|
The Blood Boils
|
|
Also Unhappy
|
By:
Eric Hitchmo
|
02/11/2011
|
|
|
|
"I fear that I may be treading familiar water to Max Bygraves' thoughts on Monday when discussing the reign of the current manager, however there is one sentiment I must repeat: who does this guy think he is?
Every soundbite, every quote that is uttered fills me with more and more anger. Such things begun in September when he got himself very involved in the discussion over Nigel Worthington's tenure with Northern Ireland. At the time, I excused it. It was foolish, but at the time I excused it as a one off comment that was maybe taken out of context. However, as more and more pearls of wisdom are heard, it seems as if this is clearly going to be a regular thing, and that we clearly are dealing with man here who really does believe his own hype. What is astounding is how quickly the feeling of excitement has turned to rage amongst the Barnet fanbase.
What cannot be questioned is that he has clearly achieved in the game. There was a good reason as to why we were excited to appoint Sanchez in the summer, it was a coup. The work he did with Northern Ireland was outstanding, and to take Wycombe to the FA Cup Semi Final was a massive achievement. However, it would appear that this success has very slightly gone to his head, and now we are having to put up with and listen to endless egotistical nonsense. Sanchez has been quoted referring to himself as a ""magician"". I mean, come on.
My blood is boiling on this matter right now. He has also been quoted claiming responsibility for keeping the club up in the four games he was involved in at the back end of last season. He fails to acknowledge anybody else in this feat. Not Martin Allen, who started the ball rolling, however we may feel about him, or the heroics of fledgling caretaker Giuliano Grazioli and first team coach Michael Stone. Now I will not doubt that Sanchez's input will most likely have benefitted the entire club, but how do you think Graz feels when he hears these things?
The players also are being subjected to abysmal man-management. I don't know what goes on behind the scenes at the training ground, but I can't imagine the back four are best pleased at being told publically that they are not good enough. This coming weeks after being told publically that they were good enough, of course. A complete u-turn. These are of course the players that Sanchez inherited from last season. What an absurd thing to say. It beggars belief. Sanchez was appointed in May, three months before this season started. Anyone can see that there was enough time to strengthen the defence if it was needed. But of course, it wasn't. We were told the defence was good enough. Now that it is clearly not good enough, he looks to shift the blame to anything or anyone but himself. Wow.
If you were one of those defenders, how motivated would you be to give your all for the team and the manager having heard that? Is it any wonder that their confidence is shot to pieces? If my name was Darren Dennehy, Daniel Leach, Anwar Uddin, Jordan Parkes or Danny Senda, I would want to be anywhere but Barnet Football Club right now. I wouldn't want to play. Say what you like about giving your all for the fans, and so on, if I were them I would not want to be playing for this team. How would you feel in your job if you were being told, in front of everyone else, that basically, you are shit? I feel for them. Should they leave Barnet FC, would they have a good word to say about their experience? Shame really, isn't it?
In fairness, and trying to look at both sides of the argument, Sanchez has again raised the question of the wage bill. Clearly the squad budget is being stretched to its very limits, as it has been for some years. By having such a restrictive budget, we are again putting ourselves perilously close to the bottom of the table. Only administration stricken Plymouth are worse off than us at the moment. I cannot believe that we are being allowed to suffer this AGAIN. With the relegation trap door looming once more, surely the club has to take action. We cannot afford to be relegated, this much has been said by all, so why is it being allowed to continue? Lawrie assures us that if he stays in charge, we will not be relegated. This fills me with joy at the prospect of the next six months of football.
Everything at the moment points at a big illuminated sign with the word ""SHAMBLES"" emblazoned across it. At the moment, Barnet fans are clearly feeling very riled about this whole situation, when they can rise themselves from the apathy of the 90 minutes of football that they are being subjected to. The last thing you want to do is alienate the loyal few that are going through thick and thin and following the club everywhere by moving games like Torquay United to a Friday night. It may not have been the club's suggestion, but they've still had to agree it, showing a massive disregard to the several supporters who had already gone and booked travel and accommodation in the English Riviera. What message does this careless act send to those fans who have been affected? I am frankly astounded by this, and despite being someone who was never intending to go, can only sympathise and share the anger felt by those who were. What can this possibly achieve?
The present for Barnet Football Club is extremely bleak. What does that say about the future? As per Monday's article, I imagine there will be a lot of angry people on Saturday at AFC Wimbledon, who will be given a perfect outlet in which to vent their frustrations. It is leading up to be a very dismal and depressing experience for all involved.
Until it changes, home crowds will continue to drop and away followings will dwindle to even lower levels than they are right now. It is frankly embarrassing to call myself a Barnet supporter at the moment. The jibes aimed at me from work colleagues throughout the week are met with complete agreement. It is boring. I have no interest in watching this happen to something that I have poured endless amounts of cash into. I spend hours on this website each week as a labour of love for this football club. I can't help feeling at the moment that nothing is being done to justify my support and my loyalty, as if we are all being taken for granted. I am not going to Wimbledon for the football, I'm going for the day out with my mates who I have met through supporting this club. Otherwise, as has become the norm, I wouldn't go. No-one went to Shrewsbury. No-one went to Hereford. It's a feeling that is rife throughout the fanbase. What happened to all the old faces I used to see going to ridiculous outposts?
They've given up and who can blame them. When the club's stated aim, as quoted today, ""is to avoid relying on the last day to stay up"", it makes you wonder why anyone in their right mind would bother. What a message to send to your current fanbase and potential new supporters. No wonder we're getting 1,500 at home. No wonder the atmosphere this season has been flatter than the Pavilion's draught beer.
This really is a low point."
|
|
|
All Articles By This Author:
Other Articles By Category
|