First time on but I can hold back no more.
Wife and I home regulars for two years and away occasionals.
As someone who loathes the sellout of the sport I love I have fallen for the club and virtually everything to do with it. My dad educated me about Stanley's demise as a child during the 60s when one Ken Bates was trying to do the same to Oldham Athletic, my then local team. (old habits clearly die hard).
Having taken a passing interest in Stanley's resurrection since the Ewood Cup game against Crewe in 1992 (weirdly I attended this- my first Stanley game- with my best Uni mate who happened to be Bill Fox's nephew!) I have since been utterly blessed to see thrilling, exciting, creative football at the Crown, sometimes frustrating, never dull. The banter and bonhomie my wife experience at the ground is utterly wonderful. The atmosphere generated by such a small number is at times unbelievable. Its a real community club and I feel proud to support it. And on one level, I feel the spirit, the history of the place, is more important than the results.
Having said all that, I finally managed to persuade a couple of other family members to come along on Saturday. I don't pretend to know technically as much about the game as the learned and extremely entertaining contributors to this excellent forum, but one thing seemed abundantly clear to me. There's been too much tinkering too soon. Paul Cook has impressed me in his interviews since he arrived, he seems utterly capable and knowledgeable and an ideal candidate. But why change what was a winning formula so dramatically at such a crucial stage of the season? The bemusement on the faces of Winnard, McIntyre and Murphy as they endlessly exchanged triangles around the halfway line seemed clear to all.
The confidence they had in Toto and by extension themselves seemed to have evaporated. As had the wonderful atmosphere and spirit generated during Leam's one home game as manager. It's change for changes sake. Our new manager at my work did the same thing and quickly converted what was a silk purse into something else.
My advice for the little it's worth is -don't be too proud to go back to what was a winning-not perfect-but winning plan A, Mr Cook. Plan B can wait till June. And regardless, the very best of luck to you, Leam and the boys.
