The College Dropout

Not after the Isak signing. you don’t sign a £60m striker to finish 11th. We managed that the season before without one. We have the 7th highest wage bill in the league. That should be our floor this season. Especially when Chelsea are one of the clubs with a bigger wage bill.

Agree Livra should get more minutes. I also think they both might be more Ashworth signing than Howe. I don't assume he's shit. But the severe lack of minutes is worrisome. The best-case scenario is that Howe doesn't want to trigger the obligation. Worst case is that Howe now think he's shit but we are obligated to sign him anyway. Something has definitely gone further awry. Howe did trust him to start away at Dortmund and another league game.... maybe not the best introductory into a team mind. Since then it's been the back of the bench.

I thought he was pretty good tbh. He's often a non-factor off the ball but I thought he broke up play well. Showed good feet and made some nice passes. Goes without saying he shouldn't be playing so much but here we are.

IMO if a slow start is enough to get him fired next season - he should be let go this summer. If we trust him, let’s trust him for the season.

Livra gets on the pitch every game. Hall does not. I would like to see what he’s like at CM at some point. He’s got the physicality for it and he’s a good footballer.

Of course they are linked. There’s academic research into it. This links to several psychology research papers https://www.princeton.edu/~rbenabou/papers/CONFQJE2.pdf It doesn’t take a scholar to realise that confidence enhances the motivation to act and that morale has an impact on someone achieving a difficult endeavour. Eddie’s style of play is fairly high risk. All that pressing requires bravery and confidence and to take risks. When you’re motivated and confident you are more likely to be composed. You can make clear headed decisively and quickly and your body is ready to do it.

I think the data would back up this view. From an eye test though, the team has always lacked guile going forward - some footballing ability. It’s these last 3 major signings (Tonali, Gordon, Barnes) that make people think has a preference of physicality over technical ability. For their positions they are not as technical as Bruno or Isak.

From what I’ve seen and read. That’s not really his game. But he would have more pass and move ability than any nom Bruno CM by a distance.

And as I and others have mentioned. I think this is a confidence and composure thing in the main. Which links to motivation.

This was the post I was replying too and tbf he doesn’t say the team didn’t look motivated. Hold my hands up - I took a jump. But he mentions how a number of the them were not fully committed and were generally playing like bozos. I still think my point stands that Howe is responsible when multiple players don’t seem mentally locked in. It’s his job to get their minds right or choose players who will.

ANOTHER POSTER SAID IT TO ABSOLVE HOWE OF RESPONSIBILITY. I SIMPLY STATED MOTIVATING PLAYERS IS IN HOWES JOB DESCRIPTION = HOWE IS STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PERFORMANCE

Someone said the players were awful and didn’t look motivated. I simply replied that it’s Howe’s job to motivate the players. Players not looking arsed doesn’t absolve Howe of responsibility as the person was suggesting. That is all. If you think the players looked sharp and motivated - great.

A lot of our game is dependent on confidence and we don’t have any atm. It makes us tepid in and out of possession. We second guess ourselves. Weve never been an Ange type team where you can see lots of possession play from the training ground. It’s more getting that fire in your belly, high anticipation, sharp play.

What does that have to do with Eddie Howe?

Motivating the team is his responsibility

He needs to play instead of Longstaff man. Play him LWB. Play him at RWB. LB. CM. He just has to play.

We don’t look a well coached side.

Feeel sorry for the Blackburn lads. They didn’t deserve that.

60% of teams that shoot first win.

Dubs is going to win it for us man.

Fucking hell lads

I was thinking…. Has he lost all his pace or just a sharpness thing ?

Here we go lads.

We’ll win it in a second. Dont worry.