Amongst all the great feeling this promotion has provided, I may not be the only one in feeling that this is just the beginning.
I'm not one for getting too swept up in things but I can see a number of things in our favour. Namely:
1. Relegated teams. Let's be fair, there's some right garbage coming down from the Premier League. Sunderland are awful, need a huge clearout of players under contract, which will not be easy and their only dependable player in Defoe will definitely be off plus their manager is under huge pressure and might not even stay. Middlesborough squeezed up but Brighton were a better team. They've got few stars and will start the season probably with a new manager and the uncertainty that brings. Swansea are nothing special and have few stars to worry about. Hull, have one or two tidy players, but the better ones would clearly move on like Maguire, Robertson etc. A number are loanees who will return to their parent clubs.
2. Promoted teams. Brighton and Newcastle have been head and shoulders above and will not be there. Of the play off teams, is there really much to fear in Fulham, Wednesday, Reading and Huddersfield? Yes, they've done well, but there's nothing that says runaway leaders to me at all. Leeds will be starting from scratch once more. Norwich also.
3. Burton. Beg, stole and borrowed players, on a minimal budget and stayed up relatively easily. Most most of their signings were more suitable top end League One. We'll have far more ambition.
4. Goals. Theoretically it will be harder to score in the Championship. But 92 league goals in a season shows some capability. I understand the 'gamble' aspect of Evans though the investment (I bet far less than 500k) vs potential return is huge; he's potentially better than Rhodes with the right circumstances. But also, for a promoted team, how many can boast 2 strikers with the capacity to score 30+ goals in a full season? United have this with Evans and Sharp. Clarke is also a 20 goal man at some point in his career. Other options exist, but I don't see us struggling to score.
5. Our midfield. We have a certain style to us which I don't see disappearing overnight. Coutts isn't going to lose the ability to retain the ball and pick a pass. Fleck isn't going to lose the ability to run with the ball. I can see Duffy being hit and miss, but he adds to that style and I think this is where Chris will get him some help. I wouldn't be surprised to see Maddison, Holmes or Chapman join us in the close season. All of which should be affordable wage wise, all of which hard workers. I caught a glimpse of the Bolton game the other day and Maddison was outstanding. Holmes has stepped up one level with ease.
6. Signings. Wilder's record is very good. I can see him making sensible signings which will be affordable and take us to the next level. Evans, modest outlay, potential decent reward. The likes of Holmes, affordable but potential match winner. There's at least two very good keepers we are linked with, both on frees in Etheridge and Smith to give more depth. You've got the young Southampton guy who plays RB, RWB and CB who would also fit the young and hungry mold. What else do we need? Perhaps Riley to return and provide further cover for both fullbacks? Even in midfield, Carruthers is still untapped and Whiteman has made a strong case for a squad place. With sensible additions, Wilder can make the squad even more formidable without breaking the bank.
7. Funding. On top of the signings mentioned above, and aside from Kevin and the Prince committing to support the manager, there's going to be some bonus funding coming our way isn't there? Walker is being targeted by Man City, Bayern Munich, Barcelona if the papers are to be believed and at a handsome fee. No smoke without fire. Then Harry. Does he fulfill his ambitions at Hull? I can't see it. Both have sell-ons to the best of my knowledge.
8. The Management. There's a relentless approach we haven't seen in a long time. We could have let up after Northampton, but that's not the mentality. Why would it change? The mentality is to attack and to win. At 3 points for a win and with this approach, top 6 could be achieved in my view if not better.
I'm not by any means counting my chickens at all and will enjoy what comes next, but there is certainly no reason to fear what awaits, especially with the terrific backing the team and management can rely on.
