"Club apologists" Que? You mean the fans who are willing to give the Club the benefit of the doubt, because of the incredible success we've enjoyed for the last five years? You mean the fans who don't slate the new manager and players after only a few games? You mean the patient optimists, as opposed to the knee-jerk pessimists? Those guys?
[apologies to Lennon-McCartney]
"Picture yourself on a pitch at St. Mary's
Red and white shirts, black shorts and red socks;
Someone sings out; you join in quite slowly:
'What is this big pile of boll-ocks?'
Plenty of players running about,
Pretending they know what to do;
Look for a team that can play 4-4-2 ...
But it's gone.
Puel's midfield is shaped like a diamond;
Puel's midfield is shaped like a diamond;
Puel's midfield is shaped like a diamond ...
Agh! "
[apologies to Lennon-McCartney]
"Picture yourself on a pitch at St. Mary's
Red and white shirts, black shorts and red socks;
Someone sings out; you join in quite slowly:
'What is this big pile of boll-ocks?'
Plenty of players running about,
Pretending they know what to do;
Look for a team that can play 4-4-2 ...
But it's gone.
Puel's midfield is shaped like a diamond;
Puel's midfield is shaped like a diamond;
Puel's midfield is shaped like a diamond ...
Agh! "
I Saw Saints' Standing, There
"One ... two ... three ... four?
Well we'll be just seventeenth,
You know what I mean;
And the way we play
Is ****, when you compare;
How could they sign Claude Puel?
We're doomed—it's just not fair."
Excellent post. You're right, patience and perspective is needed after yet another summer of major change. And you'd think these fickle fans would have a lot of faith in this club, after it has successfully weathered the constant changes in both team and management over the last five years.