Guys I wrote this last night when I was broken hearted, I really was.
But as sad as it is, it is an opportunity to create more youth in our ranks and build the squad from the ground up. Let's stop bashing the coach for starters, he will be there next year and possibly the year after.
Retrospect also tells me that the additions we made before this year in players, was to get some professionals at the club and make us competitive over 2016/2017. It didn't work, but that is sometimes how things transpire.
Seriously. I think Bozo's plans are far more concentrated on a 5 year plan. Let's also stop Bozo bashing, because most of what he is doing is out of love and respect for the club that gave him his future. He is not a dinosaur at all, but a very astute man period.
My last words on this are probably the most pivotal to this post. There is no doubt that DCE was on the outer with the core players at Manly some 2 years ago....WHY??? Because he was not fitting in to their culture. With recent events, ask yourself truly, what WAS the culture amongst the players and was it indeed a culture that would be positive to pass on to the next generation.
It seems very plausible that although this squad was a fantastic unit of footballers on the park, the integrity and moral fibre of some must be deeply questioned. They started behaving like rock stars and "bad boys", involving themselves with questionable friends etc. Don't try and defend it, I witnessed these guys on many occasions parading themselves around as such.
DCE didn't like it, didn't embrace it and therefore was cast to the outer.
The club has identified this, and decided to build the club around him. I say BRAVO. But with contracts etc, you cannot wave a magical wand.
Please don't start arguing some of my points, because it is just an opinion based on my own dealings with the club. I may be askew in some areas, but my core belief is that a group of players began dragging the club away from it's high integrity and respectful history.
Time will tell, but we should try our best to lend our patriotic support. We can bash them when they play bad, but let's keep things honorable please.
I seen REAL fight in DCE's eyes last night, he has finally turned the corner, and I suspect will be the MAN to lead us forward. He has been through so much (sure some of his own doing) but it is time to unify and build this great club back into a formidable force. One that we can all be proud of.