I think it is safe to say, that in the last two seasons we as supporters of Sunderland AFC, have had our fair share of ups and downs. From doing the double over Newcastle and reaching Wembley, to the reign of a certain manager I'm sure we'd all like to forget.
While these incredible highs and lows are what makes this game what it is, the question that comes to my mind is; what would we rather have, the euphoria and the crushing disappointment, or stability? This season has shown us the best of both these worlds, but for the next few seasons, I would trade these moments for some stability in a heart beat.
We may have avoided relegation when it seemed nearly impossible, and I'm sure everyone linked with the club is proud of what the squad accomplished in the few weeks of the season, but now is the time to battle against the possibility of relegation for the foreseeable future.
The first part of this, rests with management. When Guy Poyet's confirmed contract until 2016 being announced in the last few days, I breathed a sigh of relief. Relief at not having to lose all the hard work he and the players put into this season, and having to start from scratch, as often happens with this club.
The next and most crucial part, is the transfer window and pre-season training. While opinions on the departure of Phil Bardsley and Craig Gardner could be divided, there is no doubt that there is a hole (albeit a small one) in the defence, however the club acted quicker than many of us expected in grabbing a 'replacement' for the ex Manchester man's position. The signings (and departures) that happen in the upcoming months are what is going to shape our next season, hopefully moulding a team of what looked like at times individual and sometimes average players, in to a tight group of professional footballers whom all want the same thing, to be the best team they can, and to play as a strong team.
The only thing we can do is twiddle our thumbs while we wait eagerly for August to roll around, and to keep one eye closely watching the transfer news, and hope that this summer, everything runs smoother than this time last year. And if the progress that has been made already (snapping up Jordi Gomez), I think we might just be in for an exciting few months