I have always maintained that the difference between an ordinary side and a good team is just a couple of key players. I also maintain that the difference between a good team and a great team is just a couple of key players. In my opinion this is the reason for our demise. Two seasons ago we had a great team but then we sold several key players. Last season we had a good team but sold a couple of our key players. This season we are an ordinary team and we just dare not sell another player otherwise we become less than ordinary. One other observation at the moment is I believe we have become complacent. Those of us of a certain generation will remember "In search of Excellence"* by Peters and Waterman and the follow on publication"A passion for Excellence"* again by Tom Peters but written with Nancy Austin the argument of which was basically in the modern ever changing world standing still is going backwards. I seriously think football has moved on. Our competitors have looked at us learned from us developed a better product and stolen a march on us. Our current pedestrian style of football is being out done week after week by fast counter attacking teams with highly skilled and mobile forwards. We have to learn fast. * I particularly enjoyed the film " A Search for Passion" which rather strangely had nothing to do with business management at all.
