After their first overhaul they finished 5th, when they would before a ball was kicked have been hoping to challenge for the title. They have had to build from there, after over a 3-season process they have won the title. Okay, so by your own confession, this would be a perfectly rational and logical table to predict: Southampton Reading West Brom Man City QPR Man U Stoke Sunderland Newcastle Liverpool Everton etc etc etc Okay, obviously I'm over exaggerating, but my point being that just because one club over achieves doesn't make it rational to start thinking any old club can do it. Our scouting system, financial setup and team ethic have proven to be the key factors. They don't happen over one summer.
Answered City point above ^ As for Chelsea, losing Drogba will I think bring the best out of Torres, so no new striker imo. Romeu will make the step up I believe after a season of bedding in. I see this as their line up next year: Cech Van Der Wiel Cahill Terry Cole Romeu Mata Ramires Hulk Torres Hazard I think their first XI will only have 3 new players added, and with the experience of Terry, Lampard, Cech, Ivanovic who have all won the title, the scenario is not even comparable to that of Sunderland.
To be honest mate, I get your point, but that doesn't change the fact it's a direct contradiction. Romeu may step up, but won't start season first XI. Marin will have asked for certain guarantees. It'll be at least 4, maybe 5, that's 40-55% of the team, and that is an overhaul.
Okay well our own ideas of what an overhaul is are different mate. Chelsea are adding fresh new players to players with experience of what they are aiming for, and losing 1 maybe 2 of them max. Sunderland is a different kettle of fish. But I get you're point.
See, you say that, but you mean 'just a smooch, was hoping for at least a bit of a spoon'. Spooning isn't on the table mate
Newcastle? Overhauled the year after a change of manager mid way through. Recruited well in the summer and then finished top 6 the year after? Did you just forget pettle?
I'm quite interested to see how the mags fare with the additional games in the Europa League, actually. Not from a partisan point of view, but to see effect those extra games have. Can't forget Stoke coming to our place after a midweek Euro road trip and looking like a shadow of their usual selves. We are targeting a euro spot under MON and as that means a pop at a Europa League place, I'd like to know what the problems are going to be.
Petal / pettle / pissflap - you are all 3. My point is that you brought in a new manager half way through the 2010/11 season and then finished 5th in the 2011/12 one which could easily mirror our current position. Also, define major overhaul for me 2010/11 season, rebuilt in the summer of 2011 and had a 5th place finish in the 2011/12 season. Exactly where we are now. Correct me here but didnt you bring in Cabaye, Santon, Ba, Marveaux, Abeid and Obertan last summer (all but Abeid were first team picks) and Cisse in January. That's 6 new faces in the summer and 1 in January. What do you call that FFS? Tinkering? I think we will look to bring in a wide player; 2 strikers, a centre half and a left back this summer. We will be losing 5 or 6. If the budget allows it, we may also look to buy a central midfielder. That's exactly the same amount of players in as you and you then went on to finish 5th. Now, like all craas, it will not be in your make up to recognise any other club or players other than the mighty toon but you asked the question who did it and you lot did. FFS, 2 years ago you were just celebrating promotion from the second tier and have done it? There is absolutely nothing wrong with suggesting that with a capable and proven manager in MoN, a team now entering its 6th top flight season, with a few bob to spend and a the right man spending it, that we cant be top 6 to 10. Whats the difference? Just as there is no given that just because you had a good one last term that you automatically will again this one. Liverpool finished 6th in the 2010/11 season and ended joint 8th this time round and they had over £100m to spend in the last 18 months.
I'm not making this into a "who will do better out of NUFC and SAFC argument. But it shows how much you know when you think Santon and Marveaux were first choice picks. Santon didn't start games until after January and Marveaux only started cup games before he got injured ffs. And by the time Santon was starting games, Obertan wasn't, so in fact, of the names you mentioned, only Ba and Cabaye are relevant to your point. Hardly equals the half-team changes that you are suggesting does it? As for how we will do, as I said, that's a different debate for another time.
I remember at the time, you in particular along with ChappedArse and 5-1 amongst others, telling us all your signings were far better than ours so you obviously thought highly of them all. Marveaux was bought foir the first team but his injuries prevented him and Santon was hailed as one of the coups of the summer. Obertan was described by Partridge as a great signing but that's not my point. You added 6 new faces and then a 7th in January. We are not looking to do anything different but you try to make out that our 'wholesale changes' will not be successful whereas your were? Take your blinkers off and be honest for a change. Its quite possible that we could make 4 or 5 excellent signings and have an excellent season, just as its possible to do the opposite. Its also just as possible that you could lose 1 or 2 of your better players and be over stretched with 4 competitions and suffer as Fulham and Stoke did in the Europa league.
Quote me on this, no team has ever finished in an average to poor position, added half a first XI in the summer, and improved dramatically on where they finish (14th to 8th is a dramatic improvement in my book. We added 3 new first teamers to a side that had a strong finish for their aspirations, and pushed on. You have some major catching up to do, you're more than 1 season behind a lot of the teams you hope to overtake. Side note: Yes, I can say our signings work whearas yours may not as we have an amazing scouting system, picking up bargains that will suit the premier league, more than can be said of your club as I'm sure even the most blinkered Sunderland fan will admit. Btw, I can't argue with your last point, no idea how the Europa League will affect us, I can only guess, and I have never pretended otherwise.
hmm how about spurs, they were bottom with 6 points from 10 games with 1 win, they spent £87,500,000 that season (not sure how much of that was Redknapp though in Jan) but they bought 11 players. They finished 8th. Season after they finished 4th after spending £32,000,000 on 7 players. So hmm yes, it "can" happen, not saying it will with us, but then you said yourself you overachieved, who is to say that last year wasnt just a flash in the pan, and you may struggle this year. We wont know till next year, but you sound so bloody adamant that your team is so much better than ours, its sickening tbh.
Sorry that I am adamant a team that finished 20 points ahead of you is better than yours Small club syndrome
huh, if you hadnt noticed this is the sunderland board, of course we are going to defend our team, deluded ****s. (i dont ever have a go at yous normally but ffs, lets see what happens nexxt season, I still have pardew to be sacked before xmas) and i proved the **** wrong with spurs but all he can come back with is we are better than you, get over yourselves ffs.
