Theregulars

That Rodri handball decision is so blatantly wrong that it took the enjoyment out of watching Lampard lose, which takes some doing.

Sadly not, I don't use Twitter!

I’m not even convinced by the “need a squad” argument. One of the many players who have played for us during the Ashley years who you can’t conceivably see playing at another premier league side.

But what undoubtedly makes him right for the role is that he’s English. Dan can identify a bargain on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke, even through quite severe drizzle. Those limp-wristed chorizo nonces Monchi and Txiki Begiristain watch cycling and don’t even wear ties around the office, the fucking creeps. Ashworth means Ashworth.

Yeh I think that’s a pretty fair analysis, although I’d say he has set up, scored or been involved in a not inconsiderable number of goals over his time here. For the club with such a low ceiling that we were, he provided some memorable moments. It probably says more about the godawful state of the club that I like him, in all honesty.

Man, the bonk-on I’d get for beating both Lampard and Gerrard. Such overrated human beings.

Think Shelvey persistently gets a raw deal on the forum. He has his limitations but he's been one of the better performers since Howe came in and he's been nowhere near one of the worst parts of the Ashley regime. Think he's earned a regular starting berth and I don't see him being dropped for Bruno; seems to be an element of negative groupthink towards him.

If he's out, I would start Bruno - no tactical reason but think it would galvanise the crowd who might otherwise be gutted that KT isn't playing.

Good, the squad is considerably better than it was a month ago. I think there was a lot of pragmatism as well as proper ambition, and the latter netted us two (what look to be) seriously good players. In the context - some commentators saying it would be impossible to attract talent, some saying new owners don’t know what they’re doing, league position, early phase of massive transition, skeleton senior staff, clubs less willing to do deals in January, unreasonably stiff commercial conduct (Manchester United)… it’s a really good first attempt from them and everything they’ve done made sense; I also think they impressed some players and other clubs’ senior staff in negotiations. I can see the argument that we’re a player light in attack. There’s going to need to be a contribution from one / a combination of Fraser, Almirón, Willock and/or Joelinton in attack; Wilson is going to be needed again; ASM staying fit is crucial and we’re going to need Wood to justify the move to sign him. I hope improving the overall side, which has been done, will improve how they attack as a unit. Like a lot of posters, I think we were a Lingard or similar away from making survival probable / having a brilliant window. As it is, a good window.

I mainly remember trying to score from kick off and it going wider than the corner flag for a throw in. My claim that it was a plan to “box them in” fell on deaf ears. Distinctly remember @MKSCcalling me a prick, and rightly so. @Yorkiedeployed me as a false 9 - very false indeed.

1. @ManDoononce flattened me in an N-O game; he had no respect for the original Ginger Pirlo. I can attest to his magic feet. 2. Wood has played with these players and for this manager for like 3 weeks? Let’s give him a bit longer before we decide he’s sub-par.

D-D-D-D-D-D-Do the barracuda

Page 9: where Lucas (Dan)burns Matt

Cheers Matt, I will. It's people like you who keep me coming back for more. Sometimes I worry that nobody cares what I think, but I feel validated now.

Wounded? You sound like Frasier Crane for goodness sake.

Players can improve...

It's when people say stuff like "this is torture"...! It looks like we have a decent chance of signing a very good player. It is not certain yet, but how do modern football fans not know that transfers are difficult to do, especially when clubs were not originally looking to sell? It gets right on my hefty ginger tits when people slate the new owners about how they're going about their business - they are clearly trying hard and working out targets which are (I would call it) realistically ambitious. To wit; had we never gone after Botman or Carlos but signed Dan Burn outright, people would moan (I reckon) that it was a signing lacking ambition. The reports on this story are actually largely in chorus: fee agreed, details of payment not, medical pencilled in but not confirmed as on, at this stage looks likely to progress. Nobody has said we have signed him.

I agree with you that they look unlikely to win the league. I wouldn’t write them off qualifying for the CL just yet. I also agree that they’re unlikely to win the current CL, but they will sure as shit want to play their best possible side. I genuinely think they just didn’t want to get rid of him now absent silly money, because it would dent them on both league and CL fronts - arguably they can’t afford either because, as you rightly point out, they’re a long way off the league (and presumably, given their financial situation, are worried about CL qualification next year) and they need the best they can put out against a good Chelsea side in the CL. I could very well be wrong and they might be haggling knowing he’ll be off in the summer anyway (although they may, again rightly given how much we seem to rate him, think that we will be back in this summer with similar money).

Agreed - and think that was always going to be an issue this window. I’m not going to criticise them for aiming high, but would revisit that if the back-up options aren’t sensible and available.

They’re still in the Champions League and 2 points off European football in the league. Being dismissive without any acknowledgement of reality is basic.

I can see this being the case for PL teams but not abroad - I think in the case of Botman and Carlos their respective teams are in the hunt for trophies and don’t want to lose key players absent crazy money.

Seems like a negotiating move I would make if I knew a cash rich club was after a fringe player who was interested in leaving.

I couldn't care less about fees really. Quite happy for NUFC to be ripped off for the time being, just want to reduce / eliminate the amount of gurning / indigestion which happens when I read our teamsheets.

Or because he’s foreign and successful. Racism amongst pundits is definitely an active issue.

I’d take him back right now. Accept that it’s knee-jerk but I’ve not seen enough from Howe yet to suggest that something positive is round the corner. We still look muddled, scared and like we find no joy in playing.