We are financially better off now. Operational costs and staffing costs are down, non-football revenues are increased and improved and there's less pressure to sell players, debts have been paid down and restructured. That stuff is documented in black and white at companies house I don't think our team is really worse off (or will be worse off when the window shuts) given a large share are still here... Bazunu - still here, albeit behind Ramsdale (who likely leaves) KWP - gone now, to be replaced by Sugawara/NEW THB - still here Bednarek - likely gone now but Stephens still here, plus Quarshie and Edwards in the mix Manning - still here Downes - still here Aribo - still here, but likely that Charles plays instead S Armstrong - gone now, replaced by Fernandes A Armstrong - still here Adams - gone, replaced by Archer/Downs Fraser - gone, replaced by Dibling So it really becomes KWP, Bednarek, S Armstrong, Adams, Fraser vs Sugawara or NEW, Edwards/Quarshie, Fernandes, Archer/Downs, Dibling RB: KWP is better than Sugawara/unknown CB: Bednarek is better - but let's see where Edwards and Quarshie are at, we may be equal or even better off AM: Fernandes is better than Stu Armstrong Wing: Dibling is better than Fraser ST: Let's see what Archer and Downs do, Adams got 16 goals
You got my hopes up then Agree that currently we are in a better position. The squad we had on 01/07/2023 was a lot better than the squad we have today, but as we know lots of them left over the next couple of months. That probably will happen again but it’s too early to know. The main one is Still v Martin and I think Martin wins that one at this moment in time, that also could change pretty quickly though
I don't. Martin's managerial experience before Saints was MK Dons and Swansea. Still's is better than that.
Would Martin at that point in time win vs Still at this point in time? Hadn’t he had some pretty middling finishes with prior clubs? The other consideration is what is the rest of the league like compared to last time? I don’t have an answer to this. Sheffield United got 90 points and didn’t go up. And you’d expect on paper the top two to be between them and the three relegated sides
Martin had experience in the league he was going to be managing in. Still has never managed in England or the Championship. He may well be good but Martin clearly had the edge if you are trying to compare when they first joined. Still hopefully is better than Martin, but too early to say. Like it is too early to say that we will be top 2/top 6/mid table etc
And possibly only two of the relegated sides if Leicester do get the hefty points deduction that's been talked about.
Sunderland spent well under £10m over the last 3 or 4 seasons. Sold most of their stars. They built a young talented squad and did it remarkably well on a budget. Others dont manage it. When you have building blocks like we've got thats a hell of a headstart and there's a good reason we are one of the clear favourites to go up. Don't let one rough season cloud that.
I’m no I’m not trying to motivate anybody. I just a tad annoyed with fans who assume we will get promoted next season because we are a bigger fish in a smaller pond. It’s a bit arrogant to me
Who's assuming that? I think it's a perfectly valid argument that some believe, as I do, we're one of the favourites to go up.
That’s not what I mean. What I was trying to get at was that we sold Lavia, Ward-Prowse and Livramento plus others. We sold them for a total of £170m I think. What we got were players on loan who we then signed on promotion plus some we bought. Most of those were not worth the money. We will not sell such valuable assets so we seem to be on a downward spiral in terms of value we get from selling on our players
I’d rather be pleasantly surprised rather than bitterly disappointed. My heart wouldn’t be able to cope
As a set of supporters we have been battered by some crap seasons, even when we got promoted we let loads of goals in, and aside from Leeds, we were embarrassed by our challengers, we have had some truly unmotivated or poorly assigned players, some truly dreadful coaches, so it is fair to see a lot of our fans approach this coming season with a feeling of craptitude - but because we feel that way it doesn't mean it will be, it doesn't not mean because some players are young and have not played in the Championship they will be lightweight and bit pants. Equally it doesn't mean we will be brilliant because we have a young upwardly mobile manager and some young talent. The truth of the matter is that there is not one of us who actually 'knows for certain' what will happen next season, we can have opinions and voice them but we are just surmising. We do not know. I will give SR, the old players, the new players and the new young manager and his tactics a chance. The way the team plays and results will be the best indicator. Unless you are one of our past managers then it is just the way the team plays and nothing else.
I don’t think it is arrogant, all supporters will back their side to get promoted. What’s the point in going into a season being negative. Additionally the final squad may be very different when the season starts.
I don't think anyone is assuming we'll get promoted but that should certainly be our aim. Clubs getting parachute payments have a big financial advantage so we're in a fairly small group of clubs with an advantage over the others. On top of that, Leicester may have 12 or more points deducted, which clearly improves our chances even more.
It is really no more than conjecture to predict where Saints will finish next May. We have no idea who will be playing for us and the merits of our competitors is far from established. I think Still needs two seasons to sort out the club. Just feel mid table is likely next season . I did not feel promotion under Russell Martin was a nailed on outcome. A good season will be stability and the ground base for a promotion push in 26/27. I can see the 3 promotion places throwing up a few surprises. The Championship is impossible to predict.
