CARD to resume protests

The Coalition Against Roland Duchâtelet (CARD) announced today after last night’s most recent on the field disappointment that they will resume their organized protests at the home game versus Coventry on October 15th.

Whilst away from The Valley anti Duchâtelet and Meire songs, chants and flags have filled away ends, the sparse home crowds have been devoid of the pre, during and post match protests we saw last season, although there was a black and white day to coincide with the visit of AFC Wimbledon.

At the beginning of the season CARD said that they would not organize any protests during the opening month of Russell Slade’s reign as manager, and in that time The Valley faithful have seen just one league win from 5 games and a League Cup defeat.

Many Addicks, myself included, have been calling out for a resumption of the protests, especially since Duchâtelet and the so called senior management team appear to have learnt nothing from their previous mistakes.

Charlton Athletic 1 Oldham Athletic 1

Well that sounded utterly painful and depressing and not forgetting, rubbish.

Again we were ahead, although unlike last week against AFC Wimbledon, this time undeserved. But we were ahead thanks to a well worked goal scored by Josh Magennis, yet leading only appears to be a signal for Russell Slade to sit deep and lock up shop.

One up front, a pedestrian midfield and Lookman on the bench. Hardly a shot at goal for 95 minutes and lucky to escape with a point against a team second from bottom and who had not scored in 6 of their previous 9 league games.

All this played out in front of thousands upon thousands of empty seats with the real crowd estimated at under 7,000.

Barrier island

Hidden away for a few days in Florida at a very nice hotel in Amelia Island, the southern most point of the chain of barrier islands stretching down the east coast of America. I have been here before, and am happy to be here again, even if this time is work. It says here!

Oxford United 1 Charlton Athletic 1

I know little of Saturday’s game apart from what I have read from eye-witnesses and I don’t think it was much cop. A sell out away end didn’t seem impressed and I note that the anti Roland songs are getting louder and more prolonged.

Just 2 wins from 9 games, and those against two teams below us in the table. It’s early, although I always take note of that 10-game barometer, but as Barnsley will attest this league is most definitely a marathon and not a sprint.

Scunthorpe United 0 Charlton Athletic 0

Sounded a decent game and I would happily have taken a clean sheet against a side that has been banging in the goals. The Iron had scored 9 in the preceding two home league games.

Slade set us up not to lose and waited until extraordinarily late to add some extra attacking force, which probably cost us all 3 points but with Bauer back alongside a much better Pearce we sounded much tighter at the back and all four defenders came out of the game with credit.

What a shame that Jacko couldn’t win it at the end with a trademark free-kick which cannoned off the woodwork.

Charlton Athletic 1 AFC Wimbledon 2

There is no sugar coating that yesterday. That was a dreadful result. I was following the game online and journalist Rich Cawley echoed my own thoughts midway through the 2nd half when he wrote “That lack of a second #cafc goal is making it nervy now for the hosts. #afcw still not creating clear chances but pushing more.”

And after playing a game of clinging on, the Dons grew in confidence as we retreated and not only equalised but then had the audacity to take all 3 points with a 85th minute winner. 

Apathetic

A little apathetic at the moment, not helped unusually by it being the middle of September and I haven’t see us play yet. I have a trip booked home for the middle of November and that, the televised game at Swindon, will probably be my first game. I am not alone, but of course Charlton Athletic still runs through my veins, they just don’t feel my head like they used to, hence why this Blog has been a little bare recently as I’m void of thoughts and opinions.

Anyway, a lot of you are still going, which I respect, so I am interested to how we are playing. It certainly appears that Slade has brought some fighting team spirit back, late goals against Bolton and Fleetwood attest to that, and that is a dramatic positive over last season when if we conceded, which was always just a matter of time, then that was it.