Watching a film named 'Demolition Man' the other night – an early 90s cheese-fest with Sylvester Stallone flexing his muscles more often than a coherent sentence is uttered – I had a wry smile at its entirely mocking and unintentional premonition that, one day, Arnold Schwarzenegger would be a celebrated U.S. President.
This was, of course, way before Arnie developed a lust for ruling the world politically; as opposed to his various on-screen personas, where he conquered the world regularly, by sheer brute force.
It was that uncanny portent that got me thinking b
ack to a game Morecambe played on a cold Tuesday night a little over a year ago.
It was a home fixture against Conference strugglers Altrincham, which we expected to win comfortably to enhance our play-off charge.
After an insipid performance and embarrassing defeat that night, the predictions from the terraces were that we had no hope of promotion and a poor squad that was in real need of investment and surgery.
Unlike Demolition Mans' unwitting prediction of a political career for 'The Governator', our predictions turned out to be completely inaccurate, but, ironically, after getting promoted with that so-called poor squad and consolidating a very fine first season in the Football League, the same sentiments have resurfaced.
You would have presumed that we'd have counted our blessings, avoided the cringe-worthy state of fickleness and accepted that, even though the second half of this season has fizzled out to mass disappointment, Rome wasn't built in a day.
But it hasn't quite worked like that.
Even though most fans still retain a semblance of level headedness, recent talk has been shrouded in a veil of negativity.
But it is understandable. We haven't been playing well for some considerable time and, unfortunately, the memories of our cracking start to the season have been overshadowed by relegation form and rumours of departing wingers.
I think then, that it's worth bearing in mind that Constantinople didn't crumble in a day and although reconstruction is definitely needed to avert our falling fortunes, we are showing a massive amount of ambition that could see us make the play-offs next year.
If we don't, however, and the negative clamour reappears, it might just be worth casting our minds back to that sombre Tuesdasy night against Altrincham, and comparing it to what we've got now.
In fact, the memory of that game is now so strong , that I'll happily take a 22nd placed finish next term.
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