The College Dropout

History has shown that we don't have a track record of serviceable young players compared to Man U. If Howe thinks Murphy isn't of the level i'll believe him until proven otherwise. I'm not blaming Howe if he doesn't turn water into wine. Maresca complains about his squad every week. It's so much stronger than ours it's crazy.

He is simply not good enough. None of the other CL teams would give minutes to a Krafth level player outside of an injury crisis. I love Krafth but he might not even be a PL level player. i won't blame Howe for not giving Championship level players minutes.

Murphy was various levels of shit for a decade. Joelinton, Schar etc. You can't convince me these are all bad players: Dalot De Light Yoro Shaw Casemiro Mainoo Mbeumo Bruno F Cunha Sesko Mazrouai(?) Maguire Martinez Dorgu Ugarte Diallo Mount Zirkzee And Man U always have serviceable youth players (Heaven, Chido for example). Is that a weaker squad than Forest, Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, Palace? No chance. Better ran clubs, atmosphere, coaches - definitely.

The last 2 seasons we’ve had different squads. Man Us problems are far beyond the playing squad. It’s the entire culture of the club, how it’s ran and good awful coaching/management. Howe at Newcastle would have that squad top 4 easy (with no CL football)

We have a weaker squad than Man U. In terms of quality in depth. Man U's goalie's are doodoo mind.

We only have 3 fullbacks at the level we need or even close. 1 of them is 35. That's a squad building problem. Out of all the teams in the CL - we have the weakest depth at fullback by far and it's showing. We have the weakest squad by far and it's showing

Underlying data tends to be better with substitutes but still….

Elanga can get to Murphy level i'm convinced

Lad is on megabucks relatively speaking. Unless he’s willing to take a pay cut he’s staying or it’s Saudi for him.

That's what Wissa and Wolte are for. We've paid the big money for them. The system is designed for the striker to score lots of goals.

This isn’t good enough for what is considered the best winger for a top 6-8 PL club

Also the intensity of his closing down is great. That's part of the wider problem of big Wolte. He can't initiate a great press. Isak wasn't a natural presser eithet but at least he was quick. Wissa looks to be a natural. That allows everyone to get that bit closer and makes the press far better. Wolte & Elanga really need to improve their pressing. It's a big reason we can't get the pressing game off. We used to have a front 3 of Joelinton/Willock Wilson Almiron - those can press super high and aggressive. Modern day Gordon/Barnes Wolte Elanga. That can't initiate a heavy metal press.

Not when the next move is square or backwardsand allows the opposition to get back into position. The attacks don't build, they stall. And the positions he gets the ball aren't super dangerous either just decent. He needs to attack the box. He'll get the ball in 14 or 18 and not do any useful or progressive with it. Consitently.

Aye but that;s the striker game. You keep making the runs, Bruno and co will find him

People think he wants to move or has issues because he's meant to be a workhorse or has that reputation but is actually pretty lazy. I think some of that is true and some is not. He was never great at supporting the full back defensively. Largely uninterested in opposition final third defending. But he was the type to aggressively try to win the ball in the attacking half or in the middle of the park to start an attack. And he's the type of player to do mindless closing down to get a cheer from the fans. But he was never as diligent defensively or all-round as his reputation suggested. But also that aggression to win the ball back or gfight hard to win a foul has mostly gone. So it looks like he thinks he can get G+A through pure ability and technique alone like he's Michael Olise and he's not that guy. He has to be at the far post for tap ins, he has to scrap his way into the box for 1 touch finishes, he needs to nip the ball from a defender or a midfielder and catch the defence on the hop.. all of that builds a foundation so he has confidence to cut-in and put one in the top corner a few times a season. But he's not Michael Olise where that main foot is just cash money. But he kind of plays like he thinks he is better than the graft game he's known for.

I agree with most of this. But he has about 3 open play goal/assists in the league in 2025. That's not good enough. If that was any of the other wingers the crowd would be on their back constantly and everyone would say we need to sell. Open play is even the wrong word. Non-penalty.

That's also partly by design and it's ok. A Howe ST is meant to be on the last shoulder of the defender by nature that won't involve a lot of touches. If you think of Wilson & Isak as the blueprint. Wilson fights defenders, runs in behind, poacher goals that's it. Isak sometimes drops deep to link but mostly runs in behind, poachers goals. Same applies to Haaland

didn't lose our best player though

Good observation

I don't think CMs need a lot of G+A. They need control (offensively and defensively), ability to protect the defence and open teams up. I liked Ramsey's work off the ball especially in the first half. On the ball though - very little forward thrust. Doesn't break a line with ball carrying like a prime Joelinton or Willock, barely finds a forward pass all night. Maybe collect the ball nicely in a good position, turn, play it sideways rinse and repeat. We have to get the ball to Bruno, Miley, Thiaw or Schar for any ability to break a line with a pass or find someone in a dangerous position. 3 of them in defender roles. That's not entirely Ramsey's fault. Howe has identified this weird squad profile of a 3 man midfield usually, 3 that can pass, 3 that want to run with the ball. It's weird. I thought Ramsey would be a hybrid but he doesn't seem to be. I'd rather 2 of those half CM's like Joelinton, Willock, Ramsey and 4 proper CMs like Bruno, Tonali & Miley. You need more midfielders that can pick a pass. We don't have passing ability from wide either.

It's fine/great for Miley but not for any ambitions for big European football. But that's a squad weakness. We have 3 "proper" CMs and Miley is one of them. If Miley is at FB we will often play with 2 of Joelinton, Willock and Ramsey. It's not good enough atm.

Your KWPs or Ross Barkley’s or Norgarrd’s aren’t on super high wages like a Kamara but a fair wedge. These are the backups or squad players needee to maintain a proper European challenge. but positively I think it’s to the advantage of Miley’s development. I thought to finish 5th we wouldn’t be able to give Miley enough minutes to really push on. But as the squad is as weak as it is, we won’t finish 5th or 6th tbh but Miley will get quality minutes. He’s able to show his class on the ball at fullback too. Defensively he’s ok too.

Kamara is a different situation though. And due to high wages - he doesn’t have great resale value either. Same with Tielemans. Which can be fine depending on the player. I’m happy for Bruno to be on top wedge with few options to go if he wants to move. Because I want to keep him until it’s Saudi time well into his 30’s. Where Joelinton’s superman contract is more of a problem.

We’ve been averse to cheap players coming in to do a solid job. Which is weird because that’s what Dan Burn was and Matt Targett on loan. One or two year deals. A proper pro. Basically like better versions of Krafth or Lascelles

Tino’s knees aren’t going to allow him to play crazy amounts of football. If any of our other 2 FBs are injured Tino pretty much has to play every minute going. It’s not sustainable. And his form is also impacted. He wasn’t good prior to his injury.