Kozzy_is_my_Dad
No excuses, no dickheads.
- Joined
- May 14, 2015
- Messages
- 10,222
- Reaction score
- 24,430
For me, the rebuild starts now.
This is a perspective I'd reached on my own, but aligns well with the post Zipwire has shared earlier this evening.
This is bigger than this season alone, this is about the overall stature, direction and growth of SUFC. I actually agree a lot with Zipwire's idea of being 'overpromoted' in terms of the infrastructure we had in place. The build wasn't a gradual one, but more of a meteoric rise. We deserved every scrap of success that came our way based on our style of play, our professionalism, our togetherness, the innovation of our system and the hunger of everyone in the squad.
But now, we reflect that the wider standing of club isn't quite where it needs to be: wage structure, training ground, academy, squad depth. Hence why plans are in place to develop Shirecliffe and why we have squad with little credible depth, a 38-year old second choice centre half, and little variation in the squad, to be more flexible and change the system, tactically.
In many respects, last season was the outlier, as magic as it was. Hence Wilder in his interview commenting on how last season's success was thanks to every aspect of the club (tactics, selection, confidence, fitness, taking chances) being 100%, maxing the squad (and our fortunes) out.
When Wilder makes comments about the standing of certain clubs, and not being able to go toe-to-toe with sides, I understanding why it doesn't always go down well, especially when the offering on the pitch is so poor, currently. However, I'm starting to appreciate what he means.
I've said a few times on Shoutbox tonight that I'm at peace with the situation, as much as I can be. This is a rebuild. Not to get us back to last season's heroics, but to continue to drag us away from the dire abysmal days of Rochdale away, Connor Sammon, Dean Hammond, selling Adams, Maguire, DCL to the earliest bidder, playoff disappointments and McCabe's inadequacies. This is a project, a long-term transformation of a club from those dark days. Is anything on the pitch currently easy to watch? Of course not. I feel sad and fed up most weeks, but this is bigger context stuff.
The need for continued growth and improvement in this project, doesn't mean losing the manager - quite the opposite. Instead, appraise and scrutinise all aspects of the club's performance last year and this, but improve together. That includes tactics, wage structure, squad depth, recruitment. I trust noone more with my club, but we are learning together and need to reflect on where we could've done much better. It's important to remember that Wilder is no more experienced at this level than anyone else. We could have noone better experienced in the Championship if/when we go down - but a proven PL manager doesn't drop down to the Champ.
So, starting points:



This is a perspective I'd reached on my own, but aligns well with the post Zipwire has shared earlier this evening.
This is bigger than this season alone, this is about the overall stature, direction and growth of SUFC. I actually agree a lot with Zipwire's idea of being 'overpromoted' in terms of the infrastructure we had in place. The build wasn't a gradual one, but more of a meteoric rise. We deserved every scrap of success that came our way based on our style of play, our professionalism, our togetherness, the innovation of our system and the hunger of everyone in the squad.
But now, we reflect that the wider standing of club isn't quite where it needs to be: wage structure, training ground, academy, squad depth. Hence why plans are in place to develop Shirecliffe and why we have squad with little credible depth, a 38-year old second choice centre half, and little variation in the squad, to be more flexible and change the system, tactically.
In many respects, last season was the outlier, as magic as it was. Hence Wilder in his interview commenting on how last season's success was thanks to every aspect of the club (tactics, selection, confidence, fitness, taking chances) being 100%, maxing the squad (and our fortunes) out.
When Wilder makes comments about the standing of certain clubs, and not being able to go toe-to-toe with sides, I understanding why it doesn't always go down well, especially when the offering on the pitch is so poor, currently. However, I'm starting to appreciate what he means.
I've said a few times on Shoutbox tonight that I'm at peace with the situation, as much as I can be. This is a rebuild. Not to get us back to last season's heroics, but to continue to drag us away from the dire abysmal days of Rochdale away, Connor Sammon, Dean Hammond, selling Adams, Maguire, DCL to the earliest bidder, playoff disappointments and McCabe's inadequacies. This is a project, a long-term transformation of a club from those dark days. Is anything on the pitch currently easy to watch? Of course not. I feel sad and fed up most weeks, but this is bigger context stuff.
The need for continued growth and improvement in this project, doesn't mean losing the manager - quite the opposite. Instead, appraise and scrutinise all aspects of the club's performance last year and this, but improve together. That includes tactics, wage structure, squad depth, recruitment. I trust noone more with my club, but we are learning together and need to reflect on where we could've done much better. It's important to remember that Wilder is no more experienced at this level than anyone else. We could have noone better experienced in the Championship if/when we go down - but a proven PL manager doesn't drop down to the Champ.
So, starting points:
- Assess the squad now. Where are the gaps, which areas need improving or depth adding. For example, does Freeman have a key role for us next season?
- Build the shopping list for the Championship now, use this window too.
- Clear the deadwood. Pay off Moore, Jagielka, Rodwell, Foderingham etc..
- Seek assurances and commitments from the current squad - get a real feel for who is committed to the cause, even if we do go down.
- Get back to the basics, revisit how we want to play, what we want our style and tactics to be, and rebuild around that.


