For the first time in a while, I'm actually looking forward to watching a game; bit of a weird feeling.
I think it's simple. Our team has been playing pretty well all season, finally got the result and the team and fans are bonded like never before.
Feeling some real passion. And I love that.
Saturday is a massive game.
No they were not. Our game against CCM (and against the Jets earlier on) was excruciating to watch, that's how badly we played.
Also, we had some games where we managed to turn - against all odds - a possible win into defeat (against Victory) or into a draw (against Brisbane). I can live with us losing to Sydney FC or to the Jets because they were genuinely the better team on the day, but those two games alone were not won because of either sloppy or inattentive attitude, lack of effective leadership, and acceptance of mediocrity on the field.
It is possible that our team culture is "soft" and that is why Ernie Merrick could not succeed because he is a nice guy. He might succeed at the Jets because possibly their team culture is different (possibly more disciplined?) or he simply has better players. I am not 100% sure.
Darije does not strike me as a "nice" guy, which is why he might succeed with a team that does not have a strong sense of discipline on the field (that is my own view), and has to have it drummed into them. Plus he seems to be a good tactician, and just needs players to either respond to his tactics and fulfill his game plan, or be replaced by those who will.
Then we might see us play well on the day and be beaten by a better team, but not mind it as much.
Long answer...I thought it was sarcasm?
Yeah, you might be right, on reflection. I must have had my sarcasm filter off, and so I sounded like a pompous prat. Hey, in my defence, I wrote it just after my monthly face-to-face meeting with my manager at work, if that's an excuse.