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That is a pretty horrific commentary on New Zealand football, you can't get away from it.

Yes, I'm talking about perception management.. It's unrelated to whether he has players scouted, which he obviously does extensively. I'm talking about proactively avoiding the formation of cliques and disruption of chemistry. It's not to say Bruno or anyone we have would do that, but it's something a savvy manager will take into account. It's the sort of thing we've suffered from in the past e.g. 'Proper Football Players' (Shearer, Given etc.) vs. Bling Boyz (Dyer, Bramble etc.). There's a lot of ego out there. Things look rosy at the moment, and we all want it to look rosy, but I'm sure Howe will be thinking about possible eventualities.

I'll take your word on that, but yes I've heard it said, which is cool. But yeah, I'm not saying we wouldn't go for him, just that I could see it being a factor in the decision and how the decision was executed. The difference between justice being done and being seen to be done, so to speak. Also, ok sure, imagine we sign Pacqueta, would he then also follow advice on the left back and who knows where else? I think each subsequent one becomes less likely than the previous one to avoid dodgy personal dynamics.

Yes, you'd assume so. That said, part of me wonders whether Howe would want to openly rely on Bruno's opinion too much (or any opinionated player, for that matter). Certainly, if it was me, I'd be wary of signing a star player's best friend (Pacqueta, I'm thinking of) if it was being widely spoken about, as it'd make me question whether the personal and professional lines would risk getting blurred. I could see Howe wanting to make sure everyone was clear on who was in control.

But we have seen he's got serious balls... So we'll see. Just thinking about it, it's interesting that Bruno is so publicly keen for Targett to stay if the alternative is his own international teammate.

I don't know if that's true, but the over reliance on stats that's come into the game is a bugbear of mine. With that in mind, are we saying that Almiron is decent and the stats aren't properly reflecting him, or that Saint Maximin is really good because the stats show he's the best dribbler in Europe?

Does it not tell a little bit of a story about how he's seen by other teams, though? Shitty dig, of course. I think Howe will be looking for players with resoluteness and killer instinct though, which I don't see him having unfortunately, nice as he is.

I think we can all agree, regardless of what happens with him here, that Villa were idiotic to get rid of him.

Does he think he'll be happy as a squad member of a champion's league team? That's maybe the question that decides whether he stays here. He came here for first team football in his mid-20s which is ultra respectable. But being categorical backup at perennial also-ran Villa is a bit of an insult. Maybe the project here is a better way of spending his life? He's clearly genuinely happy here which is great.

That's the kicker... For that reason we should be looking to make him our second choice forward next season. But it will take a hell of a purchase to push him into that slot.

Suddenly occurred to me - big Glenn Roeder vibes. If Bruno likes playing with him, that should confirm he's more than just defensively sound.

Man on a mission tonight. Fantastic.

Seems like a lovely guy but I think this is a nice moment to end things on. I hope he's played his way in the last few games to a bigger and better club and contract than he otherwise would have had 6 months ago.

There's a player in there somewhere... If he can stop overthinking things. I like him though.

Superb work for the first goal. Showed a different side to his game. More of that please!

Nah. He was younger and more inconsistent in his early days but he always had something and was good before that Portuguese ref tried to let him get kicked to pieces against Inter Milan.

To the Gasheads, have you seen his game change much while he was with you? I heard you say he stood up to the physicality quickly, but anything else? Maybe got more consistent in his contributions, or adventurous or clinical?

If it wasn't for the fact we haven't really got the whole sporting director structure in place, I could definitely see us having a mini splurge on kids - with a view to them coming into our team in a couple of years rather than now. A bit like Dalglish did, in fairness to him, after Keegan had abolished the reserves. In addition to main squad additions, that is.

That was my guess... Silly... Needs to get it out of his system if so.

Not sure what's wrong with him, didn't think he was normally like this according to Brighton?

That's actually a great example. Loads of unpaid amateurs on here were able to give loads of options for replacing Steve Bruce. We didn't need to be Sporting Directors to throw a few ideas around, which showed how bad the club was at hiring managers.

Declaring that you're (not you) not happy with something but not having any ability or interest to explain how or why that thing makes you unhappier than any other approach. But someone should've done something to make the thing go better. The club should have signed a better forward. Not sure who, not sure what kind, not sure where, not sure how, not really sure when. But not signing him was a failure. Ok cool, interesting read. Everyone is a football scout on some level if they like watching football and have some power of judgement.

This stuff starts to sound like the fan equivalent of Steve Bruce. Howe just needed to "show something. That bit of quality that would've made the difference".

So name your alternative signings and realistic criteria. The stage is yours. Maybe Ivan Toney for £60m or whatever it would have cost Brentford to accept guaranteed relegation?

The reality is Wood seems to have been getting worse as a striker over time for us rather than better if anything. It's shit, I know. I also doubt we'll be off-loading him in the summer due to his contract. Therefore I hope he's 4th choice next season, hassling our defenders on the training pitch and giving our strikers a breather the next time we play Cambridge in the FA Cup etc. The thing that bothers me is also people criticising the signing without coming up with alternatives that filled the criteria we had at the time. Available at short notice, consistent track record, owned by a club that couldn't or wouldn't mess us around, suitable character, willing to join the mother of all relegation battles, willing to immediately lose their spot in the team - or be kicked out to another club - within 6 months without causing problems etc. etc. It was easier said than done, and some people go on like they've been personally offended by it all.