The rot started during the first lockdown. The players were over trained, Prestridges fault and CW got frustrated with some of the performances post restart culminating in him publicly lambasting them following a 2-0 loss away to Leicester where he called them League 1 players. Some of the precious dears took exception to this and there were reports of players siding with Mousset subsequently when CW called him out for going home to France.
We move to the start of 2020/21 season and CW has the hump on about the training ground not being updated and pre season is a mess. We look lethargic against Wolves and Lundstram starts the rot. Next game against Villa the back room team ,some who've got the hump on themselves about not getting pay rises, fail to tell the players that Berge is the penalty taker Lundstram takes it misses we lose and CW goes ballistic with his staff. It deteriorates from there with players seeing the disharmony dropping standards.
Reports of CW not attending some training sessions during his dispute with the Board only add to the holiday camp atmosphere as Knill tries to play peacemaker and keep the ball rolling.
Playing matches in a training ground atmosphere doesn't help but the lack of effort on the pitch is visible for all to see. CW goes AK is sidelined PH comes in and standards drop even further as Leicester spank us 5-0. CW leaves because he can't get anymore out of the players. The same players who he has raised up to heights over the last 4 years they could have never imagined.
There is little sign of improvement under PH as players go through the motions and improve their stats slightly by beating Burnley who are on the beach in the last game of the season. The players seem oblivious to the fact that they have achieved the second worst overall record in EPL history or that their captain a Blade through and through was reduced to tears after the Leicester spanking citing some players showing a lack of effort on the training ground. A lack of effort that is to become a reoccurring theme.
SJ comes through the door with the promise of an EPL squad. He soon realises he has players who are technically not gifted enough to play his system. References are made to some players needing to grow up and not giving 100%. His desire to rebuild is rebuffed by the Board who don't have the money and he goes. The same group of players are again called out by the captain for not doing enough on the training ground.
Whats the common denominator in all this - the players, not the managers, not the systems probably not the training either. Yet the Board believe appointing a new manager will solve it all. History suggests it won't until there is a cull of the bad influences. PH already has enough to do to improve results without having to deal with off field politics. Wheres a quality Sporting Director when you need one?