I’m going to make an effort…..

I have exactly the same background, so frustrated because the relegation was completely unnecessary and has, at best, put us back years.

I find it difficult to believe that we've had the best start to a season ever, despite being less than convincing - but it's happened so I'll take that.

I have been encouraged that Enzo has a plan and I can see the acquisitions thus far have fitted in to that. Yunus looked quite good on Tuesday for instance. Not wanting to kibosh matters but he reminded me a bit of Shaqiri.

I'm unconvinced with having a donkey at CB and the strange experiment with Wilf as an attacking midfielder continues - the latter with some success I might add, he made a big difference at Tranmere, so what do I know?

Unfortunately we still have our mostly useless DoF in position so the basic problems are still there. Hopefully we'll be able to laud his fantastic improvement after next season when we re-establish ourselves in the EPL with a squad of players on reasonable term contracts who actually want to play for the club rather than plotting their next move. I have my doubts, he's done moderately OK with the rebuild but there is still too much deadwood in the squad with less than two days left to do the trimming.

So I'm still annoyed but feeling slightly more hopeful. Though not enough to change from -

Lets see how transfer deadline goes. strong rumoured outgoings but no replacements as of yet.

To be fair 99 I think that all of us were devastated, ashamed by how last season went and the ramifications of the horrendous decisions made by the Board, Rudderless and Bodgers... and that is something that most of us will never forget!
But there are positives and it's good to hear that you are trying to see the light and not the dark side of the moon.
None of us want to see you step back from here or from following OUR club, and hopefully the positives will begin to dilute the negativity that you are feeling.
One good sign this week is the continuation of shifting players that cannot buy into Enzo's style, who won't buy into it or who are just not good enough in his eyes PLUS he is not afraid to drop/rest players and be open with the media about that.
That for me is another strength as we continue this rebuild through the season. As I have said before, we will hit a bump or two but I think we are in a better squad place with players who want to play for us and Enzo now than we were last season.
Here's to a positive September for you.

UTF

agree 99 has to say but when we look at the previous relagations we have had were different. the first under Brian Little who left in november we tried but we were just not good enough.Later under mickey Adams we tried but but we were just not good enough. Last season we were good enough but did not tryf

Fully agree with all the comments on this thread. Definitely heartened by 99’s determination to be more positive! 😊
There are certainly some signs of improvement under Maresca and there’s little doubt about his ruthless approach. He considers we’re only 20% towards where he wants us to be so he’s also being very honest. Bit of a change from the last incumbent.
Onwards and upwards!
UTF
😀🦊

Totally agree with all that is said.The main problem being that Top is not his father and is not as ruthless or as clever as our late great chairman.
Yes i too have been very down about last season,but just look at what we have achieved in recent years.
Quite simply clubs like ours hope for a good cup run , safety in the top league ,and maybe the odd trip to Wembley.
I had seen all that in all my time, but what happened in 2015/16 changed our club forever,clubs like ours just dont win the league.
Just look on you tube and see the highlights of our wonderful season, and life seems good again.
That will never happen again , how many clubs would love to be in our position, we have seen it all ,champions league and FA cup win.
Be proud of what we have achieved and hold onto it.
Six wins on the trot too,things are on the up, we will return.

Good for you, 99

Last year's relegation definitely stung - more so than previous relegations, not least because this one was the most avoidable to date. It was the worst season for me in my 24 years of supporting the club. Had the ownership and board made just one correct decision last season, we would still be a Premier League club, but they sat on their hands, smoked the complacency pipe and allowed us to effectively relegate ourselves. The fact that those who were responsible are, with the exception of Rodgers, still in place does concern me for the future.

That being said, we do eventually have to accept our fate and I am encouraged by the way we are approaching our new normal. It's no secret that I am a fully signed-up member of the Enzo Maresca fanclub - I have shaved my head, bought a Ferrari and now eat Pizza with every meal The fact that we have won 6 out of 6 whilst barely getting out of second gear and still having to sort out the mess that Rodgers has left behind is nothing short of remarkable. Yes, we have the best squad in the league and the kind of resources and pulling power that most of the teams in this league could only dream of, but that doesn't mean we can just turn up. The tactical nous, energy, commitment and winning mentality we have seen so far this season is a far cry from the shambles we witnessed last season. And we still have a long way to go and I think there's a tall ceiling on how good we can be when the players have fully understood and embraced Enzoball.

My optimism may start to fade in the next day or so though, depending on what we do in the remaining hours of the transfer window. We definitely still need to lose a few but losing players like Iheanacho could really derail us if we don't have adequate replacements lined up. Another young winger signed up today - all of a sudden we cannot move for them

Anyway, welcome aboard the Optimism Bus. Onwards to HMS P*ss The League.

Ahhhhhh this is an enjoyable thread isn’t it.

I’m pretty aligned with most of what has said tbh but I think Foxello, DUTAC and Nuneaton say which is Maresca has clearly brought a mentality shift to the squad and has been ruthless in who he wants to work with and what attitude is expected.

This is what has changed for me. The tactics are still bedding in and we’ve not exactly set the league alight but we’ve fought and we’ve won games through fitness and mental determination on top of the quality in the squad. This is a massive massive change.

I’m still not as down on the ownership and structure as many (except Rudkin obvs), but time will tell on that. I think the broad approach and structure to our rebuild has been good. Get players out and recruit to fit Maresca’s plan. And whilst the new additions look “ok” so far they look more than capable of getting us out of the league.

It’s only really Maddison we look to be missing currently.

I’m not as confident our current results will continue. I think we’ll struggle and have to fight for parts of this season, but I hope that as our tactics bed in we push on and make it back out of the league.

Fingers crossed eh!

Thanks guys - here’s to accepting things for what they are and of course absolutely p&ssing the championship