Thursday 24 November 2016

'... Look Around You All You See Are Sympathetic Eyes'

We now have official confirmation of the appointment of Karl Robinson, like his predecessor afforded the title of manager but unlike Russell Slade not apparently given a three-year contract, rather one for two-and-a-half years. Perhaps the regime is working around a three-year plan which commenced in the summer. Slade lasted for six months of it, so Robinson gets the remaining term. Presumably the next in line will be hoping that Robinson doesn't last much longer than Slade, if he/she is to have any hope of a reasonable term for his/her own post-dismissal pay-off.

I know, let's not be too cynical, even though all the evidence we have supports such a stance. There has been no reversion to a network appointment - although as raised elsewhere just what the thinking is behind bringing in Chris O'Loughlin, as an 'addition to the club's coaching staff', remains to be seen. So does whether Robinson will want to bring in some of his own men as assistants, or whether he has agreed to work with those in situ.

In other circumstances it is an appointment which would have us feeling cautiously optimistic. For sure the jury has to still be out over whether he is the exciting, innovative and successful young manager suggested by much of his time at MK Dons, or whether he has flattered to deceive and came up short when the pressure was on. We would, quite rightly, give him the benefit of the doubt (obviously the fact that the regime considered him to be the most suitable candidate means nothing) and hope that it proves to be the former, for the good of our club.

However, I'm always a little wary about someone who has been in the same job for some time and leaps straight into another at the first opportunity; good for the bank balance but perhaps not optimum when it comes to learning from the previous experience and taking a little time to recharge the batteries. He was only sacked on 23 October and in managerial terms Robinson is, so far, a one-club man, having been at MK Dons for six years as manager (before that assistant manager, before that coaching at Blackburn). So it remains to be seen whether he has the range of skills and qualities to bring us success on the pitch, against the obviously difficult backdrop he will face.

There is no question of the anti-regime protests being halted, temporarily or otherwise. Given this, what Robinson says in his press conference - and he is bound to be asked - will be examined closely. We've all seen the reported aside at the Bristol Rovers game to the effect that supporters' protests now have to stop. Hopefully Robinson either didn't make such a remark or has learnt quickly that it was inappropriate. Any suggestion that his coming to the club is grounds for a rethink would be the height of arrogance on his part and would display a lack of understanding of the actual nature and rationale of the protests, rather than the deceitful version offered up by the regime.

After all, the mere fact that our owner has recently disgraced himself again - if the reports are accurate - by insulting us once more should be sufficient to keep up the protests momentum. If Duchatelet did indeed say to the Belgian media that the protests are the work of some disgruntled ex-employees backed up by those unhappy with a female CEO he is an outright liar as surely even he isn't so self-deluded as to believe such nonsense. Meire tried to taint us with her racism allusions and that was equally disgraceful - and utterly at odds with the evidence.


So two splendid victories, a cautiously positive welcoming of a new manager, and no let-up in the protests. Translating 'support the team, not the regime' isn't an easy balancing act. But it is the best way forward for the good of our club. 

17 comments:

a2c said...
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Unknown said...

If you must use the word exenophobic in every inane comment you make, please spell it correctly,it's XENOPHOBIC

Marco. said...

Aah, the sage of one constantly repeated argument, regardless of the changing evidence pops up again.
a2c really is stuck in a rut isn't he/she?

The appalling record over the last 3 years speaks for itself. Relegation, empty stadium, 8 managers, long term fans losing interest etc etc.
The 'queen' of CAFC is doing a fine job - if she's a sleeper agent for Palace or Millwall.
M

Anonymous said...

Any new manager coming in will want to attempt to unite everyone to help achieve success. Are they supposed to say - "hey lads let's crank up the protests"? I really hope that CARD's line is to afford Robinson the same non-protesting time inside The Valley that Russell Slade was in the first couple of months in his tenure.

I was at the game on Tuesday and some of the play was fantastic. Although one swallow doesn't make a summer, I really believe we can achieve success this season - (win the game in hand and we are in the play-offs). Ultimately I don't think RD will go anywhere unless we achieve at least Championship status. He's stubborn, right? He doesn't do failiure, right? So why would he sell up in League One or lower?

Tex

Anonymous said...

" He's NOT the Messiah.....he's a very naughty boy !!!!!"

a2c said...
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Burgundy Addick said...

Thanks for the comments guys, sorry I removed the offensive one and then saw the first replies to it. I'll leave everyone else to guess what the deleted comment said.

Tex, good to get an alternative view expressed coherently. It's a fair point and a tough one for CARD coming off the back of the two wins; everyone wants the run of victories to continue. Ultimately the protests aren't - and shouldn't be - driven by a few results but by what approach might hasten Duchatelet's departure. If there were good reason to believe that he would sell if we went back up I'd be urging a change of tack. Fact is we just don't know, I suspect he's the sort of guy that will continue until either one day he wakes up and has changed his mind or someone makes him a daft enough offer to make it look as though he hadn't failed.

Anonymous said...

As curbs said earlier today it must be so hard on the players with the negative atmosphere created by protests. reading forums today there is a definite turning against more match day protests and i for one am mighty relieved. The constant repetition of anti regime comments is not helping this football club. we must be united as fans and create a good atmosphere in the ground not "roland out rubbish", which is starting to alienate a lot of other fans. we are not far off fans really turning on each other which i witnessed at the Coventry game. Lets get promotion with real support and then see what RD does.

Ben

Anonymous said...

The protests have proved that they don't affect results one little bit. In fact the results are usually better when there's a proper protest. It's not the fans that Robinson needs to worry about, it's the incompetent people in charge of him. The club isn't going to move forward if Lookman is sold at Christmas, and that'll be nothing to do with the protests.

Anonymous said...

then keep protesting and have a hugely divided fanbase, I know of about 10 fans who don't go when there are protests planned as it winds them up so much.
there is also no affinity with players with a negative protest atmosphere.
I for one think we are hindering ourselves more and may never have a united support. the gap is widening with every protest. but i am wasting my breath as the hatred has blinded common sense.

Burgundy Addick said...

Ben, your comment did make me stop and think, not least as in a world where we get votes for Brexit and Trump you have to consider whether we've turned into serial protesters given half a chance. Is it the regime or is it us? All I know is a few years back I couldn't have imagined circumstances under which I would have stayed away, and I haven't changed that much (for the record again I also know that this has nothing to do with the nationality and/or gender of Duchatelet and Meire).

We do all want the same end-result: a packed and vibrant Valley cheering on a team we identify with and a club which we are proud of (which for most of my life has been the case). I don't think we are protesting because we somehow enjoy it; I miss going to games and all that goes with it, what has been a normal matchday experience. At the same time I don't think we can hope to unite behind a means of achieving those goals as the regime, repeatedly, has burnt bridges and blundered from embarrassment to embarrassment. There are still circumstances under which I'd be changing tack, but they are not going to come about.

I hear what you say and there are attractions to a sort of 'let's succeed despite the regime' approach. But on balance I still come down on the side of believing that the club can only have a decent chance of recreating good times when the regime has gone. Consequently, if I were inside the ground I would be chanting 'Roland Out'.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the response Blackheath, which in itself is refreshing as normal anti regime responses are much more aggressive along the lines of "open your eyes you idiot" . I understand your point about why you are aggrieved but at what point does it end as i cant see RD selling until he wants to , so all protests do is prolong the divide and distance with fans and players etc.
its still charlton that i supported from the 70's and the owner was irrelevant then and should be now. I think we will win promotion this season and for all the fans to not enjoy together is a real shame.

Burgundy Addick said...

Anon, I don't doubt there are Addicks staying away when there are protests as they get wound up. At the same time there are Addicks who walked away in disgust when Sir Chris was sacked and haven't returned. I'd love to see the circumstances under which they too return.

Ben, I took was weaned on an indifferent Gliksten periodically sacking managers but really overseeing a club that had no expectations and precious little ambition. Didn't give the owner a thought. But then we had an owner who bankrupted us (Hulyer) and one who took us to Selhurst Park (Fryer). They were followed by a number of characters who collectively made up the best ownership of the club that we've seen, overseeing the return and the Premiership years. They deserve their share of the credit for that time, along with the manager, the players he went for, and the fans. So it's not as if the owners have never mattered until now, perhaps just that people protested against say the Selhurst Park move by just not going (reluctantly I did go), then helping in the campaign to return.

Duchatelet has sold up in the past, Standard Liege being the obvious example. Their fans' demonstrations must have been at least a factor - although I guess it was ultimately about an acceptable (to him) offer. Now he tells us he doesn't care, in between spreading lies about the protests, and keeping in place Meire. I too don't know where it ends and also hope that no Addicks claim to know for sure the right path.

Anonymous said...

Karl Robinson just may be what the doctor ordered, why don't we just get behind him and his team. Just think, we may just like what we see and who knows what might happen next.

a2c said...
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Burgundy Addick said...

Anon, sorry but for me what the doctor ordered is the departure of Duchatelet and his sycophants, hopefully before they bring down yet more shame and failure on our club. The regime can't learn, or change, they have had ample opportunity to demonstrate the reverse. Like you, I want our club to succeed (and we know broadly what that means) and the regime is not capable of engineering this or, while failing, refraining from interfering and abusing supporters.

a2c said...
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