Shak

Remember the end of last season the fucking havoc we were able to unleash on teams using Isak and Wilson together for the last half hour of games? It adds so much to us having the ability to do that. Our style of play means we're always gonna need to use a healthy amount of rotation, particularly with the front three. So one of Isak or (for example) Toney being on the bench at the start of games isn't unrealistic IMO. I'd also be of the opinion that Isak and a #9 could be used from the start in a lot of games. I know it wasn't particularly effective when tried last season but Howe showed he was willing to try Isak on the left with Wilson central. With the right midfield in place I still think it could very much be an option for us. Think there'd be more than enough minutes for Isak and a top CF. And that's in the best case scenario where everyone stays fit.

I was on an aeroplane for the first half of the Spurs game last season

Chance was so easy he fell over

Ideally you want a DOF type trying to sign players for the future while the manager is more focused on the needs of the first team. Issue is that Ashworth was spending huge money on these young players from Premier League clubs, not unearthing the likes of Caicedo and MacAllister like he was at Brighton. Neither of those two cost a pittance, they were decent money given the leagues they came from. But a far cry from what you pay shopping for young English players who have impressed in PL action. Minteh is really the only signing we made in that bracket under Ashworth. We tried for a few others like Santos and Perrone but couldn't get those deals done.

Can see the arguement for another year on loan but I could also see him being absolute dynamite as an option off the bench for the last twenty minutes of games next season.

Absolute filth.

Think there's probably a fair point in the idea that a director changing teams shouldn't be quite so acrimonious but it's a bit much for one of the teams who have supposedly been active in trying to stunt our growth behind the scenes to play the "lets all try to do business in a cordial manner" card. Perhaps had they not spent two years being complete cunts towards us we might be willing to do business in a more friendly way? Ultimately reckon this will all get sorted, we'll get 12-15 million for him and he'll be in Manchester next season. We're not benefitting at all from him sitting at home doing nothing, at some point there'll be an offer worth taking and we'll take it and reinvest the money somewhere it can do some good. Fully on board with us being dickheads about it though, have to say

Does compensation count towards FFP? Feels like probably not?

Really hope we land a top quality #9 in the summer. The ability to start one of Wilson/Isak and have the other on the bench was so important last season. If things were going well, a straight swap midway through the second half to bring on fresh legs and manage their workloads, while if we needed a spark, Isak left and Wilson CF for the last twenty minutes regularly provided it. Also think there'll be some scope for Isak and the new CF to start some games together, but even if not I think there'll be more than enough minutes to go around for the two.

Aye, pretty much. Though I think you also want to have the option for both of them to get forward at the same time. Our lack of true DM makes this a little bit trickier but it's still something that would add a lot to our attacking play and something we can't really do with Burn at LB.

Said before that I reckon his long term position might be as a #6. Excellent in tight spaces, rarely gets caught in possession. Once he fills out a bit I reckon he'll be a bit of unit too.

Maybe we'll try something revolutionary like have both full backs able to go forward when the situation warrants it? Seem to recall Trippier getting plenty involved going forward against Man U and Chelsea when Tino was at LB. Set up the Gordon goal against Man U.

He'll not be under any real pressure in terms of his job IMO, particularly with Ashworth jumping. All things considered, he's done a fantastic job and is a young, English manager that has shown some elite traits. I do however think he's putting some stuff on his resume that does give cause for concern about the future, though. The favouritism with Burn is very disappointing, don't think there's really any argument to be made that Burn is a better option than Tino has been this season. Also, I do worry about how quick he'll be to change things up when needed in the future. Pretty clear that teams have found a way to get at us defensively this season and there's been no real signs of any attempt to change things up. Today we started 6 of the 8 players who made up our back five and midfield last season and we're just so easy to get at. Yeah, Joelinton and Pope are big losses but I don't think getting those two back is going to be a magic bullet. Looking forward to the summer, squad desperately needs a freshening up and with Ashworth gone it seems safe to assume that Howe will be the loudest voice in the room when deciding what moves we make in the transfer market. Hopefully we bring in the right players and hit the ground running next season and have the squad to play the way we want to play, I do think most of the issues Eddie has had will be solved with a better squad of players to choose from.

At this point it's pretty clear that when they're all fit Livramento isn't going to be starting. Not sure he could have played any better in the chances he's been given this year while both Trippier and Burn have had some extremely shaky patches. Don't think it's too big a deal but I do find it a little disappointing, honestly.

Yo, hey what's happening dude? I'm the guy at the back for the Toon

Does compensation we get for him impact FFP? If not, I'd honestly like us to be as petty as fuck about this if we can And yeah, I'd like to see him crash and burn there and not just for the impact it will have on Man U, but also him personally

People need to accept that a manager being poor at certain aspects of their job doesn't make them a bad manager. Pointing out things that Howe is doing that you don't agree with doesn't mean you want him fired. It's important to identify his weaknesses so we can see if he's improving on them. By the same token, Howe having weaknesses doesn't mean that he's on borrowed time here. We're going through a bit of a rough few months but he's still got so much to offer as a manager and he'll get us back on the right track if we get the right players in this summer.

I know objectively there was a lot of bad stuff but I've had a couple of drinks and quite enjoyed that as a spectacle

It's annoying. Local lad. Great in the dressing room. Can play a few positions. But he's gonna be turned into a player that a huge section of the fanbase despises because the manager insists on him being first choice LB despite us having two young actual full backs on the bench that we've spent 70 million quid on. He should be a backup CB and an emergency LB, him starting ahead of Livramento given how good Tino has looked all season is laughable.

Been objectively a decent watch but as others have said it's really hard to get your head around how good we were at the back not long ago when you watch us now. Looking forward to seeing Barnes and Wilson in the second half.

Man, can we not just be fucking happy for a game this season FFS?

Don't really care about not bringing on subs personally. I'm all in on the FA Cup this year. More worrying for me is that we looked absolutely shite tonight against what was largely a backup Fulham team. A lot of blaming of fatigue for our away performances this year but after a two week break we still looked exactly as we have done all season. Delighted we're through of course but have come away from that feeling a bit flat.

Be class if we just won the cup playing like absolute shite in every game and snaking shite wins.

We have a few players that are weak links when pressed and nobody in our midfield can beat a man and break the line. Also, for as good as he is in general play, Isak isn't a good outlet if we go direct. Net result is that it's pretty safe to press us aggressively as we've no real answer for it.

Would love to see a young CB brought in this summer that can also be second choice RB.