Next season’s pecking order..

[Bottega Don]

All Sunderland need to do is not sign over the hill ex-prem players and they will walk it. Just poach L1 teams best players. They will want to join as it's a bigger club offering more money and the chance of playing at a higher level. It took Sheff United a few years to realise that, once they did that they went up. Blackburn realised it quite quickly and went up.

 

[Maple Hatter]

I think we'll finish around the play off positions perhaps even sneaking the last spot. Our youngsters have developed a lot this season and I'm sure Nathan will strenghten the squad, with the defence being the priority. Most promoted sides usually have a decent first season thanks to the positivity around the club and momentum. Sunderland will have a lot of expectation and will have to play teams who up their game just for this fixture. It could get messy if they have a bad start.

 

[SMH]

If Sunderland don’t go up it would have to go down as the biggest shock in L1 history, probably bigger than when Burton got promoted. They’re coming in with the biggest financial advantage a team has ever had in the division. I suspect they’ll start slowly like we did back in 2015 and Blackburn did last season, lose a few games early on as their new team/manager settle into their surroundings. But around early winter time they’ll find their feet and go on a long unbeaten run which will comfortably take them home with the aide of the January window. Or they could just do what Wolves did and piss it from day one.

 

[Kenneth E End]

They’re coming in with the biggest financial advantage a team has ever had in the division

Which is kind of outrageous really.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Which is kind of outrageous really.

They might be better off with somewhat less money, in a way. Enough to sign your hungry Sam Morsys or Bradley Dacks, not enough to sign elderly has-beens who won't perform on a wet November evening at Accy, Dale or Gills.

 

[SMH]

They might be better off with somewhat less money, in a way. Enough to sign your hungry Sam Morsys or Bradley Dacks, not enough to sign elderly has-beens who won't perform on a wet November evening at Accy, Dale or Gills.

It’s January where having the financial advantage really does make the difference. Wolves signed Dicko in January, we signed Wildschut, Blackburn got Armstrong on loan. All signings that virtually guaranteed promotion. As long as they have the right manager and recruitment team they’ll be fine. The key is as said above sign the best L1 players and players who preferably have recent experience of getting promoted from the league. Make those players the new spine of the team.

 

[Indian Dan]

I think, as a club, they are fucked good and proper for the next couple of seasons.

There are clubs already in L1 who are better equipped. Don’t think they have bottomed out just yet

 

[K-Win]

I think, as a club, they are fucked good and proper for the next couple of seasons.

There are clubs already in L1 who are better equipped. Don’t think they have bottomed out just yet

Somehow I don't think any other team will be better equipped come the end of the summer transfer window. We are talking a playing budget of possibly 10 times their nearest rival.

 

[Caer]

One would expect you to walk it. However, can you adapt to the style of league one, and probably more germane you will be everyone’s cup final and they will want to beat you.

We haven't faired well against physical sides this season so that is certainly something that needs to be addressed by whoever comes in as manager. If not Akinfenwa will have a field day.

 

[Gassy]

We haven't faired well against physical sides this season so that is certainly something that needs to be addressed by whoever comes in as manager. If not Akinfenwa will have a field day.

No offence, but I don't think you faired well against any side this season

 

[Gills4years]

We haven't faired well against physical sides this season so that is certainly something that needs to be addressed by whoever comes in as manager. If not Akinfenwa will have a field day.

Also, although you have the parachute payments and crowd size, are you still going to have to pay Jack Rodwell a massive wedge for sitting on his arse or has his contract finally expired? Are there any others still on Premier League size contracts?

We had to carry on paying Emmanuel Thomas' substantial loan wage even after sending the lazy waster back to QPR and it crippled our budget.

 

[SeasideKurt]

Blackpool bottom.

Absolutely with the current situation. No where above last.

 

[Caer]

No offence, but I don't think you faired well against any side this season

Fair point, didn't concede in 180 minutes against Wolves though.

Also, although you have the parachute payments and crowd size, are you still going to have to pay Jack Rodwell a massive wedge for sitting on his arse or has his contract finally expired? Are there any others still on Premier League size contracts?

Rodwell will still be with us because despite his words he doesn't want to leave and quite likes getting a steady pay packet for not even turning up for training. His wages will be slashed however but would still be at £40k a week until June 2019 when his contract runs out.

With many players likely to leave including the legion we have out on loan currently (like Fabio Borini, remember him?) it should hopefully make our wages much more manageable. Who we replace them with is another matter.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Fair point, didn't concede in 180 minutes against Wolves though.



Rodwell will still be with us because despite his words he doesn't want to leave and quite likes getting a steady pay packet for not even turning up for training. His wages will be slashed however but would still be at £40k a week until June 2019 when his contract runs out.

With many players likely to leave including the legion we have out on loan currently (like Fabio Borini, remember him?) it should hopefully make our wages much more manageable. Who we replace them with is another matter.

If Rodwell isn't turning up for training can't he be sacked for breach of contract?

 

[Marked Ox]

We haven't faired well against physical sides this season so that is certainly something that needs to be addressed by whoever comes in as manager. If not Akinfenwa will have a field day.

Hope Lincoln don't get promoted then with the Fat Monk leading their line.

 

[Gassy]

Hope Lincoln don't get promoted then with the Fat Monk leading their line.

Can you imagine if they did?

Imagine in 2017 Sunderland were a Prem team. In 2017 Lincoln were a conference team. A gap of 5 divisions. In 2018 they could play in the same league

 

[Hooped Wizard]

Absolutely with the current situation. No where above last.

What’s the cur next situation?

 

[Marked Ox]

Can you imagine if they did?

Imagine in 2017 Sunderland were a Prem team. In 2017 Lincoln were a conference team. A gap of 5 divisions. In 2018 they could play in the same league

That would be an amusing fixture. That said I'd rather they didn't with Mr Elbows up top.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Fair point, didn't concede in 180 minutes against Wolves though.



Rodwell will still be with us because despite his words he doesn't want to leave and quite likes getting a steady pay packet for not even turning up for training. His wages will be slashed however but would still be at £40k a week until June 2019 when his contract runs out.

With many players likely to leave including the legion we have out on loan currently (like Fabio Borini, remember him?) it should hopefully make our wages much more manageable. Who we replace them with is another matter.

40k a week. I wonder how many teams that is about or exceeds the budget of their starting eleven?

 

[Kenneth E End]

40k a week. I wonder how many teams that is about or exceeds the budget of their starting eleven?

Starting XI? That is over £2m a year! I'd say for probably half the division, that is their entire first team squad!

 

[DearneValleyRover]

40k a week. I wonder how many teams that is about or exceeds the budget of their starting eleven?

I would say at least 17 teams will have a weekly first team wage bill less than that.

 

[mowgli]

A fair few on here think we're down before a ball has been kicked because we have some older players but i'm sure Ainsworth swill bring in some younger players in before August so i'm not worried,not going straight back down like we have in recent seasons will be a good season for us.

 

[Fedora Dale]

A fair few on here think we're down before a ball has been kicked because we have some older players but i'm sure Ainsworth swill bring in some younger players in before August so i'm not worried,not going straight back down like we have in recent seasons will be a good season for us.

Hope you're right. Ainsworth/Wycombe seems to be the same sort of good fit of manager to club as Hill/Rochdale, Coleman/Accy and Tisdale/Exeter - and all four might be in direct competition next year in L1.

And it will be fun watching Ade Akinfenwa get the winner against Sunderland...

** Edit - you can add Neal Ardley and Darrel Clarke to the mix as well - two more who seem to be the "right fit" for their clubs...

 

[Marked Ox]

Hope you're right. Ainsworth/Wycombe seems to be the same sort of good fit of manager to club as Hill/Rochdale, Coleman/Accy and Tisdale/Exeter - and all four might be in direct competition next year in L1.

And it will be fun watching Ade Akinfenwa get the winner against Sunderland...

** Edit - you can add Neal Ardley and Darrel Clarke to the mix as well - two more who seem to be the "right fit" for their clubs...

I was under the impression Tisdale is leaving Exeter after the club initiated his notice period. I could be wrong and it has all been sorted out though.

 

[Gills4years]

Absolutely with the current situation. No where above last.

Firstly, great to see so many Luton fans contributing to this board but I find the expectations confusing.

They have just been promoted to League One behind Accy but so many of their fans seem to be confident of the play offs as a minimum. Nathan Jones is undoubtedly a talented manager but is someone pumping in a load of dosh for the upgrades a team normally needs after promotion? More than Portsmouth who attracted Jackett but still had to settle for mid table?

We actually won League Two a few years back, albeit with a Mad Dog team of old pros, but struggled at the start of the following season before changing most of the team and reaching safety late.

Conversely, Seaside Kurt and the Blackpool fans seemed to be convinced they are doomed despite also have an excellent manager and having recently torn Bradford City a new one and gubbed us on our own turf. I know the Oyston thing is blowing up again but that has been going on for years.

Have I missed something?

 

[Kenneth E End]

Firstly, great to see so many Luton fans contributing to this board but I find the expectations confusing.

They have just been promoted to League One behind Accy but so many of their fans seem to be confident of the play offs as a minimum. Nathan Jones is undoubtedly a talented manager but is someone pumping in a load of dosh for the upgrades a team normally needs after promotion? More than Portsmouth who attracted Jackett but still had to settle for mid table?

We actually won League Two a few years back, albeit with a Mad Dog team of old pros, but struggled at the start of the following season before changing most of the team and reaching safety late.

Conversely, Seaside Kurt and the Blackpool fans seemed to be convinced they are doomed despite also have an excellent manager and having recently torn Bradford City a new one and gubbed us on our own turf. I know the Oyston thing is blowing up again but that has been going on for years.

Have I missed something?

Not expectation, I’d say hope. Well certainly not my expectation anyway. We recruited for League 1 last summer and we have a number of younger players that are showing improvement as we move up the divisions. We scored well over 100 goals last season and for most of it, the best team.

I do think Accrington had a bit of luck on their side. Certainly against us in the home game, we had a blatant penalty turned down and pretty much dominated the game, until Kee steps up and scores a hopeful shot from 25 yards in the 90th minute.

We will have a top 6 budget this coming season; heck we probably spent £1m on transfer fees last season. We have profited from a number of player sales, which may well continue with James Justin and Jack Marriott. Last season we gained substantially on Andre Gray and Isaac Vassell, as well as Marriott himself.

We have, in my opinion, one of the best board of directors in the country who have continually backed every manager to the hilt. And these are genuine fans. Our current CEO was part of the supporters trust who chases as Gurney away in 2003 and forced the club into administration. We have very wealthy people behind us; one of which used to be David Bowie’s manager up until his death and is the chairman of Sony Records. They have spent over £20m in 10 years in shares plus committed to a further £20m on two pieces of land which will house our new stadium and enabling development, which in total will cost a significant 9 figure number. We have already sold 5000 season tickets, so the ground will be full every week.

 

[Gassy]

There is a huge difference in wages between L1 & 2 though. Apparently Luton had 1.8m roughly in 2015, I'm sure it's increased but I think I read somewhere that ours was something like 4m and we're bottom 6 in L1.

Here's some numbers I found from a few years ago:

I'm sure your owners have money - but it really doesn't sound sustainable to splash like that.

 

[Indian Dan]

Our nil budget could go some way to explaining our relegation!

 

[Gassy]

Our nil budget could go some way to explaining our relegation!

But at least you're financially stable for the first time in your history

 

[Indian Dan]

Always a silver lining!