What are the clubs ambitions now that Niall has gone. I ask this as "the magic carpet ride" that was Quinn is gone. The "yo-yo years" of Bob Murray seem to be fading away. Is it to be the "Steady Short seasons"? I don't feel that the club has ambitions beyond 10th personally. It would be interesting to know O'Neill's take on it. If we were to have another 5 seasons of say finishing 8th - 14th how would you feel about that? Looking at the table the top 7 would take a lot of money to break into on a permanent basis. Is Short willing to spend that? Can we spend it under fair play rules? Thoughts?
Think the thought is there.....but putting your money where your mouth is, is different..... And for anyone who complains about Cities monies...we will have to spend to progress...but with these new rules coming in, i'm not sure about anything...... So 5 seasons of 8th 14th seems ok.
Them up the road have shown that you can rumble the "top 6" all it takes is having 1 or 2 who can put the ball in the net on a regular basis. We came so very close under Reidy, 99/00 we were in the top 4 nearly all season but dropped off. If wed got Ba in the summer and added Cisse in January we'd be in Europe now
to challenge the top teams has to be the aim...them up the road shows it can be done...and competing in the cups...when the new fair play rules come in things might change throughout the league...the next couple of seasons might show whats in store
Does anyone seriously think the FFP rules will make any difference? Those who have the resources always find a way to push the 'rules' to the limit. As far as Sunderland is concerned pushing for 6th even if we don't make it, and a Cup would make me very happy indeed. At least for the next couple of years.
MON took a very average Villa team to 6th place 3 times, that's what we need to aim for and build from there.
There will be ways around the fair play league. A good accountant will interpret things to suit. Personally think that the premier league will become a top 8 and a middle and bottom 6 over the next few years. To explain, The Manchesters, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Everton + hopefully us and our cousins from the dark side in the top 8. The Fulhams, Villa's, Stokes, etc in the middle The promoted/relegated teams yo-yoing for the bottom 6.
