We had a great debate last week about where the club are and the rationale behind our recruitment strategy and team organisation. I think that the upshot of our season so far is that: 1) LeeJay has helped with the critical task of balancing the books. 2) The recruitment (whoever is responsible for it) has been sub-optimal, but tailored to our requirements for financial stability. 3) The reward for LeeJay tolerating that way of working has been an extended period of grace to get the best out of the players and to establish the most efficient/effective playing style for our group. 4) That period of grace has resulted in success for LeeJay and the club in so far as we are now in hailing distance of the playoffs, have just about eliminated any threat of relegation, and are still in with a very realistic chance of a Wembley final appearance (whatever anybody says about the John Stones Trophy). Above all, we are once again providing the fans with entertainment and excitement. In short, our swagger has returned. The next thing for us to get our heads around is that because of where we are as a club, we are going to see continuing changes in the cast appearing on the Oakwell stage. Sam Winnall is the big question mark at the moment – at least between now and 11 pm on Monday. But let’s just stop and take stock. For a good part of this season, Sam has looked out of sorts. Since LeeJay and Tommy have turned the team around (mid-December onwards) Sam has been provided with the service that has enabled him to reassert (what we must now regard as) his enduring goalscoring ability. If we lose him it will be a huge wrench for the fans given his form over the last six weeks. But the supply which has benefitted Sam is capable of benefitting another striker(s). So if we get an appropriate fee by way of recompense for Sam then it will not be the end of the world to see him move on. Everyone will wish him well. Who wouldn’t take the chance to progress their career or enhance their paycheck? The more recent activity encourages the view that we are getting better at recruitment. At the very least, we have shown our ability to jettison those who are tried and are found wanting. And the group we have (eventually) landed up with are an increasingly promising bunch of players. I am beginning to trust the club to refresh the playing staff as and when needed. That’s because I have begun to enjoy the football again. Finally, I would reaffirm my previously expressed view that LeeJay has shown great resilience to persevere when things were not going well (no, bugger it – they were going disastrously). The club read what is said on here but I think the level of dissatisfaction (including mine) was wholly justified. It takes a strong character to continue believing in himself in these circumstances, and to turn things around the way LeeJay has is very admirable. And who is his main support? Tommy. I think that we have an unappreciated gem in the assistant manager and I suspect that his positive influence extends far greater than we realise. Reight – that’s it. Off to Lanzarote in t’morning. And hoping that Lady Kaht and I can find a bar that is showing the Fleetwood game. We shall be spending the next few days attempting to persuade Costa Teguise bar owners of the huge significance of this fixture! COYR!
