So - what’s going to happen next season and why ?

[Bell4]

I don’t think we will sell Arblaster.

The Prince may be skint but he’s not daft.

He will know that Arblaster is worth far more as a proven player and also as a Premier League player and he doesn’t get a premium for either of those if he goes this summer.

I’m not convinced he’ll sell Hamer either, unless the player makes a big song and dance about leaving. He made a big thing about would you prefer Berge on a year’s contract or Hamer long term.

He’s not been like McCabe in that sense.

He’ll also believe in Wilder. He seemed regrettable it all ended as it did and he has shown patience in managers.

We will lose Archer though where he ends up will be interesting. He’d be an asset at that level. But for his part, he’s already done that. Maybe he’ll get shipped off to somewhere like the Netherlands on loan. As daft as it sounds, if he’s a loan option we should be in for him.

I can imagine Anel and Souza going late in the window. Wilder will probably have to strongarm the Board to get the players he needs early on.

As usual I think a lot will depend on the fitness of the squad. Players like Tom Davies and Brewster can be assets but how many matches can we get out of them.

If he gets all he wants and we stay clear of injury, we could still have too much quality for plenty of teams. Robinson, Egan and the right partner would still be a good Championship defence and Arblaster and Hamer a very good midfield base. We could be looking at top two.

The determining factor will be fitness. If this hits us again, then we could end up more like Wilder’s first Championship season where we ended up 10th after a bright start. I fear we end up with an over reliance on Brooks, Jebbison and Osula due to inadequate recruitment or unavailability.

Hopefully not so many derby games. I know Bell4 you mentioned you like this aspect as a fan. To me, you can often end up dropping points in these games against inferior teams as the occasion can be a leveller. We’ve been the inferior teams at times, like under Bassett and have faired well.

There may need to be some wheeling and dealing done but I do feel Wilder and co will feel on home turf at this level and will still be a big draw.

I just want to look forward to games again , I want the buzz and adrenaline back , and whilst I agree with your points re derby games I want as many as possible next season .

I’m honestly not that bothered , or expecting us to go up .

I want the buzz and the ability to compete

 

[ancientblade]

well according to 30k pigs who were at the sty saturday and the other 30k that were locked out there gonna finish top 6 next season but ive watched em a few times this season and theyve been awful for most of those games bannan is their only class player and he will be 35 next they havent a pot to piss in like us so wont be signing loads of better players i think with the correct signings mostly loans im sure we will comfortably finish above them

 

[djbaldken]

I don’t think we will sell Arblaster.

The Prince may be skint but he’s not daft.

He will know that Arblaster is worth far more as a proven player and also as a Premier League player and he doesn’t get a premium for either of those if he goes this summer.

I’m not convinced he’ll sell Hamer either, unless the player makes a big song and dance about leaving. He made a big thing about would you prefer Berge on a year’s contract or Hamer long term.

He’s not been like McCabe in that sense.

He’ll also believe in Wilder. He seemed regrettable it all ended as it did and he has shown patience in managers.

We will lose Archer though where he ends up will be interesting. He’d be an asset at that level. But for his part, he’s already done that. Maybe he’ll get shipped off to somewhere like the Netherlands on loan. As daft as it sounds, if he’s a loan option we should be in for him.

I can imagine Anel and Souza going late in the window. Wilder will probably have to strongarm the Board to get the players he needs early on.

As usual I think a lot will depend on the fitness of the squad. Players like Tom Davies and Brewster can be assets but how many matches can we get out of them.

If he gets all he wants and we stay clear of injury, we could still have too much quality for plenty of teams. Robinson, Egan and the right partner would still be a good Championship defence and Arblaster and Hamer a very good midfield base. We could be looking at top two.

The determining factor will be fitness. If this hits us again, then we could end up more like Wilder’s first Championship season where we ended up 10th after a bright start. I fear we end up with an over reliance on Brooks, Jebbison and Osula due to inadequate recruitment or unavailability.

Hopefully not so many derby games. I know Bell4 you mentioned you like this aspect as a fan. To me, you can often end up dropping points in these games against inferior teams as the occasion can be a leveller. We’ve been the inferior teams at times, like under Bassett and have faired well.

There may need to be some wheeling and dealing done but I do feel Wilder and co will feel on home turf at this level and will still be a big draw.

Agree with most of what you are saying here. Hopefully it will come to pass. But its more hope than expectations.

Players like Tom Davies and Brewster can be assets but how many matches can we get out of them.

Davies yes. Brewster, sorry, never even looked like an asset imo. Both injury prone so neither should be held onto.

 

[BobblesBlade]

16th.

 

[DannyRotten]

Arblaster has already been sold to Everton for £8m

£8m my god.

 

[Esteban Cambiasso]

Agree with most of what you are saying here. Hopefully it will come to pass. But its more hope than expectations.

Davies yes. Brewster, sorry, never even looked like an asset imo. Both injury prone so neither should be held onto.

It's guna be brewsters season, top scorer in the championship ....

 

[Silent Blade]

Arblaster has already been sold to Everton for £8m

£8m my god.

Everyone knows that this is bullshit cos Everton are likely to go into administration

 

[cahill]

Who knows until we see who we release, retain and sign. It's far too early to speculate when we have nothing to base that speculation on.

At the moment it would be guesses based on nothing but speculation and assumption.

And our Managers seeming inability to field a team that’s not leaking copious amounts of goals. Other than that I agree with you

 

[Rodley]

Need to bolster defence and attack. We’re currently defending like a bottom half of the Championship outfit (at best) and we’ll have no one left who can score more than 5-10 goals up top.

Smells like lower mid table, be a miracle if Wilder of Nazareth gets us near the top 10.

 

[Yogi]

If we have a reasonable budget to recruit the amount of players we need then I think we probably struggle to do the sheer volume of business we’re going to need to do in a timely fashion and so likely go into the season with a much changed squad of players that are unfamiliar with each other. This will then lead to a very slow start as players form partnerships and line ups and maybe formations are tinkered with. We start to settle down around Christmas and have a strong finish to the season finishing upper mid table.

 

[Proper Blade]

Wilder is already talking about maybe having to sell Hamer and relying on loans next season - again.

I thought this was the season when we could spend nowt, clear our debts and hit reset? Obviously not. When Archer goes back our net spend in the Prem will have been £0. Yet we're still talking about frees and loans. Sigh.

Mid-table.

 

[TJ blade]

Arblaster has already been sold to Everton for £8m

£8m my god.

Theve not got £8 quid never mind £8 mill

 

[SGBlade]

If we have a reasonable budget to recruit the amount of players we need then I think we probably struggle to do the sheer volume of business we’re going to need to do in a timely fashion and so likely go into the season with a much changed squad of players that are unfamiliar with each other. This will then lead to a very slow start as players form partnerships and line ups and maybe formations are tinkered with. We start to settle down around Christmas and have a strong finish to the season finishing upper mid table.

I agree with the gist of this and wouldn’t be surprised to be 15-20th after ten games, given the hangover form this year. But wages talk massively in the Champ. Even if we built a squad for. Scratch (we’re not far off) we will be challenging for the playoffs on our budget.

The things that can go wrong with teams in our situation (Sunderland, Wednesday, Huddersfield, Derby etc) are when off the field stuff gets toxic and spreads to the coaching and playing staff.

Could happen but my guess is it won’t. The prince has shown he understands what it takes at this level to succeed, so I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

Scrape into playoffs would be my bet.

 

[Bell4]

Everyone knows that this is bullshit cos Everton are likely to go into administration

Silent

Please stop with the potty mouth

You’re much better than that - What would John Hope think

 

[Bell4]

I agree with the gist of this and wouldn’t be surprised to be 15-20th after ten games, given the hangover form this year. But wages talk massively in the Champ. Even if we built a squad for. Scratch (we’re not far off) we will be challenging for the playoffs on our budget.

The things that can go wrong with teams in our situation (Sunderland, Wednesday, Huddersfield, Derby etc) are when off the field stuff gets toxic and spreads to the coaching and playing staff.

Could happen but my guess is it won’t. The prince has shown he understands what it takes at this level to succeed, so I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

Scrape into playoffs would be my bet.

What did the Prince show that provides evidence that he understands what it takes at this level ?

If it wasn’t for Hecky the Prince would be even further up the shitter without a paddle

 

[Pintor75]

It all depends on the squad, obviously, but Sell Mcburnie to Swans (they're after a striker)(he loves them) £8m, loan Jamal Lowe (Bournemouth)decent championship winger/midfielder, get Johanson + a goal scorer,maybe Longstaff from County, I'd even have Simon Moore back as back up over our 2 finish top half

 

[ormester]

No money for signings and well sell I reckon 4 for cash not to be seen again well bring in 5 loans may a few free signings and well sell blaster

 

[Harry's Game]

I think we will have a plodding sort of season, we will a few at home, the odd win and draw away from home interspersed with a few hammerings against the stronger Championship teams who will hit us with pace and power.

Hopefully we have enough to avoid getting dragged into a relegation scrap.

Finish around 15th place.

 

[The Fox]

In some ways I understand the doom and gloom on here following the season we've just experienced. However it's been clear that the premier league is a different level to the championship. I don't see any particularly strong teams coming down as the previous season ( assuming it's those that went up) and we have a rebuild opportunity around a decent core of experienced and younger players . Although my expectation is around top 6 ,neither would it surprise me if we were top 2 or 3 it given some luck with injuries . Of course it depends on recruitment and some younger players stepping up to the mark but overall optimistic that we'll have a decent season .

 

[Shawy24]

The inevitable has happened

What do you really think will happen next season ?

PURE SHEFFIELD UNITED? - 1. WIZARD OF OZ

Starring - Dorothy Wilder the little girl from Sheffield with her faithful doggy Toto Knill.

Dorothy is lazing about on the farm counting her pay off cash when all of a sudden a tornado appears in the shape of Storm Yusuf. She and Toto try to hide in her house, but Yusuf picks her house up and drops it slap bang in a different land where it unluckily plummets onto and kills the Wicked Witch of the East, otherwise known as Hecky. Oh dear, how sad, never mind says Dorothy.

The ruby red slippers of management worn by the evil but deceased Hecky are wanted by the evil Wicked Witch of the South West called Neil, but a good fairy called Sharon appears who makes sure that Dorothy inherits the ruby red slippers from Hecky and not Neil, who is needed to tend to his tractor.

Dorothy finds that she has ended up in Munchkinland which is populated by little people with name likes Ollie N, Yasser, Benie, Little Ben, Max, Cameron and Gus. This doesn’t seem to be a good place for Dorothy as she is premier league. Dorothy decides she must try and get back home to her cash. So Sharon the good fairy urges her to follow the Premier League Road to OZ where there is a Wizard who can help her get home.

Unfortunately however, as well as Munchkins, Dorothy also finds that the land has a Tin Man who needs a heart called Anel, A Scarecrow who needs a brain called Vini and a cowardly Lion looking for courage called Auston. Dorothy is stuck with these as travelling companions as she heads for OZ.

This ill fitting assortment of characters journeys down the Premier League Road. When they get to OZ, the Wizard’s guard, Ssssnake Betthissss, refuses them entry to see the Great Wizard but eventually he relents and the great Wizard appears to them as a huge ghostly apparition. The Wizard says he is not really there but projecting his image. He says he is never in OZ anyway.He is too big for OZ. He has a world to tend to. However, if Dorothy and her companions want anything from him she must take on a task. He sets Dorothy and Toto a task to finish Neil off for good and bring back his premiership broomstick. Dorothy and Toto set off, but before they get to him Neil does himself in with an ill judged visit to Scotland.

Dorothy returns to OZ and confronts the great apparition that is the Wizard and tells him that if he wants the broomstick he had better get enough dosh together to get some bigger Munchkins and give his companions some heart, brains and courage. The Wizard tells him to go away and not bother his all powerful majestic magnificence as he is watching the 49ers draft. Dorothy and Toto pull back a curtain in the Wizard’s Platinum Suite and find the Wizard hiding there using Gary Sinclair’s PA system. They are surprised to find he is not all powerful and magnificent but is in fact a lardy bloke with his arse hanging out of Matalan lounge pants with no money.

The Wizard confesses that he is a bit of a fraud but it’s not his fault. He ended up in OZ when the previous Great Wizard Kev hijacked his hot air balloon thinking he was a fabulously wealthy Arab Prince and he’s had to keep up the pretence ever since Kev left for Scarborough. He says he too wants to get back to his home to count his money in a place called United World somewhere near San Fran. In fact anywhere but OZ, but he explains the munchkins have cost a lot of money and unless he gets his money back he can’t afford another hot air balloon.

Dorothy and Toto help the Wizard by selling the munchkins, the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Lion for what they can get and sell some more valuable Munchkins that they have found called George, Dan, Ollie M and Ollie A. They manage to buy the Wizard a new hot air balloon with half the money raised and the Wizard says Dorothy and Toto can keep the rest of the cash if they come with him to United World. He promises to take Dorothy and Toto with him if they put the cash in the basket and then help him take off. As they cast him off and are about to jump in the balloon basket, the Wizard throws a sack out of the basket to allow the balloon to rise. The Balloon and Wizard, humming a merry tune of Hi Ho Silver Lining, sails off into the setting sun leaving Dorothy and Toto alone with the sack.

The sack starts to move. It jumps up and wobbles about and then falls over. Dorothy and Toto rush to open it wondering what the Wizard has left them. They open the sack and out pops a Munchkin who says “Hi it’s Rhian, me fucking hamstring’s gone again” Dorothy picks up Toto, clicks the heels of her ruby red slippers and they’re gone. Never to be seen again in OZ. The end.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

I just want to look forward to games again , I want the buzz and adrenaline back , and whilst I agree with your points re derby games I want as many as possible next season .

I’m honestly not that bothered , or expecting us to go up .

I want the buzz and the ability to compete

That pretty much sums up myself & the mates , just to see us competitive again & not lose to the Oinks

 

[UddersBlade]

I agree. I’m fed up with chasing the false dream of the Premier League. It’s like a posh private members club for 10-12 clubs. New guests aren’t welcome!

Just looking forward to seeing us play in a competitive league, a few drinks with mates - not bothered if we end up 10th to 15th. I just want the enjoyment back. And yes - just not want to lose against the Darkside….

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

When was the last time we played the Darkside at Bramall Lane in .......daylight ?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Everyone knows that this is bullshit cos Everton are likely to go into administration

Rotten “bantz”

 

[Rodley]

In some ways I understand the doom and gloom on here following the season we've just experienced. However it's been clear that the premier league is a different level to the championship. I don't see any particularly strong teams coming down as the previous season ( assuming it's those that went up) and we have a rebuild opportunity around a decent core of experienced and younger players . Although my expectation is around top 6 ,neither would it surprise me if we were top 2 or 3 it given some luck with injuries . Of course it depends on recruitment and some younger players stepping up to the mark but overall optimistic that we'll have a decent season .

Just can’t understand the basis of any optimism. We’re not like a normal Prem team coming down. We defend like a bottom 6 championship club. The remaining players under contract are midtable at best (strikeforce and defence woeful), inexperienced or their attitude stinks and we have little budget and no track record of getting players in fast.

 

[Sean Thornton]

PURE SHEFFIELD UNITED? - 1. WIZARD OF OZ

Starring - Dorothy Wilder the little girl from Sheffield with her faithful doggy Toto Knill.

Dorothy is lazing about on the farm counting her pay off cash when all of a sudden a tornado appears in the shape of Storm Yusuf. She and Toto try to hide in her house, but Yusuf picks her house up and drops it slap bang in a different land where it unluckily plummets onto and kills the Wicked Witch of the East, otherwise known as Hecky. Oh dear, how sad, never mind says Dorothy.

The ruby red slippers of management worn by the evil but deceased Hecky are wanted by the evil Wicked Witch of the South West called Neil, but a good fairy called Sharon appears who makes sure that Dorothy inherits the ruby red slippers from Hecky and not Neil, who is needed to tend to his tractor.

Dorothy finds that she has ended up in Munchkinland which is populated by little people with name likes Ollie N, Yasser, Benie, Little Ben, Max, Cameron and Gus. This doesn’t seem to be a good place for Dorothy as she is premier league. Dorothy decides she must try and get back home to her cash. So Sharon the good fairy urges her to follow the Premier League Road to OZ where there is a Wizard who can help her get home.

Unfortunately however, as well as Munchkins, Dorothy also finds that the land has a Tin Man who needs a heart called Anel, A Scarecrow who needs a brain called Vini and a cowardly Lion looking for courage called Auston. Dorothy is stuck with these as travelling companions as she heads for OZ.

This ill fitting assortment of characters journeys down the Premier League Road. When they get to OZ, the Wizard’s guard, Ssssnake Betthissss, refuses them entry to see the Great Wizard but eventually he relents and the great Wizard appears to them as a huge ghostly apparition. The Wizard says he is not really there but projecting his image. He says he is never in OZ anyway.He is too big for OZ. He has a world to tend to. However, if Dorothy and her companions want anything from him she must take on a task. He sets Dorothy and Toto a task to finish Neil off for good and bring back his premiership broomstick. Dorothy and Toto set off, but before they get to him Neil does himself in with an ill judged visit to Scotland.

Dorothy returns to OZ and confronts the great apparition that is the Wizard and tells him that if he wants the broomstick he had better get enough dosh together to get some bigger Munchkins and give his companions some heart, brains and courage. The Wizard tells him to go away and not bother his all powerful majestic magnificence as he is watching the 49ers draft. Dorothy and Toto pull back a curtain in the Wizard’s Platinum Suite and find the Wizard hiding there using Gary Sinclair’s PA system. They are surprised to find he is not all powerful and magnificent but is in fact a lardy bloke with his arse hanging out of Matalan lounge pants with no money.

The Wizard confesses that he is a bit of a fraud but it’s not his fault. He ended up in OZ when the previous Great Wizard Kev hijacked his hot air balloon thinking he was a fabulously wealthy Arab Prince and he’s had to keep up the pretence ever since Kev left for Scarborough. He says he too wants to get back to his home to count his money in a place called United World somewhere near San Fran. In fact anywhere but OZ, but he explains the munchkins have cost a lot of money and unless he gets his money back he can’t afford another hot air balloon.

Dorothy and Toto help the Wizard by selling the munchkins, the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Lion for what they can get and sell some more valuable Munchkins that they have found called George, Dan, Ollie M and Ollie A. They manage to buy the Wizard a new hot air balloon with half the money raised and the Wizard says Dorothy and Toto can keep the rest of the cash if they come with him to United World. He promises to take Dorothy and Toto with him if they put the cash in the basket and then help him take off. As they cast him off and are about to jump in the balloon basket, the Wizard throws a sack out of the basket to allow the balloon to rise. The Balloon and Wizard, humming a merry tune of Hi Ho Silver Lining, sails off into the setting sun leaving Dorothy and Toto alone with the sack.

The sack starts to move. It jumps up and wobbles about and then falls over. Dorothy and Toto rush to open it wondering what the Wizard has left them. They open the sack and out pops a Munchkin who says “Hi it’s Rhian, me fucking hamstring’s gone again” Dorothy picks up Toto, clicks the heels of her ruby red slippers and they’re gone. Never to be seen again in OZ. The end.

“And you weren’t there, and you weren’t there and you weren’t there. In fact none of the defence was. Gerram Toto”

 

[Mattblade68]

Obviously this does not include Burnley but just leaving it here ...

 

[Sean Thornton]

Obviously this does not include Burnley but just leaving it here ...

If you click on the attachment before you post it gives you a full image option.

 

[The Fox]

Just can’t understand the basis of any optimism. We’re not like a normal Prem team coming down. We defend like a bottom 6 championship club. The remaining players under contract are midtable at best (strikeforce and defence woeful), inexperienced or their attitude stinks and we have little budget and no track record of getting players in fast.

Suppose the reason for cautious optimism is that non of us have a crystal ball and its better than bring pessimistic.
We got promoted with alot of mid table players but we're better than the sum of our parts , we don't know ehat the budget is or how it compares but its likely to be one of the highest and the rest so all in all the season could turn out to be anything ,at this stage I'm remaining hopefull

 

[metalblade]

As it stands we are 20pts behind 17th placed Forest anyone still think we will do better next season at a lower level? I think we will struggle.