There is a line in one of my favourite Gaslight Anthem songs, Great Expectations, which simply goes “better safe, than making the party”.
It plays on a theme of the central character in the song, in this instance lead singer Brian Fallon, not wanting to take risks for fear of being left on his own. A key hook in the chorus emphasises this – “everybody leaves and I’d expect as much from you”.
What does this have to do with the musings of a sports writer? Well, it sort of ties in with the expectations of football fans and clubs and how much they coalesce or differ.
The two clubs I have primarily been covering for the last 18 months and more, Cove Rangers and Peterhead, have not had sensational starts to the season, it is fair to say.
Both are down the bottom end of their respective divisions; Cove are in the bottom three of the Championship and Peterhead have been languishing at the foot of League One for some time.
But neither are consigned to their fate, nor are those involved at the cliff-face getting too downcast about things.
Realistic look at where Cove should be
Cove are in their first year in the second-tier and have climbed three divisions in four years. Remarkable progress indeed and a club which is used to tasting success at the end of every season.
But this year is going to be different. Consolidation at this level would constitute success and it appears the players are of the same mindset.
This is not defeatist thinking, far from it. It is more a realistic look at where Cove could and should be.
They are one of two part-time teams in the league, along with Arbroath. The Red Lichties’ season last year, in which they reached the Premiership play-offs, was an anomaly, not the norm, and should not be used as a barometer by which to measure part-time clubs.
Cove have been competitive in pretty much every game they have played. They have picked up some good results along the way and minus one or two individual errors, could have even more points on the board.
In short, they are about where they should be in the Championship. Survival this year would be another huge step forward for the club.
Survival isn’t sexy
Peterhead have had few positives to speak of, with one win to their name, a catalogue of injuries and a huge turnover of players. A perfect storm of setbacks have come together at once, after losing the nucleus of their squad which had done so well to keep the Blue Toon afloat in League One.
What else can manager Jim McInally do but remain positive? It may sound repetitive and cliched to those on the outside of the club, but does he risk players with expectedly-fragile confidence going under by tearing a strip off them during this rough patch?
League One is as challenging as it has ever been with the number of full-time teams this year and at the start, many would have expected Peterhead to be fighting it out with Clyde and Kelty Hearts to stay out of the bottom three. That is, roughly speaking, where they find themselves.
The problem you have is that it becomes difficult to sell survival as progress to fans. It isn’t sexy. Justifiably they want to be winning and challenging for honours but the fact is, not everyone can do that. Someone has to struggle.
If Cove Rangers and Peterhead stay up this season, both coaching staffs and sets of players will deserve credit. It will require patience from supporters but the expectancy is you back your club through thick and thin.
Then, in the future, they can think about “making the party”.
Conversation