Charlton Athletic fans respond as manager Ben Garner makes a plea amid unrest and concerns for the League One club’s future.
He said any criticism coming from the fanbase should be aimed at him as his side made it six without a win following a 3-1 defeat at Barnsley.
The Addicks drop to 16th in the third tier – leaving them three points above the drop zone and six points off the top six.
When questioned about Charlton’s six-game dry spell, Garner said: “I don’t think that should be on [the players]. That responsibility is on me. Any criticism, any abuse – that should come my way.
“Let the players get on with it and turn it around. That’s what I want from them. I’m out here and taking responsibility. The only way to turn it around is working hard, improving and going to show bravery on the pitch when we play.
“I’ll keep working, I’ll keep fighting. We have to try and turn this around. This isn’t anything new, this is a long period at this football club. I’m not shirking responsibility, sine I’ve walked through the door, that’s on me. But we have to turn the corner. We have to start looking forwards as a football club. We have to start building and giving these supporters what they deserve.”
Breaking point… #cafc pic.twitter.com/TNFC26Uc6t
— Tom Hardie (@TGHardie) September 24, 2022
Blog writer ChicagoAddick perfectly sums up the situation the club finds themselves in and what has happening within Thomas Sandgaard’s time as owner so far.
“When asked in the absence of certain players, whether not signed or injured, how he was going to get results, Ben Garner has always answered that it will be hard work and improvement on the training ground.
“I understand that. His number one KPI is to improve the players individually and collectively, although I always sigh when manager’s say that they’ve had a great week on the training ground.
“I do think Ben Garner deserves a chance. A cultural and directional shift takes time, even if the tools and support is not provided. We all chuckled this week when Watford removed their manager, but remember Thomas Sandgaard is already on number 4 in just 24 months.
“Undoubtedly at some point Garner will take the bullet, or if he can somehow make a silk purse out of a pigs ear, he will be headhunted.
“Garner’s record in L1 is not good but he was signed by Sandgaard as a project manager, and he proved at Swindon that he could actually build something.
“Nonetheless the key for me is has he learnt from his mistakes? Will he learn from those errors in judgement or be too blinkered and stubborn in his thinking. We had this with Karl Robinson, Nigel Adkins and Johnnie Jackson, whereas Lee Bowyer would turn the whole team and formation upside down on an almost weekly basis!
“The trend line is that we are picking up very similar traits to his Swindon team, and the complaints were that he was too inflexible there with similar tactics producing the carbon results.
“Garner sounds like a decent bloke, with I suggest good man-management skills. He’s bright and a modern thinker, but is he able to better the players and make us hard to beat. That has to be the starting point, and to give this season any life, that has to start soon.
“I want the football team I love to have an identity, a style, and a direction that club and supporters can move lockstep together in, and possibly Garner can drive that ambition, but that has to start at the top, and watching Sandgaard melt back into his own selfdom has brought all the angst that Addicks have had back out to the forefront of our minds.
“Football though is about winning, and there will be no better way to improve morale than to start that trait now.”
As mentioned, Charlton fans respond as their manager makes a plea to them amid unrest and concerns for club’s future…
@SharpieStadiums: It’s ok Ben. We’ll blame the owner for not giving you the resources to build a squad with the quality to challenge.
@GeographyJones9: Not blaming you or the players mate. @SandgaardThomas…
@gargar272: Div 1 is lot harder than Div 2. We brought in a Div 2 manager and staff and several Div 2 players. Lack of Div 1 quality methinks.
@onestripe47: Ben shouldn’t worry, the blame won’t be aimed at either. It’s Sandgaard that’s going to get the blame. And I’m starting to agree
@TimRuffle: Fair play to him. Yet it is the owner who must take most of the blame. He appointed Garner with the promise of attacking football but has failed to back him in the transfer window. Yes he let him return to Swindon and plunder them but L2 players have not improved a L1 side.
@DM54059469: I’ll aim it at @SandgaardThomas thanks
@1dog74: Probably better to aim it at @SandgaardThomas this falls on his shoulders. Nobody else’s. #cafc
@LewisNeary_: He’s definitely not immune to criticism but Ben Garner definitely isn’t the problem here. Change is needed #cafc
@simonemmett_gb:
Ben Garner was sold a dream
To build football
Was given no money
Or even allowed to go and get a loan
Thomas didn’t have his back
And blamed his fans for being crap
Charlton Athletic
We’ve be sold out by a Danish twat! #cafc
Fuck off @SandgaardThomas!
@HFautisticMan: Time to replace Ben Garner with Darren Ferguson I think! This week b4 the Oxford game on Saturday plz Sandgaard #cafc
@SteveK157DFC: I can’t be the only one who really wouldn’t care if Ben Garner was gone in the morning can I? Guy somehow convinced people he’s good coach because he claims his teams are attacking. Yet this #CAFC side is one of the most incompetent. No threat going forward no defence at the back
@tommybrazil_: 1 positive I see from how bad we are is Ben Garner knows exactly whats wrong, clearly sees we don’t have the player quality needed but isn’t throwing anyone under the bus. Scott Minto sees this issue and said it in as many words to #cafc
@LewisH92: Ben Garner has no loyalties to Charlton, he’s clearly pissed off with Sandgaard. Best thing he can do is walk. He wouldn’t be blamed by any fan.
@UniversalMSLtd: Or he can wait to get sacked, get a payout, and we still won’t blame him.
@gargar272: Sandgaard want us to play “the high press”. But good teams are built on solid defences. We have an inadequate strike force. CBT no control in front of goal. Stockley not playing his own game. Can’t just rely on ML & JRS. Garner needs to sort out defending quick
@Tonybigmac: #Garnerout he is not good enough for this division, a better manager would get more out of this shit squad
@cafc_daniel: @SandgaardThomas if you showed some ambition we could be like Plymouth, Ipswich, Portsmouth all doing well because they have been funded properly
@Stephen29235285: @SandgaardThomas open your wallet in January or you’ll be the chairman of a league 2 club.
@Turkishcypriot8: @SandgaardThomas think you owe the fans an explanation into the fake hope that was given to us. You said our target was top 2 knowing full well the squad was not even fit for top half. It’s turning into a complete carbon copy of last season. Us fans are growing impatient.
@PeterBoom1: @SandgaardThomas what on earth is the matter with you? You’ve strung BG out to dry you absolute cunt. Leave now. 50 yrs a supporter and I’ve never been so angry
Problem is, everything at the club seems to be all talk currently 😭
— Lucy (@SnippLucy) September 24, 2022
@McnabGlen: It’ll never be fixed if @SandgaardThomas continues to refuse to invest!
@TandooriDal: Fixing things usually costs money. Club neesa a complete rebuild and INVESTMENT @SandgaardThomas Clearly doesn’t have the funds, bollocks or ambition to do that.
@FPL_Diamante: To get in or out of any division you have to have players that are a level above of where you are at. It really is that simple. Our analysis team so far have got us players from league 2 🤷♂️
@Charlton_Fan: Players are as much to blame as ownership at the minute, for me. Squad may not be anywhere near good enough for what we want, but they’re certainly better than what they’ve been putting in lately
@AndyJRoberts77: We have no chance of getting out this league, out upwards anyway, until we learn to hit the target properly. Defending might also be a useful skill to learn.
@flud97: The team needed investment in the summer to get a squad that can compete at the top of the league. You have to spend money to make money and get up the leagues. He hasn’t done it. Yet again and now we are struggling.
@blackersblack: Strategically he’s got it completely wrong, the best way to get to break even is to speculate to accumulate. You certainly won’t b/e in league 2. This rhetoric from TS that this is a better squad than last year and talk of our budget is as embarrassing as the league position.
@parabod: South London derbies will be with Sutton soon enough.
@colinha64615276: Hate to say this but I’m going to . I’m a season ticket holder and apart from 1 game and a couple of 2nd Half’s it’s been awful . I’ve even thought about not going to some games . I’ve watched a bit of non league and enjoyed the day more. Trouble is it’s in my blood
@crimp_it: Certainly won’t be a quick fix because those in charge are clueless. Won’t reinvest any of the transfer fees. For every correct decision there’s a couple of shocking ones. Not fit for purpose. Won’t take fan advice on ticketing and refuse to appoint an experienced CEO

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