The College Dropout

It’s a fair point. I don’t think he wants Ramsey and Hall in the same team in a 433. Which makes the Ramsey transfer confusing. Hall is the future at LB so if we needed more height elsewhere Ramsey doesn’t fit the ball imo. I agree suddenly we go from a big dominant side to a small one.

Eg Burn isn’t going to be complacent enough for the 3rd at CB. Burn wasn’t losing his man at corners like Botman did against Arsenal etc.

Few. For me there’s this assumption that Botman is a level above Burn at CB. Overall I’m not convinced that he is. Burn didn’t have this many bad games or mistakes in the whole of last season at CB it feels like.

How many clean sheets have we kept with him in the league in a 4?

Not sure I’ve seen him pass it forward.

I do hate defenders whose best attribute isn’t defending.

Not seen anything from Ramsey to suggest he should start. But I agree. Get Wissa in and keep Wolte and we are still a big side.

Nah he didn’t see the striker. Lazy play. Bad to see.

I don’t think we need to do all of that. The fullbacks should return. But I’d play Burn over Botman. Ramsey looks a nothing player, get Wissa at 9 and Wokte supporting. GK yeh maybe.

I think we can still prioritise athletic attributes while still being good enough technically. And knowing when to mix it up.

Fair. Still looks tall for a fullback. Great athlete. Great aerial stats anyway.

Not in this instance but yes too. I meant someone looking to break an offside trap but also someone’s who will be in the 6 yard box for tap ins. Wolte offers neither.

Agreed. I like those attributes too for those positions but you need a balance of ability somewhere even with a tilt. Im convinced Hall wasn’t Eddie’s first choice btw. We were linked to Anthonee Robinson, about 6’2 quick and go up and down all game. I think that’s Howe’s Preferred choice. And he was ok with Hall who was more an Ashworth pick.

We need a striker to offer a threat in behind sometimes

Dont think we will.

Still here. Don’t rate the squad.

It’s never a bright idea giving a manager total control of transfers. And it was apparent early doors that it was a shitshow.

Why do they keep looking for that ball when no one is going to be in there? Wolte needs to improve that side of his game. The wingers need to learn WolteMs movement better too.

Owners are just as much to blame if not more. The summer transfer stuff is their fault primarily then it’s Howe and the recruitment team.

Ramsey rarely passes forward. Lad has offered nowt. Elanga? Less said the better.

The entire season and the start of next for me. He largely constructed this mess of a squad. He needs help to reshape it and go again.

Agreed but he shouldn’t have been allowed totally freedom. I’m confident a decent transfer committee doesn’t sanction the Elanga transfer

We aren’t going to catch Chelsea by adopting their approach to managers.

Spent a lot of money on players with low ceilings, sometimes low floors and some bad profiles. You CMs argue Thiaw is a genuine upgrade on Schar - maaaybe. But the rest haven’t been any better than what we already had. Compared to last season with everyone at their best - maybe only Thiaw starts. Thats shit for spending £200m

It’s not sentimentality. Yes we are shit. But this squad is such a Howe squad, he has to be stuck with. Another manager isn’t getting this lot in Europe anyway so we stick it out with him. Pivot the squad to a more generalised squad and if he doesn’t perform then next season, he can be sacked and replaced with a manager that can use the tools. This squad has 1 left back, 2 senior CMs, about 3 midfielders you can’t give a natural position. Arguably 3 LW’s none of which are elite. 1 RW. 1 striker. 1 AM/SS. Let Howe try and figure this out.