There's still work to be done for Régis Le Bris—and for sporting director Giacomo Ghisolfi. But here's the thing: crack on, Ghisolfi. Your time is now, and with the right transfers, we really could fly from here.

I've escaped for a camping weekend, and in these quiet moments—sipping coffee, listening to the early birdsong, watching the rain spit against the caravan—I find myself reflecting. And this morning, what sticks with me is this: I genuinely wish we had finished this season a little stronger.

Don't get me wrong—I'm not unhappy or ungrateful for where we'll likely land after the Chelsea game. But I can't shake the feeling that Régis and the lads deserve to be a few spots higher. European football should already be secured. It's close—if results fall our way, we could still finish 7th on 54 points, earning those extra fixtures against similar sides across Europe. But we need the luck fairies and performance gods to smile on us for that. Still, a mid-table finish is within reach, and for a newly promoted side, that's genuinely remarkable.

Yet it stings. It feels like the boys have been robbed of something just a little better than what they're likely to get. And that sits uncomfortably with me. When underdogs overachieve, you want them to soar—especially when those underdogs are your own team.

Let me be crystal clear: I would have snapped your hand off for this situation this time last year. Coming up through the play-offs, the Wembley experiences against Coventry and Sheffield United, the smart spending in the transfer market, embedding so many new players so quickly—all led by an owner who genuinely loves the club and is investing in the stadium and fan experience, and a coach who just "gets us." It's all been incredible.

We all remember the pundits and so-called experts had us pegged as relegation fodder before a ball was kicked. We've shown them exactly what level of expertise they possess. To their credit, most have acknowledged that Sunderland's season has far exceeded general expectations. Our manager has even been nominated for Coach of the Season.

But the work isn't done. Ghisolfi has a busy summer ahead, and with the right reinforcements, this team could truly take flight. The foundation is there. Now it's time to build on it.