Overreaction?
I am quite a level-headed Addick. There’s thousands of posts below here ⬇️ that would suggest that. What would Curbs say? Don’t over celebrate the wins, nor over scrutinize the losses. Something like that, anyway.
Although it posted on Sunday morning, I did write my post match blog straight after the game against Gillingham. I was frustrated, disheartened and annoyed. Nothing like a good moan in the pub after a defeat with your mates, accept there was no pub, or mates to talk out the sorrow with until you realize there is always next week, and the next pint.
You won’t find me wanting to remove Lee Bowyer as our manager. I have stated my position on that before. If anyone deserves a chance, a second chance or a third chance, then it is Bow, who miracously never walked away from us when it seemed the utmost logical thing to do. The Charlton family owe him and Jacko and Gallen, and there is the added factor that they have created a silk purse out of a sow’s ear before.
You can read elsewhere of the cards that were dealt Bowyer this season, and the last, and yes he has twisted and stuck at the wrong times and played the wrong hand. Yet under his watch he has given me some of the best Charlton days for the longest time.
At some point it is right to move on from ‘we are lucky to have a club’ narrative, but I agree it is still soon. Although I don’t believe we would never have had a club to support, lordy was it a rough ride…. again I’d point you to hundreds of posts below this one to remind us all how shitty it was under Duchatelet, Meire and then rent-a-fraudster.
Isn’t it good to be talking defensive frailties and formations again and not court cases and customers.
League One is a loathsome place to watch football, but we are here, and promotion from it as it stands looks a stretch, but I have to back Bowyer to put as much blood and tears into making it as you or I. If he fails, he fails, but at least we were all in it together. Like we were from the beginning.
Chicago Addick 
Nice, to hear some sense. Couldn’t agree with you more.
Ian ( fellow exile, QLD Australia)
All been reading is the pro posts but there was one the other day from Lewis and it was brilliant.
Sorry and yes can see all sides and so Bows does not do the job because he loves it and he and his bunch of losers (ok good on paper) get far more salary than the rest of us who may or may not have jobs. He is very lucky to have this job and supposed to be a results orientated business!!!
In any case, we all heard the rumours of him being approached by other clubs (did they really???) and frankly just because he got us up before does not mean he can do it again and frankly calling out certain players and the likes of Watson, Pratley, Pearce and others not getting rebuked.
Yes just because he is a so-called legend but his tactical nous here and now is zero and has no plan B but it is the here and now that matters and what 4 wins in 17 says it all.and playing many players completely out of position when there were those available on the bench!!!
Also stating very strange post-match comments and yes we have our first choice CB’s out through injury (a well known CAFC traint) but we have 2 others.
No CB signing in the last transfer window says it all.
Sorry, I have heard too much from the half glass full brigade and the football is just gross and he is not up to it and no chance of playoffs and would you trust him with the Owner’s mney and bet he is thinking the same and wonder privately “Have I picked the wrong club.
He has to make a firm decision but the football has been diabolical to be very kind
Sort it Bows but he won’t walk he has not got the guts to do so and besides he needs the money.
Oh well, there always the next game to bounce back and just how any times have we heard it this season and the other stale old same excuses.
BOWS OUT
I can’t agree with these comments. Bows I think has done more for cafc than was thought possible – he’s been handicapped by first transfer embargo, then salary cap. We also loose our best new emerging talent as previous ownership didn’t tie them down to contracts. My glass is still more than half full. L1 is a hard place – the beer in my glass served in the “L1 Arms” is gassy, warm fizzy larger rather than a quality ‘craft beer’ but Bows isn’t the brewer!
Have faith. I don’t think someone else with the same previous shackles would have done better. So okay we won’t make automatic promotion – but play offs still possible and I know other teams wouldn’t fancy facing Bows cafc in that scenario.
I do think people should wait a day or two before posting a ‘Post Match’ comment after a defeat, all you need to do is read the hysteria and self righteous outrage on CL to know most are knee jerk reactions!
In fact I’ve stopped reading them because some are so ridiculous it seems everyone and their cat 🐈 are ‘Armchair’ managers/coaches and it isn’t as simple as that and I imagine there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that we simply don’t know about, the recent article about Alex Gilby is an example of that.
I know we’re all frustrated but I think a recent Benjy Nurick article for the SLP says it much better than I could.
Well entitled and respect your opinion and yes so do many decent folk have troubles in the real world too out there!! Just saying
CL say no more constant swearing and slagging other posters off each week and hide under stupid nicknames and some of them belong to Charlton Live and media person at CAFC too
I totally agree, I can’t think of any other sane manager who would have stuck with us under the various regimes that he and we endured! I think the key this season has been the loss of the two centre halves. If we can get one or preferably both back watch us go on another winning run like we did at the start of the season.
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With respect to you and your post but we agree to disagree, Sorry
Yes, let’s keep level headed and think about where are now from the beginning of the season.
We have the backing of a dedicated and sincere chairman…this in itself is really hard to believe after years of uncertainty….he is actually looking to grow the club and I like his optimism, Premier league within 5 years, this is very likely.
Lee Bowyer and staff deserve all the support for a fantastic effort and even if we don’t make the playoffs this year then next season will I believe be a time when we really crack on.
The players are trying their best….we have some great talent for this division and results have not been a true reflection of where we are as a team, we’ve had some ridiculous decisions given against us which have been costly the standard of refereeing in this division is quite poor.
I wish all the whinging fans would take stock of things and be thankful that things are moving forward, we can’t expect yet to be at the top of the table,It’s a bit like recovering from WW2….you rebuild and after a few years you are on your feet again.
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Have to agree with a lot of what Johnwest says as most are true facts, which the rose tinted glass brigade don’t want to acknowledge in any shape or form, but I don’t agree with everything.
I currently am not saying Bowyer out, but am very close to it, so are my Charlton friends. That’s not just because of how absolutely dreadful we have been playing, with one of the worst defences I have witnessed in over 50 years, plus poor tactics,poor team selection, poor players brought in, poor subsitutions etc, it’s mainly because Bowyer never holds his hands up and takes no responsibility for any of this, he is always constantly blaming someone or something else! His after game ramblings and excuses are quite frankly embarassing, even my partner who has watched some of the games with me as they are on TV as she has had nothing better to do, says he is really irritating, is there something wrong with him, as he always has a smirk on his face when he’s talking, which I had to agree with her, as I don’t often on Football issues! LOL
I don’t even want to bother to name all the excuses as you hear them every week after the games and are constantly in the press after Bowyer has vented his annoyance to them.
But the last one takes the biscuit blaming the opposition bench for infuencing the referee!
I don’t like the guy at all, but Evans reply to the press was spot on saying “Those speaking after the match, looking for reasons why they get beat, perhaps should have been looking for reasons to stop us after we changed the team shape shortly before we got our winner, that tactical switch and brilliant play from a class player like Kyle Dempsey won us the match”. It seems Bowyer was so incensed with Chucks getting sent off he hadn’t noticed Gillingham had changed tactics, now that’s no ones fault but his, but he would never admit it!
So please Mr B, for once take the rap yourself for some of this absymal performances and you might gain some more respect and support behind you, plus stop filling the team with aged pensioners in Football terms including Shinnie who you are desperate to now sign permantley and start getting some more good younger players in, not just on loan!
Theres another point we all seem to miss is that, whilst Bowyer has been Manager, he has actually had no real pressure on himself for the team to perform, as all the previous parties have been focusing on how to make monies out of Charlton. Therefore as long as he had enough players mainly loanees to keep ticking along, without having to put their hands in their pockets they weren’t that concerned what he was doing with the team as their minds were on other matters. Now he has an owner in Sangaard who wants Charlton to succeed and is willing to put money into the club, as already demonstrated, so for the first real time, as he now has the tools to do the job, which he has always implied he didn’t have, Bowyer, has to now show he can perform! If not, as Sangaard is no fool, we will see another Frank Lampard!
Have to agree with a lot of Johnwest says as most are true facts, which the rose tinted glass brigade don’t want to acknowledge in any shape or form, but I don’t agree with everything.
I currently am not saying Bowyer out, but am very close to it, so are my Charlton friends. That’s not just because of how absolutely dreadful we have been playing, with one of the worst defences I have witnessed in over 50 years, plus poor tactics,poor team selection, poor players brought in, poor subsitutions etc, it’s mainly because Bowyer never holds his hands up and takes no responsibility for any of this, he is always constantly blaming someone or something else! His after game ramblings and excuses are quite frankly embarassing, even my partner who has watched some of the games with me as they are on TV as she has had nothing better to do, says he is really irritating, is there something wrong with him, as he always has a smirk on his face when he’s talking, which I had to agree with her, as I don’t often on Football issues! LOL
I don’t even want to bother to name all the excuses as you hear them every week after the games and are constantly in the press after Bowyer has vented his annoyance to them.
But the last one takes the biscuit blaming the opposition bench for infuencing the referee!
I don’t like the guy at all, but Evens reply to the press was spot on “Those speaking after the match, looking for reasons why they get beat, perhaps should have been looking for reasons to stop us after we changed the team shape shortly before we got our winner, that tactical switch and brilliant play from a class player like Kyle Dempsey won us the match”. It seems Bowyer was so incensed with Chucks getting sent off he hadn’t noticed Gillingham had changed tactics, now that’s no ones fault but his!
Theres another point we all seem to miss is that, whilst Bowyer has been Manager, he has actaully had no real pressure on himself for the team to perform, as all the previous parties have been focusing on how to make monies out of Charlton. Therefore as long as he had enough players mainly loanees to keep ticking along, without having to put their hands in their pockets they weren’t that concerned what he was doing with the team as their minds on other matters. Now he has an owner in Sangaard who wants Charlton to succeed and is willing to put money into the club, as already demonstrated, so for the first real time, as he now has the tools to do the job, which he has always implied he didn’t have, Bowyer, has to now show he can perform! If not as Sangaard is no fool, we will see another Frank Lampard!
Mike, That also is my gripe and never ever blames himself. Oh sorry ONCE when he played Smyth at full-back but also calling out some players but not others ie Watson, Pearce and others too.
4 wins in 17 and yes I can see the unfortunate situation he is in but frankly playing players totally out of position when there were some on the bench is ridiculous.
More ridiculous is that we have really missed our 2 best CB’s but no worries we have 2 more.
Also not signing a CB in the last window will cost us and in any case, why don’t they just say the truth about Innis and he will be out for the season and who’s telling the other CH will come back the same player.
Give Bow at least one full season under the new chairman .
Having read the arguments both for and against, I feel that in some cases LB does make some strange choices – wrong substitutions and excuses for defeats. However, in his defence, when the team comprises so many loan players how can we expect full commitment when, at the end of the season, they can simply return to their own club. It doesn’t matter if they are good players, we NEED contracted players and until we are in the position of having a fully signed, committed team we will not be able to put 11 players whose future is decided on the results.
I agree with your support for Bows etc. It was a BIG mistake not finding a CB in January as there must have been one somewhere who was better than Pearce. But I trust Gallen as he has always found many more good deals than not. So it’s right to stick with Bow and see what he can do for the rest of the season, and then I’m sure he and Thomas will discuss what’s best. Let’s keep behind the whole team including the manager and staff!
Graham
Sorry with respect do not buy this at all and yes I wonder if our current Owner is thinking privately ” Have I chose the right club but he has to make a strong decision on Bows but he is so far up his rear end it is not true.
He will wait until the end of the season and wonder if he can trust Bows with his money but it will be too late playoffs a no go. sorry just can’t see it and hope proved wrong.
2 words – Eddie Howe
United we should stand . Behind Bowyer we should give him the time and money.
Charlton would be shot to pieces in the Championship with this current squad, so I for one, are quite happy to be where we are in League One. Give Bowyer and Jacko at least one more season to get a decent squad ready for another promotion push. COYR.
I close my eyes wake up and it’s the 2021-22 season, the Valley is packed and rocking and we’ve won the league by Easter 😉
Certainly lots of pro and con opinions on here with some good points made in both directions.
To John West, Thomas Sandgaard has clearly stated that he picked “the right club,” having taken a hard look at others and is on record as stating just why he chose Charlton and it has nothing to do with the presence of Lee Bowyer.
Sandgaard is currently giving his full support to his manager, as he should, but being a tough, pragmatic businessman, if the manager fails him, I would suggest he would not be holding that position for very long.
I’m with those who say to see the season out, closely evaluate the whole package and take the necessary steps to advance the club during the 2021/22 season, no matter what division we find ourselves in.
We have seen utter chaos convert to measured orderliness and that in itself is most refreshing after the total s*@#storm we were going through just a few short months ago, when the very survival of Charlton Athletic Football Club was in the offing.
D.E. They are already being shot to pieces in this division and this currently is a really poor division!!!!! Apart from a few teams, we are all on equal terms as most other clubs also have had no money to spend, so stop moaning everytime Bower and get on with it, as you have told us several times you now have the players you want, so lets see some positive displays for once and no embarrassing excuses!
Bowyer got us promoted via the play-offs. This seemed to turn him into some sort of messiah. Apparently Birmingham City wanted his services, but he stayed, hero!!
The next season he got us relegated because his team couldn’t muster 3 points from the last five games.
This season he’s played people out of position, un-fathomable formations, slagged off players publicly, got rid of three players he signed within six months, couldn’t find a single CB to reinforce our pathetic defence and claims we are overachieving!! when you see his post-match interviews he comes over as someone of low intelligence.
So many Charlton fans willing to continue with this depressing mediocrity.
Sadly it looks like TS is going to stick with him at least until the seasons end. Mid-table in a shit league looks to be our destiny. I hope we avoid a relegation battle !!
If it was anyone else think we’d all be calling for his head but we’re in the club legend too sentimental to sack space which isn’t a good place to be ala Arteta/Solskjar/Lampard.
Makes no sense though to sack now but I really don’t like the football we play, too negative, can’t retain possession in final 3rd, can’t see out games and that’s before you get into the defence and post-match interviews.
The fact that he got us promoted before cannot be the barometer when we had by far and away the best squad in the division – finishing 3rd with Taylor/Aribo/Cullen/Bielik/Bauer was a massive underachievement IMO.
That said integrity, commitment, loyalty and heart unquestionable and he fully deserves a proper transfer window. If we’re not top 2 by Christmas (assuming no promo which I can’t see happening) then sadly think it’ll be time to move on.
Thanks for the many comments on both sides of the debate. Appreciated COYA.
Hey CA. Speed read this lot. Have been wondering what Thomas makes of Charlton fans now? The only reason I can see for him thinking he has picked the wrong club is us lot. That famous quote springs to mind “the worst thing about being a Charlton fan is other Charlton fans”. Not you of course. Still, its no different with any set of football fans – particularly the younger generation who expect instant gratification.