Katrien Meire | Chicago Addick

Apr 23

Charlton Athletic 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 3

Football took second place today at an anarchic Valley as Addicks upped the protests against Pinnochio, Judas and Roland Rat. 5,500 Charlton and Brighton fans marched on The Valley before the game in a fantastic show of fans being united against a noxious owner. The game was less than 30 seconds old when it was stopped for 7 minutes after hundreds of black & white beach balls were thrown onto the pitch as thousands of balloons of the same colour floated around the stadium.

Of course in true Charlton style, Brighton then scored in the 8th minute, which was really the first!
Please click for more

Apr 21

2 Comments

The day after the day after

Whilst relegation has been an obvious outcome to a calamitous season, I am finding it hard to digest. Looking at that League One table and the top of League Two does not scream ‘Ooh a new ground’ it shouts ‘up yours.’

The days after the Bolton game have produced a whole range of stories, with I am sure many more to come. Roland Duchatelet was at The Valley today and meetings continue with what Meire called the Senior Management Team this afternoon in a London hotel. Undoubtedly whilst it should be Meire’s future on top of the agenda I would expect it to be Jose Riga.

It is also understood that Paul Elliott planned to meet with Duchatelet, although there will be no uplifting videos or media meetings. The owner was greeted this morning at The Valley gates by a flashmob of Addicks complete with banners. Good work.
Please click for more

Apr 17

2 Comments

Lennie Lawrence

Lennie Lawrence has watched the last 3 Charlton games, which has fuelled rumours that he is negotiating with the club’s current board about re-joining Charlton in the summer. It is thought that Richard Murray is pushing Roland Duchatelet to embrace a British coaching and management structure with Lawrence as Director of Football supporting a Head of Recruitment and a young Head Coach. Where this leaves Jose Riga is unknown.

Of course, and it is my opinion, that Duchatelet will ignore Murray and simply employ another one of his lackeys with Ujpest coach Nebojša Vignjević in pole position.
Please click for more

Apr 13

13 Comments

Give us yer money

Roland Duchatelet is going to get none of my money, at least, up front, this summer. Whether that is tickets or sponsorship. It is a personal thing, I understand that. Some Addicks plan their whole week, often with family, around a 90 minute escape on a Saturday. Others like or need the quotidian ritual of having the same seat surrounded by longstanding mates. I don’t of course because I live here. So I am not going to ram boycotting down anyone’s throats. It is a personal decision.

However for the sake of £25, I would implore fans to wait. Cash flow particularly unencumbered cash is vital to any business, even to a multi-millionaire. Word is that season tickets numbers are way down, although these last few days before the initial deadline is traditionally the busiest.

The club reminded supporters of the deadline today and that they will release seats after that. That would be bad business but I reckon a ploy by the club to force supporters’ hands. Our league position alone should mean a more compliant approach. But, hey get in quick before all of those 3,400 seats sell out in the North Lower.
Please click for more

Apr 10

3 Comments

Queens Park Rangers 2 Charlton Athletic 1

A last minute winner for QPR is almost the final nail in the coffin as we face the distress of relegation in mid-April as soon as next Saturday. We have been relying on other teams slipping up for a long while now but it is simply not happening and the odd win was never going to cut it. We needed 7 points from the last week, but instead got 4 and the gap is now 11 points with our awful goal difference. The Championship relegation places will embarrassingly be resolved quickly without any fuss or contention.

The emptiness of relegation has been felt for a long, long while. The bitterness, the ugliness, the anger of how completely unnecessary it all was. Meire told us in the summer that we are to accept how her and Duchatelet run the club and to judge them over this season. Well, thanks for nothing.
Please click for more

Apr 6

10 Comments

Ipswich Town 0 Charlton Athletic 0

In isolation a decent result, and performance. Tactically we were accomplished, not outplayed in any part of the pitch and we controlled large facets of the game. There were some good performances and we gave it a good go. Yet last night was the game that probably sent us down. Other results went against us and this is all too little too late.

We weren’t relegated last night we were relegated during that 14-game spell under the interim reign of Karel Fraeye. Interim. 3 months. Fraeye, handpicked by Roland Duchatelet. Every decision better than the last and let us not forget Guy Luzon. His bloody hands are all over this disgraceful relegation of our great club.

Please click for more

Mar 30

3 Comments

Building a better future together

By prosecuting and banning men, women and children who threw a black & white beach ball onto the pitch.

Another poorly issued statement from the incompetent CEO and her bellicose COO yesterday. “Last week, in response to an unfortunate increase in incidents of disorder at matches involving Charlton Athletic, there was a meeting at New Scotland Yard between the Metropolitan Police Service and the club.” (more)

The CEO and COO clearly wobbling and doing another fine job of communicating with the fanbase with more idle threats and the only way the club is talking to their customers at the moment is via statements on it’s increasingly toxic Official Site. That poor photo of a corner flag is going to be worn out.
Please click for more

Mar 24

3 Comments

Meet & greet at Sparrows Lane

Addicks’ fans took to Sparrows Lane this morning to greet club sponsors and business partners invited by Katrien Meire to give them a tour of the training ground followed by a trip to The Valley in an effort to convince them to renew their corporate packages next season.

It is understood that around 20 different entities were originally invited, although one, Data Techniques, who have made their feelings very clear towards to the owner and CEO, were uninvited. How you can pay £10,000 for an executive box and be treated with such disdain because you disagree with the running of the club is shameful.

The Coalition Against Roland Duchatelet (CARD) asked for Charlton fans to show up at the gates of Sparrows Lane this morning to show their dissatisfaction of the owner and his puppets and at the same time attempt to convince companies to disassociate themselves from the toxic brand that has become Charlton Athletic.
Please click for more

Mar 16

14 Comments

Dear Fans {…}

Nope. It wasn’t a dream. That crackpot statement was and is still on the club’s official website. {…}

I have it on very good authority that the comms team tried for a good hour to convince Roland Duchatelet that this statement written by his fair hand was a very, very bad idea. The owner forced the issue and it was relayed unedited onto the club’s website. The comms guys by not promoting it on the club’s social media outlets tells its own story. {…}

I believe Katrien Meire was against it also. I used to get embarrassed when my Dad would go up the school and complain to the teachers about something as well. But it does make you wonder about their relationship. We know she is not paid, at least by the football club. Huh {…}
Please click for more

Mar 13

14 Comments

Pathetic

“The club is extremely saddened by the situation which has led to supporters demonstrating ahead of, and during, the match against Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Every supporter has the right to voice their opinion and we are determined to do everything we can to work together with supporters to build our relationship with them and make sure they remain at the heart of this club.

We would like to thank supporters for getting behind the team today as we picked up a valuable three points in our fight to stay in the Championship.”

Pathetic, just words that have no foundation or substance to them at all.

Please click for more

Mar 11

6 Comments

Funeral march

Fans from the Coalition Against Roland Duchatelet (CARD) will carry a coffin to The Valley 45 minutes before Sunday’s televised kick-off to symbolise what the club’s owner and chief executive Katrien Meire have done to the Addicks, and they are inviting supporters to line the route to pay their respects.

The mock funeral procession will kick off what CARD intends to be an afternoon of protest and unrest. Other protests are planned that will become apparent during the game, showing live to a national audience.

A CARD spokesman said: “This is not just about the team’s prospects, although they look very grim. It is a measure of the damage being done to Charlton by Duchatelet and Meire, which is unlikely to end with relegation. They are destroying decades of work to build up our club in the name of a soulless experiment conducted by remote control from Belgium. This is not the Charlton Athletic that has been a vital part of so many people’s lives for decades.
Please click for more

Feb 24

8 Comments

Lookman stays until 2020

Well ok, that’s a bit far fetched even in Pinocchio’s world.

First things first though, thank you to young Ademola, who at 18 at least has a sensible head on his teenage shoulders and thanks to those around him who at least preach patience and reality. Ademola could have gone in the window cheaply and for what? To sit in an academy full of high paid, pampered, appearance-less teenagers? Ademola has come up the hard way, the Jamie Vardy way, let’s call it, so rare that young player’s break into professional football via the back door these days. He comes from a different world than a Cristian Cebellos for example.

Ademola Lookman we will at least get to enjoy for a bit longer. To 2020? Do me a favour. To the end of this season? Probably.
Please click for more

Feb 20

4 Comments

Fulham 3 Charlton Athletic 0

I think that is it. 7 points from safety isn’t any different from this morning, but a gutless 2nd half ending in a sixth 3-0 defeat leaves us rooted to the bottom of The Championship and there isn’t a cat in hells chance of us being able to finish above three other teams.

This relegation was totally avoidable but everything points to it being so meticulously planned by Roland Duchatelet and Katrien Meire, with Richard Murray looking on, encouraging the complete dismantling of this once proud football club. Whereas Meire can’t get out of her own way and Duchatelet, he who doesn’t do failure, happy that his experiement is working, Murray should be utterly ashamed of himself.

If Riga, who I am starting to think we gave far too much credit for in keeping Powell’s squad up last time, is banging the nails in the coffin, then it was the clown Karel Fraeye that bought them from Homebase and left them on the side with a hammer.
Please click for more

Feb 15

6 Comments

A different sort of customer

Seeing Katrien Meire walk along Harvey Gardens with her headphones in, holding a Pinnochio mask, and with a CARD sticker attached to her coat was a strange sight. Then by all accounts she approached Rick Everitt selling the latest VOTV (with me in it, plug, plug) and asked him if he was afraid to talk to her!

After seeing this play out on social media my immediate thoughts were – is this woman for real?

A qualified lawyer, even a novice one, will have adopted a very good poker face and an uber thick skin, but we have often seen her crack in front of the camera. However with Roland’s vote of confidence this week – “she is a fantastic lady,” there was a renewed skip in her step yesterday.
Please click for more

Feb 13

7 Comments

Charlton Athletic 0 Cardiff City 0

1 point from 2 home games is not good enough. The 4 goals at Rotherham seems like a long, long time ago and Jose Riga has been unable to galvanize the side since then, even with the addition of three new players.

The first half sounded miserable and the crowd only being able to cheer anything late in the game as the Addicks finally threw themselves at the Welshmen following the introduction of Poyet and Sanogo. Before then Cardiff should have pocketed the 3 points, but the point takes us off the bottom, although with our dreadful goal difference we are now 7 points from safety. One plus was that it was our first clean sheet in over 2 months.
Please click for more

Feb 12

3 Comments

Nicest club in country

Roland Duchatelet took time out from his busy schedule to visit one of his children this week. He praised his CEO Katrien Meire. “She is a fantastic lady and she has a huge heart for Charlton. Charlton is something she lives for and it hurts her tremendously to be attacked that way by some fans.” and the “very influential” Richard Murray. “Richard is, in my view, the ultimate fan.”

The owner did agree that there maybe more than 2% of the customers not happy. “I think most of the fans are extremely unhappy now, at least a big part of them.”

But fans “don’t understand everything” and have to rely on Roly and his team even though he is “away, far away,” a million miles away the other side of the Channel, and he has “so many other things to do.” Warren Buffet would know what he meant.
Please click for more

Feb 9

13 Comments

Meire ridiculed again

The club might not win naff all in the forthcoming future but they are way ahead in the league table of ridicule with ace striker Katrien Meire the leading scorer.

An eagle eyed supporter on Charlton Life found some public documents from Companies House that show that Meire had recently resigned as a director of Charlton Athletic Holdings. Cue classic Charlton conspiracy theories alongside glee at the thought that Meire was packing her bags.

What then followed was hilarious as Addicks wondered to next steps whilst amateur graphologists analysed Meire’s signature to make sure it wasn’t a fake. Turns out it was, as Addicks’ protest against the regime and in particular our incompetent CEO took a different turn.
Please click for more

Jan 24

3 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Blackburn Rovers 1

A lot better, but it could hardly have been worse. Just the one goal conceded this week predictably by Jordan Rhodes. But a more combative and hard working performance for sure for Jose Riga to build on and the next two games are huge.
More players are needed though, goals are a problem, in fact with JBG completely out of form, creativity leading to goal opportunities are at a premium.

The squad is so devoid of quality that I really hope that Riga is further allowed to strengthen the squad with some quality and not just padding. It was very noticeable that neither Ricardo Vaz Te, Diego Poyet, Roger Johnson or Rhys Williams were in the starting line up yesterday. Williams and Vaz Te not even in the squad. I would not be surprised if Williams is sent back to Middlesbrough early as I’d imagine Duchatelet would want to see some outward movement.
Please click for more

Jan 16

2 Comments

CARD

Amongst all of the apathy, depression and anger at watching something so dear to so many thousands of us be torn apart by appalling and arrogant mis-management, something good has come out such a dark times in the club’s history.

Meire and Duchatelet have systematically stripped the club of it’s passionate support, one that just a few seasons ago partnered Chris Powell’s team to a record points League One title. But Addicks fans all over the globe have had enough and undeterred by the massive cloud we have been living under, it has been truly great to see Charlton fans coming together, unifying, protesting and taking action to make ‘this’ all stop.

Charlton fans, young and old, those so disinfranchised that they are refusing to go to The Valley, and those who still find hard earned money to watch the team around the country, mostly for scant reward, are in concert and united. A single loud voice coming together again to protect the future of OUR club.

Please click for more

Jan 14

6 Comments

Changes nothing

What exactly does “a search for a new Head Coach has commenced.” mean?

Roland calls Jose Riga on speed dial, concedes on a couple of points, agrees to give him a proper contract after last time, and hey presto. The search for a new Head Coach ends 18 hours after it started.

Lies, lies, lies.
Please click for more

Jan 13

12 Comments

Comedy gold

Unlike Karel Fraeye, who took little persuading to take the Interim job at Charlton following the departure of Guy Luzon, mostly because old Karel had his head up Roland’s backside at the time, it appears that Nebojša Vignjević was less than happy with Roly’s suggestion that he should leave 2nd placed Ujpest of the Hungarian League and take charge of the laughing stock that is Charlton Athletic.

A backward career step he presumed added to the fact that he would be forced to work with Katrien Meire, so Vignjević said “ne” and who can blame him.

Jose Riga was ahead of Vignjević in the new old coach queue but apparently made too many demands.
Please click for more

Jan 12

4 Comments

Huddersfield Town 5 Charlton Athletic 0

This is not like watching a slow death, it is like witnessing a murder.

This madness has to stop. Now.

And as for the gutless coward Fraeye, who refused to speak to press and ran onto the team bus leaving Stephen Henderson to apologise to fans. What sort of person does that? Fraeye, Meire, Duchatelet all refusing to talk to us. It is some kind of sick joke.
Please click for more

Jan 7

9 Comments

“You talk to them Richard”

Really, has communication gotten so bad that we now have to be given a Q&A session? Crafted questions that took 5 minutes to write a response to. What kind of statement is that?

Is this Richard Murray attempting to be the conduit between customers and the owner and his CEO? Well, thank you Richard. I can see it now.

RM to RD – “You should really do one of those video pieces again Roland.”
RD to RM – “Huh. No thanks, you talk to them.”
RM – KM – “Katrien darling you really need to address the fans they think you’re lying.”
KM to RM – “Me, no way I’m the CEO I don’t need to talk to the customers. Anyway it’s only around 3,000 of them that are unhappy.”
RM – “Oh bugger I’ll do it then. Right, how do I turn this computer thing on?”
Please click for more

Jan 6

4 Comments

Nathan Jones

Congratulations to Nathan Jones on his first managerial post at Luton Town.

Jones was always destined to make the move into management and his reputation that he had built at Charlton with the U21’s has only magnified following his two and a half years at Brighton, where he once played, and was also caretaker manager for a while. Good luck to him.
Please click for more

Jan 3

1 Comment

Poyet to return

Still buzzing today following the incredible coming together of Addicks and the subsequent media coverage of yesterday’s protests against the owners and his puppet administration. The unity of fans, young and old, makes me proud and confident that we will achieve our goal of removing Meire and forcing Duchatelet into putting the club up for sale.

There of course is much work, planning and effort to put in but we must never waiver from our purpose. These demonstrations will get bigger and louder and there are some imaginative and very achievable ideas being proposed amongst the support, none less that taking our aims to Belgium and embarrassing the owner on his doorstep.
Please click for more

Jan 2

7 Comments

Proud

A momentous day. Some incredible video and photographs out there of large protests before and after the game, the post game one attended by many thousands of Addicks making their feelings clear in a passionate but orderly manner. It was a day to remember and sat here tonight I am so proud to be an Addick.

Also, there has been much media attention. Talksport, Channel 5 and the BBC both covered it as did many media outlets and commentators. Rick Everitt was interviewed on Talksport, who talked extensively about the protests today and C5 had Chirs Powell on, bringing a tear to my eye if I’m honest. The protest made the Belgium press and there was a lot of support from other club’s supporters, including Forest fans. Even James Corden mentioned it on Twitter, calling the demise a tragedy. And he has 5.9 million followers.
Please click for more

Jan 1

2 Comments

Loud and clear

Happy New Year.

As the quest of Charlton fans to reclaim our club grows in the national media, tomorrow’s game against Nottingham Forest is the last home game for 3 weeks and it is essential that we make our voices heard loud and clear. Protests behind the west stand are planned for 2.30pm and at 5pm.

The 5pm protest will be an hour-long sit in and I urge Addicks to make their feelings known towards the owner, his CEO and the amateur of a manager. I also hope that for the 90 minutes in between the fans in the stadium make Meire and Murray as uncomfortable as possible.
Please click for more

Dec 30

7 Comments

Time to unite and protest before it is too late

It is now time to unify and take our protestations against Roland Duchatelet and his utter mismanagement of OUR football club to a new level.

For many months, and in fact since Duchatelet bought the club nearly two years ago, there has been much division amongst the supporters, more than at any time in at least the previous 50 years, which has only helped Duchatelet and Meire continue their arrogant and systematic destruction of everything Charlton Athletic stands for.

But even now the most ardent Duchatelet apologists or understandably those Addicks who didn’t concern themselves with what goes on off the pitch, must now have no doubt where this ruinous occupation of OUR club is going.
Please click for more

Dec 27

16 Comments

Katrien Meire’s Christmas message

Many of you may have seen this already but I thought it was important to get it out to as wide as audience as possible. After months and months of asking for Roland Duchatelet’s plan, well here it is not in black & white, but in full colour.
Please click for more

Dec 23

8 Comments

If M. Duchatelet doesn’t do failure….

January is such an important transfer window for the club. At least it is for everyone I talk to. There is not a lot of evidence that Roland Duchatelet and Katrien Meire think this, but the squad gravely needs reinforcements. Effective ones at that, not any old network rubbish.

But who is charge of this essential transfer window? And who can we trust? Let’s look at the candidates.
Please click for more

Dec 8

7 Comments

Bergdich to be offloaded

18th October 2015 – Point one of the club’s key strategic objectives: “To be successful in our recruitment, retention and trading of players.”

23rd July 2015 – Charlton sign Morocco international Zakarya Bergdich on a 4-year deal.

8th December 2015 – The South London Press has been told that Bergdich is surplus to requirements and they will listen to offers to offload the 26-year-old.
Please click for more

Dec 3

Target 20,000

Katrien Meire announced her plans for the Target 20,000 initiative today.

Leaving aside the fact that the club needs to address the flight of longstanding fans away from match days mostly because of the dross on show, it at least meets one of the commitments made at the recent fan’s meeting.

Fans want committed players and a manager to trust in, but the club has to run parallel strategies to encourage new, lapsed and young fans to The Valley, especially in the strong headwinds of West Ham’s Olympic Stadium ticketing policy and Palace’s current success.
Please click for more

Nov 24

15 Comments

Stand up for the 2%

“We’ve therefore come together to ask fans to join a 60 second demonstration in the second minute of the televised game against Ipswich, holding up A4 posters to show the extent of the 2 per cent and joining with a chant of “stand up for the 2 per cent”.

This is not a protest based on gender or nationality. It doesn’t focus on any individual or demand the owner spends more money. It is legal and respectful. It simply reflects a demand for the club to be run in a more professional and intelligent way, and for the ownership to work with supporters to strengthen the club.”

– Voice of The Valley and the Spell It Out campaign.
Please click for more

Nov 22

3 Comments

Tony Watt to leave

Half of the Covered End and probably every kid under 16’s favourite player, my son included, is being sent out on loan. Tony Watt, one of the club’s best players is set to leave for rival Championship club Cardiff City.

Dave hinted at this yesterday and his fears have been confirmed by the SLP tonight. The ludicrous decisions continue apace down at The Valley.
Please click for more

Nov 20

11 Comments

Another bitter ex-employee

Katrien Meire told us not to trust any ex-employees because they are liars. So Michael Morrison must have had his toes and fingers crossed when he told the SLP that Meire tried to offload him to Romanian team Astra Giurgiu on loan.

Lies, lies I tell you. But who do you trust? A loyal wholehearted performer who played 150 times for the Addicks or the CEO who we are forced to rely upon for successful recruitment and trading of players?

Birmingham signed Morrison for nothing, zilch, nowt. Tremendous work by the CEO. Bravo.
Please click for more

Nov 18

4 Comments

Are words enough?

Katrien Meire has spoken to us. An update following last week’s supporters meeting was released today on the Official Site. Baby steps and all that.

I am pleased to see that the club followed up from last week and met again with Steve Clarke from the CAST. Now Meire has issued a list of strategic objectives. As I said it is a start.
Please click for more

Nov 11

7 Comments

Tuesday’s fan meeting thoughts

I was one of hundreds of Addicks getting angrier and angrier on Twitter last night following Tweets from a couple of media outlets supposedly reporting the fan’s meeting with Katrien Meire and Richard Murray at The Valley. I got myself so wound up I had to go to the pub.

Upon watching the video this evening the narrative from last night as recorded by the News Shopper and London24 certainly painted a different picture and many of the 140 character missives took out of the context what was actually said.

I sat through the whole 110 minutes of the video, and a lot of it was respectful and uneventful. However my own opinion is that this was not the discussion that I was hoping for. It is possibly a start but there was still no substance to the same old trotted out mantra we have heard many times before.
Please click for more

Nov 7

5 Comments

Charlton Athletic 3 Sheffield Wednesday 1

It has not been easy being a Charlton fan in recent weeks, in fact it has been pretty depressing, but my slumber has been awoken by the unification of Charlton fans, those who remember Sam Bartram, those that remember Derek Hales, those that remember Clive Mendonca, those that now cheer on Johan Berg Gudmundsson. All Charlton fans coming together to claim the football club that we love back.

I was today at my daughter’s first ever swimming meet. I was nervous for her, but those nerves turned to an upside down stomach when on my phone I watched footage on Twitter of around a 1,000 fans gathered in the West Stand car park demonstrating against the leadership of our club before the game.

This had a poignant effect on me as I watched video clips, saw photos and read on the ground comments from those Addicks amongst them. This was a very significant moment for Addicks as all ages came together, men and women, and protested peacefully, pointedly and loudly.

And this is only the beginning.
Please click for more

Nov 6

7 Comments

Anger, apathy and action

Anger, apathy and action will come together at The Valley tomorrow with a 2.30pm protest against the club owner Roland Duchatelet and his CEO Katrien Meire set to take place behind the West Stand.

I hope the protest is peaceful especially with kids and families occupying the same area thanks to the club’s Family Activity Day. However I also hope the protest makes Meire as uncomfortable as possible with her office and ‘her’ lounge facing out towards the car park. After, during the game, there will be plenty of time to express how deeply we are hurt and angry by their mismanagement of our football club.
Please click for more

Nov 4

11 Comments

Unified protest

I am actually embarrassed for the club with their pitiful attempts to veto a fan demonstration behind the West Stand on Saturday by organising a Family Activity Zone in the car park. What a joke.

Oh well take your kids in November (forecast: rain) to get their face painted and jump on a wet bouncy castle then trudge into The Valley to watch a clown picked by a puppet manage a team of misfits.

The last Family Activity Zone the club did was in August and now suddenly they plan to do it for every weekend home game. If this was a long term plan then why announce it 3 days before the game? Long term plan. Heck look at me. Ooh the irony.
Please click for more

Nov 2

1 Comment

Doctor, Doctor

Yep, the jokes keep coming. The London Standard have confirmed earlier whispers that Katrien Meire has pursued ex-Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro and will offer her a job working with the Addicks medical team once her legal dispute with Jose Mourinho has run it’s course all over the back pages.

I’m glad Katrien has got her priorities right and we can still find room in the budget. Next I hear she is having all the flushes replaced on The Valley toilets to those eco-friendly dual flush ones….
Please click for more

Oct 30

1 Comment

Lip service

Cynicism comes easy when you have been a Charlton supporter for 40 years and sadly I read this morning’s announcement of a planned meeting with fan’s representatives through a lens of mistrust. No sign of his lordship getting on the Eurostar of course, but I am sure he will send his apologies with a message to like it or lump it.

It seems strange to me that the CEO continues to avoid direct communication with the Supporter’s Trust. I know it doesn’t represent everybody, but what would? But it is the largest organised group of supporters that has over 1,000 paid up members. It will contain a broad mix of supporters and includes many bright minds that can only contribute to the future well being of the club.
Please click for more

Oct 29

15 Comments

Stooge

The media team rolled out Simon Makienok today and he spoke with some heart about how difficult the past week or so has been, and I don’t doubt it. Makienok’s absence had become a bit of mitigation for the team’s recent form, but for the on-loan striker who has played just 7 games to be pushed into the spotlight to speak on behalf of the team and the new managerial staff I found odd.

The word had it that Charlton players have been told not to talk to the press and new Interim Head Coach Karel Fraeye wasn’t going to talk publicly until after Saturday’s game with Middlesbrough. However the Official Site will carry an exclusive interview with Fraeye tomorrow.
Please click for more

Oct 27

8 Comments

SLP speak out. We need others

Not a dickie bird in the main stream press about the stealing of a club’s identity in broad daylight in a little corner of south east London. Googling Karel Fraye or Roland Duchatelet brings up a couple of local press paragraph fillers but nothing from a national press too wrapped up in Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, Wayne Rooney and the best league in the world (sic).

Yet today, SLP journalist Richard Cawley who has been closer than most to the recent theatre at The Valley has written an excellent piece which sums up the despair with which Addicks’ fans look on helpless with what is happening to their club.
Please click for more

Oct 25

12 Comments

Karel Fraeye is the mark of insanity

To the surprise of no one the South London Press appear to think that Roland Duchatelet will once again ignore any semblence of common sense and install Belgian network patsy Karel Fraeye at The Valley this week, initially in a caretaker role. What is it they say about insanity? Doing the same things over and over again but expecting different results.

This for many Addicks will be a step too far.
Please click for more

Oct 24

2 Comments

Song for Guy

Well not really. A slight maunder of “Guy Luzon’s red and white army” from a few in the Upper Covered End but that was about it as the Israeli left just like he arrived. By the back door looking like a rabbit in the headlights.

I grew to accept Luzon like a child-hating Auntie, but then the £5 WH Smith voucher at Christmas would see that acceptance grow to a like and when Luzon talked passionately and sensibly about his players and the club in a language that wasn’t his mother tongue, I think a lot of Addicks took kindly to him. I know I did.
Please click for more

Oct 24

Charlton Athletic 0 Brentford 3

A second 0-3 home defeat in a week as Lee Carsley like Simon Grayson on Tuesday comfortably picked a team short in confidence and backbone apart. It was to be Guy Luzon’s 33rd and last league game in charge of the Addicks

Understandably Luzon gambled and threw back in 90% fit Mackienok plus Jacko, Gudmundsson and Henderson and although Diarra was missing through suspension it was the strongest team we had available with Reza and Moussa on the bench. Only Kashi and Igor were sidelined and the fact that we were well beaten says about everything we need to know.
Please click for more

Oct 20

2 Comments

Vote of Confidence

As Addicks fans make their way to The Valley tonight, CEO Katrien Meire has given Guy Luzon a vote of confidence. “Guy has our full support, for sure. He has been unlucky with injuries. I spoke to Guy over the weekend and told him not to worry – that he is not under any pressure.” (more)
Please click for more

Oct 19

5 Comments

Luzon deserves better

A huge week for Guy Luzon as the vultures arrive in SE7 ready for their next meal. Tomorrow night 8 games without a win Charlton host 8 games without a win Preston at what could be an angry Valley.

I think in most cases the anger is not against Luzon, who joined in very difficult circumstances but slowly won the Valley faithful over by doing his work on the field, and in public providing honest assessments of his team and their performances.

Luzon needs to be backed by the owner and his CEO, who suggested that the Israeli could emulate Sir Alex Ferguson on his arrival. You have to laugh, Fergie was the poster child for stability, the opposite of what we have seen under the Belgians.
Please click for more

Oct 11

2 Comments

Good Evans

In a week when Jurgen Klopp joined the Premier League circus, a better act than Brendan Rodgers I agree, slightly less column inches were given to Rotherham, who appointed ex-Addick Neil Redfearn as the Millers replacement for Steve Evans.

As a player Redfearn specialized in relegation, but did pretty well in routine trying circumstances at Elland Road. He had already proved himself at academy level and as first team coach before being handed the first team chalice under Massimo Cellino. It went sour for the lifelong Leeds fan and he now finds himself up the road at Rotherham.
Please click for more

Oct 3

1 Comment

Lost in translation?

This Blog is not meant to be a Katrien or Roland basher but sometimes they don’t help themselves.

Katrien Meire has given an interview to Belgian business newspaper L’Echo. It was a while ago when things around here were a little more upbeat. Dave, Brian and Wyn have each talked about it so I won’t repeat it in detail here, but there are many things to be disappointed with as again Meire shuns her own companies media channels which interacts with fans and insists on giving these kind of interviews to random third party outlets.

The belligerent nature of the interview may show her well in a swanky business newspaper but it makes her look stupid and out of the touch with the customers of the business of which she is the CEO.

The interview was given in French and we are right to remember that the text has run through a Google translator, however expect that the translation is more or less accurate.
Please click for more

Sep 28

5 Comments

Phil Chapple to leave

Phil Chapple, once known as Bambi on Ice, but more recently known as the Charlton’s Chief Scout, is leaving the club after 9 years. In that time Chapple had held various scouting positions but for some years has headed Charlton’s player recruitment strategy, which under Roland Duchatelet would have taken some adjustment.

Chapple has been headhunted by Fulham, and one would think that job would currently be a more attractive proposition, and I say this with my irrational hatred of Fulham hat on.
Please click for more

Sep 6

Over budget

Katrien Meire has opened up to the South London Press on how the club have overspent on wages this summer. This has been caused not only by signing better quality players than in the past, many of whom are internationals, but also by offering bigger salaries to both Jordan Cousins and Johann Berg Gudmundsson. I would add that players loaned and signed from Standard Liege previously were probably not as costly as signing, say, Simon Makienok from Palermo.

The continued cost of players loaned out and the cancelling Andre Bikey were all highlighted by the CEO, and it sounds to me that Luzon will be made to wait for any loan additions.

Katrien also confirmed that both Morgan Fox, currently on duty for Wales, and Nick Pope are in discussions on contract extensions. If they materialise then that would be great news for Addicks, and whilst a lot of us have concerns over the depth of the squad currently, a look at the current length of player’s contracts should mean we won’t have the same issues next summer that we have had these past two.
Please click for more

Jul 17

3 Comments

Why are we playing St-Truiden?

Two Charlton friendlies to wet your whistle tomorrow.

Tha Addicks play Sint-Truiden Saturday evening in Limburg, whilst a CAFC XI goes to Dulwich Hamlet in the afternoon but will include Stephen Henderson, Rhoys Wiggins, Chris Solly, Johnnie Jackson and Tareiq Holmes-Dennis in their line up.

There may well be other first teamers too as Guy Luzon is concerned about Sint-Truiden’s artificial pitch, and how it could hamper or cause injuries, which begs the question why we are playing them in the first place. The only reason I can think of is that it suits Katrien Meire, the two loves of her life locking horns in a lazy kickabout at dusk on carpet.
Please click for more

Jul 12

Bulot deal off

Frederic Bulot’s non appearance at Park View Road yesterday confirmed Addicks worse fears that Roland Duchatelet refuses to pay the asking price set by Standard Liege, and the Gabonese international will probably be playing next season in Ligue 1.

It does pose the question of why Duchatelet couldn’t do the deal when he was head of both clubs. I suspect a lack of a clear plan thrown in with some stubbornness by the owner was probably the reason.

A vision of a plan beyond English football being saddled with FFP has never been forthcoming from our Belgium owner and his CEO and 18 months into their leadership nothing much has changed and it has been some time since our SE7 mouthpiece has given us any of her utterances. Maybe this week as the players head of to Belgium maybe a good time.
Please click for more

Jun 24

Duchâtelet sells Standard Liege

Standard Liege announced that Roland Duchâtelet has sold the club today for, you’ve guessed it, an undisclosed fee. What this means for Charlton is any bodies guess.

Bruno Venanzi, who owns Belgium utility company Lampiris and is a life-long fan, has taken over Standard with immediate effect.

The Standard fans unsurprisingly are rejoicing at the sudden news of Duchâtelet’s departure, brought on if I got the translation correct of his difficult relationship with the supporters and the fact that the 68-year old is not getting any younger. “The quality of my life, my personal happiness play an important role in my life” Duchâtelet said.
Please click for more

Jun 22

1 Comment

First summer signing

Charlton have completed the signing of Patrick Bauer from C.S. Maritimo for an undisclosed fee, the club confirmed on Monday evening. (more)

Good news. The German 6ft 4in centre-back has played 43 first team games for Portuguese Primeira Liga over-achievers Maritimo on the island of Madeira, which should allow him to acclimatise to Woolwich Dockyard just nicely. Bauer played for Maritimo for two seasons after signing from childhood club VfB Stuttgart, who by all accounts were attempting to re-sign the 22-year old.
Please click for more

Jun 20

15 Comments

What is the point of Valley Gold?

Despite it being no surprise to any Addick, confirmation of Joe Gomez’s transfer to Liverpool today has left me with an air of despondency. This has not been helped by the apparent readiness with which Ben Roberts is talking to Brighton about moving there as their goalkeeping coach, after Katrien Meire gave the parties permission.

Despite the fee being typically undisclosed by Charlton (Liverpool historically have been happy to announce fees) all of the media outlets are stating that Gomez signed for £3.5m on a 5-year deal. Meanwhile those in the club have attempted to squash that and say it is higher. Whatever it is, Charlton fans will want to see all of the sale money redistributed back into the squad and not Roland Duchatelet’s network.
Please click for more

Jun 15

1 Comment

Gomez gone by the end of the week

Various outlets including the Guardian, Telegraph and the Liverpool Echo are predicting that Liverpool will make Joe Gomez their latest summer signing this week. The price mentioned, which I think originated in the Echo, is a paltry £3.5m, with further performance-related add-ons.
Please click for more

May 12

15 players released

Part one of Luzon/Duchatelet/Meire’s summer transfer strategy was executed today with the announcement of 15 players released.

They are: Tal Ben Haim; Simon Church; Chris Eagles; Roger Johnson; Lawrie Wilson; Oguchi Onyewu; Neil Etheridge; Jack Munns; Harry Osborne; Harry Gerard; Kadell Daniel; Kurtis Cumberbatch; Kieran Monlouis; Rhys Browne; Levander Pyke.

A mixture of the unfortunate attrition of young pros who were unable to step up plus 7 first teamers. My only disappointment is seeing Ben Haim go, although it was apparently his own decision. Not so much disappointed but sad to see Lawrie Wilson and Simon Church move on.

The Welshman scored just 10 goals in Charlton colours, but his work rate could never be questioned, but I expect his career will have to continue down a division.

Lawrie Wilson’s form dipped this season after an excellent 2014/15 season, when I personally thought he was player of the year. He was very friendly with Hamer, Morrison, Hughes and Jackson and an integral part of Chris Powell’s squad but he was sidelined under both Peeters and Luzon and the writing was on the wall. However I am pleased that he was able to come back to the club where he began his career to show us what a great pro he is. Best of luck Lawrie.
Please click for more

May 6

8 Comments

The season in one post

9 months ago 1,600 Addicks welcomed Bob Peeters’ new look team with 7 new signings at Griffin Park, and most left with a positive feeling. It was a gritty Charlton performance that Charlton fans could relate to. Yet the biggest reservations pre-season were over the unknown head coach and the lack of obvious goals in the side. Roland Duchatelet had added some much needed quality, but on the face of it, Peeters’ squad was thin and lacking in Championship experience.

Nonetheless by the time pre-season promotion favourites Derby came to The Valley we were three games unbeaten and Peeters had warmed the Addicks’ fans with his over enthusiastic tête-à-tête with then Wigan boss Uwe Rosler the game before.

The Derby game was a little surreal if we are honest. Peeters’ passing game, still a work in progress, was some of the best I had seen for a long time, but the Valley crowd came across as unsure to what they were witnessing. However it was a great 3 points won at a spruced up Valley and with two away draws following we sat happily in 6th place at the end of the opening month. Please click for more

Apr 23

7 Comments

More Cherries

Bournemouth are very excited about the prospect of having another 1,400 fans at The Valley on Saturday week. Yesterday Charlton announced that they will offer the Cherries 1,400 seats in the Upper West, blocks P, Q, R and a piece of N at the end nearest the Jimmy Seed Stand.

I think this is a sensible decision by Katrien Meire, although it will inconvenience some season ticket holders who will be forced to move. I would expect that those season ticket holders that must only number around the 100 mark will be miffed but I am glad to hear that they are getting personal phone calls from the club and they will be treated to a bacon butty for their bother. Bournemouth are also paying any associated additional costs, including I assume the bacon and ketchup.
Please click for more