Are we the most cynical? You are right we have some very cynical fans indeed, and we have been starved of any real success other than the triple assault season (which ended up without promotion and getting knocked out of two semis so not ultimately successful) and 1 promotion to the Prem since McCabe took over. That's the sum total of our success.
But look at the Manure fans the other night after losing to Citeh. They were going mental wanting Moyes out, if they had a par park below the directors box there, there would have been more shoes in the air than all those in stock in a Clarkes distribution centre. And these are fans whose team won the league last year and are currently the champions. We can go into detail about glory support etc., but one season off the pace but still in the top half of the Prem and they want to lynch the manager. So I think there is a perspective here that needs to be looked at.
The perspective is that we are so used to dross directorship management, poor football decisions, players sold if there is any residual value, money being pulled from the club, that many have become accustomed to it. The cynicism to some has become an acceptance of mediocrity that it almost became a sarcastic joke if there was any good news. We have had terrible misfortune as well the last two seasons particularly with Ched and KMac.
So the appointment and success of NC is something really exciting to fans that are so used to the constant downgrading of their team. The guy has very quietly shaken the crap out of the footballing side, sussed out the mediocre and strengthened the good parts.
I think he may be here for a long time, as he likes longevity in jobs and could well turn this clubs fortunes, if backed by the Board, to one of constant improvement to take us to goodness knows where. I hope so.
Fair comment Jezza, it's a difficult one to quantify, but we must be up there with some of the most cynical fans around, surely?
Now, the question of 'fans' who have been spoilt with success, who think they have an entitlement to win something every season, and then have a strop when they are embarrassed by losing their crown, well forgive me, how tough is it to follow either Manchester club, although I will tip my hat to City supporters. At least their new found success has come after living for years in Man U's shadow. The difference is that we've been led up the garden path, tomorrow is always going to be better, or at least that's the line that's been trotted out each time a new manager is appointed. We've had a few serious turkeys as our manager, and it shows. Poor signings, on money me or thee could only dream about, yet we turn up in our thousands to support whoever puts on the shirt. With Clough the mood has changed. It seems we finally have a grown up in charge of this school, and it feels refreshing. I'm beginning to shed my cynicism at long last, and that in itself feels a bit strange, but I like it and want more.
For anyone who hasn't read Alan Biggs column in the Telegraph, it's featured on another thread on here, seek it out and tell me that you don't see a serious change in attitude throughout this club.
You are spot on....words like mediocrity have become synonymous with what we've aspired to, but I doubt Clough will accept this any longer. Good for him, with our size, compared to the likes of Norwich or West Brom, surely we could progress until we have a quality player that plays in every position for this club? It can't be too much to hope for can it? But the cynic in me won't be holding my breath in the meantime.
With Clough leading us I'm happy to be patient, but as you so rightly identified, the Board will have to back him, otherwise we'll have blown our best chance for a few decades in creating something worth waiting for. If Nigel gets that support we may find that we look back on his appointment as the moment we shook ourselves down, said fuck it, and went about the business of creating a legacy to be proud of.
