Since Alan Curbishley left Charlton Athletic in 2006 it’s fair to say that things haven’t quite gone to plan for the South London outfit. In the years that have followed the club has suffered something of a monumental slump which has seen them fall into the third tier of English football; not quite the move on to the ‘next level’ that Addicks fans called for at the time.
During his 15 years in charge at The Valley and having taken Chartlon back to the top division courtesy of an epic playoff victory over Sunderland in 1998, Curbishley set about transforming them into a respected and established mid-table Premier League side, boasting a team that contained the likes of Paolo Di Canio and Danny Murphy who were a match for just about anyone they faced.
Incredibly, however, after a number of solid, mid-table finishes, including the club’s highest league position since the 1950s some Charlton fans became tired of the brand of football they were watching week-after-week and wanted to see a little more flair and excitement under a progressive manager who would propel the club onto the “next level.”
Whilst being appreciative of Curbishley for his achievements during his time at the club, some felt that he had taken Charlton as far as he could and as his position soon became untenable, with the man who had represented Charlton both as player and manager eventually leaving the club in 2006.
But just 12 months after his departure the club were relegated to the Championship and two years later suffered another hammer blow as they slipped down into League 1, a fall of epic proportions as the once Premier League top 10 stalwarts now rubbed shoulders with the likes of Oldham, Swindon Town, Walsall and Yeovil.
Yet despite all the warnings it seems that football fans still haven’t learned the lessons of history as once again we see a number of supporters begin to question the hunger of their side, not to mention the ability of their manager to take them to, you’ve guessed it: “the next level.”
It’s been widely accepted for some time that the Premier League is divided into a number of mini-leagues in which all 20 teams compete. You have the “Top 6,” who vie for the title or at the very least qualification to the following season’s European competitions.
Then you have those who are involved in the relegation dogfight almost from day one, all striving to finish in that lucrative 17th place in the table, which ensures top-flight football the following season along with all the riches that brings with it.
And somewhere in between you have a number of sides who don’t really come into either bracket; sides that will never break into the “Top 6” and are unlikely to be troubled by the fight for survival that is going on beneath them, safe in the knowledge that they can enjoy the privilege of being in what many still claim is the best league in the world.
Though that obviously isn’t enough for some, as fans of a number of these so-called middle-ranking sides make their feelings vocal about their desire to “kick-on,” “move forward,” or any other David Brent-esque cliché you wish to choose.
Tony Pulis, a man who, by hook or by crook, has brought stability and security to a West Brom side who have no divine right to be in the Premier League over the past five years is now being questioned and even mocked by his own fans about the style of football his team plays, while Mark Hughes often finds himself in a similar situation at Stoke.
Of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with harbouring ambitions of greatness or perhaps even just a desire to better yourself; and Leicester achieving the unthinkable and winning the Premier League has only encouraged those in football’s gutter to keep reaching for the stars.
And it’s not just Charlton Athletic who can be accused of having ideas above their station, the Championship and even League One is littered with former top-flight sides who allowed their big dreams to get in the way of reality, resembling something of a breakers yard for the once great and good of the game.
But at a time when football is becoming more top-heavy and dog-eat-dog than ever before, as those at the top look to distance themselves from an already elite group which was formed some 25 years ago, is it too much to ask that supporters remain realistic when it comes to their expectations?
So as Alan Curbishley spends yet another year in the managerial wilderness and Charlton fans contemplate the deal with the devil they made over a decade ago, which sees them embarking on yet another attempt at getting out of what we once called the Third Division, the advice remains the same – be careful what you wish for.
