[The clubs financial survival is the priority and it's not hyperbolic to say that]
If Town somehow maintain an okay player budget then I'm confidant that Town can be a nuisance in L1.
I trust Wellens and Jewell. The transfers of 2019-20 that didn't go to plan (Tyler Reid and Adam May) didn't impact us in a detrimental way and it was impressive how RW/STFC acted swiftly to rectify those areas but I'm not sure we'll have the luxury of bringing in players at short notice to cover injured or out-of-form players in 2020-21.
The yearly transfer merry-go-round needs to stop in the long term for Town to build anything but I'm giving the football industry a pass for a year or two on this (aren't I nice) so if Town enjoy a good loan market then that will go a long way.
Lots of people have highlighted how strong L1 is but I think that's just in comparison to L2 in terms of 'known' football clubs. I think there is plenty of scope for Swindon to be competitive.
L1 "on paper" appears strong, less of the smaller clubs and a few of the percieved "bigger clubs" languishing down in L1.
But, these teams are down in L1 for a reason, they have been badly managed and owned etc. I am as concerned by Fleetwood or Accrington as I am Blackpool or Sunderland.
As you rightly say there have been very few duds in our recruitment from Wellens/Jewell/Power so far, I have 100% faith that they will get in equally as good signings for thsi coming season.
Probably best not to base my view on L1 by watching the POs, where 4 mediocre teams were on view, but I honestly can’t see why some are describing next season’s L1 line up as one of the strongest for years.
The 3 Championship relegated clubs - as it stands - are all basket cases and I can’t see any of them challenging.
There is huge pressure on clubs to get their recruitment right in this window as everyone will be up to the cap limit come the January window.
The ‘big’ clubs don’t seem to have the clout of previous ‘big’ clubs in L1 - Sunderland, Pompey, Ipswich.
As for us, it boils down to trusting, again, Wellens’ recruitment which was so impressive last year. If players are all being offered the same wage then I reckon Wellens ‘selling’ of STFC will see players choosing SN1 in preference to others.
I agree, the play offs in L1 were a terrible standard with worse than terrible standard of goalkeeping on show, if thats 4 of the best 6 clubs in the division last season then its there for the taking, along with 3 struggling clubs getting relegated as well, I see little to fear TBH.
But.
That was based upon our performances from last season, this coming season will depend upon how many OOC players are re-signed and with new players added it will be a lottery until they all gel, last season we got off to a flier, thats probably less likely this term, due partly to the higher standard of L1, apparently.
If we get back Benda plus another backup keeper, of if not Benda then another good standard keeper, and sign a couple of strikers I do think we could be a massive nuisance to teams in and around the play offs, even dabbling in them at times ourselves.
As a priority though lets just consolidate until Christmas and then see how the budget stands and maybe a bit of wiggle room will see any underperforming players offloaded and better replacements found and aquired.
Get through this finanicial shit storm without going into admin, sign a few new players and mid table by Christmas and lets take it from there. Far too early to call yet.
