We're about to enter the most crucial 23 days of our recent history. Four games to go, just 360 minutes of football will decide our fate in this dramatic season. With just one point's breathing space we can't afford any slip ups. Will it be celebrations or commiserations come May 8th?

It’s not been an easy ride, we all know that. Everyone has their opinions on the tactics, the players, the manager, the board and undoubtedly some of us will be proved right and some of us will be proved wrong by the time this tumultuous season is behind us.

But now is not the time for questions, it’s too late to change what’s happened but it’s not too late to influence what’s going to happen. Whatever your views, whatever your opinions your team needs you.

Say what you want about any of our players, you can’t question their commitment, their enthusiasm and their dedication to the cause. That wasn’t always the case in previous crucial seasons.

Every time you sigh at Steve Palmer's name, think back, it could be Steve Morrow.

For every time you think McLeod isn’t producing think back, it could be Paul Bruce.

For every time you worry about Arthur think back, it could be Karl Ready.

Maybe we’ve under achieved this year, perhaps we should be topping the table with the squad at our disposal and possibly some things haven’t been done quite right. Or maybe that’s all rubbish – I don’t know for sure. What I do know is that our manager and our players all want the same thing we do and will do everything they can to make us proud.

I can’t think of another team in this country that’s had to deal with the hammer blows we’ve had since August and still maintained most of their momentum and I certainly can’t think of one that’s had to play recent games without its entire first choice defence and still kept their noses in front.

Imagine if Arsenal had lost Sol Campbell to an injury for the season, had Toure come out as an alcoholic, Lauren put in prison and suffered long term injuries to Lehman and Cole and then, to top it all off, Pat Rice had walked out on them. Would they have got their heads down and got on with it or would they have made the whole world know how badly their cards had been dealt?

I’m proud with how our team has dealt with all of the above and if they can deal with this they can deal with whatever the next three weeks throws at them.

This could be the most exciting and thrilling finish to a season for a generation. It might also be the most disappointing. Whatever happens good or bad we can have our post mortems from May 9^th, now is the time for 100%, unquestioning support and I’ve no doubt we’ll give it.

We’ll be there for you lads, at Loftus Road, at Home Park and at Hillsborough but we need something back in return. 1986, 1996 and 2001 were all bitter failures. We have had to deal with too many disappointments, too many set backs, too many tears. 

We’ll be there for you for the next four games, cheering and shouting louder than ever and you’ll do everything you can to give us the results we need. Together we can do this. You deserve and we need it.

Bring it on.

ron@qprnet.com