With the season 1 week away (thank god). Where do you think we will end up? To me, I don't think we've strengthened and are possibly weaker in a stronger division. We've lost our keeper, still haven't got an adequate striker (unless grigg comes good, which will be hard with PPs style) The bookies make us favourites, can anyone explain to me why? Looking for some optimism. With our current squad I'd be happy with playoffs and over the moon with automatics. But I'll take a plunge at 5th.
Top and this is why I constantly look through red n white tinted glasses, bury my head in the sand and I’m totally and utterly biased as **** about everything Sunderland. Don’t bother trying to talk sense into me.
Think we have been favourites every year, and am still mystified as why, and now regard it as a mill stone we could do without. But If we get off to a good start and don't have too many injuries we might well do it. I am not totally convinced by Parky, but hope he manages to get us over the line this season, as we need to avoid any more wasted time.
I see us top. Weakest the league has been since we came down, Peterborough and Oxford lost best players, relegated teams financially ****ed. I think it’s ours to throw away. Sadly we have a great history of doing that.
Wonder if the 12k renewers are the prawn sandwich brigade who won't clap or boo? The atmosphere may help the players settle easier...
I think all 3 relegated teams are stronger than us on paper, especially Wigan. Oxford and Portsmouth will be strong. 1 or 2 sides will be surprise packages, and Ipswich will want to improve on last season. It looks difficult to me.
Wigan are in administration and being stripped of players and not too sure they'll be up there. Oxford just sold their star centre half, Pompey fair enough, I'd expect them to be up there. They're is absouloutely nowt to fear from any other side in this division and we'll deffo be thereabouts ourselves. If Grigg finds his scoring boots we'll top the league imo.
Wigan have sold their top players and a bunch of their prospects, I don’t see them as being strong. Hull lost something like 15-16 out of last 20 games, their gaffer is useless and the owners have pulled funding. I don’t see either of them as a threat. Portsmouth will be ‘same again’ for eternity without a gaffer change so they’ll be about the playoffs but have nothing about them, and Oxford have sold their best player, they were only 1 point ahead of us when the season was called. We’ve massively improved at the back, Scowen and the 3 young lads look really good pre season, and O’Brien is far more mobile than Wyke, Grigg has been scoring goals pre season. I think despite the off field issues we are in great shape, it’s a **** league, I think we’ve got a little bit there. If Gooch and Maguire stay fit and Grigg or AOB score few, with the back line we have we will be very tough to beat.
Playoffs again for me. If we can get a goal scorer in no reason we can't win it but that's a big IF at the minute!
i am kind of leaning this way a wee bit, i feel the team just needs some confidence..pre-season is never an ideal guage for the season but as i have said previously, especially the first 2 games we actually looked like a cohesive unit against 2 very different styles of play. scowen was pretty solid and allowed power to stay more defensive, with the new lad hopefullycoming in for the weekend (kosovan) our back line looks more solid with bailey in there as well...young lads should be considered for every game but at least we know they are there if needed and are ready. we still might have a problem with scoring which is my only worry but even there grigg has looked sharper and happier and o'brien will be a bonus, so a lot depends on how these two start, i feel.
I'd say strong playoff place and maybe a promotion spot. For me the squad is stronger than it was last year and Parky's had longer to get everything settled and bring a few promising youths through. Too early to say but I've got my fingers crossed that Grigg is going to be of some use this season, if not we'll struggle for goals but should still get a fair few tight wins because we're strong at the back. I'm not bothered about McLaughlin going he was ****e for most of the season and Burge looks fine so far.
Me and the two Grandsons are renewers and proud of it , I like prawn cocktails better than prawn sandwiches which does not prevent me being vocal . Think we will do OK this season particularly if we can get another couple of players , I believe we will end up being promoted automatically .
Knocked out of the playoffs in the semi final 2-1 after finishing 5th. George Honeyman with a late winner for Hull City at the SoL in the second leg to break the hearts of over 40k Mackems in attendance. Phil Parkinson is relieved of his duties within 24hrs of the result.
