Next Season’s expectations

[dellasthunderbolt]

As it feels so difficult to judge the success (or otherwise) of Wilder this season without any alleged prejudice being claimed let’s figure out what we expect next season so that we have benchmark to either celebrate (if we succeed) or criticise (if we fail). Personally, we MUST be in the running for the top 8 and the play offs next year by Christmas. My biggest fear (as others have pointed out) is that anything less than this and we become a Preston - perennial existers in the Championship and nothing more.

Obviously, this expectation is with the assumption that Wilder continues (as has been intimated by the owners).

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

The last time we spent more than two seasons in this division we ended up relegated to League One.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

I want exciting , positive football. Not holding on to 1-0 's for a playoff place.

 

[LBA_Blade]

As it feels so difficult to judge the success (or otherwise) of Wilder this season without any alleged prejudice being claimed let’s figure out what we expect next season so that we have benchmark to either celebrate (if we succeed) or criticise (if we fail). Personally, we MUST be in the running for the top 8 and the play offs next year by Christmas. My biggest fear (as others have pointed out) is that anything less than this and we become a Preston - perennial existers in the Championship and nothing more.

Obviously, this expectation is with the assumption that Wilder continues (as has been intimated by the owners).

When talking to a mate after the match yesterday (yeah have mates that’s not the shocking bit) I said that unless Sheffield as a city becomes investable or attractive we as a club are going to be either “Premier League 2” or “Championship 1” on our day, examples like the home game against Ipswich we are too good for most of the Championship but we don’t have the funding to make the leap up to mid-table Premier League or even 17th. It’s difficult to really know what this team is capable of, at times we have played some of the most attractive football in a long time then the next match is like we haven’t played on grass before. There is going to be a shortfall in budget but apart from Brooks, the others seem to have fallen back in their development recently, that could be tiredness from a long season or carrying injuries which may put off some buyers. I have said it countless times but we need a £100million war chest if we do end up going up and we aren’t attractive enough as a city to bring that. You look at the smaller clubs in the Premier League in terms of fan base and ground sizes and they are based around what would be deemed more fashionable areas like Fulham, Bournemouth and Brentford.

 

[JayGreen17]

We’re a massive club for this division, if we aren’t going for top 2 then the owners need to sell up and get out, that doesn’t mean spendageddon, that means infrastructure investment and building a modern football structure like Sunderland has done. The blue print is there, it’s worked not only at Sunderland but at many so called “Smaller” clubs like Brentford and B’mouth and add in Brighton to that list.

If we can see progression and ambition off the pitch with steady on the pitch improvements generated by the off pitch infrastructure then there should be no complaints.

Unfortunately I just don’t see any of this with the current owners, they’ll persevere with Wilder as they’re petrified of what may happen if they don’t.

So my expectations for next season will be for Wilder to continue as manager, I can see see us finishing top 10, probs just missing out on top 8, we’ll continue to see terrible fitness levels, players weak of mind as well as body. I also expect to see a return to turgid defensive football, as he tries to shore up our weak defence and reduce the number of points lost from winning position. We need to build a team around Jairo, Bamford, Brooks & Seriki, sell or whoever will have the rest and invest wisely. We need to sell Peck and Hamer for the £ Hamer is a luxury that we aren’t getting the most out of, and Peck for me will be a good player but just not good enough for us right now and if we can cash in then do it.

My prediction at this point in time 10th. More disappointment and underachievement.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

We’re a massive club for this division, if we aren’t going for top 2 then the owners need to sell up and get out, that doesn’t mean spendageddon, that means infrastructure investment and building a modern football structure like Sunderland has done. The blue print is there, it’s worked not only at Sunderland but at many so called “Smaller” clubs like Brentford and B’mouth and add in Brighton to that list.

If we can see progression and ambition off the pitch with steady on the pitch improvements generated by the off pitch infrastructure then there should be no complaints.

Unfortunately I just don’t see any of this with the current owners, they’ll persevere with Wilder as they’re petrified of what may happen if they don’t.

So my expectations for next season will be for Wilder to continue as manager, I can see see us finishing top 10, probs just missing out on top 8, we’ll continue to see terrible fitness levels, players weak of mind as well as body. I also expect to see a return to turgid defensive football, as he tries to shore up our weak defence and reduce the number of points lost from winning position. We need to build a team around Jairo, Bamford, Brooks & Seriki, sell or whoever will have the rest and invest wisely. We need to sell Peck and Hamer for the £ Hamer is a luxury that we aren’t getting the most out of, and Peck for me will be a good player but just not good enough for us right now and if we can cash in then do it.

My prediction at this point in time 10th. More disappointment and underachievement.

My kids have been instructed to cart me off to the care home if I ever start to talk about my Beloved Blades as a "massive club."

I'm certainly hoping a summer rebuild will get us back in contention but it wouldn't surprise me if the damage done this season takes several windows to fix.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

We’re a massive club for this division

In what respect?

 

[calcalcal]

Our chance has gone
Very weak division this season the owners poor summer has cost us that chance
Next season youve got one of ipswich/southampton, Birmingham with all their money. Possibly Disney with all theirs too. That money will talk in 2nd year. Also Norwich flying. Leicester if they survive. Plus wolves and Burnley. Plus possibly one of west ham or spurs. Going to be a brutal league

 

[Bladedog]

I just expect more poor fitness and conditioning.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I always look forward to seasons in the Championship. It’s a great league, I prefer it to the PL which, frankly, bores me these days.

Next season’s Championship is shaping up to be a corker. I’m expecting some great games against good sides. I would accept a mid table finish provided that we get to see evidence of development and progression, and something being built. Making the play offs would obviously be a measure of success but I wouldn’t want to see that achieved by attempting to grind out dour 1-0 wins.

 

[Blademan89]

Cant really judge until towards end of the window, we need to see what sort of squad rebuild we have. In saying that I believe we will finish around 4th, if we have a really good window and strong pre season (fitness & work on defence) then I can see us pushing the other 3 a bit harder.

Overall play offs & anything else is a spectacular failure.

 

[bornablade]

My expectation is to finish as champions.

I hope all supporters, management, coaching staff, players and owners have the same expectation.

I can't see the point in starting the season if the intention is not to win the bloody thing.

 

[Blacksea]

Has anybody got any insights into the relationship between Wilder and the owners now?
Obviously,what transpired over the summer and with his return,Wilders hand has been strengthened in that relationship,so are they listening to him more and basing future decisions on what he is telling them,with the possibility that the current problems may not be solved,or have they got another sounding board they can turn to that may tell them information they are not getting?
For example,any owner of a club should be asking questions about the failure to convert numerous winnings positions into actual wins,but what are our owners seeing,are they aware,if they are,are they seeing it as the big problem that it is,and if they are,what are they being told.
We already know that the Bord adventure proves they are novices in the game of English club ownership,but is Wilder now the only one who is going to try and educate them more,with all his pluses and minuses?

 

[54yrblade]

We’re a massive club for this division, if we aren’t going for top 2 then the owners need to sell up and get out, that doesn’t mean spendageddon, that means infrastructure investment and building a modern football structure like Sunderland has done. The blue print is there, it’s worked not only at Sunderland but at many so called “Smaller” clubs like Brentford and B’mouth and add in Brighton to that list.

If we can see progression and ambition off the pitch with steady on the pitch improvements generated by the off pitch infrastructure then there should be no complaints.

Unfortunately I just don’t see any of this with the current owners, they’ll persevere with Wilder as they’re petrified of what may happen if they don’t.

So my expectations for next season will be for Wilder to continue as manager, I can see see us finishing top 10, probs just missing out on top 8, we’ll continue to see terrible fitness levels, players weak of mind as well as body. I also expect to see a return to turgid defensive football, as he tries to shore up our weak defence and reduce the number of points lost from winning position. We need to build a team around Jairo, Bamford, Brooks & Seriki, sell or whoever will have the rest and invest wisely. We need to sell Peck and Hamer for the £ Hamer is a luxury that we aren’t getting the most out of, and Peck for me will be a good player but just not good enough for us right now and if we can cash in then do it.

My prediction at this point in time 10th. More disappointment and underachievement.

We are not 'massive'

We have a club that is badly run at board level, a manager who has been used to curry favour with the fans ('we've given you what you want, please don't hate us') by a board who are floundering in a place they didn't sign up to be in. They wanted PL. The team and manager ballsed it up.

We have an impressive ground, 27000+ fans who will turn up every home game to watch sub par performances but the hope is dropping out.

We could have been bigger had we not screwed our PL times up so embarrassingly badly, but we're OK with that, apparently. We're massive remember?

A big club in buildings and big fan numbers, but the on and off field truths tell a different story.

Not massive. Badly led, we lack real positivity and business direction.

Leave 'massive' for S6 eh?

Nice fireworks and suit though .....

 

[Harry's Game]

I think we finish 10th - 15th next season.. then in a relegation battle the season after.

 

[Hanauer]

When talking to a mate after the match yesterday (yeah have mates that’s not the shocking bit) I said that unless Sheffield as a city becomes investable or attractive we as a club are going to be either “Premier League 2” or “Championship 1” on our day, examples like the home game against Ipswich we are too good for most of the Championship but we don’t have the funding to make the leap up to mid-table Premier League or even 17th. It’s difficult to really know what this team is capable of, at times we have played some of the most attractive football in a long time then the next match is like we haven’t played on grass before. There is going to be a shortfall in budget but apart from Brooks, the others seem to have fallen back in their development recently, that could be tiredness from a long season or carrying injuries which may put off some buyers. I have said it countless times but we need a £100million war chest if we do end up going up and we aren’t attractive enough as a city to bring that. You look at the smaller clubs in the Premier League in terms of fan base and ground sizes and they are based around what would be deemed more fashionable areas like Fulham, Bournemouth and Brentford.

.... and nearby airports and positive Councils.

 

[bornablade]

Has anybody got any insights into the relationship between Wilder and the owners now?
Obviously,what transpired over the summer and with his return,Wilders hand has been strengthened in that relationship,so are they listening to him more and basing future decisions on what he is telling them,with the possibility that the current problems may not be solved,or have they got another sounding board they can turn to that may tell them information they are not getting?
For example,any owner of a club should be asking questions about the failure to convert numerous winnings positions into actual wins,but what are our owners seeing,are they aware,if they are,are they seeing it as the big problem that it is,and if they are,what are they being told.
We already know that the Bord adventure proves they are novices in the game of English club ownership,but is Wilder now the only one who is going to try and educate them more,with all his pluses and minuses?

I think that a great deal of the negativity on these threads at prsent would be more controlled if we had an idea of what the medium to long term strategy of the club is.

The new owners have been in place long enough to give us a little more than...

'we want to become a well-established Premier league club'.

I understand that Bettis had a one to one fans forum a couple of weeks ago but there was no clear indication from the Board about what we will look like say in 5 or 10 years time.

To many on here it really feels like shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

[54yrblade]

I think we finish 10th - 15th next season.. then in a relegation battle the season after.

I said 10th to 16th this season and tend to agree about next season. Another 'rinse and repeat' season with some serious risks built in, given what's gone on this season, both before and after the chosen one returned.

 

[54yrblade]

I just expect more poor fitness and conditioning.

I hope for that, but don't believe it will change. The team is a reflection of the standards imposed and last season and now this one prove there is a real weakness either in how fitness an conditioning are approached, in how it's put across or in personal responsibility of all involved.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

I think we will get in the expanded play offs without having the good run we had for a spell this season

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

We seem to say this every year but this summer does feel a huge one. There’s serious work needs doing to this squad in terms of composition, fitness, mentality and tactical flexibility. I’m not convinced yet that we’re a top half club as it stands but we can be if we recruit sensibly and address those other issues. As much as it sticks in my craw a little Coventry, to a degree Boro and Millwall show you can build competitively without spending silly money.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Top two won't be happening with whats coming down..so you can cross that hope off the list.

Much will depend on how the team is de-constructed and then restructured during the summer break.

 

[relish]

Assuming a 'normal' summer (some comings and goings, a handful of decent loans, but no mega-investment in the squad), I think we'll be somewhere between 5th-9th next season. Play-off possibilities, but far from nailed on. I think it's very unlikely we'll go up.*

*I'm not too worried about promotion because I hate the Premier League, but in an ideal world I'd like to see us win the Championship and ask permission to stay down.

 

[Badger Blade]

Next season will be the truest test of Wilder's abilities since his first spell in my opinion.

There's no parachute money, there's no real momentum to build from so its up to him to reset things properly over the preseason and get us back into contention, like when he took over in League One.

A sizable amount of the players Wilder's working with now will most likely be gone in the summer - maybe Hamer, at least one of Peck/Brooks/Seriki, Mee, Ings, the six loanees, T.Davies, hopefully Matos and Shackleton and most if not all of the AI signings.

It's a clean-ish slate with no hangovers or fingers to point in any other directions if things don't go to plan.

 

[Balham]

Has anybody got any insights into the relationship between Wilder and the owners now?
Obviously,what transpired over the summer and with his return,Wilders hand has been strengthened in that relationship,so are they listening to him more and basing future decisions on what he is telling them,with the possibility that the current problems may not be solved,or have they got another sounding board they can turn to that may tell them information they are not getting?
For example,any owner of a club should be asking questions about the failure to convert numerous winnings positions into actual wins,but what are our owners seeing,are they aware,if they are,are they seeing it as the big problem that it is,and if they are,what are they being told.
We already know that the Bord adventure proves they are novices in the game of English club ownership,but is Wilder now the only one who is going to try and educate them more,with all his pluses and minuses?

I doubt anyone outside the boardroom knows what the relationship is truly like but the owners have set their course fairly firmly with Wilder for the foreseeable future. The review of this season will be mixed - like it or not, he had 41 matches and a transfer window and results have been up and down - but we were burned by the decision to fire Wilder after the play off final so I expect him to have a brief to get us into contention for the top 4-6 by Christmas.

Long experience with Wilder tells us that he will have informed the board that all he needs is more players to his liking. Expect to see a fairly high turnover of players in the summer, experience prioritised over potential and a focus on domestic players.

A sizable amount of the players Wilder's working with now will most likely be gone in the summer - maybe Hamer, at least one of Peck/Brooks/Seriki, Mee, Ings, the six loanees, T.Davies, hopefully Matos and Shackleton and most if not all of the AI signings.

Hamer will go. We should sell Peck but instead Wilder will push for Brooks and Seriki to be cashed in on. We'll release Ings (what a catastrophic signing he was), Mee and Davies. I'm slightly worried that Riedewald's wages will be considered too expensive so he will leave as well. Matos will be transfer listed along with Polendakov, Ukaki, Grbic and Nwachuckwu. We'll actively seek buyers for Chong and McGuinness and probably aim to come to a mutual agreement with Shackleton. Offers for Burrows, Campbell and Cannon will be carefully considered.

The permanent shopping list is therefore: 1x CB (expect a big push for Souttar if Leicester go down, irrespective of whether he's fit and/or back to his previous levels), 1x RB, 1x RM, 1x LM, 2x CF (Wilder can never have enough).

There are going to be some significant holes to fill:
GK: Cooper, Davies, Faxon
LB: McCallum, Burrows*
RB: Seriki^
CB: Tanganga, McGuinness*
LM: Hamer^
CM: Arblaster, Riedewald, Peck, Rothwell
RM: Brooks^
AM: O'Hare
CF: Bamford, Campbell*, Cannon*

^I expect these players to be sold
*I expect we'll consider offers for these players

 

[CarlMcBlade]

I really do hope the 3 teams promoted are non-parachute clubs. This might indicate to our owners, that it is possible to get to the promised land without the financial assistance of the Prem league.
Just hope we dont use our lack of parachute money as an excuse to hide behind. We do have a good core to the team, and with the right recruitment, we can be competitive again.

 

[Blacksea]

The thing with extra play off places is that it's going to lessen the pressure on a few managers to deliver some sort of success, quality of performance is liable to be glossed over if it means a top 8 finish is fought for and even achieved,no matter that the measurement of success has been watered down.
You can imagine local media hailing it a successful season to get top 8,even if the play offs that follows are again unsuccessful, it'll be well,you would have taken that at the start of the season,wouldn't you,?
But the season next year has to be judged on game by game performance,and it has to be better,by some way,than this season, including individual and collective standards,so as we all have known for a long time now,this is all going to come down to the quality of recruitment,fitness and the aforementioned standards game by game, including the management team.
There has to be a comprehensive statement from the club in the next few months that the management and owners are as aware as we are of the problems that have beset this season all the way through,and the comprehensive response and planning that needs to be put in place to address the problems is going to be put in place,and the club are going to fill us in on exactly what that plan is going to be as we approach next season by using local media and fan forums to outline that plan,aims and standards that everyone associated with the club will be expected to rise to,and be judged by throughout next season

 

[Champagneblade]

I doubt anyone outside the boardroom knows what the relationship is truly like but the owners have set their course fairly firmly with Wilder for the foreseeable future. The review of this season will be mixed - like it or not, he had 41 matches and a transfer window and results have been up and down - but we were burned by the decision to fire Wilder after the play off final so I expect him to have a brief to get us into contention for the top 4-6 by Christmas.

Long experience with Wilder tells us that he will have informed the board that all he needs is more players to his liking. Expect to see a fairly high turnover of players in the summer, experience prioritised over potential and a focus on domestic players.


Hamer will go. We should sell Peck but instead Wilder will push for Brooks and Seriki to be cashed in on. We'll release Ings (what a catastrophic signing he was), Mee and Davies. I'm slightly worried that Riedewald's wages will be considered too expensive so he will leave as well. Matos will be transfer listed along with Polendakov, Ukaki, Grbic and Nwachuckwu. We'll actively seek buyers for Chong and McGuinness and probably aim to come to a mutual agreement with Shackleton. Offers for Burrows, Campbell and Cannon will be carefully considered.

The permanent shopping list is therefore: 1x CB (expect a big push for Souttar if Leicester go down, irrespective of whether he's fit and/or back to his previous levels), 1x RB, 1x RM, 1x LM, 2x CF (Wilder can never have enough).

There are going to be some significant holes to fill:
GK: Cooper, Davies, Faxon
LB: McCallum, Burrows*
RB: Seriki^
CB: Tanganga, McGuinness*
LM: Hamer^
CM: Arblaster, Riedewald, Peck, Rothwell
RM: Brooks^
AM: O'Hare
CF: Bamford, Campbell*, Cannon*

^I expect these players to be sold
*I expect we'll consider offers for these players

Based on budgets I wonder if we’re in for a formation change again?

Back to 3-5-2 or 3-5-1-1 or even 3-4-3?

Forward creative players are bound to cost more. So we lose a Gus for instance. Whats cheaper? Get another Gus type or bang in another centre half. Reasons to be open to this:

1. We ship goals presently so another centre back should make us more robust defensively if we get the right one.

2. It can be easily argued that Seriki, Burrows and McCallum are more wing backs than fullbacks.

3. Despite playing 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2, we don’t actually have a plethora of wingers to call upon.

4. Key player like Brooks can fit into a three and O’Hare could either operate as the most far forward or just behind a striker.

Although we need to mix things up, we also need to optimise what we have otherwise we’ll be throwing away money on agent fees.

 

[71Blade]

I just expect more poor fitness and conditioning.

Coupled with poor loans. There isnt many in this squad id like to keep majority are weak mentally, unfit, or simply fallen off a cliff form wise any decent kids will be snapped up. Id recall One for the rest of the season bin Ings, Campbell and Cannot not a spelling mistake. Barn door Bamford the only one id keep seriously cannot belive he is our best option. We really have declined at an alarming rate. We are a mid table boring bang average team currently

 

[Harry's Game]

Coupled with poor loans. There isnt many in this squad id like to keep majority are weak mentally, unfit, or simply fallen off a cliff form wise any decent kids will be snapped up. Id recall One for the rest of the season bin Ings, Campbell and Cannot not a spelling mistake. Barn door Bamford the only one id keep seriously cannot belive he is our best option. We really have declined at an alarming rate. We are a mid table boring bang average team currently

We can’t recall loans outside the Transfer Window.