What a stinker of a decade the 2010s have been for us. I cannot wait for the 2020s!
I wasn't around in the 60s, so I accept they were pretty bad (although there was at least some silverware to celebrate and one top 7 finish in there too), but the 2010s must surely ranks as one of the worst decades in our history?
We entered the 2010s as a top 6 club looking forward to a League Cup final and a potential top four finish after beating United away in December 2009 (intriguingly, we entered the 90s as a title-chasing side and were regularly among the 'big boys' in the late 90s/beginning of the 00s).
When we got into bother in 2011 we splashed the cash on Darren Bent and looked set to bounce back up the table. However, something happened to us that year and we haven't been right since. The appointment of McLeish was a statement of utter mediocrity and mediocrity was what we got. I think 2011-12 was also the year that a culture of 'doing enough to survive' became ingrained in the club - hitting the bare bones 38 points in 3 of our last four seasons before the relegation season. Relegation, when it came, was a humiliation. Also, lest we look back on them with rose tinted glasses, the years in the championship were painful - being a scalp for small teams, the Upper Trinity closed, awful referees. The magical 10-game winning run and the play-off final were an exception to the rule and we should dread a return to the championship.
We end the decade sitting in 18th as a newly promoted team wondering if we should stick or twist with the manager. Massive decisions coming up and they will define our fortunes, and those of Jack Grealish, in the 2020s. I hope we get those decisions right.
