Is SAFC as bad as some maintain ...

[Smug in Boots]

Our club have issues, calling out other clubs for theirs isn't a great look imo

It's exactly how football is, how it's always been and how it always will be. ...

... it's banter, just a bit of fun and totally meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

As Bob Shankly said ...

"FFS, chill out and don't take it so bloody seriously!"

 

[Nacho]

Our club have issues, calling out other clubs for theirs isn't a great look imo

To be fair taking the piss out of Stoke is pretty fair game. Our issues get examined to a professionally forensic level by our own fans , why not have a look at what other clubs are up to.

 

[Dancingstripes]

I like the direction of the club. I like the football that’s been played since the new ownership came in. KLD has been a major positive for this club and I do have faith he will take us back to the premier league.

I do have slight concerns regarding speakman. The core of our team was already in place before he came in, I.e Clarke, Roberts, onien, Pritchard, Stewart, Neil, Patterson.

Hes made a lot of signings and I can’t think of any that have improved on the players mentioned above? He has brought in mostly young players, so it is a wait and see situation. But is the fan base patient enough for that? I’m not so sure.

I’m not going to lie and say I’m happy to sit in the championship as a supporter, but I certainly won’t be calling for KLDs head if we don’t get there for a couple seasons.

As long as the football is good and there’s obvious ambition, I’m happy enough.

 

[young2077]

I like the direction of the club. I like the football that’s been played since the new ownership came in. KLD has been a major positive for this club and I do have faith he will take us back to the premier league.

I do have slight concerns regarding speakman. The core of our team was already in place before he came in, I.e Clarke, Roberts, onien, Pritchard, Stewart, Neil, Patterson.

Hes made a lot of signings and I can’t think of any that have improved on the players mentioned above? He has brought in mostly young players, so it is a wait and see situation. But is the fan base patient enough for that? I’m not so sure.

I’m not going to lie and say I’m happy to sit in the championship as a supporter, but I certainly won’t be calling for KLDs head if we don’t get there for a couple seasons.

As long as the football is good and there’s obvious ambition, I’m happy enough.

All signed in his time were they not? And Neil and Patterson weren't sigingings but were they not given chances since he came aswell?

 

[Oliver's Army]

Ha. We are mint.

 

[Sour Patch]

I like the direction of the club. I like the football that’s been played since the new ownership came in. KLD has been a major positive for this club and I do have faith he will take us back to the premier league.

I do have slight concerns regarding speakman. The core of our team was already in place before he came in, I.e Clarke, Roberts, onien, Pritchard, Stewart, Neil, Patterson.

Hes made a lot of signings and I can’t think of any that have improved on the players mentioned above? He has brought in mostly young players, so it is a wait and see situation. But is the fan base patient enough for that? I’m not so sure.

I’m not going to lie and say I’m happy to sit in the championship as a supporter, but I certainly won’t be calling for KLDs head if we don’t get there for a couple seasons.

As long as the football is good and there’s obvious ambition, I’m happy enough.

May want to check when these players signed other than O'Nien. And then check when Neil and Patterson made their breakthrough. All under Speakman.

 

[Prehab26]

May want to check when these players signed other than O'Nien. And then check when Neil and Patterson made their breakthrough. All under Speakman.

He has done ok. But if you list all players brought in under his regime, the last few windows really brings it down. I did it a few weeks back and I was surprised to see so many who have made absolutely zero impact whatsoever.

 

[Sour Patch]

He has done ok. But if you list all players brought in under his regime, the last few windows really brings it down. I did it a few weeks back and I was surprised to see so many who have made absolutely zero impact whatsoever.

He's not a scout though so how much of that is down to Harvey? & I mentioned it on another thread but we need a better connection between recruitment and coaching staff, I think a lot of the incoming players are good they just don't get the sufficient minutes to make an impression and thats the fault of both recruitment and coaching.

I also think to describe his work so far as 'ok' is unbelievably disrespectful. Yeah I want him to shut up more but the improvement on all facets under his control in such a short space of time is crazy. They say it takes 5 years for directors of football to have a serious impact and we are still a year and a half away from that. Mid table league one to playoff challenging championship side, while under pretty serious financial constraints is impressive. The academy being functional after he inherited an absolute mess. The womens team challenging for promotion. He deserves a lot more respect from fans and within actual football circles he gets it.

 

[Monkey69]

He has done ok. But if you list all players brought in under his regime, the last few windows really brings it down. I did it a few weeks back and I was surprised to see so many who have made absolutely zero impact whatsoever.

Whilst that is true a lot of the player signed have been signed for potential and are probably not really expected to make immediate impact. That said we are short of some first team experience in some respects but I think we do need to have some patience with some of the new young player like Ba who definitely has something but is very inconsistent. I don't think we will really be able to judge foe a couple of years.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Mundle, Hjelde and Styles will all play this season ...

... how much impact they can have on a team that's lost momentum, a top six placing and the manager is difficult to judge.

It doesn't mean they were badly recruited.

 

[Prehab26]

He's not a scout though so how much of that is down to Harvey? & I mentioned it on another thread but we need a better connection between recruitment and coaching staff, I think a lot of the incoming players are good they just don't get the sufficient minutes to make an impression and thats the fault of both recruitment and coaching.

I also think to describe his work so far as 'ok' is unbelievably disrespectful. Yeah I want him to shut up more but the improvement on all facets under his control in such a short space of time is crazy. They say it takes 5 years for directors of football to have a serious impact and we are still a year and a half away from that. Mid table league one to playoff challenging championship side, while under pretty serious financial constraints is impressive. The academy being functional after he inherited an absolute mess. The womens team challenging for promotion. He deserves a lot more respect from fans and within actual football circles he gets it.

He has done very well with the changes at the AOL. No doubt about that.

 

[Prehab26]

Whilst that is true a lot of the player signed have been signed for potential and are probably not really expected to make immediate impact. That said we are short of some first team experience in some respects but I think we do need to have some patience with some of the new young player like Ba who definitely has something but is very inconsistent. I don't think we will really be able to judge foe a couple of years.

Surely there has to be a blend. Otherwise you are always in this transitional state. Wait, wait and more wait.

 

[Monkey69]

Surely there has to be a blend. Otherwise you are always in this transitional state. Wait, wait and more wait.

Again very true but our problem is that our youth set up was almost non existent 2 to 3 years ago as some of the most promising youngsters were sold for a pittance. That base needs to be solid and needs to be built again and to do that we have had to rely on young players with little first team experience, but the likes of Neil, Hume, Higgins, Cirkin, Ekwah, Jobe and a few more are slowly becoming experienced professionals Neil now has over 100 first team appearances Clarke is one of the hottest properties in the Championship, Ballard IMO one of the most promising centre half's around so I am hoping that Seelt is given mors time to settle along with Aouchiche, Pembele and the others as they are still only teens and I can only imagine how difficult it must be for them moving to a new country and then having to adapt and play mens football. I just think our fanbase need ro be a little more patient and I personally think we will reap the rewards.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Again very true but our problem is that our youth set up was almost non existent 2 to 3 years ago as some of the most promising youngsters were sold for a pittance. That base needs to be solid and needs to be built again and to do that we have had to rely on young players with little first team experience, but the likes of Neil, Hume, Higgins, Cirkin, Ekwah, Jobe and a few more are slowly becoming experienced professionals Neil now has over 100 first team appearances Clarke is one of the hottest properties in the Championship, Ballard IMO one of the most promising centre half's around so I am hoping that Seelt is given mors time to settle along with Aouchiche, Pembele and the others as they are still only teens and I can only imagine how difficult it must be for them moving to a new country and then having to adapt and play mens football. I just think our fanbase need ro be a little more patient and I personally think we will reap the rewards.

I'm 68 and running out of time to see us 'successful' whatever that means, being patient isn't easy. I do think, however, that our fanbase is being incredibly patient, 40k at home and away sell outs testify to that.

But everything you say is correct. KLD didn't come in with noisy rallying cries and extravagant promises. He's admitted it'll be a slog and we need to build the club up from lower than scratch, develop local/imported talent, make progress and hope for promotion and beyond.
The only alternative is to spend which means the young lads have even less opportunity than they have now.

And if those you've paid good money for don't work out, as dozens and dozens have proved, you only have one option ...

... pay them off and spend again.

Balls to that, I've seen it fail too many times and those who wanted money spending just turn on the owners.

 

[Smug in Boots]

"Sunderland have landed 15-year-old highly-rated striker Marcus Neill from Liverpool with head of recruitment Stuart Harvey delivering a lengthy interview on the signing.

Marcus Neill is the son of the former Australian international player Lucas Neill with Harvey claiming that the youngster has “ticked a lot of boxes” for Sunderland."

https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor...y-rated-15-year-old-liverpool-starlet-4527739

 

[Brainy Dose]

"Sunderland have landed 15-year-old highly-rated striker Marcus Neill from Liverpool with head of recruitment Stuart Harvey delivering a lengthy interview on the signing.

Marcus Neill is the son of the former Australian international player Lucas Neill with Harvey claiming that the youngster has “ticked a lot of boxes” for Sunderland."

https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor...y-rated-15-year-old-liverpool-starlet-4527739

Love it....thanks for posting. Emphasises the work going on to build this club for a brighter future.

 

[Robref62]

One of the issues we will be facing in the short to medium term is the big sum of money the roof will need spending on it. Its 27 years old and has had at best basic maintenance ovet the years and now is having only essential repairs.

That's not going to be a cheap fix

Get this place going and the fans will take the roof off for gratis!!!

 

[young2077]

"Sunderland have landed 15-year-old highly-rated striker Marcus Neill from Liverpool with head of recruitment Stuart Harvey delivering a lengthy interview on the signing.

Marcus Neill is the son of the former Australian international player Lucas Neill with Harvey claiming that the youngster has “ticked a lot of boxes” for Sunderland."

https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor...y-rated-15-year-old-liverpool-starlet-4527739

I thought that's the wrong way around to what usually happens but then I read it and it looks like Liverpool were not wanting to progress with and have let us know?

 

[WorkyTicketFTM]

Our club have issues, calling out other clubs for theirs isn't a great look imo

A lot of our fans see things through red and white glasses and if you go against anything we do you’re called a mag Every other club is doing things wrong and we’re doing it right. Hull only above us cos they’ve got loanees. WBA above us but their squad is old. Ipswich apparently buying the league.

 

[Iain]

Surely there has to be a blend. Otherwise you are always in this transitional state. Wait, wait and more wait.

I do agree with that, the problem I see with complaints from the same people is we need a bit more experience in the team and their next sentence is we are buying inexperienced youngsters.
For me that's the problem the club have getting the balance right.
Sign an experienced striker then how do the young lads then gain the experience.
Sign an experienced CDM the how do we develop young lads.
We need some experience in the team but not have it blocking the route of the younger prospects, that's the balance the club has to get right, I'm pleased it's not my job to get that solution right