Another Sam post, that’s what they want! The masses did not cry.
But my lord, any form of social media, sports channels, newspapers, magazines, my conversations with other Dads on the school run, Loose women debates, GMTV, PM question time, everywhere you go everyone and anyone is talking about his future….
I’ve been very busy for a while now. Life, children, work etc. It seems the more successful the team (were) are my private life ramps up accordingly, precluding me from dedicating as much time as I would like to follow the fortunes of those that often hide.
Obviously this coincided with the death of the .org, (long live the .org) that saw many of us wandering the virtual wasteland like a bad Tron film (is there a good one?) trying to jump onto the cart of another WHU forum vehicle. Realising that the inhabitants are strange or the clique was tight to get into (good fun trying though….I digress). It was a strange time, the team were scoring like it was going out of fashion, 4th place felt….natural….Sam was kissing other men (well, Russell Brand) people in work began to talk less about football for fear of me extolling the virtues of Diaffra or Chek.
But like a wet fart, you know it’s around the corner sooner or later.
The fall from grace. Down with the decorations, the strange injuries (teacup?) the strange signings (Ninny Nene Nanny or whatever his name is, a Canadian called Henry with hamstrings tighter than a 4 string bass).
You know it’s coming, but like my wife when she pulls my trousers down, you really don’t want to face it.
So to Sam. We must you see. We can’t ignore it. The board are trying their best, but the cacophony of rumour and counter rumour is now louder than Madonna backstage at the Brits. And of course it affects the team. I believe no one who says “The lads don’t listen to it, they just get on and play the game they love”….rubbish. Poppycock. Every footballer is a man child, most of them barely able to stir their own tea let alone make it. Giving a child no security or sense of belonging is damaging. It’s the same for a team (the clue is in the name).
So the org, and the rest of them, will be divided into 2 camps (David) – Camp David – do you reckon he was? I digress again….
So how do you eat yours? Oh no sorry that’s Cadburys crème egg isn’t it – easily confused with Easter calling us.
I meant which way do you hang? Oh no, that’s something else entirely, that’s a different forum I’m involved with….
So are you for Sam or against Sam?
I think, putting on my fedora to be sensible for once, you have to apply some cold hard business sense, a dash of reality, a splodge of history and a dribble performance examination.
Many will argue I’ll always counter the popular opinion, and this is often the case. However, I think in this case, my head and heart still say, keep him.
No, I don’t really like him. He’s arrogant, not very flexible, stubborn, antiquated, reactive.
But I counter this with his CV with us. Promotion. Consolidation. Purchase improvement. League placing improvement. Securing players long term futures.
Whether he stumble upon all those signings is a moot point. Whether he made the team play more expansively and attacking in the first half of the season is irrelevant (they did) whether he thought of Downing at the tip of the diamond, Song to hold. It happened. And for that the man takes credit.
Awful run of form lately, agreed. Back to the bad old days. But there was a time when a man could take some credit and store it up. I think he’s earned this bit from the first half of the season.
Agreed, the run in will be very interesting. But he’s doing this without 2 first choice centre halves and 2 first choice forwards at the moment. That’s not easy.
And what if we get rid? Some lovely names out there; Klopp, Bilic, Moyes, Benitez etc. The average length of time a manger needs to implement ideas, review squad and make it his own is 18 months. I for one am fed up of this merry go round. I don’t want to watch works in progress. I want to watch someone who has had 3 or 4 years, with their players, their mind set, accountability. Now if you look at it from that point of view, our team is 10th, with one of the best assembled squads in around 15 years.
The cliché is “careful what you wish for”. I don’t think that applies here.
I think people have forgotten their manners (something that used to be an East end tradition) and have forgotten to thank Sam for what he’s already done.
We probably won’t miss him when he’s gone, for a multitude of reasons. But when I look at the squad he inherited, and what we have now, allied to some flashes of wonderful football this season, I think we need to take a cold, hard look at ourselves.
Let’s show a bit of respect. Keep our powder dry and don’t, for the love of god, start turning into whingers.
I for one love a pounding at home to the Palace of Crystal. Makes me feel alive. Reminds me my fallible club should really appreciate the good times, and maybe, dare I say it……laugh a bit more, even at the bad times.
Else you’ll turn into a spud…
