The College Dropout

This is my biggest issue with Howe. The playing style has always been the playing style (when we don't go for the big press). The squad is what it is. Possession is what it is. But the continued prioritisation of Gordon grinds me.

Aye - this is annoying me too. As is Howe's general love of him.

If you look at good teams. The wingers help advance the team up the pitch and retain possession and build attacks. It’s a bit unreasonable to expect our team to get us up there without the wingers contributing.

That one is understandable. Not upgrading Murphy (even Almiron), Joelinton (even Longstaff) isn't.

I haven't even watched the highlights, just read the comments, and it's all the same from previous games - he can't control the ball, can't make a simple pass, can't get on the dribble to use his pace, doesn't work hard off the ball, etc. I can see the performance.

Didn't watch yesterday's game but this lad is not a good footballer and it's always going to be a problem. His lack of footballing ability isn't a system problem. There is a system where he can flourish. But it's not a system issue that he's not a good footballer.

Worse still - we've only made 1 genuine upgrade from 6 signings. That's poor for the money spent.

It’s a downgrade from what we had last year.

The recruitment was bad. Only Thiaw has added any value. There’s £150m of talent no better than what we had. Woltemade is good but he’s a downgrade on the rat.

Glad I’m at a 2 year olds birthday party. This sounds like a shit show.

When you agree a new contract everybody knows where they stand. It’s an opportunity to agree release clauses. Money etc. The club didn’t know where it stood with Isak and that’s a big reason he left in the manner he left. If we tried to get him to sign the season prior I think we end up in a better position than we are now. We either have him or he leaves in a better way. You have underpaid players. Expect them to leave.

Aye that’s the most annoying thing at this point. I was so excited when we were linked with him again. From his early comps I thought he would go onto be a serious player. So much in his locker. Shame he’s doing the business over there.

If we can go back to back in the CL with string windows between - we can majorly close the gap. If Villa had finished 5th instead. They would’ve had a serious top 5 level squad to go again. That could change everything if they then go 3x in a row in the CL even if they have to sell. Injuries and maybe inexperience stopped us going back to back last time. Organisational dysfunction and the transfer window will likely cost us this time. We need a 3 year period where everything aligns for us.

Should’ve had this new deals signed within a month of the league cup final at the latest. As you say quality in 2 positions.

Didn’t watch this. Actively avoid good news anblur Sunderland so this has passed me by. Impressive. unless they fold they’ll stay up this season. With someone so engaged and switched on they’ll become a proper PL side again

Fabinho too

If you started the league Cup final I love you forever. So there’s that too.

I’m not saying it’s right. But we kept more clean sheets earlier in the season (although we did often setup in a back 5) with Schar starting. Thiaw has looked great but we concede more. There are loads of other variables but like I said - I think Schar brings intangibles

Terrible. Seems a nice lad though. Hope he's doing well.

It is. But we don't keep clean sheets or hang onto leads anymore with him starting.

I still think Schar has intangibles. If it were me I would have Pope in goal Schar & Burn in defence. So make of that what you will.

The Etikite signing was the one to hut/weaken us. They were always hellbent on signing Isak. The Etikite signing also ensured a poor dressing room. You can tell by his actions Etikite wasn’t told they planned to buy Isak too. You know Etikite’s agent didn’t care to enquire.

There’s less defending to do at city but the defending is harder to do. At Newcastle we drop our line under pressure. We drop our line against good teams. At City you’ll have to defend from the halfway line against Real Madrid. That’s what Tino is for. I have a similar feeling to Isak re: Tino’s contract. It should’ve been signed last year before he really established himself in the England setup and as a top defender in the league. When the top 6 realised we had stolen a march on them for Tino about 12-18 months ago. The old leadership over leveraged on contract lengths with Isak and they left us in that position with Tino. He’s still on ‘bought as a 21 year old coming from the champ’ money right? When a player seems content to be underpaid for a long period of time they are looking at moving. We’ve not dealt with contracts well since Ashworth left. I keep saying it. Palmer signed long deal with Chelsea. But got a new contract (even longer) within 16 months of signing. It’s to keep him sweet. When players improve their levels (Tonali, Hall, Tino) they need to be paid well even if they have 3-4 years left on their contracts.

They need solid fullback too. Like a Walker. Recovery pace. 1v1 demon.