... to have a relatively pressure-free season? For the past four years there's been massive pressure on us to get promoted, ideally automatically. And for most of the ten years prior to that, we've been desperately battling against relegation until the last few days of the season. This season, I don't really see anything other than a mid-table finish, and that's absolutely fine by me. I think most the fanbase feel the same way. How nice will it be, to have (hopefully) a relatively calm season of supporting the lads, with no pressure weighing on us? ...... Having said that, this is Sunderland. We'll no doubt either end up in a relegation 6-pointer on the last day of the season, or unexpectedly challenging for the playoffs, just to make us all sweat
A Sunderland season and no pressure are not something you would normally see in the same sentence. Will we really be happy with mid table mediocrity, when if this or that result had gone our way we'd have ended up in the playoffs. Whatever unfolds next season I hope the fans take it in their stride and back the lads as we always do.HTL
No I don't think there's any such thing as a no pressure season especially not in the championship. I your not fighting relegation your trying to sneak into the playoffs. Will be a case of try and win as many games as possible before the new year then see what our aim is. Survival/promotion. Really can't see us coasting through a season with no threat of either and to be honest I'm not sure I'd want to either.
You're never mathematically safe from relegation, or totally out of the promotion race until after Christmas. But I agree with the OP, it could be less stressful than the last few seasons.
Just discovered OP, many thanks , and I too agree with the sentiment, a stress free season would be very welcome but my over-riding wish is as already has been expressed, is that we have visible progress throughout the club, confirming that we are on the up by playing entertaining football, and most importantly for me that KLD and AN are still here, not just next season but the one after that, and being gready well into the future. OaU
Stress comes naturally every match day, the desire to win, the ache of losing, it’s what we signed up for as Sunderland supporters. I don’t see it ever going away, nor would I want it to, even if it pushes the blood pressure to the limit!
I think the clubs aims will be dependent on the boardroom situation. As it stands it will be to stay up. If a big investor comes in and buys out Donald the aim will change to promotion. Honestly think it’s as simple as that. Doesn’t mean either objective will be easy though.
I actually expect us to be challenging at the top end. I dont see much in the championship to be fearful of. I watched a lot of it last year and there were 3 very good sides, but they all went up. The rest were much of a muchness. I think we have the coach, a core of players who we will add to and momentum. My only worry, at this point, is whether Neil and the wider recruitment team are on the same page. Will Neil identify the players, or will the recruitment guys? It worked up to a point under Johnson because it was only being setup so Johnson got his way on players he wanted, while accepting those recommended to him. There was clearly a power struggle in January though which I thought he had won with Baath, but then obviously Defoe showed where the power really lay. Would Neil accept a similar situation - I doubt it. Hopefully the credit he has in the bank after promotion is enough to ensure he gets what he wants. His stock has risen under us and he is back on an upward trajectory, that should give him confidence to have his say.
