This has been a damaging season for the character of the club and the collective spirit amongst us supporters who attend games.
Even before a ball was kicked, the club had dithered and stalled on the repeated requests from the HF to re-configure the lower Holmesdale. A series of decisions were then made which led us to starting the season on a Monday night against Liverpool with a strange feeling in the air, although the performance that night from the players was actually commendable. But it wasn't right. The stitches of our core support were pulled apart, without assigning blame or delving back into that debate, all supporters stances can be respected and understood. The club however failed massively to control a situation and be professional. Short, poorly written statements, u-turning, poor communication and finally presenting a half cooked, not quite what it should have been, solution.
Viewing the action on the pitch at Selhurst, season ticket holders have toiled and suffered, shelling out £150 (on average) per win so far. Only six goals from open play, SIX. Many of us can probably admit that we walk up Park Lane or Holmesdale Road, with less appetite and anticipation for what is to follow. The matchday experience and excitement is no longer something I personally that proud to be a part of and just don't feel the buzz in the same way. Some argue that we've played well at home and just failed to take our chances. When your home form is only slightly better than Huddersfield's, you cannot make excuse it with any stats.
Townsend's wonder goal aside, we've been starved of any moments as fans that bring us together. Even our cup run has been relatively unremarkable when you consider the moments that got us through each game. No dramatic gaols, no big celebrations... pragmatic and steady.
Moments that bring fans and players together are what gets the blood pumping through the veins of a club. Being out of form is one thing, but slowly declining and eroding the spirit of your supporters is another. It's a cumulative effect and at times it can come back briefly, but it takes real change to slowly turn the tide. Little ways the club operates, the under-achievements of the players, the division amongst those fans in the Holmesdale lower, the tired matchday experience at Selhurst (same music, same Crystals dancing, same super draw, same half time thing, same lack of goals, same getting crushed in the Arthur)...and then the prices get put up.
"yeah but if we were winning you wouldn't be saying all this" - I'd argue that the club won't be winning and properly get beyond this gloom until lots of things are addressed, not just in the footballing parts of the club. The point is that we aren't being fickle by expressing frustration, we are realistic - this squad is underachieving when you look at the individuals in it and the wages being forked out. We should be watching good, exciting football and seeing us progress. Watford were promoted a year after us and look at how well they are doing in the league AND cup.
One thing that I do think could be the catalyst to spark a new era and revive us supporters and the players, is a new manager in the summer. It has to happen then, no later.
If Roy persists, then I think the culture at the club will continue to change, getting flatter and flatter. He's done some brilliant work here, but it's insane to keep doing the same thing and getting the same negative results (poor home form, not changing in game tactics via subs).
Dreadful season and now we have owners that want out, a manager who lacks ambition and supporters who are more disconnected from the club than ever, since we got promoted.
So who should it be?
Even before a ball was kicked, the club had dithered and stalled on the repeated requests from the HF to re-configure the lower Holmesdale. A series of decisions were then made which led us to starting the season on a Monday night against Liverpool with a strange feeling in the air, although the performance that night from the players was actually commendable. But it wasn't right. The stitches of our core support were pulled apart, without assigning blame or delving back into that debate, all supporters stances can be respected and understood. The club however failed massively to control a situation and be professional. Short, poorly written statements, u-turning, poor communication and finally presenting a half cooked, not quite what it should have been, solution.
Viewing the action on the pitch at Selhurst, season ticket holders have toiled and suffered, shelling out £150 (on average) per win so far. Only six goals from open play, SIX. Many of us can probably admit that we walk up Park Lane or Holmesdale Road, with less appetite and anticipation for what is to follow. The matchday experience and excitement is no longer something I personally that proud to be a part of and just don't feel the buzz in the same way. Some argue that we've played well at home and just failed to take our chances. When your home form is only slightly better than Huddersfield's, you cannot make excuse it with any stats.
Townsend's wonder goal aside, we've been starved of any moments as fans that bring us together. Even our cup run has been relatively unremarkable when you consider the moments that got us through each game. No dramatic gaols, no big celebrations... pragmatic and steady.
Moments that bring fans and players together are what gets the blood pumping through the veins of a club. Being out of form is one thing, but slowly declining and eroding the spirit of your supporters is another. It's a cumulative effect and at times it can come back briefly, but it takes real change to slowly turn the tide. Little ways the club operates, the under-achievements of the players, the division amongst those fans in the Holmesdale lower, the tired matchday experience at Selhurst (same music, same Crystals dancing, same super draw, same half time thing, same lack of goals, same getting crushed in the Arthur)...and then the prices get put up.
"yeah but if we were winning you wouldn't be saying all this" - I'd argue that the club won't be winning and properly get beyond this gloom until lots of things are addressed, not just in the footballing parts of the club. The point is that we aren't being fickle by expressing frustration, we are realistic - this squad is underachieving when you look at the individuals in it and the wages being forked out. We should be watching good, exciting football and seeing us progress. Watford were promoted a year after us and look at how well they are doing in the league AND cup.
One thing that I do think could be the catalyst to spark a new era and revive us supporters and the players, is a new manager in the summer. It has to happen then, no later.
If Roy persists, then I think the culture at the club will continue to change, getting flatter and flatter. He's done some brilliant work here, but it's insane to keep doing the same thing and getting the same negative results (poor home form, not changing in game tactics via subs).
Dreadful season and now we have owners that want out, a manager who lacks ambition and supporters who are more disconnected from the club than ever, since we got promoted.
So who should it be?
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