rudd and Pearce - but then this morning the news Callum Harriott is off to Reading brings us backwards a few steps.

Harriott did really well in Riga's first spell in charge, was then deemed not good enough for the Championship and farmed out to Colchester for half a season.  Riga returns and then he's called back into the first team set up. He then was looking like a natural starter on the flank this season and ends up going to a Championship side (a division not too long ago he was deemed not good enough for) for another undisclosed fee.

I'm still agonising over whether to renew mine and my sons season tickets, the generation up from us has had enough and will not be renewing.  In fact Northampton at home will be their swan song, certainly until the Mad Flem's depart.

My issue is 'why should I let these idiots take away something that's been such a major part of my life since 1981?' But then I think to myself 'well they already have!'

As things stand I'll be buying tickets for the first two home league games and then see where I go from there.

As for my own expectations for the season ahead? I do not anticipate mediocrity. I honestly think it's on a knifes edge and we will simply sink or swim.

A promotion push may well see some supporters come back to the club, the downwards spiral carrying on it's current trajectory and we will see an even more self defeating toxic atmosphere at the Valley than we did even last season. And it was pretty unenjoyable, results aside.

Part of me still has that spark of excitement today on the eve of the new season. Wonder how long it will last?

...Club lurches to yet another disastrous customer relations cock up...

Just seen the ticketing prices for match day purchases.

I've not renewed so this will apply to me. With the £5.50 handling charges it will cost me £34.50 to watch a League One match against the likes of Bury FC, my two kids a tenner and my oap Mum £21. So £65.50 in total just to get in. £1,703.00 for the season.  Last season we paid circa £850 for all four of us to watch Championship football. This time round  season tickets for my lot will cost £1,110. So we will be penalised by nearly 600 quid for not renewing the season tickets, two of which have been dutifully purchased, even whilst at Selhurst since 1980. Several words spring to mind. Extortion being one. Blackmail being the other. And the audacity to class any games as being 'gold' status is ridiculous. Millwall, Gillingham and Sheffield Utd! Really? Gold?

The club (or more likely Katrien) is playing a very dangerous game of poker with those who haven't renewed.

For those of us who have been supporting the Addicks with our purchases of season tickets, match day programmes and other items for decades making the decision NOT to renew and support the regime had actually been really difficult. And I have nearly faltered on numerous occasions.

Be wary StarPricks Holdings or whatever your called. This may well backfire. And the agonising and ongoing internal battle loyal supporters who have not yet renewed have been having with themselves may turn into complete apathy towards what the club has now become.  We may well see a swell in tickets and attendances at the likes of Welling Utd, Bromley and Dartford.

Supporters Divided...

A comfortable 4-1 win at Welling Utd saw new boy Ajose score a hat trick, some low key protests and from what I've read on social media a continually going rift amongst some supporters.

The installation of a Russell Slade as Manager followed by some decent looking signings has been enough for some to call for cesation of hostilities towards the regime, for others this is no where near enough and they demand the protests continue.

For me it's all a bit more complicated and foggy than that.

I'm in no doubt that the current board view us (the supporters) as a bit dim and silly, and the fact they have changed their game plan is more to do with the necessity to stop the downward momentum that has been gathering at a pace over the last two seasons.

Having said this I'm not sure that disrupting every home game will do any of us any favours.

Personally I think the way forward, until we see some drastic re-structuring at board level, would be to boycott programmes and other official merchandise and catering products. Before and after match protests and saving in match disruption for the big games when we will get maximum publicity.

We don't need games such as the Northampton home game disrupted. I'm sure all will agree that despite being owned by The Rat we still want to see Charlton playing decent football and winning on the pitch.

Still not quite enough to re-new...

...That's the general Cooper Consensus at the moment.

The appointment of Slade an only be viewed as the most positive step taken by the current Charlton owners during their 2 and a half year tenure.

Unfortunately showing the usual lack of media savvy both Kat and Dicky put there feet well and truly in it. Yet Again!

Murrays 'poor me...blah blah blah...they called me names' self pitying and self indulgent whinge followed by Kats amazingly stupid statement about Varney's takeover bid include moving Charlton away from The Valley.  It will certainly be interesting to see the email trail mentioned by Varney who has threatened to publish them if no retraction is made within 48 hours.

Their actions meaning the season ticket re newel forms will stay firmly in the kitchen drawer.

What may guide a change in my thinking would be what happens during the preparation for the new season.  What players come in. Who leaves and who stays.

Slade is either a yes man or is self confident enough that he feels he can build success whilst managing his relationship and negotiations what he wants with the owner and his minions. Obviously I'm hoping for the latter.

Not sure what protests CARD have in store for the new season - my only concern would be that if they IF there has been a change in direction for the club and sensible decisions are beginning to take place any protests may well have a counter productive effect on the new look team climbing back up  the league.

Looking forward...

...It's been the best part of a month since my final rant of the 2015-2016 season, and despite nothing changing my mood has mellowed somewhat.  Not towards the regime so much, more that the events and outcomes of the various play offs have left me happy and seeing some eventual light at the end of this long dark tunnel we have endured.

First off, Palaces 'heartbreaking' defeat late in extra time having scored what twinkle toes Pardew seemed so self assured  would be the winner and project him into the legendary stratosphere he performed the most embarrassing example of Dad dancing I've ever seen.

Then, Miiiiiiil...(the only downside being we can kiss at least six points goodbye next season).

Finally, and most importantly was AFC Wimbledon achieving promotion beating fancied Plymouth Argyll in their play off final. A fine example of a club facing the ultimate adversity and bursting back to life thanks to it's loyal supporters.  A lesson to us all to persevere with the road ahead.

I'm not even going to moan about the none manager situation coupled with player acquisitions and back room appointments with no manager.  Come on, it's just what we should expect from the clueless ones.

I honestly believe, that after an exhaustive search, we will end up with one of the following:-

1. Another network numpty - step up that Hungarian fella.

2. An Englishman, but one who's already in the club so has not yet built up a reputation to lose, and is   a big enough Charlton fan to roll his sleeves up and try and help the club. (Not the regime).

So Nobby Viganovic or whatever his name is or Johnny Jackson it will be then.

Final words on the season that was 2015-2016 and a special word or two for the regime...

So two and a half years on since the arrogantly naive and stupid Phlegms rolled into town. And despite what these deluded idiots might try and say, because obviously in their minds anyone who actually understands and loves football (unlike them) is a complete imbecile, we have actually regressed since they took the helm.

They took over a mid table modest Championship side, who were struggling a touch, partly due to a lack of pre season player investment from the old regime, partly from the fact the awful pitch saw them having played FIVE games left than the rest of the division. (A potential fifteen points).

Attendances were averaging 16-18,000 real supporters actually in attendance.

Now, through their own folly and blind and deaf stupidity and pride, they have a third tier club with less than 10,000 (and dropping) supporters turning up to home games. Those that are still attending the Valley are mainly doing so to vocalise their upmost disgust and contempt for this regime. Their reputation amongst football supporters in large and the media is that of a dreadful laughing stock of a board running a much loved club into the ground needlessly.

What really sums up the utter inept, ignorance and stupidity of this bunch of wankers is the statement that was made when they took over that there were network players that could do as good a job as those stalwarts who were part of that spirited bunch who set League One alight and finished 9th in their first season in The Championship.

Let's take a quick look to make a point.

Dale Stephens (scored the equaliser yesterday against Middlesbrough for Brighton) - hopefully playing for Albion in the PL next term.

Yann Kermogant - promoted to the top flight with Bournemouth, played in the top flight at Bournemouth, will be playing for play off hopefuls Reading in The Championship next season.

Michael Morrison - came close to the play offs this term with Brum. Described by Gary Rowett as his best signing so far as a football manager.

Ben Hamer - unfortunately was kept out of the Leicester City side, only playing 8 games, due to the form of Kasper Schmecial. Oh and they won the Premier League as well, so not all that shameful for him.

I only get a few hundred read my posts on average as general, so am a small scale blogger in the grand scheme of things.

However, just on the odd chance that 2% of my readership are part of strapix, or even Kat or Roly or Tony or Dick Murray. FUCK OFF YOU CLULESS TWATS! WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO MY GREAT CLUB IS NOTHING SHORT OF CRIMINAL. MUGS! GO BUY YOURSELVES A COPY OF CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER AND LEAVE THE REAL THING TO PROFESSIONALS.

I won't be renewing (after 40 odd years of members of my family attending home games) until this lot are gone. I will join protests but it'll either be Welling United or Dartford that will be seeing my money come August. I may even get a decent pint and a proper pie.

You horrible, selfish, clueless wankers.

On a lighter note, wasn't the weather great today? Enjoy the summer. Roland and his lying lackeys out.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Addicks exit The Championship with a whimper...

Another depressingly stupid club statement. This time with Kats name firmly accredited to it.

I don't need to re-iterate (although I will) most Addicks opinion that it's not the fact of relegation that so bothers, it's the nature of it and the fact that if the regime had planned properly, appointed the right personnel, and actually realised after TWO YEARS of their master plan consistently is failing that they don't know what they're doing.

We have two more home games and the outside hope that one of the three rumoured club take over consortium's actually a) exist and b) will be able to negotiate a price that suits both Roly and the next investors. (Lets be honest I'd be extremely surprised if any one is willing to pay £38 million quid).

If the intention is to stay on and further suck the spirit and character out of our great club then I won't be part of it.  The next two home games will be both poignant and emotional - and also my last attending the Valley until things change.

Over thirty years supporting Charlton, but I categorically will not renew and will not attend home games whilst this bunch of mugs remain in charge trying to milk CAFC of everything they can get.