PerthImp
Vital Football Hero
With the enforced break of the next couple of weeks it gives us an opportunity to sit back and have a real think about how things are going in terms of recent performances and the new players, development of playing style, etc.
A few thoughts of mine, for what they are worth.
There is an algorithm in change management where you go through a process, graphically similar to the letter āUā. First, thereās the downward trend where many people get disheartened and almost feel lost with the uncertainty of everything, and they canāt see where itās all going to end, or fear the worst. Then thereās the ābottoming outā as things level off and stabilise and people start to slowly appreciate what is happening. Then, thereās the upward trend as it all starts to come together and people can see the improvements and growth. Finally thereās the upper ālevelling outā as performances improve and become more consistent - and everyone can breathe, smile and enjoy life again . That doesnāt always apply to football, but Iām sure itās a process MA and the Board have in mind.
Realistically, this was always going to be a difficult and uncertain time with so much change - almost a complete turnover in both players and playing style in mid-season, which is almost unheard of. Very brave, but necessary and the good thing is the way the season and the league table have panned out, they have probably taken advantage of the perfect timing in terms of risk/damage limitation. Bound to be an uncomfortable time for some of the players who start to question their place in the team going forward but you canāt make an omelette without breaking a few eggs ().
There are undoubtedly those who fear the whole process (& I did at first to an extent) but you have to have faith in what MA and the Board are trying to achieve. Itās about sustainability - for MA in terms of what is needed to develop the playing style towards survival and competing as equals if we get to the Championship, and, for the Board, growing the business financially and physically - neither is mutually exclusive and I think it is a very sensible and sound approach - much more so than the āboom and bustā approach adopted by many clubs with, often, unsurprising results. There are no guarantees - there never are in football - but I know which approach I prefer.
As for current expectations and performance/results, you canāt judge this team on the past three years, and you canāt change a team wholesale and expect superb team and individual performances overnight. It takes time to get players on the same wavelength in league games, let alone implement everything the manager wants. I fully expect to feel uncertain and uncomfortable at times, probably through to this time next year as MA is able to bring in the players good enough to adopt his desired playing style and consistently play it to a level good enough to challenge and play at the next level.
Patience, perspective and continued loyal support are the watchwords we have to keep in mind. It will be frustrating at times but I wouldnāt want to be anywhere else (well, metaphorically speaking given my location ). Under DC/NC we often heard about āthe journeyā we were on. Well, the track ahead was blocked, we have taken another route, but we are still on a journey. Itāll be unfamiliar for a while, and may be a bit bumpy occasionally, but just buckle up and grit your teeth folks - hopefully it will be worth the ride. (OK - enough cliches).
LCFC - 50 years and counting, through thick and thin. My hope (& dream) is to see them competing in the Championship as ātheir levelā. Several smaller clubs have achieved it - why not our beloved Imps.
UTI
A few thoughts of mine, for what they are worth.
There is an algorithm in change management where you go through a process, graphically similar to the letter āUā. First, thereās the downward trend where many people get disheartened and almost feel lost with the uncertainty of everything, and they canāt see where itās all going to end, or fear the worst. Then thereās the ābottoming outā as things level off and stabilise and people start to slowly appreciate what is happening. Then, thereās the upward trend as it all starts to come together and people can see the improvements and growth. Finally thereās the upper ālevelling outā as performances improve and become more consistent - and everyone can breathe, smile and enjoy life again . That doesnāt always apply to football, but Iām sure itās a process MA and the Board have in mind.
Realistically, this was always going to be a difficult and uncertain time with so much change - almost a complete turnover in both players and playing style in mid-season, which is almost unheard of. Very brave, but necessary and the good thing is the way the season and the league table have panned out, they have probably taken advantage of the perfect timing in terms of risk/damage limitation. Bound to be an uncomfortable time for some of the players who start to question their place in the team going forward but you canāt make an omelette without breaking a few eggs ().
There are undoubtedly those who fear the whole process (& I did at first to an extent) but you have to have faith in what MA and the Board are trying to achieve. Itās about sustainability - for MA in terms of what is needed to develop the playing style towards survival and competing as equals if we get to the Championship, and, for the Board, growing the business financially and physically - neither is mutually exclusive and I think it is a very sensible and sound approach - much more so than the āboom and bustā approach adopted by many clubs with, often, unsurprising results. There are no guarantees - there never are in football - but I know which approach I prefer.
As for current expectations and performance/results, you canāt judge this team on the past three years, and you canāt change a team wholesale and expect superb team and individual performances overnight. It takes time to get players on the same wavelength in league games, let alone implement everything the manager wants. I fully expect to feel uncertain and uncomfortable at times, probably through to this time next year as MA is able to bring in the players good enough to adopt his desired playing style and consistently play it to a level good enough to challenge and play at the next level.
Patience, perspective and continued loyal support are the watchwords we have to keep in mind. It will be frustrating at times but I wouldnāt want to be anywhere else (well, metaphorically speaking given my location ). Under DC/NC we often heard about āthe journeyā we were on. Well, the track ahead was blocked, we have taken another route, but we are still on a journey. Itāll be unfamiliar for a while, and may be a bit bumpy occasionally, but just buckle up and grit your teeth folks - hopefully it will be worth the ride. (OK - enough cliches).
LCFC - 50 years and counting, through thick and thin. My hope (& dream) is to see them competing in the Championship as ātheir levelā. Several smaller clubs have achieved it - why not our beloved Imps.
UTI