Ignoring all the waffle from outsiders and so called experts and pundits I think the club decided to sacrifice a season or two in return for becoming the first ever club to win 4 in a row. Let me explain. Always in our case and never for other title winners have I heard the words uttered after their first title win you have to go and win it again to prove you really are a great team. Of course it was all said to increase the pressure on us. When we won it twice, the narrative changed to could we win a treble, anything to deflect from a second successive title win. Then after that momentous Istanbul night the question arose was it really a better treble than the rags? So the accolades that should have followed each title win have in my opinion never been fully appreciated and we've never been afforded a complete blanket press coverage of our achievements.
After the third title win we were faced with the unknown question could a club win a 4th Premiership title on the bounce. This was our Everest moment without a Sherpa for guidance and at this point I think a lot of us thought the team might start to be broken up, players sold and new ones brought in. Younger legs, hungry for success to go again in a season or two, and to be honest it was more expected and nobody would have questioned it. However City turned that thought process on its head and by and large went again. I spoke to a player at the start of that 4th title season and he told me the players had come back and wanted to do it again, they had the drive and the hunger but it was understandably more difficult both mentally and physically.
We did the unthinkable, they became legends, the club broke all the previous records, we did something that had never been done, ever in 135 years of English Football since the first ever title win and yet still they have tried to tarnish us with 115 charges etc. So whilst we have had our battles on the pitch we have been fighting every bit as hard off it and I personally think its been an incredible achievement by everyone at the club over those 4 title winning years that will remain unsurpassed. Imagine the rags or the scousers doing similar.
Which brings me to now. We will never know if the players were available we wanted at the time but the decision to go for the 4th title with the same set of players with just about having enough gas left in the tank, has impacted us harder in the short term. Instead of a more fluid changeover and integration of new players we are now left with a bigger and more noticeable impact over a shorter period. Too many old players gone at once and too many new players easing their way into Peps pattern of play. There were Peps personal issues to add to the mix and last year we really were burnt out no doubt about it so the transition really only starts now. But would anyone of us had done it differently after that incredible 4 in a row?
We've had a mixed start over the 5 games so far but there are plenty of great signs for the future. The whole defence and their back slapping of every block reminds me of how we were a few seasons ago. And you build success on your defence. We have been hit by a number of injuries so the squad over the last 3 games has performed beyond expectations for me. Noteable performances from some players that were questioned last season and today showed the spirit of the camp is unquestioned. I'll take a top 4 spot and anything in the cups and when I look at the new North stand and the hotel im comforted by the fact that this club doesn't stand still on or off the pitch and are building for the future and for continued success. Let's enjoy the ride!
