TRon

We had a DOF but he fell out with Howe after a public clash. Last summer's signings had Howe's fingerprints all over them, if only because Mitchell left before we made any of them.

Don't think that was doable either tbh. Felt like the time for Pedro and Ekitike was earlier in their career and richer clubs stepped in every time. It was us who dropped the Pedro deal actually, when we got the chance for Isak last minute instead.

Pedro was ready until Chelsea stepped in. Trafford was ready before City invoked their clause. Who knows if those clubs were always ready to jump in once the negotiations had been done by us. Trafford is the one I think might have slipped through the cracks, but that just sounds like incompetence from our end.

If you let him cut inside and let one fly, he can hit a canny shot like. But most defenders just let him go inside then block the shot. Seems like they watch the telly as well.

Which ones?

Someone who did their homework presumably.

Eddie Howe. Don't tell me any of those arrive unless Howe okays it.

He invariably did nothing of consequence after carrying the ball forward. Maybe lost the ball a few times or passed to someone sideways. Any forward passes either were cut out or missed their target.

Get to fuck Tino. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

We've bought players who aren't that good. The ones who are can see it, and have decided they want to get a big move now rather than wait to see if it gets better.

If the players aren't playing for him, that reflects on the manager as well ultimately.

He's another one of our collection of nearly good players.

Good players stay good players. Shit players are ultimately shit players. All this talk of improving players is overblown IMO.

What the fuck were we looking at when doing scouting reports for over a year?

.Nothing came off for him. Just kept running into traffic same as Ramsey.

He won't give a fuck. Got a thick skin wor Ant.

He also said the issue wasn't fitness, Wissa's as fit as he's been since his arrival. The issue was his performance.

Thank fuck Murphy's not starting. Probably as good a side as we could put out given the circumstances. EDIT: other than the striker situation.

I've not been a vocal critic of Gordon like some here, but could see him acting the cunt like Isak if he really dug his heels in. If he wants out, we should help him on his way.

He only works with a Howe team I reckon. If we want to progress to a more possession based game, then I don't think he's got the credentials.

The penalty he scored when he took one.

Howe was asked about him yesterday and while he didn't name him, he said that anyone not 100% committed wouldn't be getting picked. I guess we have our answer.

Howe was mentioning yesterday that he was not going to play anyone who wasn't 100% committed when asked about Gordon yesterday.

I'd like to think this is true. Otherwise whoever was responsible for chasing so hard to get his signature needs firing.

I am in the same camp tbh, but I rarely get to games these days. If he's slacking off in the defensive duties it's usually more apparent in the flesh.