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To the "we're not ready for Europe" crowd


I think it is inevitable that it would come at the cost of poorer domestic results, as we'd be fighting on an extra front.

'Smaller' teams who sneak into Europe tend to fare poorer the following season. Part of that might be because they exceeded expectations the previous season and are simply regressing to the mean, but it's common sense to see that when Burnley got into Europe, they finished with 14 fewer points the following season.

There are exceptions, it doesn't always happen, but if we didn't invest in the squad to manage those extra games, we could struggle.
 
My natural skepticism kicks in when thinking of Europe and "second season syndrome", despite my upbeat feel towards the club. Its still hard to beat that psyche of "typical Sunderland", no wonder the older gen look like they hate us winning.

The way this club is run, they will have us spot on for Europe.
 
TheBronzeBummer said:
My natural skepticism kicks in when thinking of Europe and "second season syndrome", despite my upbeat feel towards the club. Its still hard to beat that psyche of "typical Sunderland", no wonder the older gen look like they hate us winning.

The way this club is run, they will have us spot on for Europe.
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Maybe it would be too soon but we might miss out, survive the second season but then never trouble the European places again. We're not guaranteed to keep improving and got to take opportunities when they are presented to you.
 
andy78 said:
Maybe it would be too soon but we might miss out, survive the second season but then never trouble the European places again. We're not guaranteed to keep improving and got to take opportunities when they are presented to you.
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Bang on imo.

Progress isn't linear. Take your chances. There's a decent chance we miss out, but can't believe anyone would turn their nose up at entering the second/third tier European competitions in which we'd be seen as one of the strongest teams...
 
Frijj said:
I think it is inevitable that it would come at the cost of poorer domestic results, as we'd be fighting on an extra front.

'Smaller' teams who sneak into Europe tend to fare poorer the following season. Part of that might be because they exceeded expectations the previous season and are simply regressing to the mean, but it's common sense to see that when Burnley got into Europe, they finished with 14 fewer points the following season.

There are exceptions, it doesn't always happen, but if we didn't invest in the squad to manage those extra games, we could struggle.
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I don't think Palace have a huge squad and are only 4 points behind us with a game in hand. We have been crippled by injuries this year, Ballard, Reinaldo, Mukiele, Xhaka, Traore, Angulo, Mundle, Cirkin etc. and still remained competitive. Most teams wouldn't normally have that many players out in normal season. We'll no doubt buy more players and like when the League / FA Cup come around have players who actually need to play games.

We could make O'Nien the European captain (certainly for the early rounds) and have a core of players on the fringes of the first team playing every game supplemented by the odd first teamer. Let's face it the standard is pretty shite in the early days of the competition.
 
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Frijj said:
I think it is inevitable that it would come at the cost of poorer domestic results, as we'd be fighting on an extra front.

'Smaller' teams who sneak into Europe tend to fare poorer the following season. Part of that might be because they exceeded expectations the previous season and are simply regressing to the mean, but it's common sense to see that when Burnley got into Europe, they finished with 14 fewer points the following season.

There are exceptions, it doesn't always happen, but if we didn't invest in the squad to manage those extra games, we could struggle.
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'smaller teams' don't get promoted 24 points behind the top 2 in the Championship and then end up in a fight for european qualification 10 months later.
But here we are, with it all in our hands - and done financially sustainably.

Absolutely mental, but this is a very different Sunderland AFC to one any of us have known.
This is a magic carpet ride - but they put LSD in the beer
 
The club improved the squad last summer. I am confident they will do it again to cope with whatever challenges it faces next season.

In the meantime, I am going enjoy to each game as it comes. It's all about the journey .....
 
TheBronzeBummer said:
My natural skepticism kicks in when thinking of Europe and "second season syndrome", despite my upbeat feel towards the club. Its still hard to beat that psyche of "typical Sunderland", no wonder the older gen look like they hate us winning.

The way this club is run, they will have us spot on for Europe.
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Serious question, when was the last time a team suffered “second season syndrome”. For too many years newly promoted teams have been pummelled. Of the teams struggling now, Wolves, Tottenham & West Ham have been knocking around a while. Forest are onto their fourth season.

Not that I want this to be the case (for the sake of football), but there’s every chance we go back to promoted teams struggling like fuck next year. The cushion will be bigger to stop up & having a squad of players who’ve had another season of top tier football & European competition surely will put us in a good space?


Steve Leeds said:
Second tier Europe cup just sucks. Better to be out of it while we build
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You’re right. Crystal Palace supporters drinking in the sun in Florence & the pictures of the Forest supporters enjoying themselves in Porto before progressing past those European minnows that are Fiorentina & Porto “sucks”.

Qualifying for a competition based on your positive performance “sucks”.
 
indymackem said:
I didn't think we were ready to play in the Premier League this time last year.

Ha'way the dusty passport red and white wizards.

Believe :cool:
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After losing our last bunch of Championship games, I definitely said on here "rather get beat off Coventry than break another lowest points record in the PL next season".
Really felt to me like they were the only two options at the time. SMH.
 
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