Ok Guys, Myself like I assume everyone on here is very disappointed after the showing last night. There I was on Monday afternoon at the ticket office, renewing my season ticket, and I was, admittedly, very excited about last night and the season to come. I remember being at the SoL when Reid was in charge, the two very good 7th place finishes, and the atmosphere that surrounded the Club back in those days. Players like Ball, Makin, Summerbee and Johnstone, Phillips and Quinn, gracing our turf every week, treating us to some of the best football that we have seen. Then the wheels came off, a couple of panic buys, and Reid was sacked after 8 points in 9 games left us languishing in 17th position. We then had the frustration of Howard Wilkinson, where things were really bad, then McCarthy, who in my opinion didnt do to bad a job apart from his last season (15 pts) and relegation, then after Ball and Quinn, came Mr Keane. Things were starting to look up, we gained promotion in his first season, and the SoL was buzzing again. Unfortunately, things didnt work out, he made alot of poor buys, giving them big contracts, that would cripple us in more ways than one. Up steps Mr Bruce, and, from the time he was appointed, it never really worked, he made alot of really bad signings, and was eventually relieved of his duties late last year after a embarrassing defeat to Wigan. Now I really never warmed to Bruce, his lack of inspiration, lack of a 'Plan B', come to think of it he didnt have a 'Plan A', and his obvious lack of nouse in the transfer market were only some of the reasons why he lost his job. We were in 17th place, and in honesty, we didnt know where the next point was going to come of, let alone of thinking we would make the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup. I was there that day at Wolves when Martin O'Neill had his first experience of the squad he was going to be working with. We started brightly, even took the lead, and then ended up losing to a couple from Steven Fletcher. O'Neill must have thought, oh my God, what have I signed up for here. But here we are, Wins against Man City, and Arsenal to name but a few, with the same Squad that couldnt win a game only 5 months ago. Which brings me to my point, O'Neill is a very good manager, but he's not a miracle worker, and he is only as good as the players that he has at his disposal, which to be honest, isnt that great bar a few exceptions. Last night was disappointing yes, but to look at where we have come from to where we are now, the turnaround has been nothing short of brilliant. Only 2 of our players wuld get into the Everton team, that being Sessegnon, and McClean, and the fact that we are level on points with them, speaks volumes. All im saying is that in the years that I have been a Season ticket holder, the only years that have exceeded this one were the two when we finished 7th conseculatively, and there was alot of rubbish inbetween. Now im sure that people will comment saying that any fan should expect commitment and passion, and the right to watch decent football etc etc, and Yes, I like many expected a much better showing last night, but remember this is Bruces squad, not O'Neills, it'll be interesting in the Summer to see who comes and goes. Try not to get too disheartened by last night, even Barcelona have bad days at the office. Keep the faith, this is the best the club has looked for a long, long time. FTM
Good post mate. I don't know how much lighter I am after this weekend but with the car repairs added to train fairs and lost work it's well over a grand!!!! all to be tortured for 90 minutes. I had a season ticket during the 2 7th finish years and beyond. I really do think we're only a couple of players away from getting back there. The future is the brightest it's been since Reid. We need a striker there is no doubt in that. Someone in the Philips, Bent mould we can really get behind. We have got the right manager and the right owners, we're very close. Maybe all we need is a bit of patience and a bit of faith.
