Then & Now. The difference.

For those old enough to remember, Commiserations !
Owd pharts,

But this scenario has been played out many times over the years after various promotions, So every TOWN fan will be aware in one instance or another.

My first 'enlightenment' was right after Ian Greaves won promotion with TOWN, The last time as a club we competed in the Top League.
Years later after he'd retired, He admitted his vibrant side of young players had been promoted 'Too soon' ..adding "But how can you not go up". he knew they weren't ready for the higher standard as they were.
But....
he also knew full well the board at the time, Would not be providing any money to strengthen the squad, he had to go with what he had..
The rest as they say, is history.

But even before him, Shankley, even though the side never actually got a promotion, The Scot had great ambition, And while in charge at TOWN had been after two Scottish players who he knew would provide the extra impetus to push on for promotion, They were :-
Ian St John.
Ron Yates.
The TOWN board turn down his requests for the expenditure.
Shanks quit, left for Liverpool, (Who were a lowly 2nd division side at the time don't forget) We all know what happened after that

Buxton. My favourite manager, (Though he now has a challenger !) much the same. He pulled the club up, literally out of the doldrums, With very little resources. TWO promotions & a real good crack at attempting to get into the top league there after too.
All done on very little 'brass'... always making do.
Warnock, & Jacko the same.
The club as an entity, never really ,...
Kicked on, pun intended.

This time things are different.
Much debate in the previous thread about who's coming in, who 'we'd' like to join, & who we think aren't up to the task of playing in the top league, and who we'd get rid of !
Sentiment, Giving the original squad a chance to prove themselves, is not the way to do it,
The Coaching staff know all too well, the ones who will cut it, & the ones who are not up to task.
It actually started before the beginning of last season ! Wagner brought in 13 new players (A full side). he knew that after the last 6 fixtures of his 1st season in charge, More than a few weren't good enough or had the right attitude to go to the next level.

The Master stroke.
He did it again with little resources, But...and this is my opinion.. Did much the same as Buxton. He (Wagner) put together a side that had that vital ingredient, 'Spirit'. How many years, long years, is it since we have witnessed this togetherness that is shining through now.
And just to add as a side issue, How it has crossed over to 'infect' the home crowd, One aspect really does bounce off the other & vice versa

To NOW.
OK, It's EPL & TV brass that has given us a leg up in the immediate instance. But Wagner is spending wisely. I have every confidence that he will again be putting together 'a squad of mates' who will be more than capable of holding their own,
The best news for me over this last few weeks.
WAGNER committing himself to TOWN. (Despite temptation to move on to his beloved and eventual Bundasliga challenge)
We could be onto something BIG with this fella,
Long may it continue.

Set 'em Alight,
The Mighty Blue & White.