In the Ronnie today a Charlton coach has said we as a club are overreacting to the defeat at the weekend!

Are we overreacting? Do we think we are way better than we really are? Just because we hve 52,000 fans and they only have 20,000 does it give us the right to have a better team?

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001

Answers

I think he's missing the real reason many (some? Just me??) are furious. That is the manner in which we lost. Most of that shower on Sunday could have been playing in espadrilles while trying not to spill their foo-foo umbrella drinks for as much grit as they showed. I probably wouldn't be angry at all if I they'd shown some grit and determination and were still outplayed on the day. Disappointed, yes, not angry. Right now, we pretty much are a mid-table side with a number of talented players and potential for the future. All I want, right now, is players that honestly give their heart and soul when they put on the shirt and cross the white line. I don't expect us to be challenging for the title, but I don't think it's unrealistic to expect the players we've got to manage a solid top 10 finish. Babble mode off...back to looking like I'm busy at work before the boss' boss shows up. :-)

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001

I consider the reaction was not to the fact that we lost but to the manner of the defeat. The players we have, whether better or worse than those of Charlton, did not perform as they can. We know they can play a lot better and they just did not seem to try nor care. The fact that they then went swanning off for a "working" holiday in Spain did not help either.

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001

Could this be a bit of spin by the Ronnie in an effort to keep the fires burning until the players get home? Apparently reports and published letters from the public have been sent to the training camp in La Manga.

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001

So I take it that Peacock (CFC assistant boss who made these remarks) didn't have a chance to talk to YBR. By all accounts, he didn't think it was unreasonable to be a tad p!ssed off with them. Mind, I dunno what aal the fuss is aboot - Aah didn't see the game, thankfully.

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001

Charlton are obviously going to be pleased with themselves getting a league double over us. However, we fielded a team of mostly Internationals including national captains (past and present) who by all accounts showed as much skill and determination as a radish.

We are a big club, CAFC are not. But as I've heard said, size isn't everything

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001

Don't knock Keith Peacock ... he got us the tickets. ...hang about... the bastid!

No over-reaction at all. I'm still angry. I got over the Hackem humiliation in hours. If we'd lost to a better team then fine. To lose to a team who we should be able to beat IF WE TRIED is piss poor. The size of the clubs is irrelevent. Our players are better than theirs. Aren't they???

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001

Being a big club DOES NOT stop you from getting beat, from getting relegated, its a 11 good players with a great attitude, that make you win.

Eg, of so called 'BIG fan turnover clubs' being relegated through the attitude 'hey were a big club so we wont get relegated': Man Utd in the seventies: Athletico Madrid last season: AC Milan numerous times over the past 25 years. Could we fall in to this trap (not this season)???

Perhaps the club needs a motto to help keep attitudes in check??

Rangers is 'Always ready.' We could have something like, 'for the fans, for the passion, for the toil.' Imagine if marcelino was constantly reminded of his responsibility when he put on a training top, or shirt, or even when he looked at the 'this is St James' sign when he walked on to the pitch etc.?!

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001

I has been said here, and as I discussed with a CAFC fan in the office today, it's not the fact that we lost to Charlton, it was the manner of the loss.....and the fact that the 'world' was watching on the tele.

We might have a stronger squad on paper but, to nick another line, the game of football is played on grass.....not paper

As far as I'm concerned as well, the Charlton match was just the last in a series of p!ss-poor results, the majority of which have been masked by performances such as Leeds at home and away, Moan United at home etc.

I'm as guilty as the next person, but I allow those performances to overlay the bad ones and say to myself, "we'll, were not that bad if we can do as well as that" but bottom lines is "we are that bad.......sometimes"

As far as Spain is concerened, I've personally got no problem with the Le Manga trip, lets face it, these trips don't get organised (or cancelled) at a days notice. We knew about the trip two and a half weeks before they went. It was 'assumed' that we would win at the Valley, go away for some R&R and golf then come back and spank Man City.

Had that been the case, the trip would barely have gained a mention in the Ronnie let alone the national press, but hey, thems the breaks kids.

Finally, I don't reckon it is particularly helpful that the Ronnie are reported to be sending copies of their reports and some of the reactions to the Charlton *loss/match/debacle (*delete as appropriate) out to Le Manga so that the players can see what they have left behind......with a local press like that who needs the London taboid hacks.

80)

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001