The College Dropout

Well keep more of the squad than people expect.

He’s hesitant to start anyone but the big 3. He’ll want another quality player in there I’m sure. He doesn’t trust Willock, Miley or Longstaff.

The Geordie Journos said it wasn’t a surprise. Mitchell wasn’t getting on with others at the club. His style wasn’t going down well and I don’t think his vision fit with Howe.

That explains Brighton nicking it against us in the league. It doesn’t explain that level of performance and tangible nerves from the team and the crowd. Eddie’s summary was fair. We played too desperately and made uncharacteristic decisions and mistakes. Don’t know why that’s so hard to accept. It happens to the best.

2 months ago around the time of the Cup win?

I don't think he is. Howe wants involvement in major transfers - that's fine. I think Mitchell wanted a Chelsea style approach, maybe what's become the Liverpool style approach. That's not going to work with us, we need a City style approach - every siginng requires Pep approval. That doesn't mean Pep does all the scouting. But the players are signed FOR Pep and what Pep wants.

I do think it’s largely about Mitchell’s conflict with Howe and others in the club. But I do expect him to be replaced.

So you know better than Eddie? What you are saying is true of the reverse game. We played ok - huffed and puffed but couldn’t create much outside of the penalty. That game was probably the worst performance of the season. We haven’t played that bad in a long time and one of the worst Howe era performances. A draw would’ve been a robbery. The tension and nerves in the team and stadium - you could feel it through the TV.

Needs to be healthy friction.

Howe was pretty honest post Everton and suggested psychological factors impacted the game which I think is true. Howe was very honest and frank about the everything post Everton. It was the same team that played Chelsea off the park for 40 minutes. A level of intensity and application we didn’t see at all against Everton. An Everton missing their first choice CBs and with a 38 year old at fullback.

I would take Ashworth back. He wasn’t a transfer guy but could challenge productively in that area. He had a healthy tension with Eddie.

We don’t need a big name DoF if the remit is smaller than what Mitchell had.

I don’t think Mitchell comes across well. That’s where the problems started. Came across very bullish and strong minded - too much. Thise Geordie Journos say he’s ruffled feathers behind the scenes and I can see why. He was overly direct and abrasive in public interviews.

Tbf Man U’s side is more talented than the table suggests and they had a point to prove.

Nah. It was Hojlund, make him shoot. Martinez didnt even try and go for the ball. He could’ve just evaded him and Hojlund wouldn’t have been able to score. symptomatic of a side bottling it though both the back pass and the crazy decision.

Of course. But it was a big gamble. How many other top clubs would bring in a new manager and sign nobody of note?

Edwards is great and is super diligent in his decisions. But he left Slot high and dry in the summer without reinforcements. He’s a smart operator but he’s an ultimate suit for FSG.

Aye - the mistake is hiding the fact that Villa had shat the bed up until that point.

I think Pep might actually want a maverick though.

Freedman is also more Howe aligned on transfers. Likes his English football experience but also finds bargains.

Whoever replaces him will also keep bringing in young players. She needs a numbers person if so. She’s not that evidently.

I don’t think Mitchell would authorise Barnes, Tonali type signings or the Joelinton extension. Little scope for increasing transfer value for all 3 players. Even the Hall and Livra signings the fees were steep. I also think he may have wanted a different profile of player - more technical less physical. And deprioritise PL experience. I think Howe is willing to trade and spend less money. But he will want the type of player he wants. He and Mitchell seemed to only agree on a small pool of players.

I think there should be someone to provide healthy tension to Howe. And so to spread some of the liability and influence. He had that with Staveley and Ashworth but seems like Staveley didn’t control the numbers well enough. For better and for worse Staveley ran the club and had the keys to the fortune. Along with Nickson, Ashworth and Howe they identified players and ultimately she has final say. We miss that conduit between the owners and management. I don’t think Eales ever had enough influence over PIF and he was misaligned with the old regime. The old regime had its issues. They didn’t agree on Joelinton’s contract. But I think th we tensions were necessary.

Think the behind the scenes stuff could be a factor. And I think Wilson’s recent performances haven’t helped.

Mitchell will be replaced obviously. It will just be someone that can align somewhat with Howe. Everything Mitchell said suggested a significant departure from how things were. And Howe didn’t have total control of that either.