Watford 5 (FIVE) - Charlton Athletic 0.
Our club used to be considered a 'model', a decent blueprint for other aspiring clubs to follow.
We are still a 'model', it's just I can't imagine there'll be any other clubs looking at this particular way of doing things and wanting to follow the lead.
Yesterday, not one person I spoke to pre game thought we would be benefiting from the supposed New Manager Bounce.
If anything, the events of the last week had made the obvious cracks in the Charlton set up develop into great yawning chasms.
The away support stayed with the team- but didn't stay with each other.
I had to delay a (really quite necessary) trip to the toilets due to a bout of pushing, shoving, raised voices and the inevitable piling in of friends to support their mates, blocking my way to the sweet relief I was needing.
Watford will never have an easier game.
I'm sure they have to put more effort in when doing their warm down sessions at the end of training.
It's lucky for us we were playing a team who were quite ordinary on the day.
That's it.
They were nothing special, yet still managed to give us the biggest hiding I can recall since a rather ineffective and non festive Boxing Day trip to West Ham back in the Premiership.
We were that bad.
Imagine if we'd been playing a team who were really on fire?
It could have been time to start rewriting the record books.
Etheridge, the latest in our revolving door of goalkeepers had a good game. Yet we still lost FIVE - nil.
On another day, if our keeper hadn't made some decent stops, it could very easily have been nine or ten- or more.
The only goal he was at fault for was the final free kick.
From our position behind and to the left of the goal, we called exactly where the shot was heading and where the gap was. It was a well taken strike but the door was well and truly left open.
The game was up well before then though.
With only 20 minutes on the clock it was clear to see there was only one team in it.
The Charlton crowd split into factions. There was a very large and vocal amount of people chanting for Roland and his smoking pants to leave us alone.
Then there were those people who seem to think they have an inside knowledge, announcing that if it wasn't for him we'd be in administration.
Yeah? And?
The fact that he 'saved' us from the situation with the spivs does not mean we have to agree with everything he ever does, from now until he grows tired of his experiment.
History has shown that just because you've been on the receiving end of a 'helpful' gesture, it doesn't mean you are indebted forever.
Charles De Gaulle, way before he had been relegated to being known as an airport to the North of Paris, was looked after by the British in London throughout the Second World War.
It's probably not an exaggeration to say the British saved his life.
Instead of having a feeling of "merci" towards our country for the rest of his life, he actually turned into one of our greatest thorns, not least when he was the massive party pooper, blocking our entry to the 'Common Market' as it was then.
We don't owe Roland anything.
Each decision should be taken on it's own merits and when we can see he's not acting in the best interest of our club, or telling porkie pies, he should be told and reminded we were here way, way before he was- and we'll still be here, long after he's just a footnote in a paragraph to be read by future Addicks with a shudder.
I still believe in our club but I don't believe in the arrangement of 'football incest' Roland has set up.
Maybe Guy Luzon is an amazing coach and motivator? I've no idea.
I do know his English is crap, (as seen on the rather appalling press conference), he has the personality of a damp towel, he knows nothing of our club or the Championship and he's not allowed to work here due to work permit issues.
- Yet Roland says he's "the best man for the job".
Imagine how devastated the fictional 20 other applicants must be feeling to be thought of as a worse prospect than Luzon?
So.
Any positives?
The new 'Reg Dwight' stand at Watford looks quite tidy.
Johnnie Jackson made the effort to come towards the away section at the end- but even he couldn't bring himself to come nearer than the edge of the penalty area- to applaud the fans who without fail had kept with the team.
Tony Watt made it to the front row and gave away his shirt.
We can get on our high horses and snigger about Watford supporters doing a 'Mexican Wave' but it's grasping at straws.
We were rubbish, Watford won at a canter and we were lucky they didn't go for the jugular.
It's time for us to lick our wounds.
8 comments:
Yes but who's tongue do we have to use?
Pedro45
Dead right, CC, one doesn't remain indebted forever. Re your excellent example of General Nez- Grand it was always said that post-war he was seeking "revenge" for the way Churchill treated him. Similarly, we can at the very least raise our voices against RD's destruction of the feel and the image of our club. Those of us who have had to make do with two Wembley appearances in 60-odd years have continued to support the Addicks because of the community feel; the compliments we received in the media were not accidental, we were different from the majority and in a good way.
Having been through the Glikstens, Marman, Sell-out Park, Spanish Tone and Manchester Martin, this is the first time I have seriously thought about watching the demise from a distance, rather than at The Valley. Meanwhile, they should change the opening music on each half to our current Status Quo - "Down, down, deeper and down".
Thanks for your comment
Sick of you and the other pathetic Charlton bloggers
When did you start speaking for the fans of my club?
RD can spend his money as he wants. Grow up and visit the real world
Just an example of a few of the negative comments received today.
The CAFC support is certainly split on the subject of RD
Marco, supporters may be split but I'd wager the vast majority share your concerns and views. Our anon friend above is perfectly entitled to write a blog of his own of course and tug his forelock ( oh err ! ) should he ever meet Roly. In any case I don't recall you or any other blogger claim to speak on behalf of anyone else. We live in interesting times ! Phil.
Cheers Phil.
I can only speak for myself.
A blog is an 'as I see it' activity so there will always be people who disagree.
I was rather surprised at the number of abusive messages I got though.
They could all have been from the same person of course but maybe many of our support are more willing than I am to give RD a few years to prove his model works?
Good article Marco. From reading Charlton Life there is indeed a big split between fans, but I'm with Phil in that a majority share your concerns. If we start winning games those concerns will be shelved for a while or dissipate altogether. From conversations with a few fellow sufferers the view tends to be "I'll wait and see what happens before I go again". But I suspect Duchatelet won't pay any heed to plunging gates and will plough on with any plans he has regardless.
Pembury Addick
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