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Going to be running a small @FootballManager thread on my @SunderlandAFC journey, it’s what the fans wanted. Missed the first two seasons but I’ll briefly recap.
Season 1: Started like a house on fire, mainly due to Rober, a new £600k signing from Real Betis. Struggled for goals as the season went on. Semenyo and @WillGrigg managed to get me into the playoffs(1/2)
Form was terrible coming into the Play - Offs but managed to beat Lincoln and Doncaster fairly comfortably. A big summer rebuild needed to compete in the Championship.
Season 2: Money was made available following an unexpected takeover. New owners very supportive and agreed to look for a parent club, which allowed me access to Man City's best youngsters (for no or very little wage contribution). Virtually every signing had a massive impact. 1/4
Main area I needed to improve was up top. Patrick Roberts a standout performer all year, but I was most excited about @RhianBrewster9 and @troyparrott9. Brewster was phenomenal all season and ended up top goalscorer by some distance. Insta ppl will know this ended badly.
I was 8 points clear of third with 7 games remaining and crawled over the line again. Small squad of 20 maybe coming to bite me. Norwich won the FA Cup three days earlier and ultimately too good on the day.
Overall a very positive season, given initial expectation was to just avoid relegation. Special mentions to Matt Smith, @georgedobson97, Adarabioyo and @RhianBrewster9. All phenomenal all season. @troyparrott9 very disappointing having just been given the 'wonderkid' tag.
Season 3: Again a massive summer ahead, main goal was to renew core loan signings. Finances not great and very lofty expectations from the board. Wage budget already over but would ease slightly when older loan signings return and higher wages retire or leave.
Managed to sell a few high earning players not good enough at this level, board only allowing 15% of transfer revenue to be retained. Very happy with the Man City loan signings and managed to keep @RhianBrewster9, @troyparrott9 and Roberts as well as Adarabiyo on a free.
Coaching and training revamp and an intense preseason seemed to be working. Very impressed with the 6-0 @BesiktasEnglish result. @troyparrott9 improving all the time and decided to change to a 4-4-2 to accomdate the two 'wonderkids'. Rober starting to look very sharp.
Very promising start, after a difficult set of opening fixtures. Fulham (a) next already feels like a massive game with easier fixtures across October. Knocked out of the league cup on pens and conceded a last minute goal equaliser vs Sheff Wed.
Can't control the game enough with the 4-4-2, but so tempting to get the big two up top. @troyparrott9 in particular on fire so far. Play so much better in the 4-2-3-1 though as seen below vs Leeds. Captain Max Power the unfortunate weak link though. @BenSheaf_ a revelation.
Been a very frustrating period, far too many games to mention. Thrown leads, missed penalties and an inability to beat the lower teams, even at home! Fulham look too far ahead already. Many teams now battling for second.
Scoring goals up-front becoming another real problem, the rest of the team is chipping in nicely. Parrott now 12 games no goal and Brewster not much better. I've never wanted to smash a laptop more than the Hull game below. Missed pen, vs 9 men and hit the woodwork 4 times.
Yan Couto a young Brazilian full back has been unbelievable since he returned from injury. Allowed me to push Matt Smith into midfield and drop the under-performing Max Power.
Another special mention for the ever impressive @TosinAdarabioyo
Looking very likely that we will have to do it via the Play-Offs again. Goals are being spread round the team but no consistency from the strikers. Can't believe Brewster scored 26 Championship goals last season. 4 consecutive games in Jan not scoring says it all.
Brought in @tommydoylemcfc on loan again. The kid has been unreal since he joined. Trying a different formation with a CAM to see if that helps the balance for the run in ...
Third consecutive season in the Play-Offs. Felt fairly confident going into this one, we had consistently beat the better teams and struggled vs the lower teams. Often struggled to break them down. Although I did somehow end up as top scorers.
Crumbled again in the latter stages for automatic, I was two points clear after beating West Brom with two games left. Final ended up being very comfortable, Patrick Roberts was unplayable.
Decent transfer budget to get stuck into, but the whole team needs improving if we are to stay up. The aforementioned Roberts has agreed a Bosman to Getafe. The City affiliation will expire now we are in the same league. Could be a long night ...
Transfer window proved hugely frustrating, any decent player on the transfer list just wanting a pay day. I've had to be very creative with bonuses to get anywhere near wage demands. Focused on clean sheet bonus and league goal bonus, knowing full well it will be a struggle...
Main signings have been @victorosimhen9 and @herbiekane and Bryan Gil. Osimhen a bit of a coup but it's going to be a long old year. @ReissNelson9 and @AngusGunn01 on loan. Struggling with the loan limitations this year, that kept me alive in the championship. Only allowed 2.
Squad is very thin and looking to add a few more before the window slams shut. Kane and Matt Smith injured for a few weeks is not helping. Very defensive counter attacking formation needed to have any chance. Not a bad start from the lads though...
Much better recently, the skipper recommended a team meeting and the lads have responded well. Signed a young German keeper who has been instrumental in recent weeks. Nervous for the run in but should at least be allowed to rebuild again if we go down...
Mini-resurgence and the board are happy enough to offer a new contract. Easily top half next year if we manage to avoid the drop...
Look, even though I've smashed a few Strava PB's, today will ultimately go down as a sad one for all concerned. Just didn't have enough quality or depth. Should go straight back up if I can keep Osimhen and Bryan Gill.
Very disappointed in the initial budget though. Wages should trim when the relegation wage clause drops, but we have made significant profit this year (£40m and counting). For me, it shows a lack of ambition and I am hoping the proposed takeover rumors are true.
Don't deserve to stay up if you don't win your final five games, two massive 6 pointers lost vs Norwich and Brighton. If they go differently then we stay up. Not to be tonight. I do now at least get 100% of all transfer sales. Looking forward to another mini rebuild. #Hawaythelads
Not what you want to read, 2 minutes after declaring these guys are essential to our promotion chances.
