The College Dropout

There were rumours of tensions between the two - or did I make that up?

You can let your assistant ro other staff do pretty much everything. You choose what you want to do

Rather limit the number of over 23's on the books at the elite level.

Then I stand corrected. Cheers.

Can't play in pre-season but can train

In truth - I think both have been under utilised by Howe for various reasons. It seems he’s not a massive fan of either. At the beginning of summer we had a squad that lacked both quality and depth. We needed to add both when we have limited FFP headroom for a squad to compete this season. We then committed 40% of our spend on 2 players that barely play. Thats damn near Kudus and Van De Ven money. Livramento has been largely excellent. There’s just frustration that he’s not used enough. Hall has struggled a bit and this always looked a weird transfer. But I didn’t expect him to end up being 4th choice LB. For the money supposedly committed you would think we could sign a player to start ahead of Burn. Im confident Livramento comes good and there’s plenty of time for Hall to come good. But I think there was misalignment in the window. Leadership is in a tough spot. I don’t want us to only sign Howe style players. But we can’t afford for him to just not play certain signings. To me it looks like Howe never wanted those boys for this season. I think similar happens at spurs. Management buys players. Conte didn’t care for like Bissouma

Seems to be crucial for FFP.

Isn't it also that our #1 is too unreliable? We need more quality from our wingers - I agree. Gordon is perfectly fine back-up mind.

Brentford are smarter than that.. I think

I was one of them. This is pure hindsight. At the time, keeping him was the right decision.

ECL is only likely if Liverpool win league cup. It's gone if Chelsea win. And it requires a top 6 team winning the FA Cup. Otherwise 5th/6th is Europa

I'd take it tbf

You also need a fit and available first-choice striker. But it's ok for Isak to be a sicknote but not Wilson

Name the 3rd striker for City, Arsenal, Villa, Man U, Spurs

Wow. In the mud.

You've missed the most obvious and likely route.

Fair regarding Italian FA. Not Milan.

I think Howe has a strong influence over transfers. Transfer wise you can tell who is a Howe boy (Tonali) and who is not (Hall.. even Livramento).

It sounds like Man U is willing to build the whole thing around Ashworth more. In the Athletic article, it suggests Man U are working top down, I would assume Berradi(?) would have to greenlight Ashworth hire. And it's a known entity before taking the role. We hired Ashworth, then brought in his boss after. Not sure if he was involved at all. But we've all been in a position where we've got a new boss with whom we don't work smoothly. Usually, you have a better relationship with the person that brought you in. And again, he has a pre-existing relationship with the big football bosses. Who knows what his relationship is like with our top brass. We brought him in because he's "best in class". Man U are doing the same + he's seemingly pals with the leadership. That makes a difference. I'd leave my job if a former colleague / pal was a big wig at a rival, higher-reputation company. Easily. I've done it in the past. And also - it's the whole picture. Will he be allowed to change everything beneath him in terms of personnel at Man U? Can he do it here? Nickson & Howe earned their stripes without him.

Man U is a more high-profile, high-glory job. No matter how well he does here, people will talk about Saudi money. And it's an uphill battle with FFP, commercials etc. I imagine if he does well at Man U, the money for doing corporate talks and such will be better. Man U is an easier job if he has the funding IMO. And they have majority shareholders that don't really care and minority shareholders who he has worked with previously and probably has more influence over. At Newcastle - who knows what the Saudi's are like behind the scenes? And then Staveley, her husband and Reuben's seem more active and opinionated than at Man U. Who knows what they are like to work with? Likewise, Howe isn't his man, Nickson isn't his man, Eales isn't his man. Man U are working top-down and I think the fans at least would be open to changing managers and everything. And then we probably need a new stadium, training ground, women's team is new, academy is leagues behind. Man U need work in all these areas but not to the extent as us. All the while getting more glory for doing so.

Where has it been reported that he's torn it?

A lot of ACL's being done this season it feels like. Real Madrid have 3. All defensive players too.

What's the latest on the injury?

I don't think it was a coincidence that this came out right before the first internationals of the season.

PSG are right up against their FFP limit too iirc.