TRC

Everton broke the rules, and didnt even come close to breaking into the top 6 so I think they just need to accept their punishment and learn to recruit properly.

Our hardest games are Spurs at home and Man U away. Maybe Brighton at home/Fulham away. If we get it right tactically we can grind out 7th.

If our medical team pull their finger out our centre mid is well stocked to be honest. Get Lloyd Kelly and Tosin in. Look to move on one of Miggy or Murphy, we cant have 2 back up RW and impove that area of the squad. Move Longstaff, Targett possibly Wilson on and bring in a back up CF. Then a few younger players like Minteh and I think I'd be happy enough to be honest I dont think the team needs the overhaul people suggest unless Bruno or Isak do move on.

Fair enough, I appreciate people have set backs, but 9 cases + Joelinton constantly having niggles then out for the season just seems either ridiculous luck or a systemic problem.

Its not just a one off case though. Barnes being out an additional month. Anderson adding 2 months to his recovering Willock multiple setbacks Longstaff playing through injury when we have Miley who is more rested now. Wilson/Isak needing to rotate and then playing 90 minutes when we know they couldnt do it. Gordon being ruled out on the Friday playing the full 90 the next day. Murphy being ruled out, coming back for about 5 minutes. Burn breaking his back, and then being rushed back in when Livra was in form, he didnt break down but hasnt been the same since. I feel the evidence is fairly overwhelming?

Yep, someone has to be accountable, either the medical team are clueless or Howe ignores them.

@Matt West HamHow confident are you for the game? Is Alvarez a big miss for you?

Solano had played RB for country and Boca? Back then we had Aaron Hughes at RB who was a CB even back then and we were linked to a tonne of RBs for years before settling for Carr. Think Speed would play CM, he would be a solid 8 and could rotate the 6.

Interesting to see how that team would line up in today's game. Noone plays 442. Would Solano play the Trippier role?Robert dropped or would he now invert? Having a front 3 of Dyer, Shearer and Bellamy would be immense. It's crazy everyone played with 2 strikers until Jose brought Drogba in.

Miley, Anderson should start every game in the Conf League next season.

We can just forfeit a squad place if we dont hit criteria.

We had the chance to sell him once and got greedy, don't make the same mistake again. He's an average PL footballer 15m to 20m seems reasonable. You can replace what he does for a lot cheaper.

The PL is miles harder now than it was when Ferguson was at his peak. Liverpool finished on 97 points and didnt win the league. The PL probably has 3 of the best 4 teams in the world in it right now.

Thats on Tixi though

Eddie Howe lost to Cambridge and Sheff Wed in the cup competitions. I don't think there is much between Howe and O'Neil I just think O'Neil has a bit more in game management. I'm sure if you asked a bunch of neutral fans they would be pretty even on the two. I rate Howe as a good manager but I don't think he is the one to take us to the next level.

I just like Gary O'Neil, think he's done a great job at both Bournemouth and Wolves.

Brendan Rogers achieved more and I have Howe above him. I think Howe is very good but the competition is elite now and he is just a step below in my opinion.

I've said he's an average premier league manager which is what he is. That is more due to the quality of the managers in the league. The list is subjective, outside of the top 6 managers that I have as better than him there isn't much between the rest. Apart from Wilder who is miles off. I don't think Howe is a top 6 manager in the league and that's where I think we should be aiming.

Klopp is always going to be top 2. Howe has been exposed this season as a top manager for being unable to put out a plan b.

West Ham have a much tougher run than us, two of their easier games are off the back of playing Leverkusen. Chelsea are favourites for 7th imo, with us second.

It is a must win game, taking into account of where else we can drop points, we can drop a max of 10 points to secure 7th and we have to play Spurs, Man U, Brighton, Fulham away which are tougher games than this.

I'm factoring in PL level managers, I'm not taking into account lower leagues. I dont watch lower leagues and Howe got Bournemouth promoted 13 years ago, so I can't judge him on that. Game has moved on and I'm judging on current ability only. I do feel people are underating Marco Silva though, very good tactically and gives the big teams a tough game.

What do you mean by patience, if we take 1 point from our next 3, essentially killing our season do we still stick with him? Have to be looking at 7 points from the next 3, West Ham are going to be weak through the middle with no Alvarez and their defence is leaky as hell anyway. Everton have to beat them at home Fulham are a solid team but player for player we should beat them.

If we want to be top 6 long term, we need someone who can do these things.

Just my opinion. Howe is an average manager in the league.