I fought the bore and the bore won
Right, I predict that over the summer we might need a place for Bazza (and perhaps others) to shout about Gao, the club, and everything for that matter.
So I thought I’d set out the case for the defence (despite the fact that I have concerns and reservations myself).
So here it is.
What I really love about watching your reactions over the last several shit years in the wilderness is just how you are never satisfied, @Barry-Sanchez.
Oh, and just how fucking wrong your predictions seem to be.
Wrong
You’ve had us relegated or in administration every year for, well for as long as I can remember. We’re not. We’ve come close but faith and good fortune have kept us up and trading.
You’ve lambasted JWP (and our youth policy by extension) for years, only to now have him as your player of the season. How did you get that so wrong?
You’ve told us how our central defenders aren’t good enough and how this will mean that we’ll be relegated. They might not be good enough, but we weren’t relegated.
You’ve constantly told us that Redmond would never be good enough, only to have him as your most improved player of the season. Who’d have thought he just needed enough time and a manager that could get the best out of him? How’d you get that so wrong?
Never satisfied
You’ve told us that we need to spend more money. We do spend more money and get a massive wage bill in the process, and now you’re moaning that we spent money. It’s almost like spending money isn’t a guarantee of anything and that we need a better plan.
You told us that Ralph Krueger needed to go. He’s gone. Still not satisfied.
You told us that Les Reed had to go. He’s gone. Still not satisfied.
You told us that in recent years most of our managers were shit, and you’ve had your wish and we’ve replaced them. Most of the time it didn’t work out, but now we’ve got a good one. You’re still not satisfied - telling us that he won’t stay.
When will you be satisfied…do you think?
I’m not suggesting that the rest of us should be pin-up boys (or girls or people or whatever…) for you in our approach to being a fan.
I see many others on here, including myself, who have been spectacularly wrong about things related to SFC. But I don’t see anyone else who fails to admit their mistakes or who fails to see the massive positives that exist around our club right now.
On Gao
You’ve told us that Gao needs to go.
This, despite the fact that under his ownership, the club has granted your wishes about Reed and Krueger.
He replaced Kat Liebherr who you seemed to have a problem with.
He’s got in a manager that you seem to be happy with.
He’s improved players you’ve hated for years - such that they now feature positively in your review of the year.
He’s allowed us to blood youth players without getting relegated.
He’s brought high-tempo football back to Saint Mary’s.
He’s given us excitement and hope for the future.
Aside from putting billions into the club, he’s granted most wishes that you (and I) have had for the club, and even though he’s sanctioned investment (albeit poorly executed by Reed and Krueger - now gone) you’re still not satisfied.
Come on in, the water’s lovely
So Bazza, when are you going to put a smile on your face and recognise how positive things are at the club right now?