Shak

I mean he's only 13 years older than Lampard but I get ya.

The fact that he's clearly trying to adapt his game to fit in better is a real credit to him, it's not coming off right now but it would be a shame not to give him more time IMO. Feels like next season will be a transitional one for us anyway so hopefully we give him a year to see if he can grow into the player we all want him to be. If Howe would prefer to move him and spend the money on a replacement I'm fine with it but I hope not. In the wide positions, I'd like to see us bring in a first choice RW and then maybe a highly rated youngster, moving on from Murphy. ASM, Almiron, Fraser and two new wide men would be a good group IMO, especially if we can add a quality striker.

Delighted for him, seems a lovely fella. Ideal squad player IMO. You know he's going to run himself into the ground every minute you have him on the pitch he can play a number of positions.

Colossal job he's done. Completely transformed the way we play in a matter of months. We're playing football that is both entertaining and effective and the organisation and cohesion in defense is remarkable. The players that we've added have all been bedded in excellently and are (with the exception of Wood, I suppose) performing really well, while the transformation of some of the existing squad members has been staggering. On top of that he's an articulate man who seems to be forward thinking and looks like he's still developing as a manager. I really do hope he can grow with the club and be the manager here for years to come.

It's very encouraging that he's clearly trying to change the way he plays, you can see that he's been asked to release the ball more and is trying to do it. Bodes well for the long term prospects of him being part of the team. Thought it was actually to his detriment on the great run where he beat three players, tried to play it to Almiron when the pass just wasn't on. Really wanted him to just go at the last defenders there. It's definitely frustrating watching him at the moment. It definitely doesn't help that the other players in the front three are basically useless, you'd hope with better players around him things will go better. I hope we get to see it next year, I'm not convinced by any means he'll be able to play as part of a cohesive team rather than as a wildcard individual but I'd certainly like to give it a full season under Howe to find out.

Shite game. Delightful victory. Can't wait for summer.

Definitely some post-Ashley trauma in here I'm fairly certain we'll spend a shitload this summer and my trousers are down and I'm ready for it.

Seems an ideal squad member next season. Buy a top quality first choice striker and let Wilson back him up and be an option off the bench when we're chasing a goal. He'll still get plenty of game time and be an important part of the squad without being expected to start every game, should hopefully help keep him fit.

Joe just charging the sheep head on and rugby tackling the wooly cunt to the ground would be immense to watch.

Talking to a friend this morning and this old classic came up. He's just Patrick Bateman in footballer form.

Haha Leffe can't get a full erection.

Just wading in here looking for a fight, I see?

Obviously Kane would be on a different level to anyone we've had play for us in a very long time... That said, part of me would much rather we target players who aren't established stars yet. Throwing huge money at the likes of Kane would feel a bit slimy IMO.

Yeah Rich's post more or less nails it. Would like an extra wide player though. Don't think Murphy is good enough, Fraser is an ideal squad player to have as your fourth choice wide player but an injury of any significance to ASM of the new winger and we're in a bit of bother.

Yeah my hope is that we'll spend big on two wide players and a centre forward this summer. Wilson and ASM gives us a nice group of five battling for three starting spots and then some actual quality on the bench. Wood as emergency third choice striker would be OK for a year or two. Fraser fourth choice wide man. Add a new GK, CB and CM and I'd be very excited to see what the squad could do next season. It's just accepted that we're gonna go balls to the wall and spend a fortune, right?

Just burst out laughing in the middle of teaching a class FFS I'm typing this with a frown so it looks like I'm doing something important now.

Great win, Howe is class man.

Amateur hour again, seems that we could easily have just waited until the summer and spent a month on this before pursuing any new targets. Miss the old regime on days like this.

I've always thought the PL should have a rule that the away fans have to be placed directly behind the goal at one end of the field. At ground level. Would be great for atmosphere.

Jesse Marsch? Jesse Darsch is more like it.

Love to see Joelinton get the armband for a few games.

Didn't see the game yesterday but I did think a huge part of the reason we looked so good at West Ham was that Burn and Schar are so comfortable on the ball. Lots of times in the first half it was just those two knocking it back and forth and they were always a willing outlet for the midfielders to play back to and restart the build up. It really allowed us to take the sting out of the game, quiet the crowd and stop West Ham from ever getting going. I'm not sure you can ever play like that with Lascelles in the team tbh, he's just so very limited with the ball at his feet.

A bag for me A bag for you Let's get wrecked on bags of glue!!

Harrowing stuff, this

You'd hope that ultimately Bruno will take Shelvey's place. Willock has had some struggles but is still only 22, there's a lot of room for growth as a player there. Shelvey meanwhile turns 30 in a week and his athletic limitations are only going to get worse in the coming seasons. In the short term we could see Bruno play Willock's spot if needed though, looks a very capable all rounder who can fill a number of roles. Once the fixtures start coming thick and fast I expect we'll see plenty of rotation.