I very rarely start threads on here but after tonight I just want to air some of my views in general. I know some won't agree with me, some may think 'what the fuck' and I expect some to lambast me, but fuck it.
For me, tonight was a huge, huge low point. Yes, I know we've had it worse - Westley's tenure, well what do you say about that?! But I think tonight was the lowest I have felt for a long time. I've seen some truly disgusting performances in my time - Luton was bad enough but I thought tonight was even worse.
I can expect a poor performance here and there - hell you don't always get your own way in football but the least I expect is some honesty, effort and desire - we had none of that tonight and I was truly ashamed by the attitude of most of those players just strolling around like their holidays were round the corner and playing as if they had flip flops on.
Now, I've not been supporting North End for as long as many others on here. 1992 was roundabout the time I first properly got into it, aged 8, although I had been going on from a young age.
I remember those early days fondly even though we weren't particularly great. I didn't attend every home game but luckily in those days you could get on for free for the last 20 mins or so which I took advantage of. The Kop was often my place to go - I thought it was fantastic, a great sweeping terrace, ticker tape, 'confetti' made from cut up copies of the Loot newspaper, balloons, barmy army, the lot. I loved it and miss those days.
Another fond memory is getting autographs from the players - one distinct memory is of getting Paul Raynor's and Tony Ellis' autographs in the old club shop on Lowthorpe Road.
'Them were the days' - we may have been slugging it out in the bottom division but at least we were watching players who gave their all. What they lacked in talent (albeit tbf some were talented) they more than made up for it guts, determination and effort.
We of course had the Baxi takeover and a huge upturn in fortune rising to the Championship (then Div 1). We were certainly privileged to see some brilliant, talented players pass through our doors who were an absolute joy to watch - Macken, Fuller, Claude Davis, Mawene, Appleton, Gregan - that's just naming a few but I'd be here all night otherwise! It was just the talent though - again they were players who gave their all for the club and I'm proud to say I saw them play.
It's just a shame we came up short a few times - a recurring theme with this club. All the ifs, buts and maybes - we just needed that little bit more but sadly we just didn't have that bit more extra backing to push us over the line.
Back to the present day - yes there have been bad times like the relegation to League 1 and the bizarre tenure of Westley but I walked away tonight feeling thoroughly fed up. A truly crap performance and walking away thinking 'will it ever be our time'? We've seen all our local neighbours stroll past us and had their time in the limelight whist we have stood by, treading water and just grateful to survive. Is that all we've got to accept and hope for? It's a pretty dismal thing to accept.
I'm thoroughly pissed off and numerous things were going round my mind - one thing I was doing was comparing all today's players to those in the past and I thought "My God, these players aren't fit to lace their boots" - it's a strong opinion admittedly but one I think is justified after tonight and several other dreadful performances.
I also freely admit to singling out one player - Alan Browne, but most specifically his tenure as captain. I compared his leadership qualities to the likes of Bryson, Gregan, Alexander, Lucketti to name a few. He possesses not one of the all the qualities these players had and I just think he doesn't possess any leadership skills - the mess of that midfield tonight was a good example.
His form in general - I just think he has massively regressed and is nowhere near the player he was when he won POTY. It's a crying shame and I had hoped he would re-find that form but he hasn't come anywhere close.
Another thing, he and Lowe can waffle on about how bad things were, again, but all this talk and no action has become rather tiresome.
To save me from singling just one player out, I'll pick more. DJ - he frustrates the crap out of me. On his day, he's a class act but yet again he, like Browne, seems to have regressed and his laid-back attitude tonight, shite passing and half-assed challenges were completely unacceptable - buck the fuck up DJ. As for the defence - sadly Bauer just doesn't seem up for it anymore which is incredibly sad to see. Without doubt his worst performance in a white shirt and should be thoroughly ashamed of himself tonight, as should everyone else.
Anyway, I admit I feel thoroughly fed up - I'll probably be better tomorrow but I stand by my views. I've often been a vocal critic on here of the club and some of my reasons admittedly are personal. I've often hinted at why but never told the full story - I won't here as I don't think it will be well received but maybe at some point in the future I will.
Apologies for waffling on - I'm just tired of the constant mediocrity around the club. We've been 'nearly men' in the past but now we don't even get that. All we get is a stream of barely average signings (with some odd exceptions) and I'm tired of the attitude of just surviving and treading water - that's nothing to get excited about. Hell, Luton Town ended up in non-league and now look where they are - in the Championship play-off places and they've barely spent a fraction of what others have.
Tonight wasn't good enough (huge understatement) and the club needs a big shake up. The season ticket announcement was a big positive (typical of North End to spoil it though!!) but it's going to take much more than that.
It was painfully obvious that a lot of these players simply aren't fit to wear the shirt - I know it's easy to say we need a squad overhaul but that is exactly what we need.
I was hoping for a takeover and fresh ideas etc brought into the club but obviously that's not going to happen.
It's time for positive action - for once, just give us something to shout and get excited about won't you North End?
Thanks for reading and once again, apologies for the long waffle!!
