SENTINELCELTS

Straight off the bat I will admit I’m happy this reconstruction chat is over and done with.
I didn’t trust it one bit as it seemed to come out of the blue pushed by those with an agenda only, and with something so important why rush headlong into change without detailed prolonged considerations of the effects of the proposed actions?
I’m not against change in any way shape or form but to myself this was more flinging mud at the wall than genuine concern for all professional clubs.
It’s nice to see democracy in action and good that two big boys couldn’t bully the rest.
I hope they both learn their lesson there, and with the saga over Anne must surely come under pressure to initiate real change at the Jambos. The Championship will enjoy them whilst thereabouts but anything less than an immediate bounce back would be a complete disaster.

I’m also not in favour of colts teams on the terms proposed. Yes it would have benefits and brought more money to the coffers probably, but there stood a great chance of our second string becoming serial winners of the first division, hardly great for the game at large?
Placing a ceiling on a team isn’t right in my eyes either, winning and not going up just wouldn’t feel correct, I assume that goes for the players but would you yourself be happy to show up knowing that normal rules of competition don’t apply to two teams in that league?
Not sure I could commit to that.
If Lenny had taken the view the colts team would be used to bring first team squad players back to form after injury, or get them up to speed before a first team introduction for instance that would just skew the league even more as the quality gap between what should be a European standard player and a local league one laddie will be wide, perhaps embarrassingly so.
Boli,O’Connor,Soro,Bayo,Henderson,Dembele,Shved,Arzani,Johnson,Ralston, Welsh, Miller and more would more than likely be prime candidates for a lower league spell, and probably clean up everything going.
I’m not sure that’s best for all at this stage, and again I’m kinda glad it’s not going to become an issue.

Secondly I would like to point out that the sport has no idea what its in for regarding the acceptance of political displays now within football. You all know where my allegiance lies but now we have teams officially allowed ( German teams at the weekend ) the cat is out of the bag and how long before the harsh reality of that decision comes to all our screens. One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter the old saying goes, so while the Black Lives Matter tributes are rightfully displayed what happens when a team in say a communist country displays their own leanings?
Or an ultra right wing team, if sanctioned they could easily ask is left ok and not right?
Who will be judging this and will it be a global multi cultural group?
It’s a box of worms.
I do consider the current protests by players ethical as you will have gathered but the previous system of keep it away was there for a reason, even if we continually fell victim to the rules. The reason imo was because it’s a minefield for a sport that wants to be apolitical.
The shifting world turned that on its head like many other things and football better brace itself to face a very ugly problem.

Finally Jozo hits the hills. Been a long time coming.
I was delighted when we signed him thinking that’s great business as typically they are tough yet technical on the ball, he’s a physical specimen which is sometimes needed let’s be honest, and he was heading into his prime years. Felt like a steal from a team I wouldn’t be confident of beating ( Croatia Zagreb ).
Then you find out the bhoy is made of glass and you just simply can’t count on him to last a campaign at all and infact ten games seemed to be his limit before another break down.
And then the plastic pitch issue meant the defence just couldn’t get fully settled, needing tailored to the occasion.
The fact that a kid midfielder with clear flaws has emerged above him in the pecking order kinda says it all to me and the club should have done more homework, it looks that simple.
Some might say its maybe not the smartest what with the ten in play, perhaps best to keep all your assets at hand just incase, but I think we can safely say a replacement defender will come in now that slot and wage has been freed up, and Lenny will have his man lined up I have no doubt.
Once he strolls through the door Jozo will be forgotten and the only question will be who partners big Julien, new guy or Kris?
You lived the dream Jozo, thanks for your service. All the best big man.

The above is by Mahe. Should you wish to get it off your chest the email is sentinelcelts@gmail.com and we gladly publish contributions.