Welcome Sunderland

[mowgli]

I never thought we'd be playing Sunderland in League games although it will a great experience for our fans and players especially in the away game.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

I never thought we'd be playing Sunderland in League games although it will a great experience for our fans and players especially in the away game.

I suspect it will be an even greater experience for their players and fans when they play you (and a few others)

 

[EricSabin]

Rumours Sunderland want Chris Wilder as their new gaffer. He seems to be frustrated at the lack of backing at Sheff U, and Donald actually paid Oxford the compensation we were meant to when he joined us a few years ago, as our shithouse chairman didn't want to.

 

[villa loyal]

Great choice if they manage to get him. The fans will love his style of football. Surely he will want another crack at Sheffield United next season though.

 

[T.A]

Rumours Sunderland want Chris Wilder as their new gaffer. He seems to be frustrated at the lack of backing at Sheff U, and Donald actually paid Oxford the compensation we were meant to when he joined us a few years ago, as our shithouse chairman didn't want to.

Eh? If Wilder left Sheffield United far better clubs than Sunderland would be in for him.

Major step down for a good manager.

 

[villa loyal]

Eh? If Wilder left Sheffield United far better clubs than Sunderland would be in for him.

Major step down for a good manager.

With funds available it's an attractive opportunity.

 

[EricSabin]

As I said he's also very good friends with Stewart Donald

 

[T.A]

With funds available it's an attractive opportunity.

Hmm I dunno about that. Just think it would be a massive step back for him. He's better than League 1

 

[Bobbin']

Makes sense to me.

Big budget, will walk the league and get another promotion on his CV, and within at least 2 seasons will probably have them promoted back to the PL. A case of going backwards to go forwards.

 

[villa loyal]

Hmm I dunno about that. Just think it would be a massive step back for him. He's better than League 1

He is , but unless some prem club came in for him, I could see him being very interested in the Sunderland job, if the right amount of funds are made available.

 

[villa loyal]

Makes sense to me.

Big budget, will walk the league and get another promotion on his CV, and within at least 2 seasons will probably have them promoted back to the PL. A case of going backwards to go forwards.

He will certainly have them back in the championship sharpish, but returning back to the prem take a bit of work, and won't be easy.

 

[Bobbin']

He will certainly have them back in the championship sharpish, but returning back to the prem take a bit of work, and won't be easy.

Will at the very least have them in and around the top 6 I would think.

 

[villa loyal]

Will at the very least have them in and around the top 6 I would think.

Not sure about that. Look at us last season, we were garbage. This season we've made hard work of it at times, and that's with imo a very good team for this level.

 

[Bobbin']

Not sure about that. Look at us last season, we were garbage. This season we've made hard work of it at times, and that's with imo a very good team for this level.

Just feel like it would be a different mindset than the one at Villa at the moment. Villa still seem to be reeling from a few bad years and even now not all fans are behind Bruce etc.

A change of ownership for Sunderland and a big promotion would give them new impetus and get everyone pulling in the same direction again. Could see them going on to do a Southampton or Norwich.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

I always thought Sheff Utd was meant to be the pinnacle for Wilder, which is the main thing making me hesitate about the rumour.

Donald is close to all things Oxford. If I was Appleton, I'd be reaaaaaal interested.

 

[villa loyal]

Just feel like it would be a different mindset than the one at Villa at the moment. Villa still seem to be reeling from a few bad years and even now not all fans are behind Bruce etc.

A change of ownership for Sunderland and a big promotion would give them new impetus and get everyone pulling in the same direction again. Could see them going on to do a Southampton or Norwich.

We had the new owner which helped lift a lot of the doom and gloom. We spent a lot of money which got us nowhere last season. i just don't see it as plain sailing as you do. A five year plan for Sunderland to get back into the championship would be realistic.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

We had the new owner which helped lift a lot of the doom and gloom. We spent a lot of money which got us nowhere last season. i just don't see it as plain sailing as you do. A five year plan for Sunderland to get back into the championship would be realistic.

Do you mean Premier League? They will get 90+ points next year no problem, even if they don't strengthen they'll have a good chance of promotion. A few teams who have ended below 40 points in recent years have looked almost world class at this level, such is the gap between the two leagues. It would be a complete waste of time making a plan for that time frame at this level.

 

[villa loyal]

Do you mean Premier League? They will get 90+ points next year no problem, even if they don't strengthen they'll have a good chance of promotion. A few teams who have ended below 40 points in recent years have looked almost world class at this level, such is the gap between the two leagues. It would be a complete waste of time making a plan for that time frame at this level.

Yes, I meant the premier league. I expect them to come straight back up from league 1, but the championship is much tougher.

 

[Marked Ox]

I always thought Sheff Utd was meant to be the pinnacle for Wilder, which is the main thing making me hesitate about the rumour.

Donald is close to all things Oxford. If I was Appleton, I'd be reaaaaaal interested.

Assuming MApp doesn't get the West Bromwich job which is distinctly possible.

 

[Super_horns]

Strange going ins in their search for a manager .

First the new owner said Chris Coleman could be re-appointed and now they are going to announce the St MIrren manager as their new boss..

Only thing is St Mirren said they have had no contact with Sunderland!

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

I expect to see Sunderland promoted sooner rather than later, but it can't be under estimated what a mess the club are in at the moment.
I don't think it will be the cakewalk many on here are anticipating and may take a couple of years before they sort out the mess and gain the inevitable Promotion.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Yes, I meant the premier league. I expect them to come straight back up from league 1, but the championship is much tougher.

Villa Loyal, this is a genuine question, not a pop. If you lose today is there a danger you could be the next Sunderland, and be league one bound? I ask because it sounds like your finances are in a bad way in terms of players salaries, and I just wondered how bad or not they are?

 

[villa loyal]

Villa Loyal, this is a genuine question, not a pop. If you lose today is there a danger you could be the next Sunderland, and be league one bound? I ask because it sounds like your finances are in a bad way in terms of players salaries, and I just wondered how bad or not they are?

Not a chance. Our finances are a bit of a mystery. Us villa fans still don’t know how rich our owner is, but one thing we do know is that we spent huge to try and bounce back, and we failed. Some will leave, and some will stay, but I can see us around the play offs again next season. Even if some decent players leave, I think we will still be stronger than Sunderland and won’t have to worry about relegation. I have no doubt if Randy Lener wouldn’t have sold when we got relegated we would have double dropped like Sunderland. We still get around 20m in parachute payments for next season. After next season we are on our own. Personally, I don’t think things are too bad, and by all accounts our board had a plan B in case we never got promoted this season.

 

[HertsWolf]

Yeah I'm probably been a bit gloomy but dear me there's a lot of negativity hanging over the club. To be honest looking forward to next season.

Happened to us when we came down to L1. But once we had got rid of the dross, we rebuilt and the good times rolled pretty quickly. But it's not easy to get out. I think we were quite lucky with a few signings....McDonald, James Henry, Michael Jacobs, Scott Golbourne. By December we were getting more than 20,000 at home games and we were back in business and smiling again. And reminding people that we were **by far** the best team the world had ever seen. Which, of course, we are. Even if Stevenage and Crawley also sing it.

 

[Hooped Wizard]

Just signed Chris Maguire, bit underwhelming isn’t it?

 

[WatermansArms]

It won't be plain sailing and doubt we will walk it. A lot of changes will be made with the big earners and the dead wood going and even the players the manager wants to keep will have their price. Even with the parachute payments we only spent £1.3 million this season so we won't be splashing the cash. To be honest not sure how we will do.

Well, it's physical and the refs lenient. Some tough old places to go. Looking forward to Kick off at S OL shame about the Kick off time !

 

[Kenneth E End]

Sunderland will be that big fish that every team that wants to take out. That tag we struggled with in the Conference. Playing us as our first home game back at L1 level for 10 years is great for us.