Why I'm so excited/suddenly optimistic

This is taking up something norway said yesterday. How come a good number of us have seemingly done a total 180 based on one managerial change and one win?

It's pretty simple. I wouldn't be anything like as excited if we didn't already have, if not the best squad in the division, then certainly one of the best. At other times down the years, we might've had a good manager, but an average squad - meaning there was only so much the manager could probably do. Not this time though.

Looking around the league, there's Derby, Middlesbrough... and not an awful lot else. Huge, huge opportunity for us. Think of it: how many managers anywhere are sacked with their side 7th? And of those, how many are entirely justifiably sacked - because any wins have come more or less in spite of them?

Adams' departure means he, the club and/or both recognise how much we've been under-achieving, and what is necessary now. We have the players. What we needed was the vision, the drive, the X-factor which the new manager can give us - and Saturday wasn't just a first game honeymoon. We won that game through belief, mental strength and brilliant organisation when down to 10 men: that's an incredibly positive sign.

So many things at this football club are right. It's only ever been the football decisions which have so often been incredibly, mindbogglingly wrong. Now that we've righted the previous blunder, we have every chance - and given how poorly we played for most of the time under Adams, I think we can only get better now. Meaning top 6 for sure; top 2 just possibly. Never underestimate what momentum and a bandwagon effect can do: this club knows that because of Lambert, but also because of what happened in 1981/2. A repeat is entirely possible now.

Maybe the only caution I'd add is if we don't go up this season, it will get harder. Arguably the best squad in the division this season might become only a top 6 one next. So there's plenty of urgency - but there's also hope, belief, a team suddenly looking like it's pointing dynamically in the right direction. Amazing what a proper manager can do.

Posted By: thebigfeller, Jan 12, 04:24:05