Are we on the crest of a wave at present or are we still just paddling out to sea in preparation for the waves ahead?
As much as I am like thousands of others and walking around with a grin like a smug Cheshire (black) cat at the moment, the simple fact is at the moment that we have achieved very little so far, and even if we go on to confirm promotion and win the championship it is still not a major achievement.
Roy Keane has performed possibly beyond our own imaginations this season with his turnaround of a squad that was bottom of the table after 4 games played to one that is now riding high at the top of the table with 4 games to play. You certainly don’t see us losing those 4 games like we lost the first 4 and even one defeat would be a mild surprise now. But, is winning the Championship really an achievement that should make supporters of Sunderland AFC stand tall?
High standards and winning is what Roy Keane is about, and that is what he has brought to our club now, and I cannot for one moment think that he will be marking this down as a great achievement. The Championship is the second tier of English football. Its not a bad standard, but Keane will want more than this and he will not be resting on his laurels feeling that he has finally made the big time and us supporters need to share that same feeling and vision of his.
Again though, we have done well to turn this season completely on its head as we head into the final four games of the season, but we have still to confirm promotion for certain yet, and we cannot take those wins for granted as we have games against sides such as QPR, Colchester and Burnley who have still at this moment in time got something to fight for.
So lets enjoy the turnaround that has been made, but lets keep our feet on the ground and start pushing for more in the coming weeks, months and years.
If there’s one thing that the previous regime were guilty of it was taking the supporters for granted, and ensuring that our new regime do not start falling into the same trap (as unlikely as it appears at present) is part and parcel of taking this football club back to where it really belongs and ensuring that we are not celebrating being top of the Championship division for a long time to come.
Onwards and upwards.