Saturday saw Addicks both here and abroad fighting two battles. One on home soil was for survival in League One, the other on foreign ground was for our very existence.
Closer to home saw a rather saddening display from both some fans and players alike. In some cases neither exactly covered themselves in glory.
The day started well for me as the decision to partake of pre-match imbibing in The Squirrels was to prove a good one. Good beer and food was consumed whilst watching United and Bournemouth entertain us with some behaviour that wouldn't have been out of place on the undercard for the Haye-Bellew fight.
Once inside Sixfields Stadium things went rapidly downhill. From the off Rudd was subject to a whole load of abuse from a few of our finest. Quite what he's done to warrant that I've no idea. The insults got worse after Smith scored. How on earth anyone thought Rudd could do anything about that I've not a clue.
A perfect cross was beautifully met and dispatch into the top left hand corner of the goal. It was unstoppable.
In the meantime, just behind the goal one of our more mature fans kicked off with another one. It never amounted to much but was unpleasant and sufficient to cause much distress to a wheelchair bound gentleman. All pretty unsavoury.
Somehow we fashioned a scrappy equaliser that was mostly undeserved. This led to a few of ours to go and taunt the Cobblers fans with a chair being thrown as well. As I understand it this hit Chicksen's mum. Thankfully, I don't think she was too badly hurt.
There's nothing good to say about the rest of the match. We didn't really create anything and totally lacked any cohesion or game plan. Watt appeared for a disappointing cameo and again he was on the receiving end of abuse. Maybe it's deserved to a degree but shouting all manner of obscenities at him or anyone else isn't going to help.
Post match very few players made their way over to the fans. Those that did get a hearty rendition of " you're not fit to wear the shirt ".
Equally Robinson left the scene. Not for him to be gathering the players together and lapping up the applause as if we've won the league. All mates together ! I can't see that happening for some time.
Clearly the manager didn't get away early to prepare himself to deliver a rational and erudite interview. The usual waffle followed and now he's taking the blame himself. Well that's what he said except he went on to cite injuries, suspensions, bad weather, officials looking at him in a funny way etc.etc. All reasons as to why he is fast becoming our least successful and popular manager.
He may eclipse Fraye, Pardew and Dowie across one or both of those. Quite some going.
At the time of writing Robinson remains in situ. Sadly, the same is also true of the man who is the driving force behind our current plight. However, Duchatelet did get an insight into the depth of the antipathy towards as nearly 300 Addicks paid him a visit in his hometown.
Their stories and details of their trip are well documented elsewhere. They have served to embarrass Roly in his backyard and also highlighted our situation through national and foreign media. We all owe them a great deal of gratitude.
Hopefully they will have nudged the owner nearer to departure. Whether those hardy souls have been successful won't be clear for some time. What is clear though is that they displayed more passion and desire than we witnessed from our boys on the pitch in Northampton.
In respect of Robinson and our squad it's a total mess. I really can't see us winning any of the next 3 games. Given the toxic atmosphere I witnessed Saturday playing all those at home really won't help as it is likely to be magnified.
It's all such a bloody mess. We are in our lowest position in my lifetime ( and I'm no spring chicken ) with no sign of things improving.
Maybe our CEO will offer some hope and insight when she shares her ideas and plans with fans on Saturday in her next Q&A session. We can rely her to deliver, can't we ?
"He's (Karl) not the Messiah....he's a very naughty boy....now clear off !!!
ReplyDeletePerhaps by Weds he will.
DeleteWe all know cliche Karl's preferred system is ... 4-3-2-1 blast off!! or as in school matches put all the shirts on the floor and the number you pick up (or the shirt that fits) is where you are playing. Then how come he constantly mentions that he played 4-4-2. We know that that is Roland's preferred formation. Is he telling him through the media (as RD won't be watching) that he is doing what RD asks but it still isn't working?
ReplyDeleteShirts on the floor ? I'm not sure that Robinson is using a system as sophisticated as that Martin!
DeleteManagers, players, coaches (far too many of these by the sounds of things) have almost become irrelevant to the playing fortunes of CAFC such is the level of general dysfunctionality that the owner and his CEO have brought to the club. With every change of head coach/manager, each one let's not forget an improvement on the previous incumbent, the question has always been can they lead some sort of on-field success in spite of the interference of the owner coupled with a total lack of ambitious backing from him This historical interference is well documented and I've no doubt that Martin Edwards is pretty close to the mark with his speculation that Robinson has had certain suggestions put to him by the owner. I don't particularly like Robinson but I do believe that both he and the players are potentially better than we are currently witnessing. I said some time ago that I didn't think that CAFC had yet hit the bottom under this owner and unless there is a complete change of approach things will continue to worsen. My sincere thanks goes to all who are protesting.
ReplyDeleteTerry, I agree that the team is capable of much better. I have doubts that Robinson is. I accept that in all likelihood no manager would get us promoted with Roly in charge. However, there's no way we should be remotely threatened with relegation. Robinson would be more naive than I thought if he bought any false promises from the owner and CEO. For all his bragging about his football contacts it seems that Slade and Sir Chris aren't amongst his circle of friends. You'd surely get an insight from them before signing on the dotted line unless you were desperate and prepared to take the job no matter what.
DeletePhil, given that Robinson's view of Charlton before he was appointed manager was that it was a 'basket-case' it seems likely that he believed that taking the job was a no-lose situation for him and at the very least would add to his footballing education and experience with managing in such a difficult environment. Combine the fact that CAFC is still perceived as a relatively big club with potential, even now, the manager's post will still appeal to the vanity of someone who feels that they can 'handle' the owner. History suggests that Robinson won't last but he will go without any substantial damage to his reputation and probably a big fat pay-off to add to the burgeoning debt of CAFC. Of the many catastrophic errors that Duchatelet has made I would cite the appointment of Fraye and the sacking of Slade along with the failure to appoint Nugent as up there with the worst of them.
DeleteTerry, can't argue with any of that. In respect of his vanity one recalls all the talk of making Watt run, sweat, bleed etc. as though Robinson was the one to sort him out. I'm not sure anyone can but it's never going to be a manager like Robinson who does.
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ReplyDeletea2c at least they turn up and protest in person, show their faces, where as you sit there and slag everyone off from behind a keyboard, locked in your fritzel style basement. People like you destroy our club.
ReplyDeleteOne question, do you really think Roland is doing a good job? We have gone from mid championship to league one and are really close to a relegation battle now, way too many managers over the time he has been here, stupid rules where we had to play these useless players from other clubs of his for him to make money and will be in league 2 soon with less fans than ever like we have had this year and yet you still defend him, what do you, the supposed "proper fan" want from the club? Please tell me what Roland has done well in your view from the basement?
Anon, you'll not get an answer from a2c. They never offer anything other than accuse us all of exonophobia etc. I'm sure a2c really knows Roly is destroying the club but doesn't want to admit they're wrong.
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ReplyDeleteYou were right Phil. The question was avoided because there is no good being done by the Roly & the gang and in answer to you a2c, one win in nine, brilliant isn't it... Get back down the Den a2c.
DeleteAnon, a2c can't help him / herself. Never mind
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