The College Dropout

We are good when we have space in behind to attack. Fast transitions. Especially at home against bigger sides. We’ve faced 4 of the top 5 at home, non away. Away from home against a midtable club that would be happy to nick it 1-0 or 0-0 we’ve largely been pants.

The week or two after that picture leaked he had the spat at Bournemouth.

I actually think Gordon doesn’t protect Hall that well. I would’ve been tempted to start both Joes against Liverpool but that definitely wasn’t the right decision (i would’ve assumed TAA started). But we should’ve got Willock on at 2-1 or whenever Trent came on. But Hall can play with Bruno, Joe, Gordon or Isak. Lives Longstaff Murphy is so ugly I never want to see it from the start again. Livra must accept some responsibility for how bad that football is.

Great defensively imo. going forward he’s a good ball carrier and dribbler. But often poor with his passing and delivery. I think he should try more inside runs and cutbacks. When he’s wide I’ve got no faith in his delivery. Doesn’t have a great relationship with any players down his side but the options there haven’t impressed. I can someone like Isak prefers to drift left. I like him and he’s usually solid defensively but he does have to work on his game.

Thought he was pretty poor through the December to the end of the season. When was it that Spurs cooked us? He was awful against Son.

Almost got the brace. Jackson didn’t even get a minute. See you boys next season. (I’m still going hard).

He’s always done this imo. A game will turn but the game state will be ok so Howe won’t react until we conceded. Then he’ll make the subs he should’ve made 10 minutes earlier. I’ve learnt to live with it. Sometimes it works.

As someone that finds Jordan entertaining - why would Eddie sit down and chat with him?

I don't think "fluffing us" is a good idea. It raises expectations and contributes to an inferior atmosphere if the team doesn't meet those expectations. It also doesn't align with why Howe is so focussed on Prem proven players. Or his general demeanour and perspective. Atm that sounds like wishful thinking. I also agree that i don't think the money is there to spend because of our PSR issues. But that's largely the Owners' fault. They still might be targeting a top 5-7 finish. We did achieve it with less.

I think he's played fairly fatigued for a long time now which isn't helping his mobility, speed and athleticism. I remember when people were in denial about his lack of athleticism he's a brilliant player but that much was obvious from the compilations.

I hope a pivot has happened. At the end of last season after finishing 7th messaging from leadership was one of understanding disappointment imo. Summer discussion of "improving the group" again makes me think Howe only wants significant upgrades because he has aggressive targets. I've no evidence that we are dialling back the short-term ambitions - except potentially the recruitment of Mitchell. Howe's behaviour and attitude is only logical if we have Europe as a real target.

Eales mentioned finishing in Europe as the goal several times. Why would we chase a £60m CB or sign 2 players over £50m+ (with no PSR fuckery like Onana) if finishing in Europe isn't an explicit goal? Why would Howe be so keen to keep his experienced players? I agree that we haven't made moves off the pitch to faciliate that as a goal. Aye. I fear for Howe's job if we finish 9th. i don't think that's an awful finish considering 7-8th is par and the squad is unbalanced and stale.

The wage bill is a problem though. Which is why we want to sell many a high-earner. Trippier, Wilson, Targett - all bad business at this point.

I agree with this. But we've given Gordon the supermax contract and committed to him. We've made our bed. I think it's the right choice too profile wise. But agree Barnes might actually be the better player. Unrelated - I think Villa have gone about the PSR thing the right way in the summer. Sold players at prime age. Brought in youngsters. And they are still struggling. Fact is, to sustain CL and league position you do need a bigger budget. Young players in and older out is the only route but it is still a v. tough one. I understand why Howe wanted to keep his senior lads. Villa would be better off with Luiz & Diaby in the squad but the game is rigged. I like that winger they sold and rebought but Diaby would offer more.

I think it's the owners demanding Europe that is making Howe behave like that. He showed at Bournemouth he'll take a high potential kid and develop him. For the sake of squad building, selling players at peak age is needed.

I think Barnes would be a top 10 earner at the club or close. More than Livra, Hall, Burn, Longstaff, Willock, Almiron, Murphy etc. Earned more than Gordon pre-contract I would be confident. Potential higher earners: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Bruno, Joelinton, Gordon, Isak, Wilson, Kelly, Targett, Tonali. The only players that don't start regularly that I would expect to earn close to him or more are Kelly, Trippier, Targett and Wilson. 3 of which we'd happily sell.

You can’t have a £40m+ player on good wages sitting on the bench while you start Murphy RW. We don’t have the budget for 18 proven top quality players. We need a younger squad profile with high potential youngsters on the bench.

Honestly a nice differential. If you’ve had the stomach for him so long. Why not keep him? Decent captain option too. I lost the stomach awhile ago. But he will come back. I’ll just need to see it first.

Isak’s going. You can thank me for an Isak brace. He’ll then rise in value ahead of 4 of the easiest fixtures a striker could have. We’ve just been shit against poorer opposition. I think something is fundamentally wrong with us this season. Or at least I’m not convinced we’ve turned the corner

I sold DCL just before the good fixtures ended fully expecting him to finally get a return. He didn’t. Watching Everton & DCL was a nightmare. He’s not played well for 4 years. He had a purple patch under one of the best managers of all time. His mind body and spirit is broken. There’s no circumstance where we should sign him. Not for free. Not for anything. I never want to see him again.

He’s the best in the 1 up top era. We’ll never know if he could handle a young Lukaku x Shane Long double up.

Aye he and Arteta are the worst in the division for it.

Can't secure a top 50k finish in December mind but you can throw it away doing too much! Think those transfers could've waited IMO. The year I finished 56k I was top 10k-20k for most of the season but did too much, went too early on risky transfers, tore up a winning team through confidence. The year I finished 7k, got a good base and slowly ticked on to the next good asset. Never trying to get ahead of the game too much. Common sense transfers every week. Still tempted to sell Isak. The last 2 performances and the aggregate attack over the opening 13 games isn't good. It's now or I keep him for the foreseeable. The short-term fixtures are too good to sell after Liverpool - that's what killed me with DCL. Isak will definitely score eventually but the variance vs Jackson is high. Jackson will almost definitely justify his price tag. Isak could go either way. Think I'm selling for a hit.

Turns out I have to sell Mbeumo anyway. It was Rogers I could move on but price rises have taken me out.

Folks I can either do: Mbeumo out for Saka. Start Isak. - If he misses out I've got Dalot off the bench which is weak. - we are a bad attack. But historically (as in last 2 seasons) a good attack. - I don't trust our attack against Leicester or Ipswich who will sit back and defend. - Losing Mbeumo ahead of a good fixture +Great fixtures the next 4 +Isak fixtures pretty good well into Feb. + Gives me funds for any defender (likely TAA/VVD/Konate/Gomez) going forward. + Isak to play 70 minutes each game minimum if fit + Isak on penalties + no hit. Can do Isak out for Jackson, Dibling out for Saka (-4). +Gives me 8 strong attackers heading into the busy period + Chelsea a good attack + Good fixtures for a long time to come (March) + good minutes - Benching nightmares - Decent short-term fixtures. - Jackson 1 yellow from a suspension - coming in for a hit - Not on penalties - Can't afford premium Liverpool defender but could get any VVD partner My mantra is choosing good players from good teams. I don't know if we are a good team. I've doubted them but Chelsea seem a good team. Jackson feels a safer bet for as long as I want him. Isak and us as a team could stink it out. What do you think?