The College Dropout

We do need to get someone in that can give this lad a rest.

Bruno is the best at finding a cute pass, he was rushing everything. Howe got it right - ‘we were making wrong decision after wrong decision’. We do struggle against a low block and a decent defence that is true. We often start pressing aggressively and if we don’t score can run out of ideas in the second half of games and lose belief. But the cageyness, the rushing, the slipping, that was pressure and it was evident from the start.

Think he wanted to wait for the bounce but the bounce did him

Could be a player if he gets Howe’d. Adrian throws in the equaliser.

Adrian. Fornals. Isco. What a team this is.

It was a power play by Eales man. He knows Mitchell well. I'm convinced they set Howe up to fail and be seen as someone that can't work within "a system". Everyone's language in the press was pointed and purposeful. Had we finished 8th, no trophy, most people would be happy for Howe to go - thank him for his work - and go ahead into a new direction. Or at least have Eddie do what Mitchell and Eales wanted - for him to focus on coaching. We still need someone to challenge Eddie but they have to be better aligned than what Mitchell brought to the table.

They did - but they also made us 98% of the decisions to win a trophy and qualify for CL 2 seasons out of 3. And it's not like PIF and Eales weren't present for the money splashing.

Think going against Mitchell would've been a Mehrdad and Amanda vote. Also think they were essentially running the club how they saw fit. Eales, Ashworth and co. basically on the periphery. They where very close to the ground and with Howe. As soon as Ashworth left, we quickly sorted a deal to extend Joelinton, which was Staveley and Howe's choice anad Ashworth was holding it up. Again, there was good reason for that if we could sell Joelinton and bring in Ederson for a similar fee. So when we got in the mess, they left because those led those decisions. As others have said - everyone was there and got excited enough to buy Isak when we were close to signing Joao Pedro for half the fee. Everyone was beaming when we bought Tonali. It wasn't ust Staveley and Husband but that's life and business, someone needs to take the fall and the equity stuff is real.

Backs up what many on here have said. Those initial interviews were abrasive and you could make some easy logical conclusions. I think a lot of what Mitchell said and meant was correct in theory but the delivery was wrong. I too think Tino and Hall were £5-10m overpriced - we did pay a premium. But they are also worth it.

Brentford are setup to score lots of goals. Wissa had as many open play goals as Isak.

They wouldn't pay £100m for either. Harry Kane is a level above.

Think Fernandes leaving for £100m is excellent business for them. I don't think you can build an elite side with him. I said it before - he's not Barca/Real good. That level below that can only pay £40m-£55m or he goes to Saudi.

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.