Credit is usually given when its earned and due. Forgive me if I have a different perception but I didn't see much enjoyment against Palace, WBA and Hull: and although we got much needed results against Toon and Villa, I didn't see a whole lot more when we were struggling for large parts of both games. The six points gleaned from those games took us to safety but, for me, they only papered over the cracks. Of course I'm delighted we survived and CREDIT to all concerned but if the fans think we're going to be OK next season without major surgery, they've got a shock in store. Some rank, bad teams below us helped keep us up this time but I'd like to think that some hard thinking, with appropriate decision making, will ensure that we don't have a repeat nightmare next time around.
Why stop there, lets give everyone credit for things they are supposed to do. Well done Milkman for delivering my Milk, well done Postman,did a cracking job of delivering my mail ,maybe the world would be a far better place if we patted each other on the back for doing the things we get paid to do are contractually obliged to do . I enjoy my job of late too, unfortunately i must maintain my performance level even if i didnt enjoy it of late, but hey lets give them 30k a week bleeding hearts credit where its due.
God i wish more fans would get to understand football a bit more. Who knows whether we will win tomorrow but we don't have the god given right to win as nobody does. From what i have witnessed first hand the players have been a credit to the club and are now much more comfortable in the style we are playing now to the way they played under laudrup. The change of atmosphere from the players and the fans have shot up under monks leadership. The club is in better shape now than it has been for over a year and still some fans complain Tomorrows game by definition has nothing on it so there can be no comparison with a game that has and it don't really matter what happens in the game as both teams play out the season. The hard work has been done and its job done as far as im concerned and now we can enjoy the next two games knowing that it cant effect our premiership status.
So, a quick question then? If we have a woeful performance today then it wont matter and nobody will care as our PL status is guaranteed and the job is done, is that right?
This game and Sunderland next are games which as equally important as if it was the beginning of the season and should be treated as such .Remember last season's last game v Fulham ,I hope we don't see the same reaction if we were to lose half empty ground for the lap of honour .Monk hasn't been offered the job yet so why think if we don't win that won't affect the decision making process.How we finish this season can (as so many have pointed out with reference to Laudrups tenure) stretch into the new season .
Which leads me on to my next question. At which point at the end of a season do people feel affects the start of the next performance wise, i.e the last 2 games 3, 4 even 10? I only ask these questions as personally I dont feel it makes any difference. A new season is exactly that a new season. How well a team played 2 months prior with possibly 25% of different personnel wont impact on how a team does on the first game of a season. You're quite right Lurky most people when stating ML's record do go back to the end of the previous season. This isnt going to turn into an ML/GM comparison by the way. I am merely pointing out that since we have been in the top tier when we have been mathematically safe our finish to the season has well been lacklustre to say the least. Under BR we lost 6 of our last 10 and under ML it was 5 so not much difference. However at the beginnig of ML's reign we started the season (WWDL) and his 2nd season we started the season (WDLW). So for me not much difference. There are far too many variables to be able to say that how we end 1 season impacts on how we begin the next. The only reason we should be concerned with how we finish should be because a) we dont want to finish on a low and b) the higher we finish the more cash the club gets. If I have a ****e week in work go on holiday for 2 weeks I generally come back recharged and ready to start afresh. Players get a lot longer than that. Add to that the clubs personnel will change (I am sure GM will bring in a few different players in the as have previous managers) and you have a new beginning!!
Rest assured if Laudrup was still with us and we were in this position in the League many fans would be shouting from the rooftops if our players didn't put in a shift today. Interesting isn't it that now Monk's in charge the result doesn't matter?
Yeah - I'll be fuming if we play like we're on holidays today. It's happened in the past and it's just unprofessional. Fans pay good money and should get 100% value for it. If I slacked off in my job - I'd soon be unemployed.
what difference will it make now?? Why risk an injury when you don't have to so close to the beach, I'm not saying they will or wont but we have seen it over the years that if there is nothing left in the season then teams play accordingly.. I personally hope we batter them but i as a fan understand if both teams just play out the game. its not a new thing its what happens every season with teams....
Bollocks Dai, you complained like your balls were on fire because we tailed off after getting 40 points last season so I will be pissed if we don't give it everything today.
like i say get to know how football works and maybe you will get to understand the game a bit better..
So what would be the difference between taking it easy after getting 40 points last season and taking it easy today and against Sunderland Dai? A tad hypocritical don't you think?
Not really the season is over and its job done as far as im concerned. I don't care now how the team approaches these last two games to be honest. I suspect that they will give it their all but if they don't then i can understand why...that's my thoughts but i will enjoy going to watch whatever they do..
So why criticise the way we played under Laudrup last season after reaching the 40 point mark? What is the difference?
