Indeed "indicative" is an apt word. It's not the actual struggle you refer to but a symbolic surface representation of it that may distract from the real fundamental changes taking place
This is an odd one for me - I tend to view a name change to include a long standing nickname or a change of shirt colour, are pretty surface issues when you actually look at the huge forces transforming modern football clubs. But they still arise great passions - I can't help thinking they are...