April 27, 20233 yr 1 hour ago, Horwich said: We are a million miles off promotion. Im not so sure. If we get into the play offs, anything can happen, i would be more worried for next season if we did get promoted, as i dont really think we are ready, with the players at our disposal. Wouldnt really want a season like Wigan have just had.
April 27, 20233 yr Sunderland fans weren't particularly happy last season, lots of criticism and moaning. They've done very well this season. Lots of assumptions being tossed about: no one knows what the squad would look like come August.
April 27, 20233 yr 58 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said: Sunderland fans weren't particularly happy last season, lots of criticism and moaning. They've done very well this season. Lots of assumptions being tossed about: no one knows what the squad would look like come August. Replacing Trafford and Bradley for starters isnt going to be easy. Opinions, not assumptions.
April 27, 20233 yr 1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said: Sunderland fans weren't particularly happy last season, lots of criticism and moaning. They've done very well this season. Lots of assumptions being tossed about: no one knows what the squad would look like come August. agreed, I'd rather get promoted, and then worry about the squad afterwards. We will have difficulties replacing Bradley for sure, but if we're a division higher, who knows who we might be able to attract
April 27, 20233 yr 15 minutes ago, woolli said: Replacing Trafford and Bradley for starters isnt going to be easy. Opinions, not assumptions. We might not have to replace them
April 27, 20233 yr 3 hours ago, Horwich said: We are a million miles off promotion. 5 games, to be precise
April 27, 20233 yr 15 hours ago, royal white said: Why not go for Nat Phillips if we go up. Wages could be a stumbling block but worth a punt. Liverpool turned down £24.5 million for him a couple of seasons ago. That said, if FV have an exit strategy to sell to a gazillionaire if we get promoted he could be affordable
April 27, 20233 yr 1 hour ago, Sweep said: agreed, I'd rather get promoted, and then worry about the squad afterwards. We will have difficulties replacing Bradley for sure, but if we're a division higher, who knows who we might be able to attract Surely everyone wants that?
April 27, 20233 yr 3 hours ago, Horwich said: We are a million miles off promotion. 28 minutes ago, Zico said: 5 games, to be precise Indeed, a win and four draws or a win, a loss and three draws could get us up. Best get practicing penalties.
April 27, 20233 yr 9 minutes ago, Traf said: Indeed, a win and four draws or a win, a loss and three draws could get us up. Best get practicing penalties. 3 losses and two wins could even do it
April 27, 20233 yr 5 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said: Sunderland fans weren't particularly happy last season, lots of criticism and moaning. They've done very well this season. Lots of assumptions being tossed about: no one knows what the squad would look like come August. Both points you make are valid, Sunderland definitely give hope to anyone promoted this season (what a job Mowbray's doing there following on from a similar one at Ewood). I probably overrate Championship teams sometimes, in that a few of the struggling clubs look half decent a lot of the time - Cardiff, Reading, Stoke, Huddersfield look far stronger and with better finishers than us currently. But then I look at PNE, Blackburn, Sunderland in play off contention and they look bang average when I watch their games, far from unbeatable with a few additions. So I'll reserve judgement until that time comes, but we'd have to offload a lot of players to make room in the squad for a "championship" squad, not saying that's impossible but the January window made the job harder than it needed to be.
April 27, 20233 yr 5 hours ago, woolli said: Replacing Trafford and Bradley for starters isnt going to be easy. Opinions, not assumptions. Replacing Trafford will be the easiest bit of business IE does this summer. Bradley a different matter entirely.
April 27, 20233 yr If we get promoted we will be on a totally different budget. You don't turn it down. If we get to wembley on that pitch I'd fancy us against anyone. Got to get there first though
April 27, 20233 yr 5 hours ago, woolli said: Replacing Trafford and Bradley for starters isnt going to be easy. Opinions, not assumptions. Opinion based on assumption then. As I said, no one knows what the squad would look like. Not even Evatt. We have some out of contract, some may leave, some may be kept on. Others may be sold, and others will come in. Replacing those two wont be easy, but it would be easier in the championship. A large assumption is made by anyone suggesting that by staying down, we are guaranteed to get there next year.
April 27, 20233 yr 9 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said: Opinion based on assumption then. As I said, no one knows what the squad would look like. Not even Evatt. We have some out of contract, some may leave, some may be kept on. Others may be sold, and others will come in. Replacing those two wont be easy, but it would be easier in the championship. A large assumption is made by anyone suggesting that by staying down, we are guaranteed to get there next year. I don't think anyone has suggested that have they? I think the fear would be that we lose most weeks and are stuck in the bottom 3 and have a miserable season - not saying that's my opinion BTW. But if we are just going to come straight back down and be back to "square one" there would be an argument for trying to get promotion next season in an ideal world and then having a better chance of being there for a few years as we need to strengthen next season whichever league we're in, and the process would be more gradual/considered.
April 27, 20233 yr 2 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said: I don't think anyone has suggested that have they? I think the fear would be that we lose most weeks and are stuck in the bottom 3 and have a miserable season - not saying that's my opinion BTW. But if we are just going to come straight back down and be back to "square one" there would be an argument for trying to get promotion next season in an ideal world and then having a better chance of being there for a few years as we need to strengthen next season whichever league we're in, and the process would be more gradual/considered. That is obviously the inference if folk have decided we wont stay up with the current squad, and posts have been made to that effect. "Stay down until it gets better" has no guarantee, so we must chase and try to achieve promotion. Worry about strengthening later. The aim, first and foremost, has to be to have a squad capable of getting up. We may have one, time will tell. As disappointing as it would be to go up and then come back down, I reckon the vast majority would rather get promoted and take the chance, rather than "wait until we definitely are better" which might not happen for a long time. Some of our better players may get picked off if we stay down, and who knows we could be worse off. I sincerely hope that the players don't read these pages, as some of the comments and selective fact quoting after a defeat are remarkable. We've had a great season, come what may, but some of it is wrist slashing stuff.
April 27, 20233 yr 3 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said: Replacing Trafford will be the easiest bit of business IE does this summer. Bradley a different matter entirely. Good goalkeepers are hard to find imo but also add we need one to play the IE way (unless he changes his tactics) Trafford is relatively good playing out with his feet but how many goalkeepers do you see playing that way
April 27, 20233 yr 6 minutes ago, radcliffe white said: Good goalkeepers are hard to find imo but also add we need one to play the IE way (unless he changes his tactics) Trafford is relatively good playing out with his feet but how many goalkeepers do you see playing that way This is no criticism of Trafford but I'd say his ability with his feet is at best average. He isn't a Pickford type that can ping passes 40 yards, he just passes it 10 yards to a defender doesn't he? I will say his throw outs are excellent, did a few really good throws on Tuesday to wide players. I have nothing against him at all and he's a good character with potential but assuming we're in L1 signing a keeper who can contribute as much as Trafford will be easy.
April 27, 20233 yr I think we finished 19 points behind Wigan last season and we'll probably be further behind the champions this season I suspect so from a meaningless stats point of view we've not really improved. Let's go up through the play offs and hopefully sort the squad out in the championship rather than staying in L1 and hoping we sort the squad out here. Maybe?
April 27, 20233 yr Author 11 minutes ago, radcliffe white said: Good goalkeepers are hard to find imo but also add we need one to play the IE way (unless he changes his tactics) Trafford is relatively good playing out with his feet but how many goalkeepers do you see playing that way All be going that way soon Games moving on
April 27, 20233 yr 19 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said: Some of our better players may get picked off if we stay down, and who knows we could be worse off. I sincerely hope that the players don't read these pages, as some of the comments and selective fact quoting after a defeat are remarkable. We've had a great season, come what may, but some of it is wrist slashing stuff. I can see where you're coming from, not disagreeing. To be clear, I'd be absolutely buzzing if we went up. I just wouldn't be buzzing if we got to Wembley, lost and had 1 month less to prepare for next season! As much as I like a lot of our (permanent) players eg Jones, John, Johnstone, MJW, Dempsey, Lee, Morley, Sadlier, Charles - the one player I would be concerned about losing is Santos. He could go to a Championship club potentially. Not sure who else you mean, I don't see any other player that would get a better club? If any of them play in the championship I'd expect it would have to be with us.
April 27, 20233 yr All 3 first choice centre backs will be interesting the league above Anyway, ill leave this thread to the slashers
April 28, 20233 yr 8 hours ago, Casino said: All 3 first choice centre backs will be interesting the league above Anyway, ill leave this thread to the slashers Good point, the danger with having a talented squad that just misses out is, aside from the loanees returning, we have to fill more gaps left by plundering of some of that talent by interested others.
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