Cod Almighty | Diary

We’re on the Armageddon to Disappointing spectrum

9 November 2021

Trentside Diary writes: Disappointing result that on Saturday. Disappointing, but just one of those days. "Disappointing" just about describes my level of upset. Town failed to fulfil my hopes or expectations: yes, "disappointing" sums it up.

But "What about... what about... WHAT ABOUT? A cup run? Not scoring in three? Losing three in a row?" I hear some cry. Or "Fuck the brown-nosing brigade we need a striker" and more succinctly "Hurst Out".

Oh dear. To disagree or even discuss is a waste of good oxygen. I understand that many vent and then get ready for the next game as usual, but a small number of fans have been waiting for the chance to have a go. Poised like the spectre at the feast. If they had listened more carefully, Hurst has said more than once he wants another striker but he won't bring someone in who won't fit in with the squad. What do these angry fans want? A new Omar Bogle? They were probably among those having a go at him when he was at Town. A team of Galacticos? I bet they're the sort who wear Manchester United shirts when they are not at Town games. Or worse, while they are at Town games.

It doesn't mean I'm not disappointed, it's just that years of watching Town and the seeping cynicism it brings meant that we knew this was always going to happen. We were always going to lose a few. We were never going to storm the league with so many other weighty teams slugging it out down there. Let's get this spell out of the way and press on.

In the 1979-80 season we finished as champions but by 9 November we had played 19, won 8, drawn 3 and lost 8: in other words, nowhere near as good as this season's start. Let's be honest, this season feels totally out of character. How many times have we had a decent run-in and bemoaned the poor start we had? More times than I care to dredge up.

Still struggling to get past three losses in a row? Let it go*. In the words of AA Milne: "When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it". It's not as bad as you think*, don't make yourself ill stressing about it. Talk to your mates and get yourself looking forward to the next game. It's a marathon not a sprint*.

UTM.

*Other clichés may be appropriate.