80

If he doesn't block a valuable squad place, I'd quite like to keep him on. Maybe I'm wrong but I think he would be happy to play backup/support act for as long as he can on our journey, while coming on highly motivated and physically prepared when we do need him as cover. I think Miggy feels the pain of being firmly on the back burner a lot more, which I don't blame him for, but isn't ideal in the great scheme of things. I saw an interview with Murphy recently and thought he was surprisingly intelligent and well-considered, which is also handy. He seems like the sort who will already be thinking about his post-playing career.

I'm all for ambition, there's no point in limiting what we can achieve. But we should be aware our games will probably be very different next season, and probably very frustrating. The majority of teams will set out to park the bus against us, particularly at SJP. It may take us a season or two to adjust to that and consistently break teams down. It's what separates the men from the boys.

Bellamy became the most intelligent and modern forward we had in the early 2000s... Fitness to play was an issue, though.

Didn't think signing the best full back we've had in a decade (allowing for Trippier's broken foot) would be so controversial.

This is the way to think.

I didn't really feel qualified to comment, but I didn't fancy Emery in the sightest. Seemed a very dry, sterile appointment and not someone who could get the club. Just hiring by numbers. From the candidates I'd heard about, Howe was my favourite as I'd always admired him from a distance. I think NUFC needs a manager who can bond with a club and, particularly right now, can navigate a project. Well, that was his career story up to now. In terms of how it's gone, I always said, judge after January. I knew there was time to rescue ourselves if we got that period right, and everything prior was essentially about preparing the players we had for then onwards. Well, they got it exceptionally right. A magnificent achievement. The shocker was Joelinton. I couldn't see how a midfield of Shelvey and Willock could function in November. Throw Joelinton in there though, along with actual fitness training and inspiration, and it's a different story.

I'm hoping the new owners revamp the PA system at some point.

I think both can be true. I don't think he's selfishly upset about not being the sole hope, but I think it is a role adjustment for him, both psychologically and tactically. I think he feels a bit like he's seen as yesterday's man.

Everton was a BIG call. Balls the size of grapefruit. The dignity he's adding to the club is immense.

Tremendous. Here's to another 10 years.

4 as an attacker, 7 in defence. But we didn't buy him as a defender...

Started to lose his head in the second half, Dubravka had to snap him out of it. Decent game, though.

Battled really well, he played an important part.

We can do it. One more big push and let the result come to us.

Very thoughtful. Good move.

What a lad. So assured.

Say Rovers don't go up, do we think he'd benefit from playing under Rooney at Derby? Would be nice to think he'd get some special attention there.

On first sight he looks to have more of a direct eye for a goal than Maxi..........

People were so incredulous about what was happening

Bingo

Just had a flashback and remembered my profile pic dates back to these days and IanW talking about people being negative cats...

Great post. Can only shake my head at the idea of history being re-revised (good guy, to shithead, to good guy) on him. The future was clear enough under him early on. Stole a squad, lucked out, successfully gaslit half a generation. All those who played the game and called loyal servants 'greedy cunts', and tucked their tales between their legs and accepted the idea of being outmuscled by Southampton and Leicester. If anyone wants to look back fondly at that time, look back at Graham Carr. A competent manager (and ownership) would've led to a very different decade from 2011 onwards.

But 10s of millions of people own, ride, watch, bet on and paint horses for recreation. Which is what football is, recreation. Watch engineering videos on YouTube if you're looking for the frontier of precision measurement.

True, but I respect them not having the piss taken out of them. Helps us not feel like we've 'just' bought our way to the top in record time too, and makes our development more organic. Also, from what Ashworth says about his job role, I don't expect him not being here (and unable to yell advice to us from his garden in Brighton...) to be very detrimental to us this summer. If it holds us back, it'll be more on the youth development, recruitment and training ground side. Which is a shame, but manageable.

Great buy, lovely guy. The kind of character you want to have succeed at your club. More offensive quality than you might expect, too.