A pointless match?
The Fink Tank predictor provided by Warwick University's Decision Technology Group has had an excellent record recently of predicting Charlton's demise, including the defeat by Norwich, although perhaps one didn't need to be a cognitive scientist to do that. Their prognosis for today's match against Manchester United is unsurprisingly gloomy. With Charlton off form and United chasing the second Champions League place, they give a better than two thirds chance of an away win with a 19 per cent chance of a draw and a 13 per cent chance of a home win.
So is there any point in the Addickted turning up, particularly for those of us who have a long journey? We should remember that there are people who would like to be there who can't get in. During the week I was talking to a dad from Lee (a Coventry City supporter by origin) whose son has become Addickted, but they cannot get tickets for the game.
This underlines the need to expand the stadium. Some supporters think that we should spend money on the team rather than the stadium. But expanding the stadium would generate substantial additional revenue, even if it didn't sell out for every game. Remember that around 43 per cent of United's revenue comes from gate money. Also, it makes sense to borrow to construct a capital asset, but not to buy rapidly depreciating assets like players. Remember Leeds United?
Curbs: 'worst season ever'
It's not a happy Valley at the moment and Curbs told The Times, 'This has been the worst spell of my managerial career, even worse than when we were relegated.' Curbs admitted that he had employed sports psychologists to get to the root of the problem. 'We have looked at everything but the statistics do not lie and
it is the same statistics yet again. If I knew why it happened I would try and do something about it but this has left a bad taste in my mouth - staying up is not good enough any more.'
Curbs warned that he is planning to make wholesale changes to the squad before the start of next season. 'I have been looking at as many players as I can. We will be looking at every area to try and strengthen for next season.'
At the end of the day, however, money talks in football. Charlton has prospered by picking up players with scope for development at bargain prices. However, whether real top class quality is available that way is open to doubt.
So is there any point in the Addickted turning up, particularly for those of us who have a long journey? We should remember that there are people who would like to be there who can't get in. During the week I was talking to a dad from Lee (a Coventry City supporter by origin) whose son has become Addickted, but they cannot get tickets for the game.
This underlines the need to expand the stadium. Some supporters think that we should spend money on the team rather than the stadium. But expanding the stadium would generate substantial additional revenue, even if it didn't sell out for every game. Remember that around 43 per cent of United's revenue comes from gate money. Also, it makes sense to borrow to construct a capital asset, but not to buy rapidly depreciating assets like players. Remember Leeds United?
Curbs: 'worst season ever'
It's not a happy Valley at the moment and Curbs told The Times, 'This has been the worst spell of my managerial career, even worse than when we were relegated.' Curbs admitted that he had employed sports psychologists to get to the root of the problem. 'We have looked at everything but the statistics do not lie and
it is the same statistics yet again. If I knew why it happened I would try and do something about it but this has left a bad taste in my mouth - staying up is not good enough any more.'
Curbs warned that he is planning to make wholesale changes to the squad before the start of next season. 'I have been looking at as many players as I can. We will be looking at every area to try and strengthen for next season.'
At the end of the day, however, money talks in football. Charlton has prospered by picking up players with scope for development at bargain prices. However, whether real top class quality is available that way is open to doubt.
posted by Wyn Grant at 6:51 AM
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