The Saha gossip prompted a debate on expectations so, let me take it a bit further. Last year at this time we, or at least most, expected a good top 8 fight and saw that has progression. Bruce made his famous comment about we Sunderland fans expecting to much and was roundly slated for it. Now I read how we are more realistic now, we really are just Sunderland and maybe some have our heads in the clouds. Maybe we are being over ambitious, maybe our history tells us the truth, we are only Sunderland and should accept our lot. Maybe, and I just put this forward as an idea, maybe some are so desperate for MON to succeed that they are prepared to lower the bar to ensure he hits it. But I read how Short wants progression, O'Neill we know is ambitious and wants success so maybe we really should trust him and expect better. If we bring in a Saha, even just for back up then I will be support him but will hope we get someone who excites and I do expect top ten to be the minimum requirement.
It wasn't what Bruce said as such Syd, as the manner in which he threw it out there like we were idiots, but I do believe last season gave us all a dose of reality. We know we need to spend within our means, and we know that despite having the 4th richest chairman in the top flight, we won't go wild on the spending, I think we all agree this is the right approach. I'm happy for a steady improvement, to see some consistency in the side,and to be honest, top 10 will do for me all day, I'd like more, and feel we could go higher, but that's the minimum level I hope for. It's all about that elusive 15+ striker, and a 10+ alongside, Saha as the option off the bench (assuming Connor is loaned out). Teams like Stoke are a similar level, and they aren't afraid to spend, Everton are stronger with Jelavic all season (a striker is all they've lacked for 2 years), Fulham are pretty strong everywhere, and click as a team, these are the teams to chase. Swansea and WBA will likely have slightly weaker seasons, and I see the 3 that came up in the bottom 8 (althiugh West Ham could go higher, they are looking at the right kinda players). Last season was the golden chance to push higher and we failed, Liverpool & Villa will be considerably better this year, so top 10 will be a good achievement, and decent progress. Obviously, a cup quarter would sweeten the whole thing, or better! I'm not in the MON is god camp, although I do think he's the perfect man, and I believe he will get us where we wanna be in 2-3 years.
"I'm not in the MON is god camp, although I do think he's the perfect man, and I believe he will get us where we wanna be in 2-3 years." Couldn't have put it better myself BB. Saha was one of the best strikers I have watched, he was brilliant for Fulham his awareness of what is around him you can't teach. (One of the reasons Fergie went for him.) HE has been unlucky with injuries but coming back from long lay offs he always looks more than capable of scoring. As a free agent and hopefully pay as you play this could be very good business.
HA ha, are you suggesting (correctly...) that maybe I don't declare 100% of my income?? Indeed.... Ha ha, mate, that's bargain table and bed prices (sold out )
No-on is lowering the bar here and especially not the current manager? He has to be afforded the same time Bruce was given surely - i.e. 5 transfer windows - but if he buys players that I don’t want or like, I'll be the first on here to say so. Martin O Neill is the manager I have wanted for over 15 years at SAFC and now we have him I'm not about to jump on a bandwagon when he hasn’t even had a proper transfer window to build his own team yet, to have digs at him from afar. That would be the dumbest thing to ever happen at SAFC in the last 100 years. However, this time next year I want to see an improvement for sure and a steady season not a stop start one. If Saha does come (not guaranteed anyway) then I'll support the lad until he lets me down. If in 2.5 years time we are watching ****e football, 2 home wins in a year, 14 games no win runs and hear MoN constantly blaming every ****er in the world except himself for our **** squad and team, then I'll lead the charge for his removal. Until then, MoN has a great reputation and previous successful history bringing players no-one else wants to a club and winning trophies with them. That’s why I will accept whoever he wants to bring in and give him the chance to prove me wrong.
I never said so but there is definitely a little dig at me and others who have been behind MoN appointment whilst your man Bruce was still there fumbling along. You offer support on one hand whilst showing your irk at Bruce's departure in the other with most post about MoN. It's as if there would be some sort of pleasure for you to see him fail?
For an inelegant man Cest you can be so wrong so often, your continued Bruce man quotes show how little you know or maybe how little you understand. I backed Bruce and explained why many times, because he was our manager. I welcome and back MON and will do for many years I hope. Does that mean I wont question him, no. I have read a number of quotes, not by you but then again I never said they were, that seem to say our expectations maybe should not be as high, just an opinion Cest. TBH the quote about lowering the bar was not with you in mind, funny how you picked it up.
