I've read some very respected posters on here over recent weeks, who seem to think that we are totally knackered and some that even think we will go down this coming season. I'm genuinely very puzzled at this. In his 24 games, Mon got 35 points at an average of 1.45 per game. That's a squad capable of 50 plus points over a full season as it stands. With additions, it will be capable of even better. We've only lost Bendtner from the squad and if Saha signs today we are already improved on that front imo. Many of us on here have 4 decades behind us or more and have witnessed some real ****e playing for us and managing us too. Lots of relegation campaigns where we all knew we wouldn't survive before a ball was kicked. We are a million miles from those days. Lads like MIG, Westwood, Bardsley, O'Shea, Brown,Cuellar, Cattermole, Larsson, McClean, Sessegnon, Gardener, Richardson and Saha (hopefully if will be here later today) are far better than those relegated teams. Lads like Wickham, Ji, Campbell, Meyler are another year on from injury and experience and young Noble has a big year ahead too. Mon is the best appointment in that 38 seasons for me and I enter my 39th one full of optimism. This squad isn't a world beating one but equally it isn't a relegated threatened one either imo. Also, I fully expect another 3 or 4 new faces by the end of the month and a comfortable enjoyable season ahead. I genuinely and honestly don't understand where all the woe and gloom has come from? I'm off the The Emirates this weekend, for my first visit there and can't wait tbh. Come on lads, lighten up. We've all seen some proper dark times at SAFC together over the years but this isn't even close to them. Mon's Red & White Army.
Cest, I think the main thing worrying the fans is that nobody really knows what's going on. We all know that we need a couple of proven strikers as the pre season games have highlighted yet all people hear about is the Fletcher saga. If we get Saha he will be a good addition to our squad although I think we all know of his injury problems. It's probably a good thing that MON is keeping quiet about the transfer deals so that there's less chance of some kind of bidding war. My opinion for what its worth is we'll get Fletcher, Guidetti (Ice cream anyone?) and Olssen. We could also get McGeady. I think Johnson and Defoe are unrealistic, even on loan although I'd love both of them to come to us. I also reckon there will be 1 or 2 suprises (overseas players or maybe Moses) I don't think we'll get relegated with our current squad although it will get us about 16th. With about 4 of the above we should be a definite top 10. Also, did anyone see Mick McCarthy on sky yesterday? He reckons Fletcher could easily get into any of the top 4 although I'm guessing if MicMac bought him from Burnley he may be blowing his own trumpet a bit. Finally, I'm glad we're playing Arsenal on saturday as they are often slow starters (like Everton) and I think we can get a hard fought 0-0
Couldn't agree more Cest. The doom mongers emerging over the past few weeks have obviously never experienced (or have conveniently forgotten) some of the awful players we have endured in recent years. In my 60 years of watching the lads, I have been privileged to watch some of the finest talent in the land wearing the red and white stripes - going back to Len Shackleton, Hurley, Todd, Watson and many many more since - but you can be assured this has been balanced by some signings whose mere name revives awful memories of trepidation and embarrassment. They are many and out of respect to the players concerned they shall remain nameless but those of us who have made the regular pilgrimage to watch SAFC over the years will know who they are. Interestingly, none of the current squad would be on that list. I realise that fans frustration at the slowness of new faces arriving is somewhat tainted by an overwhelming desire to retrieve the mantle of 'top north east team' from our friends up the road, but you can be assured that any NUFC fan with a bit of history will be equally aware that they have had their fair share of black periods and abysmal players - in fact my black and white friends defend vigorously their record of having acquired some of the very worst players ever to represent either Sunderland or Newcastle! We were a poor second best to Newcastle last season and we may once again end up behind them at the end of the current season, but the reality is that we can't measure our progress solely on the basis of how we compare with our closest rivals. This has to be a plan with longer term objectives and I am totally confident that by May next year we will have made that step forward under Martin O'Neill. For the first time in half a century, the club appears to be run by a team of professionals from top to bottom and like any well run business, they will not be taking decisions for a quick fix. We've had decades of that and it always returns to haunt us. Keep the faith.
This thread is just what I needed. No doom and gloom (of which I have been guilty of). Very positive lads. Cest enjoy your trip. Here's to the season ahead - COME ON...!!!!!!
Agree with Charley about fans wanting to know what's going on - but, since Quinn and Short were both at the club, the business has been done behind closed doors so we didn't know what was happening. I personally prefer it that way TBH as (hypothetically speaking) finding out from the press we're going for someone then having them taken from under our noses by a rival club is far more galling than not knowing - particularly if that club may not have been interested if not for our interest. Agree with your OP as well Cest - apparently we're getting relegated because we haven't signed a striker - well we're only a Bendtner short of last season and Sessegnon (Last season's top scorer) ios still here also. OK so we need to improve but I can't think anyone is to blame as to lay blame at SAFCs door would mean that you honestly believe that we haven't been trying all summer to sign players which I think is bollocks. I just think the business people at the helm are being shrewd about what they are spending
to be fair any 1 of 14 teams could go down, which includes us, but we could just as easy finish top 7/8, that's why football is so great
There is some merit to this comment but in all honesty, I absolutely don't feel we are one of the relegation teams and having experienced 6 previous relegations, sadly I know what I am talking about. This squad just isnt in that bracket at all.
I dont think we will go down, but just to play devils advocate here. West ham went down with lampard/Cole/Ferdinand and they were dubbed too good to go down, Newcastle were probably too good to go down on paper as well, and probably countless other squads in the history of the game, you just never know for sure.
I've been garn since 1976 so I've witnessed a few relegation seasons anarl, lets hope you're right though
The central point is the manager. O'Neill has pedigree and experience and wont become a first relegation failure at our club imo.
I don't think you lot have anything to worry about as far as relegation is concerned. O'Neill can and will move you forward as a club with the right resources and fortunately you have a good guy at the top who will give him the tools to do so. If you lot continue to get behind the team no matter what it looks like on September the 1st and back your manager that is half of the battle. You might take a pasting from a few teams along the way, but that's the EPL for most clubs, you're one of 20 teams that compete in the toughest league on the planet that is drenched in talent and you won't be an exception.
Can't believe it has come to somebody making a thread about relegation. Talk about pathetic, fickle fans. It's bordering on embarrassing but no doubt these are the same fans that do nothing but get on players backs and leave the ground 15mins before the end.
If we get some strikers in I reckon we will be in the top 10. If you think of our form towards the end of last season and now pre- season goals have been the problem. I did not mind if Fletcher came in for about £10 m as a second striker, we then paid about £20 m for a star striker. Tbh this was what I expected when MoN was saying forwards were a problem and he wanted to bring in quality. A good manager like MoN can make a poor team play better, but he can also make a good team superb. Saha can be the second striker instead of Fletcher, so now we need the star man.
Don't think they leave before the end... AS they want to ensure the players hear them boo when they walk off the field!! There are 3 that werte behind me last season and I honestly don't know why they get a season ticket as, even when things were good, they did nothing but slate the team! ridiculous IMO
I don't see any sign of relegation whatsoever...No chance... Unfortunately, I don't see any signs of improvement either.
I do hope you don't think I'm suggesting we are threatened with relegation kidda as I am actually advocating the exact opposite. It's the doom and gloom brigade that have prompted this thread? Also, in answer to Steve, the board and owner don't have to actually tell us anything. I don't expect them to either.
Me? I never mentioned that and I agree with you, we all seen what happened to Phillips when Quinn told everyone he was coming back, WBA went in for him and got him.
Na, not you Cest. We usually have the same thoughts to be honest and I know why you started this thread. My post was in response to previous comments I have seen on this forum and the fact that they have went so far with all the negativity, to the point where somebody (yourself) has had to write a thread about it. It's ridiculous and people need to take a step back and remember the last 20 years before spitting their dummies out at 'the state' of our club at the moment.
YEP AGREED for the most part, not forgetting, the 50 plus years of the doubting Thomas in me, But yeah lets see what happens, cant be worse than Ive witnessed over my Years. So for the doom mongers,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,CAN WE PLEASE START THE SEASON FIRST?
