Second Season Syndrome

[RammyBlade]

Good points - I think many of the "experts" think that as they forecast us to go down this season it was a fluke so naturally we will go down next season. As far as opposition fans and of course our "friendly" neighbours they use this in hope and jealousy at our lofty position and that its incredulous where we are.

 

[elgoog44]

My question would be, what is the expectation for next year?

this years Expectation, was to avoid relegation and boy does it look like we have done that and then some, but it leaves the question what is the expectation for next year, and realistically can we go beyond again as at some point this has to level out?

its going to be harder to live up to what this year as been, and I know Mr Wilder loves to push and push, its why we are where we are, for me I am enjoying being a proud blade and still looking at it one game at a time, if we get into Europe, that is awesome, but no matter what I am very proud of what the team as done and how we have shown our self's in the premier league.

 

[Paulus]

Expectations for next year?? How about support the team and enjoy the ride? Surely no one is in any doubt about the huge financial gap between where we are and where about half of the rest of the teams in the PL are even with 2 years PL pay out. Gradual build of the squad and more brilliant leadership from CWAK should see us fine but this league is brutal, any complacency from the club or any ‘entitled dissatisfaction’ from the fans would potentially see it all start to fall apart.

 

[Stevo]

Keep the spine (O'Connell, Egan, fleck, Henderson, Stevens,baldock, bash, Norwood, berge, mcburnie) and we will be fine.....it even rhymes...........ha so does that.........

 

[elgoog44]

Expectations for next year?? How about support the team and enjoy the ride? Surely no one is in any doubt about the huge financial gap between where we are and where about half of the rest of the teams in the PL are even with 2 years PL pay out. Gradual build of the squad and more brilliant leadership from CWAK should see us fine but this league is brutal, any complacency from the club or any ‘entitled dissatisfaction’ from the fans would potentially see it all start to fall apart.

I could not agree more and really enjoying it, however at some point we have to say what happens next year, us as fans, what will we expect, a trophy a final, pushing to win the league.

some of our fans where disappointed we did not roll Brighton over, but for me it should be one game at a time, but that as we all know is not how the mass media machine as taught us to think, right?

 

[Snowflake]

Always aim to be at least one place higher than the previous season. Use the prize money and other income to build the infrastructure of the club until we can sensibly challenge in Europe.

 

[PaulHalfway]

Keep all our best players, strengthen again in the summer with more pace and creative midfield player we should continue to consolidate as a PL team

 

[TAMUS]

Stay up again will do me fine , it is a good feeling being in the Prem . Any thing else is a super bonus .

 

[Speedracer]

Has. Fucking has!

 

[Edinblade]

I hope we suffer Chris Wilder second season syndrome, because he always does better in his second season in a new league. Top 4 guaranteed next season

 

[Brian Blessed]

Why do people say that a team or system gets sussed out in the second season? Why don't the best coaches in the world suss it out in the second half of the first season having already played against it once?

I don't think it's even a system that can be sussed out, it's based on hard work and extreme discipline and organisation it's one thing knowing exactly what to expect against United, it's another to actually be able to stop it.

 

[elgoog44]

Has. Fucking has!

If that is a dig at me, I am dyslexic and have been, funnily enough my whole life, so writing and reading and a few other bits to do with the written word, I find a hell of a lot harder, but I do try, or maybe you are one of people who when I was growing said I was lazy and just needed more effort and not that my brain works in a very different way it makes it much much more difficult for me?

reading the same sentence over and over again and it still not making any sense is one of the things I find the most enjoyable, makes reading a book very enjoyable!

 

[bladesmanluke]

If second season syndrome is what we got in our second year back in the championship then it's more than welcome. Otherwise I don't know what you could be talking about. We're just a superb football team with no need to worry about relegation whilst under one of the top 3 managers in world football.

 

[Speedracer]

If that is a dig at me, I am dyslexic and have been, funnily enough my whole life, so writing and reading and a few other bits to do with the written word, I find a hell of a lot harder, but I do try, or maybe you are one of people who when I was growing said I was lazy and just needed more effort and not that my brain works in a very different way it makes it much much more difficult for me?

reading the same sentence over and over again and it still not making any sense if one of the things I find the most enjoyable, makes reading a book very enjoyable!

Okay mate, please don't take it personally, since Pinchy has left these pages I felt someone had to pick up his duties. But genuinely sorry if it caused offence.

 

[pesch the mini genius]

will continue to look forward to enjoying every game ! how amazing is that to say!

personally think next season may be a bit harder but saying that CWAK will already be thinking how to do better/ be better

you always know we will compete and work very hard atleast and that imo will get us enough points to stay up - and will also keep our great away form going imo

also another year to get stronger and more confident esp at home - the prem has many great players but as we have seen in games recently against Newcastle / Brighton/ Watford/ Bournemouth/ palace there are some very average teams in this league (and will be again next year)

Really intrigued to see how we get on against Wolves/ Everton /chelsea and spurs at home coming up

 

[elgoog44]

Okay mate, please don't take it personally, since Pinchy has left these pages I felt someone had to pick up his duties. But genuinely sorry if it caused offence.

Its something genuinely I wish I could help, but not something no matter how much I do I can, some day's, I struggle just put a sentence together and even still making it make any sort of legible sense, especially when I spell something and even spell checker comes back with no alternatives, so I have to think how to say it in a different way.

I try not to take it personally, but when it is something you try and combat every day, especially when you work on a computer every day it can get tiresome, I am sure if you look though my posts they must stick out with lots of errors, but has said not something I can help and I do try I re-read but sometimes that can help just create more confusion.

Any way no worries, just think maybe as a species we should now and again try to look at things for a different perspective.

 

[Whiston Blade]

My question would be, what is the expectation for next year?

this years Expectation, was to avoid relegation

Wherever we finish this season, our expectation should be to match if not beat that position. We're still new to the PL and could very well go down next season, so in reality our goal should be "race to 40 points" and everything after that is gravy.

 

[Charlieblade]

I blame Wilder for increasing my expectations. He and Alan Knill have worked wonders, with a team they have nurtured, and added to over the last three seasons. That has been achieved on low wages, without major proven signings. All done based on hard work, and players exceeding their own expectations.
The wage structure will need to be redefined. We can’t expect players to compete at this level on championship budgets. Wilder to blame again, improving players to the point we can no longer afford them.
I’m sure his expectations have changed too and the club needs, and deserves, better facilities, better players and better rewards. The same goes for fans.
The second season could go almost anywhere, but I’m looking forward to blaming Wilder for getting it right again.

 

[elgoog44]

Wherever we finish this season, our expectation should be to match if not beat that position. We're still new to the PL and could very well go down next season, so in reality our goal should be "race to 40 points" and everything after that is gravy.

Hopefully, the vast majority of our fans will see it this way as this season as been amazing, but I fear a few will expect and want more, I am proud to be able to enjoy what we have for what it is and I agree with most the FA cup would be a nice bit of silver ware and something we could see and almost encapsulate this period.

 

[bornablade]

It wouldn't surprise me if we won the league next season.

I'm not expecting it but what we have seen in this past 4 seasons - nothing surprises me now.

The experts / pundits will all be predicting the 3 promoted clubs will struggle (maybe not Leeds) because they'll have not done any homework and know nothing about the Championship.

 

[PokerBlade]

Sometimes teams have poor seasons. When it's their second season people look at it and say "See, it's second season syndrome".

But Watford aren't having "second season syndrome". West Ham aren't in their second season. Brighton aren't either.

There's probably some truth in it that teams struggle in their first season and then struggle again. Or teams do in their second season what Fulham did in their first - undo the spine of the team with a lot of expensive and subpar signings.

Whatever the truth, statistics don't apply to the individual. Even if there is a tendency it doesn't tell you anything about Sheffield United in particular. The only reason to predict we'll struggle next year is the same sheer laziness that predicted us to finish rock bottom this season. And it's in no small part a way to shrug off our current achievement without admitting to the error, "Yeah, I said United would get annihilated BUT we all know the second season is the REAL test". Well it wasn't the real test before. When we came up it was all about how incredibly tough it would be and we'd never survive. All people are doing is pushing that claim back a year now they've been proven wrong.

It's no different to the doomsday cults who, when the world doesn't end, return to their scripture and recalculate a new date for the end times.

 

[CrookesBlade]

My question would be, what is the expectation for next year?

this years Expectation, was to avoid relegation and boy does it look like we have done that and then some, but it leaves the question what is the expectation for next year, and realistically can we go beyond again as at some point this has to level out?

its going to be harder to live up to what this year as been, and I know Mr Wilder loves to push and push, its why we are where we are, for me I am enjoying being a proud blade and still looking at it one game at a time, if we get into Europe, that is awesome, but no matter what I am very proud of what the team as done and how we have shown our self's in the premier league.

The way I see it for next season there is an aspiration, an expectation, and a minimum requirement.

The aspiration would be top 6, realistic expectation would be mid table (7th -15th) with a strengthened squad and the bare minimum would be avoiding relegation. Some of our fans will have to realise that a lower league finish next season does not mean regression in terms of where the club is and its ability to build over the next 5 years.

 

[elgoog44]

The way I see it for next season there is an aspiration, an expectation, and a minimum requirement.

The aspiration would be top 6, realistic expectation would be mid table (7th -15th) with a strengthened squad and the bare minimum would be avoiding relegation. Some of our fans will have to realise that a lower league finish next season does not mean regression in terms of where the club is and its ability to build over the next 5 years.

Well put sir

 

[Mad Mick]

Its something genuinely I wish I could help, but not something no matter how much I do I can, some day's, I struggle just put a sentence together and even still making it make any sort of legible sense, especially when I spell something and even spell checker comes back with no alternatives, so I have to think how to say it in a different way.

I try not to take it personally, but when it is something you try and combat every day, especially when you work on a computer every day it can get tiresome, I am sure if you look though my posts they must stick out with lots of errors, but has said not something I can help and I do try I re-read but sometimes that can help just create more confusion.

Any way no worries, just think maybe as a species we should now and again try to look at things for a different perspective.

You tried Grammarly? There is a free version and it might help a lot. I struggle a bit with punctuation and it's put me right.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Just aim to be in the top 10 for the next 3-4 seasons, and stay out of trouble. Anything more than that, for example a good cup run, is a huge bonus.
2nd Season syndrome is a load of old bollocks, based on faded memories distorted due to time. No wonder the Wendies love it so.

 

[grafikhaus]

As Brian Blessed says, it's an utter myth about being 'sussed out'. What do people think these 'experts' at other clubs are paid to do but prepare dossiers on upcoming opponents? Ditto these studio arsewipes who know the square root of fuck all.

Whatever happens, we've had a great season. Personally, I think we'll finish about tenth but this won't be a fall-off in our season. Europe - either European Cup or Europa League (The equivalent of The Johnstone's Paint Trophy) - would interrupt our steady progress. And we're coming up against teams that will be utterly desperate to get points.

TENTH! Who wouldn't have taken that last August? Look at the teams above us - there's no Burnleys, Bournemouths, Palaces etc. Just established, mega-rich clubs. And we're among them!

 

[CoatesyBlade]

Its something genuinely I wish I could help, but not something no matter how much I do I can, some day's, I struggle just put a sentence together and even still making it make any sort of legible sense, especially when I spell something and even spell checker comes back with no alternatives, so I have to think how to say it in a different way.

I try not to take it personally, but when it is something you try and combat every day, especially when you work on a computer every day it can get tiresome, I am sure if you look though my posts they must stick out with lots of errors, but has said not something I can help and I do try I re-read but sometimes that can help just create more confusion.

Any way no worries, just think maybe as a species we should now and again try to look at things for a different perspective.

I get picked up all the time mate. I'm just an idiot though! Haha

 

[TopBoy]

Next season I'd like to see us retain the FA Cup and have a decent run in the Champions League. Anything more is a bonus.

 

[Davalon]

Just aim to be in the top 10 for the next 3-4 seasons, and stay out of trouble. Anything more than that, for example a good cup run, is a huge bonus.

Not sure a rational common sense approach like that will be acceptable to some.

 

[Tony]

Great thing is we haven't spunked all our money on has beens and foreign mercenaries. The players bought can do the job at the present and at an age where they have time to develop. There's probably left in the kitty this season and with next seasons money we will be able to buy top quality. Personally don't think we'll get into Europe but hope I'm wrong.