So the bubble has finally burst. In truth, it had been punctured at Villa when leading 2-0 and looking like a team everyone was beginning to fear, JDV limped off a minute or so before half time, Mackenzie promptly lost his man and they scored. What followed at Blackburn was a team on tilt from that loss of points and we all hoped that in beating a Stoke side who have absolutely no difficult beating themselves that service had been resumed. Had Grosiki scored early on against Derby the bubble might have just been blown up again, he didn't, it wasn't and last night it burst unceremoniously, with recollections of November for the second 45. We bought into the hype, semi-ignored the letter from Dastardly and Mutley about supporting the manager and didn't really kick off about the lack of signings despite the promises of a promotion push from the board.
Maybe it was the curse of the MOM or POM month awards, maybe it was one too many "Hull unbeaten in 10 interviews', but the camaraderie of those ten games or more has gone AWOL and then some. Nigel Adkins, who I doubted, then doubted myself along with many many others for doubting him, has perhaps bought into his own hype, because some of his decisions have baffled me yet again. When you string together a run like that and you have a pivot (Stewart), how on earth do you replace him with a ballet dancer, even if he is an international. As someone highlighted, Evandro and Irvine do not go together, a bit like gravy and chocolate cake, thought no doubt someone will say its their favourite dish.
In a recent interview which I thought was excellent, Adkins pointed out that at a debriefing, he asks the team for 5 things they could have done better. Well I hope this morning the players ask that of the manager as well as themselves, as from this poster, perhaps befuddled by not being able to sleep, I can think of at least 5 things to ask. I wont list them, but as NA is a great one for analogies, here's one he should put on his office wall. "IF IT AIN'T BROKE DONT FIX IT!!!!" and I do appreciate that many of the playing staff are broken.
So what are we left with. A ride which was starting to become more exciting by the match, but now destined for mid table mediocrity - we would all of course taken that a couple of months ago, IMO, nothing to play for which will see the following; more of what we saw in the second half last night, Bowen and Grosicki the terrible twosome become apathetic kittens now the dream has died and knowing their future lies elsewhere in as little as 16 weeks - if that hasn't already happened which could perhaps be seen in their demeanour. I would dearly love to be wrong and to have us back on track but I fear, too little, too late.
For Dastardly and Mutley upstairs **** you. I'm delighted and NOT in the fact that in deciding to not buy and not sell you have done the following. ****ed up a fantastic opportunity in what really is a **** league. I'm delighted under the now circumstances that you could have pocketed circa £4 million selling Marcus Hendricksen who'll walk away free at season end (as others out of contract will also) and £8 million for Kamil who will now resort to being worth £5 or £6 million. But those together leave us the real HCAFC perhaps £6 or £7 million away from getting rid of you the rotting stench that has infested our football club.
