Sunday 12 February 2017

" There has to be an element of control "

" I know it's about the fight and competing for survival in one of the most difficult leagues in Europe but there has to be an element of control ".

Most Addicks don't need telling or reminding who uttered those words nearly a year ago shortly before demanding that Sanago be banned for the rest of the season after collecting a red card for elbowing a Dons player. Sanogo apologised later - presumably he was wound up after the Dons player said something that didn't belong in any industry.

Regular readers of this blog will know I wasn't in football parlance, over the moon, when Robinson was appointed as our manager. I know most of us wanted a British manager ( although I would qualify that by saying we wanted a manager with proven success in the football leagues ) but that didn't mean that was the sole criteria.

To be clear that wasn't just because Robinson has a track record of rubbishing officials and seemingly blaming them for every defeat his teams suffer. Nor was it just because he talks a lot, in fact a hell of a lot without actually saying anything meaningful.

It wasn't just because his teams are set up to have a lot possession with that apparently being more important almost than scoring goals.

It was the whole package that led me to believe he wasn't at all suited to manage our club. I know we've had some less than wonderful gaffers in the last 3 years but none has quite dismayed me as much as the current incumbent.

I had, perhaps naively, hoped that he might have moved on a bit following a short spell out of the game. Maybe he'd taken the time to reflect on all aspects of his management. Maybe he'd leave the waffle behind and some other less appealing aspects of his management style.

Saturday's final whistle and events immediately following it confirmed that in no way has there been any change. His behaviour not only reflected badly on him but brought more embarrassment to our club.

No wonder we've had 3 red cards in successive games. Byrne's tackle last week didn't look good to me but Robinson saw fit to applaud him off the pitch and pat him on the back. Why endorse that ?

Where does Robinson go from here ? I fail to see how he can discipline any player for transgressing on the pitch. Maybe he'll refund Tex the fine he imposed after the Portuguese threw the ball at Morison. After all he suffered physical rather than verbal abuse that some would argue is worse.

Robinson has brought with him a whole lot of baggage that ranges from his dislike of officials and vice versa to other clubs supporters feeling the same way.

Let's be clear Robinson did cop a load of stick on Saturday and that banner was a step too far. Their point could have been better made without the use of the C word. However, he must have been expecting it and a lot of it would have been of his own making.

Wimbledon ought to be a  club with whom we have a great affinity given our respective histories. Sadly, Saturday will have done a deal of damage to any relationship. Let's hope it restricted to Robinson himself.

No doubt there are other clubs whose fans share a similar dislike of the man. Peterborough are probably one.

Some folk are keen to defend the manager citing his passion. Is this the same sort of passion that saw Rosler antagonise our fans last week or some Millwall fans behave the way they do ? Maybe those Robinson apologists believe they can selective in their definition of this " passion ".

Two games played in February and the main talking points arising are referees and a post-match altercation with a groundsman. That's probably just as well for Robinson otherwise we'd start to examine football matters and ask questions such as why we can have so much possession and not score more than one goal.

Why one of our best strikers is playing left mid ? Why he can't set his team up to play a system that doesn't involve one man up front ?

Why when apparently have so many good players including the latest Deli Alli are we floundering in mid-table ?

It seems the players do want to play for him despite all the off field nonsense and waffle and at present to me that's all Robinson has and needs to cling onto. However, more episodes like Saturday allied to poor results even his greatest advocate will desert him.

Since his appointment Robinson has been keen to tell us what a massive club we are and cites our history and tradition and how he is honoured to be our manager. All very good but with it comes a great deal of responsibility. He needs to ensure that his words and deeds match the rhetoric.

Time to clean up his act for as much as he likes a drink he won't want to be drinking in the last chance saloon too often.




24 comments:

  1. What kind of no mark does not back their own manager? Why are you even pretending to blog as a Charlton 'Supporter'?

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    1. Ken, you're entitled to your view. I don't accept that I should back the actions of our manager just because he holds the position. By that token we should all back Duchatelet. You seriously question me as a supporter? You let yourself down and weaken any argument with that comment. I expect the manager of our club to behave in a certain way and to have standards. If they don't then we have to question it. Better people than I have done so too. You seem to be suggesting that we should support whatever he does Ken, I can't agree with that.

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    2. Well, Phil. it seems the 'Volunteer' made vile comments about OUR Manager's 10 year old daughter. So, you carry on telling us all how he has let himself down and about the damage he has done between us and the lovely Wimbledon and yes, I stick with what I first wrote but obviously we have different versions of what supporter means. You jumped on him at the first opportunity. No benefit of the doubt for one of ours, no, let's get the facts before judging, accusing, criticising. You would seem to care more about Wimbledon. Seems odd for a self professed 'Charlton' supporter. Your Duchatelet comment explains your motive.

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    3. Ken, we'll continue to disagree then. Me with my belief that the manager should behave in a certain way and you that all fans should support him no matter what he says or does simply because he's OUR manager. So, yes, we clearly do have different views of what a supporter is.

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  2. I guess we have to agree to disagree. For me Robinson has been a breath of fresh air - I love the passion - it's a welcome change from someone who gives the appearance of being dead from the neck up and, for that matter, dead from the neck down (aka R Slade). And it is quite clear that most, if not all, the players have warmed to him. I think he has given them and me, HOPE. Anyone who can get Tony Watt playing has my respect. I'm very confident that (a) he is here for the long run and (b) good things are go to happen under his stewardship. I'm certainly not ruling out the playoffs this season, particularly once he has a full strength side back in play. As for the level of provocation at AFC Wimbledon well I think it was unprecedented and he rose to the bait. But then again so would Brian Clough.

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    1. Anon, I'd love to see us make the playoffs and beyond. I think the players do want to play for him at the moment. The unavailability of some players is down to suspension though and that is a worry. Ardley is convinced that Holmes should have got a red on Saturday and I've never considered him that type of player.

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  3. I don't buy the 'back the manager' line just because he's the manager. If that's your view we would still have Karel Fraye in charge. I am not a big fan of Robinson but it must be said he was provoked on Saturday even though he should show more self-control as Charlton Athletic manager. What disappoints me most about Robinson is he said we were "a basket case of a club" when he visited with MK Dons last season. His conversion on the Lower Road has been spectacular and after spending an evening in the pub with four fans can now move on safe in the knowledge he has heard the fans and is quite happy continuing his backing of Meire and Duchatelet. A backing which he can and will probably argue in due course, hasn't yet been reciprocated.

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    1. Dave, thanks for your comment. He was clearly provoked. What is a further concern is that later on and sometime after the heat of the moment he made the comment that he hoped the guy was still around effectively to sort him out. I'm struggling to warm to him in any way. his supposed passion and love for the club is expressed in the same way as his previous so you doubt it's genuine aside from the road to Damascus moment that you refer to.

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  4. Eeee pal, water off a duck's back, mate!

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  7. You talk of embarrassment to the club the real embarrassment are the idiots going to Belgium to hassle locals . Robinson is a great appointment and with him at the helm I feel good times are ahead . Be Proud of Charlton not someone who only gets off at digging up negatives

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    1. Anon, time will tell on Robinson but I can't envisage success with him. Those going to Belgium are doing so to highlight the damage RD is doing to our club. I take little joy at highlighting the problems at our club but I won't ignore them. Those protesting want us to be truly proud of our club again.

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    2. Unfortunately most see the protesters as nothing more than an embarrassment, they have lost the support they once had and know it . Positive is the way forward not dragging the club name down. I think many fans will never accept them as supporters if they persist on being a nuisance.

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    3. RD is dragging the club down not those trying to move him on. Not sure how they're being a nuisance. Crowds continue to dwindle and the squad gets ever weaker especially when the latest loaners depart along with our latest bright young things. They won't be replaced as Roly pockets the cash. Little to be positive about really.

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  8. Time will tell on Karl, and he may yet make a play off push, although I am doubtful. Probably best Manager we have had since Sir Chris. As for the Protesters, it is obvious that we have an Owner that simply does not invest, the richest owner we have ever had and he does zero. He has removed hope, and hope is what football is all about. Until he departs, we will decline, and as I have said on other forums, I fully expect a relegation struggle next year. There should be no apologists for this clown of an owner, he will depart, and we will rebuild. Good luck to the Belgium Protesters, and all those that think they are misguided should look at the other 5/6 clubs with poor ownership and be thankful that some are taking action in lawful protest.

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    1. Zombie, agree with your thoughts on our Belgium bound friends. Roly has no plan and no interest in our club. We may end up like Orient and be facing life in non-league football.

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  9. In this industry results tell all - and Karl has been talking the talk ever since he arrived in SE7 but he's yet to deliver the goods.
    12 games into his reign and he's collected 15 points - exactly the same total as Russell Slade got in his last 12 games in charge ..... so not much of an improvement there then.

    The transfer window merely confirmed what we all knew would happen - but it was probably a big learning curve for Karl... Ademole finally left and the large number of £millions paid by Everton was immediately transferred into Euros and sent off to Duchatelet's local bank in Sint Truiden, leaving Karl to scratch around to bring in journeymen and loanees.... oh yes, and the return of the prodigal son from Scotland.

    Karl has to wise up and ensure that the teams he selects can see out games, which, incidentally lasts for 90 minutes PLUS injury (or added on) time. We want to see games put to bed early on, an early goal is fine but that needs to be added to - we've only seen that once so far in Karl's reign at home to Bristol Rovers.
    We want to see more fight on the pitch - not bad tackles which sees a player sent off putting the team under more strain .... but what we don't want to see is the manager trying to thump a member of the opposition staff, no matter what the provocation might be. The manager should lead by example.
    Mid table is the most that we can expect this season - which is better than a relegation dog-fight that I was fearing once again.
    No matter how good the manager, if he's not given the tools to do the job he will fail, and probably pay the price with his job. The only constant in the whole SE7 saga of the last 3 years is the failure of Duchatelet and Meire. The sooner that they go the better, that day cannot come too soon.

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    1. A very good summation of things Anon. Robinson was naive if he thought he'd be fully backed by Roly although I'm not sure he'd be successful even if he were. However, as you say things won't improve until Roly is gone.

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    2. You are blinded by hate and come across as nothing but a bitter old fool. What if we were successful under RD I bet you would still moan. Some people can only see darkness I pity you

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  10. I agree things on the up, Robinson could be the main man and has 100% support from most fans I know

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  11. Anon thasss juss wot I think in them lass two posts n well said n all, e's full of atred, bitter which sums up wot the exenophobe vermin are dahn our gaff. I ope all the ones goin to arrass Roland get bannin orders cos thass wot they deserve. Get them all ahrt then the rest of us can get on with supportin our gaff gettin behind the players n seein our team move onwards n upwards with Queen Katrien the best CEO we've ever ad.

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