Its been yet another season of disappointment for sure and no amount of lame excuses making bull**** can detract from that. We have had injuries but so has every other club in the EPL and football league for that matter. You have to get on with it. Biggest, nay most gargantuan error of judgement was the Darren Bent affair. Every other calamity that has befallen the club since January revolves around the lamentable decision from Quinn and Bruce to release the single best pound for pound goalscorer we have had in a generation without bringing in a replacement. In a team of non scoring players, that decision alone should be the catalyst for Bruce's sacking IMO. I cant remember a worse decision by a manger or chairman since Gerald Ratner decided to come clean about his product range. Without a shadow of a doubt, SAFC completely missed the boat this season in what could have been a watershed for us back in January. Instead of pushing on and taking that next step forward by challenging for a Europa place (whether we managed it or not is immaterial as we should have been in the pack hunting one with 35 points in the bag and half a season to go), something we havent done for nigh-on 40 years and we may well never get a better opportunity to make our mark. Liverpool have regenerated and will be a force again next season and I think Everton and maybe Villa with new management will come good with our former star striker in situ. Quinn and Bruce **** themselves and showed that whilst the former is a club legends and all round good guy (he will remain a God-like figure at SAFC for ever) he simply is too nice to remain in the top position; and the latter is just not big enough for the task warranted here at SAFC. He is a small time manager better suited to Huddersfield or Wigan. Taking SAFC to a better place isn't in his capabilities IMO. He is a frightened, scared manager and lacks the tactical nouse to succeed outside of his small manager/club comfort zone. Maybe its time to start and take stock of the club as a whole and ask some really hard, unpalatable question all round. I'm sure Ellis Short is asking this very same questions himself and maybe a more hard nosed professional approach is now required. Niall came along at the right time to rescue the future but is he now more of a threat to that future than he is a saviour? He has been here 5 years and maybe its time to start looking for the 'Peter Kenyon' style of chief executive/chairman. Someone who looks objectively and without the fans hat on. Its not going to be a universally acceptable line of thought I know but look at it in a cold, hard nosed way and tell me I'm not a little bit right if you can? The squad we have assembled for a lot of investment is not that good on reflection and to think after 4 consecutive seasons in the top flight we are still talking about 6 or 7 players needed is slightly worrying for me. We don't seem to be planning for the long term but merely fire fighting every year. We have a lot of loan players and IMO, all but 1 can go back. I'd be happy to see Welbeck back for a season loan if SAF is interested in that but Onuoha (ã6 or ã7m is too rich for him IMO), Muhammady and Mensah can all go. Its also time to take stock of the other squad players, so from the keeper then: Mignolet is a good prospect but a full time replacement for the always injured Gordon is needed. He should be the understudy he was bought for. As for the gay Gordon himself, I think its time to sell and cut our losses. Has there been a more injury prone keeper in our history? Ferdinand (soft ****e) & Turner (cart horse) are not good enough for the EPL. Both have to go. Angeleri thankfully it seems has already gone. Bardsley back to right back and we STILL have no left back after 7 or 8 years at the club? Pathetic. Riveros (obviously), simply has to go, whilst Zenden & Steed (doesn't score enough or at all) are merely bench warmers and impact subs at best now. Henderson must be played out wide right as he isn't a central midfielder, or we cash in and use the money. I have serious doubts about whether the likes of Meyler will come back but in Colback we have unearthed a little gem. However, as with Jordan, we cant relay on him to pull us out of the **** next term so an experienced goal scoring central midfielder is required. Charlie Adam would be superb IMO. We have no natural width at the club so a left winger who can score as well (and it may well be N'Zogbia) will be a priority. However, its up front where we are most pathetic. Gyan is very hot and cold at times but it was his first season and he is a quality player. We need, IMO, at least 2 and preferably 3 strikers at the club and not just bit part ones either. I doubt if we will see Campbell again in a r&w shirt in the top flight as his injuries are bound to effect his ability to play at the very top level and he may well have to go back to the championship (hopefully not with us) to rebuild his career. His pace, a huge part of his game, is bound to be effected and that will make him less effective and also, he is out for 10 months anyway. So, 2 years into his management and we still need a keeper, 2 x central defenders, left back, central attacking midfielder/play maker and at least 2 strikers (preferably 3). EIGHT players light after 2 years and a bloody fortune to spend. Would I give Bruce another 30m to spend? Would I **** and neither will Short, which means we are more than likely to just tread water AGAIN next season as the league will be stronger and our squad wasnt all that this year when it was much weaker. Anyone looking forward to next season yet? I'm certainly not.
and me we are getting 8 new players lol Cest has some good points the same thoughts as me where we are two years in with Bruce and still having to build a team. Our defence was shocking yesterday and has been since xmas
Another thought provoker, agree with probs all points , one degree or another, as for looking forward to next deason, seems to me Ive been doing that for fifty years now,but it will take the summer, with a bit of cricket a bit of sunshine and a holiday , to get this season behind me, well nothing new there. I actually was almost believing that this could be the season Id been waiting for, but not to be.....again
Some fans will just simply accpet any old shote the club serves up and then ask for another helping again. Its one of the main factors as to why we have been so **** for 40 years that they know we will nust accpet being shafted and come back for more. Until we become more dmanding and less accomodating to the pathetic offerings season after season, we will always be fed a diet of misery. Wake up fella's and dont be robots
Cest mate, you need to accept that not agreeing with everything does not make me a robot. You asked a question and I gave an honest answer, like every year I dread the break and look forward to the next season, not hard.
Verbatum texts between me and my mate Dan, another long standing season ticket holder. 1452bME : well that was ****ing ****e, they've done **** all for 3 points there were we playing garden ****ing gnomes at the back ****s sake 1458 DAN : I'm ****ing fuming but we're stuck with the twat cos quinns to ****ing soft to sack a manager 1513 ME : is Ellis too soft to sack a chairman? 1515 DAN : is he **** My point? Cest is not the only passionate and loyal SAFC fan to have this thought about Quinn. My opinion? I just don't ****ing know!
Its not a personal attack mate just an observation but your short answer to a very poignant and in depth question was flippant and yet so typical of SAFC fans in general. I think some fans and you may be one of them by the sounds, will just accept any old ****e the club serve up and still come back with a smile on your face and a shrug of the shoulders. The fact that we have all been guilty of that attitude is one of the main factors IMO why no-one else at the club gives a ****e either. They know that whatever they do we will just simply turn up, buy the shirts and wave our flags as if we were European champions. All the top clubs Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool etc know that unless they deliver, the fans will kick off big time. Until we start and refuse to accept that the like s of Quinny and co are not gods but people and can be challenged and questioned, the club will continue to just be a laughing stock amongst the big boys.
Mackemdiver - youre spot on mate. I feel like some sort of traitor for suggesting such things but suggest them I am. Maybe Quinny has done his bit and its time for a bigger brush now to sweep clean and if that means replacing Niall with a professional and hardened chairman/CEO then maybe thats the right thing to do. Short is investing heavily in a business and the business is failing. He isnt going to do so for ever without asking some difficult questions. Bruce is not big enough and Quinn is just too nice. Something has to give and maybe if we started with the fat controller, we can develop as a club.
I dont think they are gods but I will turn up, just the way it is and TBH the fortunes of SAFC are very important but no longer let anger, upsett or annoyance spoil my days. I simple enjoy going, good and bad times I enjoy going. To be very honest, I have always been a rebel and will go against the grain, a fault but a fact.
If this decision was made, then surely could use Quinn in an 'ambassador' role of some sort, like Liverpool did with Kenny. The man is an absolute and bona fide club icon and legend, if it is time for a tough guy chairman, and maybe it is, then a link between Niall and the club, a strong link MUST be maintained at all costs. The man is a ****ing hero.
If quinny goes any suggestions as to who we will be bringing in. The man himself will admit to mistakes, its new for him ,its a WIP (work in progress)project and ffs he will be giving 110% for everything SAFC. I personally want a chairman who cares about our club not some tosser who just wants a position of power. SAF took 4 years to win a cup and 7 to win the league. We are not at that standard and possibly never will be and some people want to get real. I am sure Mr Short will not be happy but lets see who's brought in, give SB till xmas and see how we perform. Sure if he goes SNQ will follow. Remember Niall brought Ellis in. Could/would he walk away if Niall left. Maybe milliband was brought in to find investors allowing the present management to go. Like everyone else I am disappointed with the season end but once again we will have funds for players. That wasnt the case with previous owners etc. Think cest said we would accept any old ****e. Admittedly i'm one of them. Will still be there regardless. Heres hoping for next season (again).
Well said Cest. It infuriates me to see people write 'But then it's Sunderland - we know what to expect'. Well, I'm Sunderland through and through and I don't bloody-well expect it ! I've been saying it for some weeks now. I'm not so sure about some of your earlier points, mind. Quinn has always said he wouldn't interfere in team affairs - that's the manager's job. And when you look at SAFC away from the first team, it's a very well run operation. The youth team is producing good players, we have an ex-Foreign Minister to handle international relations/marketing, we have successful social programmes. I'm afraid it's a double-edged sword though. A chairman who won't interfere in team affairs sounds like every manager's dream - but if it goes wrong, the manager stands alone! And I'm afraid that's where Bruce stands for me. I think it's dead wrong for people to be turning on Quinn now. That's just a means of deflecting blame away from Bruce. No thanks, Steve's had the freedom, and he alone should take the flak now.
Oh well, sadly but predictably it didn't take long for the "I like taking it up the arse and thanking the club for widening my ring piece as they do it" brigade to come trotting out again to spout their usual 'burn the heretic' drivel did it? It must be hard for such individuals to actually have any independent thought outside of what the club have told them. Like simple proletarians of the Stalinist regime, they tow the party line, even when its a parcel of utter ****e they tow. Just because I question the regime decisions, I now wont be going to matches? What a load of ****e. I am as committed and loyal to SAFC as any man or woman alive today. Of course I will be there but I don't have to agree with every shocking decision or manager/chairman whilst there. Unlike the 'Stepford Wives' supporters in evidence here, I benefit from the intellectual advantage of independent thought and opinion. If I don't agree with something I say so. If you don't like it, then ****ing tough ****.
Good point well made mate ....................... now sit back and wait for the Spanish Inquisition to come and pull your finger nails out for having such out of the box thoughts. Oh and give your season ticket up as well as you mustn't want to go the the match now for having an opinion. Oh and you will be spouting bollocks as well. Ignore the 'Stepford Fans' kidda, they are incapable of independent thought.
unlike us mere mortals cest, if we dare not agree with you we are stepford wives. Good to see your interllectual advantage in full flow
im sure i wouldnt go to watch them with your thoughts . the only time i stopped watching them was the 18 point season were you about then cest
