The College Dropout

Yeh I think we are on the same page. Howe won’t survive finishing below Fulham Brentford and Brighton. Bur he should get the season to try. I don’t think the squad is good enough that a change in manager will have us fighting for 5th/6th.

They don’t actually spend it though. Their wage bill and squad cost will be much closer to Arsenals. But the revenues have been much higher. This is why I don’t believe the ‘we can catch spurs soon’ talk. Spurs can go on spending sprees to regain their position at the top table if under threat. They are doing it now with the fees are keeping wages low.

This is it for me. I actually liked a lot of what he done and what he was trying to do. But the Gordon 3.5 year contract was crazy and makes zero sense. He’s not that guy. June PSR fiasco, Staveley leaving, Mitchell and How issues and no transfers changed the atmosphere for us. It’s been a headwind ever since.

Who let him build this lopsided and ageing squad? Like I’ve said it’s the previous regimes fault for over indulging Eddie. They are the business and numbers ppl who are responsible for the club in the medium and long term. They shouldn’t have spent so much money on the players that they did. Should’ve let players go earlier. Eddie is largely making the same mistakes he’s always made. With the squad getting stale and the atmosphere changing the results are worse.

We aren’t comparable to Spurs in terms of squad cost and wages. Competing with Spurs is punching above our weight. We’ll see how Villa get on. Although I think their squad building and dealing with PSR has been better than ours. They don’t have this cloud of discontent like we do which is costing us points. I concede that they might just also have a better manager. But the manager isn’t the only one at Villa doing a better job (DoF + Owner + academy). Villa are 6 years into their ownership we are 3. Villa only started getting it really right from leadership 3 years ago. We are paying now for our ownership getting things wrong more than anything Howe is doing. I don’t expect Howe to keep his job if we finish below Fulham and Brentford.

Agreed. I would add - we are fairly close to both Villa and Spurs who have both been inconsistent.

Agreed. But we are only 3 points short of 7/8. Hardly enough to sack the manager. If people work even let Howe finish a season or at least look hopeless before wanting him gone. We’ll never have any patience.

I want them to do better. The City board improved and changed over time. Im more concerned by their moves than what happens on the pitch. Stadium, sponsors l, training ground, academy, legal battles. It’s not about liking them or wanting them replaced. Same for Howe.

Tonali signing was a marquee statement. Way too much money.

Agreed but their leadership has been better than ours for the last 2 years. Most of them have built better profiled squads and the atmosphere around their clubs are better. Brighton have so many RWs that the one on loan at Leicester would probably start for us. You have a squad. Some players won’t be maximised. Slot is doing better than Klopp with the same squad. Was Klopp doing a bad job? I don’t think Howe is getting every decision right. Didn’t understand why Tonali didn’t start. I think the deficiencies in the atmosphere and the squad is highlighting his own deficiencies. Since we’ve started shipping goals we’ve not been able to stop that or when we have, not been able to score. For loads of spells I don’t think we look a well coached team. But I don’t think Howe is the biggest problem. And if he had a balanced squad - I think he would do better. Uktimateky I think he’ll carry the can eventually and pay for it with his job. Mitchell will hope that bides him some time to get a better squad together and that we can spend more.

Agreed. He’s a good player no doubt. But he was the wrong age, position, fee, wages. Even his style of play doesn’t suit the team. Our transfer approach was a bit ‘kid in a sweets shop’ getting players that were available rather than what we needed. And getting carried away and overspending. That has some successes - Isak, Hall, Tino - we only get them due to excitement and opportunity. At least their age profile and position was a priority.

Squad cost is still 7th/8th.

Should’ve done this from day one. It’s the main reason I’m ambivalent to Howe or the season at large. Finishing 7th and qualifying for the Conference League isn’t going to be the difference between. Keeping Isak and building a deeper squad that can challenge on multiple fronts. We need to challenge for CL year in year out. Europa is ok as it’s a back door into the CL if you win it and requires a strong squad. To do that we need £150m more revenue per season as a minimum. Until I see us attempting to do that somehow - the leadership is kidding themselves

Then they are dickheads. We have the 7th/8th biggest spend on squad cost and wages. That’s where we should finish.

Unless it looks like the players stop playing for him I would give him the season. Let the leadership sort themselves out. If they don’t want Howe fine.

Their leadership has been ace. Im more concerned about our leadership than Eddie Howe (who is not doing a stellar job. Don’t think he’s doing a bad job given the circumstances). Leadership has fumbled the squad and the finances. Sometimes indulging Eddie when they shouldn’t have.

Yeh the atmosphere of the club has nosedived and the squad is stale. We are a little worse off than par. Nothing crazy imo.

This season? 7th last season was about right for us.

Owners and leadership haven’t put together a squad and atmosphere that can compete above station.

Who are our competitors? We are closer to West Ham and Crystal Palace than Arsenal/Spurs.

Come on man. We are not going to get ahead with a 60-year-old Italian manager.

I’m just shocked that the first genuine bad spell people want him gone.

What did you expect from this season given the summer and the atmosphere at the club? I think the vibe from the summer has killed all momentum for the season. All started from the shitshow in June. My biggest issues are with leadership.

That was the chime from the large majority last season. And the vast majority seem to want him gone now. Must be significant overlap.

‘Best manager ever’ to wanting him sacked before Christmas. You lot are a scary bunch.