TRon

Did anyone at the club actually specify the target = 6th? From what I understand the target is Europe and that can be achieved even with an 8th place finish if things go our way.

Didn't Leicester, Everton and Forest end up in a shitload of trouble for trying to bend the rules? The staff responsible for trading badly prior to this summer have gone as you acknowledge. Even the Yasir No 1 ambition has been downgraded. I'm not really sure what you are arguing at this point. Seems to be breaking rules and then risking a points hit if I'm reading that last post correctly.

I think Europa is a target to aim for, it's not tied inherently to Howe's job. Eddie's been backed pretty extensively in the transfer market, the only reason he's not getting more is because the league rules won't allow it. This means if Eddie wants more players we'll have to sell in order to generate the funds. He's been reluctant to let players go previously but seems to be on board with it now. Unfortunately it seems the only players clubs want is the ones he wants to keep.

I agree with teams beating each other, in theory it wouldn't take that much to put us right back in there. What puts doubt in my mind is we have looked disjointed all season, and because we've dropped a lot of points to substandard teams, those will be harder to make up in the second half of the season.

I'm just looking at a realistic way forward. I think what would be useful is an update from PIF as to what our current ambitions are. Fans might still be going off the Yasir quote about becoming No 1, but that's since been updated to getting into Europe in the short term at least. For that we aren't that much off course, it's quite conceivable that Howe could achieve that even with 8th place. As for other clubs navigating PSR issues, I think all clubs have different headroom, and they probably come under less scrutiny as well. Just have to look at Man U with their Covid allowances to see that. We've hired top class people to oversee all this. What is it you are arguing then? They are bad hires and we should sack them and get others instead?

Some of the most successful managers in the Premier would never have landed if clubs looked for PL experience above other credentials.

Not sure there's much chance of getting money for Almiron either, that ship has probably sailed.

Agree, was just a response to the post about how much better a captain Trippier was. I don't think it makes much difference myself.

Make someone else captain then.

Any owner is going to face the same problems with PSR. All TCD has done to date is criticise the current leadership's lack of creative solutions such as academy or new ground to release more cash without actually knowing for sure whether these might already be in the works. This is just pointless speculation IMO. If you think the owners aren't interested then would be better just to say we need new owners because these ones aren't committed if that's what you believe. But really if they are not ambitious, why would they sack Eddie? He's doing a par job. It doesn't add up.

Sick of hearing about this numpty tbh.

Yeah it's obviously quite complicated. You only have to see how doggedly the PL authorities have gone after some clubs outside of the cartel to see that. Just look at the Man City case, they would have dropped that ages ago if they didn't have cartel backing.

If there's anyone with the sort of money to take on the PL in a very expensive court case, you would imagine it would be the Saudis themselves who would have the sort of clout to bring them in, or unofficially bankroll them.

I'll let TCD take this up then since he's the one who has queries about what the board/owners plans are. All he's said is that thinks they are the bigger issue, he wasn't really specific on how this relates to the manager.

Maybe take it up in the PIF thread and see if we can figure a way forward there.

7th or 8th isn't going to have fans screaming for Howe's P45. The concern is more the way we are playing and shipping points to teams with less resources and who would normally be lower half or relegation fodder. Given that, I would be concerned we might find 7th/8th out of reach unless we turn things around pretty quickly.

Yeaf feels a bit like wishful thinking tbh.

Him and Caceido look class tbh.

That's been pretty much single-handed on Jackson today.

They are one of the Premier League's elite clubs, it would be bad for the game to punish them and risk harming the reputation of our great league.

Probably.

It would have killed a cracking game for sure. Glad they made the right/wrong choice depending on your allegiances.

it did if you're a Liverpool diehard.

they were gagging for him to be sent off.

That would be their bench.