posted Oct 13, 2008

Do you think that any of the young crop of Charlton players could make it? Seeing as the ones tipped to make it before the season started were Shelvey, who has played very little recently after a fairly timid first match, Wagstaff, who seems to be perenially on loan as is Wright. Do you think then that we do not have the players that are worth spending time giving experience to, and that throwing a bit of money at the situation could actually help? I tend to be of the opinion that every youngster that is good enough to play for the reserves at 17 or 18 should have the potential to make the grade in the Championship at least otherwise they havn't really meritted their place in the acadamy.

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posted Oct 13, 2008

All this talk of morals is bull. The UAE is one of the more liberal states in the Arab world. Not only this but in the last thirty years they've made huge steps to create a Western economy. Which some crackpot factions of Islam see as un-Islamic.

All this bandying about of morality is delusional. Are there questionable practices in the UAE? Yes. Are there questionable practices in this country? Yes. Were many of the conditions that our grandfathers worked in questionable? Yes.

As for bringing Real Madrid into it? Please. Franco's team bribing and stealing it's way to the top. A team that was drastically bankrupt in the mid 90's. Then won a lucky European Cup and re-invented itself with the most abhorent of all commercial galactico's team. Like our bank's whilst football has a possibility of being viable Real Madrid are too big to go out of business. In this country outside the top four we all are.

I admire the model of Swansea but club's our size teeter near bankruptcy within a few short months of poor form. I severly doubt your 'morality' choice if Swansea made the wrong manager choice and found themselves in the bottom league. Would you not sell out to a questionable business entity then?

I think the sheiks may be a little more moralistic than a boom and bust highly leveraged Mike Ashley businessman. What Newcastle fan worried about that when he took over? Maybe we should have asked the countless people who've been sacked after he's bought a company from receivership and stripped it down?

I've not met a billionaire without questionable morals. Actually I've never met a billionaire but the point remains. Yes I'd like it to be run by philanthropist businessman who are fans but that ain't possible when you're near bankruptcy. I hope Swansea fans don't have to find that out.

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posted Oct 13, 2008

cricketkeen - it depends what you mean by 'make it'. I don't believe many of our youngsters will be top Championship/Premiership players, no. Shelvey maybe, but I can't see the likes of Wagstaff/Aswad Thomas being more than League 1/2 players.

We are reminded at every home game how much money is pumped into the academy through Valley Gold. And how many first team players have we had to show for it over the last few years? Lloyd Sam, Osei Sankofa, James Walker, Darren Randolph... I'm struggling already. If we really want to push for promotion only players who are the real deal at 18-21 will get in the side - see Scott Parker, Rufus and Konchesky in recent times. Some may argue that the youngsters aren't given enough opportunities, but if they were *that* good, they'd be in the team.

And if we do get a truly exceptional youngster through the academy, they would play regardless of any investment.

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posted Oct 13, 2008

May I respectively request that the Charlton Superstore place advance orders for "prayer mats with the Charlton logo", to meet the expectant demand, if this takeover goes thro. Those in the West Stand could be sitting on a fortune, literally.

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posted Oct 14, 2008

Tatruth,bit of a harsh mood are we?

"All this talk of morals is bull. The UAE is one of the more liberal states in the Arab world. Not only this but in the last thirty years they've made huge steps to create a Western economy. Which some crackpot factions of Islam see as un-Islamic."

For one, you'll notice when I brought up morals I didn't mention your prospective new owners at all as I don't know much about them. I was casting a much wider observation about whether we should be concerned about what our owners represent. After all, we identify with a club because they, in a way, represent us. I certainly wouldn't go through the agony of supporting Swans if had a CHOICE in the matter would I ?. Rich owners with bad reps in the West are buying these clubs to validate themselves in the West - that is a fact. Thaskin is an extreme example of that, pretty much admitting that he hoped buying Man City would help his popularity all over the World and produce a friendlier result in his trial. So,like it or not, if your owners are involved in bad things that reflects on your club. I'd be suprised if any chairman ever was whiter than white but there's a differance between a bit of dodgy dealing and human rights issues. Like I say I know nothing about your lot, but I'd be pleasantly suprised if they were all for womens rights/racial equality/ gay rights. If you are willing to ignore the fact that these people will be using your club to draw a viel over those things in the West for the sake of a bit of cash then I'm sorry but that says alot more about you than it does me.

"As for bringing Real Madrid into it?"

The only reason I mention Madrid was an example of a different structure of club ownership creating just as much success and wealth as a rich owner. i never said it was good.

"I admire the model of Swansea but club's our size teeter near bankruptcy within a few short months of poor form. I severly doubt your 'morality' choice if Swansea made the wrong manager choice and found themselves in the bottom league. Would you not sell out to a questionable business entity then?"

This would be a good point, except 5 years ago we WERE in the bottom league and one game away from the Conference. Mostly because we were used by a "rich" owner. You know you are in The Championsip yeah? You know you can go through TWO relegations and not have to worry about about anything like that. Again it comes down to what's most important to you as a supporter - succes or soul? I would rather kick about in League One forever than become some plaything with a political agenda but that's just my choice. I don't judge you for yours but you shouldn't judge me for mine either.


"Yes I'd like it to be run by philanthropist businessman who are fans but that ain't possible when you're near bankruptcy. I hope Swansea fans don't have to find that out."

We know all about it cheers as we've been bankrupt. Twice. Going bankrupt the second time is what saved our club but it led to the ownership we have now.

Anyway, back to what I said before - best of luck to you

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posted Oct 14, 2008

el-nickpcr-io

I like your posts, you're a breathe of fresh air on 606

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posted Oct 15, 2008

Hey in answer to another of your questions I would rather compete in the Champ with a well run club. With the possibility of a great team like we had in 97-98 and 99-00.

But stagnation doesn't work in football and we forget how awfully average we were in say 96-97. There is only one rule in football overspend or get relegated; quite often you get both when you least expect it.

I really do believe without investment this club has the potential to be a basket case in League One. And then from there who knows. We're not a Leeds, in terms of the ammount of attractive buyers.

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posted Oct 15, 2008

And finally just read this article on Palace's finances:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2008/oct/01/crystalpalace

Jordan has some questionable business practices but attempts to run Palace viably. Why should he take all the risk and pump his last penny in? The man's already sunk millions into Palace. But without billionaire backers keeping your head above water in the champ, leads to debt debt debt.

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