Do Charlton fans forever rue the day they forced Curbishley out?
Much was expected of Charlton in their first season in the Championship; they spent a fair bit of money in pre-season and had one of the best squads in the league. However they massively underachieved and finished the season in 11th place. They were expected to mount another challenge in their second season but endured a terrible start and by November found themselves in the relegation zone. Pardew was sacked and replaced by his assistant Phil Parkinson, but he was unable to stop the decline and Charlton were relegated to League 1.
During this time Alan Curbishley had taken West Ham to a 10th place finish during his first full season in charge of the club, but by the start of the next season he resigned after just three games as he was unhappy with the team’s transfer policy. He had been out of work for over six months by the time Charlton’s relegation was confirmed.
Under Phil Parkinson Charlton had a good debut season in League 1 finishing fourth in the table, and were cruelly denied a deserved Wembley play-off final after they were unable to beat Swindon in a penalty shoot-out in the semis. This season it is unknown what is going to happen to Charlton as they have lost some of their best players in talented youngster Jonjo Shelvey and captain Nicky Bailey. If they can make a few more good signings like former Tottenham youngster Johnnie Jackson, and hang on to some of their better players like Therry Racon, Jose Semedo and Deon Burton, then there is no reason why they can’t at least finish in the play-off places.
As for Alan Curbishley, he looks set to spend another year in the managerial wilderness, Curbishley who has recently been linked with the Fulham job has said:
“I was told I was on the Fulham shortlist but that there were a couple of people ahead of me, so I knew that was going nowhere.”
He added: “It (West Ham) has damaged me a bit, because I have been out for a while, and it is hard to come back if you are away for too long.”
Whilst it has been exciting to be a Charlton fan in recent years, it definitely hasn’t been rewarding and I’m sure many fans like me would gladly swap life in League 1 for the Premiership mid-table Curbishley days in an instant.
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no real charlton fan ever wanted him out and only the idiots booed him.
i like many knew we were doomed when that shock announcement came before the blackburn game.
he left the club due to murray wanting a commitment as he only had a year left on his contract.
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To echo the previous poster – not one single sensible CAFC fan ever wanted Curbishley out, and to be honest I’m a bit fed up with this complete myth being trotted out yet again by a media just looking to put a spin on a ‘Charlton demise’ story. Talk about the decline of Charlton if you like, but please don’t insult the fans like this by inferring that they deserved it because they forced Curbs out it’s just not true.
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Well believe it or not I am a Charlton fan and never once in the article did I mention Charlton deserving it for letting him go. The only I said was that it was ironic how after we let him go and tried to push for Europe we got relegated.
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we did not want him out, but there were a few personal battles with players (info from a senior insider) that suggested he had lost control of the dressing room!! Players like Bryan Hughes never came close to Murphy, Smertin etc. We had some great players, many of whom are still in the prem league. The football since we went down twice!! is still more exciting than his last couple of years, where we played effective, but boring footie. I ould rather be charlton in Lge 1 than Bolton (who limp it) in the prem
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Haha not sure if I agree with the comment on Bolton especially as their brand of football looks to be changing. But I do agree that I think our brand of football has gotten better and I think at the start of last season in League 1 we did play like a ‘League 1 Arsenal’ at times.
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This claim is becoming an urban myth,with pundits from t.v and radio who have probably never set foot in SE7 jumping on the bandwagon.
The truth is Curbishley wanted out , and before West Ham came sniffing , he courted Spurs.It was him who thought he had taken Charlton as far as he could.In our Prem years we attracted Johnny come lately fans , and it was them who wanted more.Where are they now I wonder.
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Yet again another nonsense article saying the Charlton Fans forced Curbs out which as every addick like myself knows is complete rubbish. Curbs was offered a new contract to stay but wanted to try his luck elsewhere after 15 years with the club. As those of you who were there like me will I’m sure remember he was given a standing ovation when this was announced at the Blackburn game and as he has said himself “left the club by the front door instead of the back”
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I’m inclined to agree with Phil, there.
The basis of the story is extremely ‘fact-free’. A slow news day me-thinks!
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