Rolling with the punches

I've always thought we're a club that can take on adversity and thrive, use it as incentive to push on and do what others maybe can't.

But you look back over the last 3 years since the first large scale break up of the team when we were close to the play off places, and it feels like we've taken some heavy body blows.

I think back down the years and our overcoming adversity was more based on losing one player and bloodying the noses of teams who thought they were superior. But bumps were wider apart, were rarer. Were there of course, but there were periods of recovery before another one came along.

The last 3 years we've had constant and intensive player trading, to the point where if a player is still here for 24 months, he's now considered to be experienced, irrespective of age. No time to even consider becoming a legend or being thought of to enter the HoF (if the club remember its there).

But I think more of the sad times we've had to take. The passing of Norman and Patrick. The loss of Hourihane, Winnall, Mawson, Roberts... (repeat to fade)... and the truly sad tearful goodbye at a point of relegation from perhaps our last true playing legend, Adam Hammill.

The Morais embarrassment.

The bitter departure of Heckingbottom to local rivals and the year or more of bitterness from him afterwards. The bung scandal with Tommy Wright.

The alleged assault of a manager from afar who was capturing our hearts and to today, the callous acrimonious removal of that same person from our club on the cusp of a court case and within a week of a fan sadly dieing in our stadium. A manager of the year. A record points tally under his belt with one of the most exciting styles of football I've witnessed at Oakwell. And thrown away for reasons we aren't being told and that are far too difficult to fathom or accept there validity and reasoning.

It makes it all the more incredible when you consider the highs of last season. The unity built from rubble.

We enter the next phase of uncertainty, but I just don't think it needed to be like this.

 

You're too hung up on people.

 

Agree in the main. However, if we go down there is more uncertainty after the vitriol towards the board. I'd hate to think the club was in League 1 or League 2 and they take home their bat and ball.

 

Without people, whats left? Some grass, some metal and concrete and some open air bogs.

 

The very existence of a football club requires a high turnover of staff... If you're not used to it by now you never will be.

 

Never have we had a higher more rapid turnover of players than we do now. Never have we struggled for a player to reach 100 games in a red shirt.

17 months on from our relegation from the Championship, only Walton, Cavare and Thiam remain. That's not normal.

To not have connection with people, it all seems a bit sociopathic to me.

 

Mowatt. Pinillos.

 

Just when I thought I was getting better.......

 

Neither played on the day. I was referring to the teamsheet that day compared to now.

 

Wuss ;-)

 

Ah well.