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Full image on this tweet..

Other than the collar being a bit low, that kit is quality like.

The club won’t fall apart if we finish 6th next season. It’s not ideal or the clubs aim but they are far more realistic than many fans. Its going to be a tough 25/26 for everyone.

Would have preferred a roundneck collar but I'm all in on that.

Just out of interest. Who do you think was better between Kudus and Maxi?

If it’s that, I’m a fan.

Ashworth has never been a scout though. So it’s likely a Nickson recommendation and Ashworth prioritised getting the deal done - it wasn’t pennies either. I disagree slightly. Mitchell has been a head of recruitment before iirc several times. His experience has been much more focussed on recruitment and player identification. Ashworth also does recruitment but his focus prior to Newcastle has been broader. And from the interviews it sounded like Mitchell was coming into deal woth transfers without much input from Eddie which caused all the issues. A proper head of recruitment. The previous model and the one we are returning too is more collaborative with the manager. Wales or Mitchell even spoke about Howe as the ‘coach’. That has always been his title I think but he was basically the manager previously.

Actual quite like that 😄

Awful, deffo a season to buy them in the sale next summer.

If that's right not really drawn to any our kits this year.

What is that collar?

He was as productive as Elanga was this season, the season prior mind. Compared to Elanga - his ability in tight spaces suggests he’s a better fit for a top club profile wise. I always remember Ferguson talking about wanting Collymore and Cole. He went for Cole because Cole was better in tight spaces which is more valuable against a deep defence. Collymore was rangey and was more dependent on running into space in behind. Thats what we need.

There's a good chance a lot of this speculation is from his agent's side. Considering there's ongoing discussions regarding a new contract for him. As it helps apply pressure. If a new contract can't be agreed, just agree with him to go to Barcelona or whichever club abroad next summer. He cannot be sold to any other club in the Premier League. Would be pretty unacceptable IMO.

I'm in no way saying we're a sinking ship under them, that's for you to be hyperbolic over, but Mitchell & Eales captain the Titanic. You can only save one. Who you saving?

Every transfer is a gamble but I agree it’s more of a risk with those factors. @McCormick iirc you’ve never rated Kudus. I think it was you that said he was pants prior to joining West Ham. Poor technique or headless chicken or something like that. Kudus already proved you wrong. I knew you were wrong then as I’d watched him closely for Ghana and I knew - at a minimum - he had bags of talent. Genuine dribbling ability, strike a ball clean off either foot with power., silky touch and move etc. If it wasn’t you I’m sorry. But someone was very strong and wrong about Kudus 2 years ago.

Based purely on that article, it sounds like an Ashworth type was what the club were originally after, whereas Mitchell was a change in direction DOF wise, and that they're now looking to go back to the original model. None of that may be the case at all, so I'm only going on that report, but IF it's right you could argue that we've mucked around and made a bit of a mess both with what Mitchell was told and also what he was there to do when he was recruited.

To lazy to read back through, but whys this topic still relevant

I agree with the bolded. Arsenal are historically the 3rd biggest club in England. By a distance from the top 2. England has 2 European aristocratic teams. I would count about 8–10 across Europe with 6-8 able to be competitive due to the size of their leagues (so excluding Benfica and Ajax). I count: Real Barca Juve Bayern Man U Liverpool could argue both Milan clubs too For 25 years - Liverpool operated at a level below these. For 25 years they operated below the level of Arsenal. They were less successful on the pitch, smaller revenues, couldn’t attract the same calibre of player. As late as the mid 10’s Alexis Sanchez was choosing Arsenal over Liverpool. Players were doing that in 00’s and most of the 90’s. FSG have returned Liverpool to being an elite European club. They knew that was possible when they bought them and it could be done sustainably.

Aye I think it's still almost universally thought that the DOF/Sporting Director is the one who personally finds the specific player and signs. They'll be more likely to be identifying the profile of player, briefing the scouts and then in charge of negotiating the transfer/wages etc.

Yeah, I was looking at that screenshot of their opening fixtures and thinking that it's a possibility that they could have four points on the board by the time they've played Burnley. It'll unravel pretty badly for them after that.

I thought it was widely understood that neither Ashworth or Mitchell do/did the scouting. They make/made recommendations based on player profiles and positions identified by Howe, and input and recommendations from the scouting/analysis-teams.

Disagree with this mind he has been average for them this season

You say that as though it’s gospel which it clearly isn’t, maybe Ashley could have saved himself thousands in legal bills and got your advice first.

Totally, totally disagree as I've just said above