STM

Bayern.

Still blaming Ashworth for not having access to Tonalis phone I see. Fuck me. They should know though.... they should just know... somehow.

Hall isn't a better option that Burn. Unless you've just imagined Hall being ready in your head. Again, massively over the top view on Burn. Yes Livramento should be starting. Yes Burn has flaws. That's it.

Fuck me, I wrote all the bullshit and it looks as though Gordon is available. Good news though. Get him AND Barnes in the team.

I think our problem recently (apart from Burns pace which is dependent on who his opponent is) is this: Defence (This area) Longstaff Bruno Miley Right now, Howes tactic is that they play in a straight line and the individual presses whoever is in front of them, including Bruno (who's actually a good presser). But what the opposition is doing, is allowing Bruno to step out of that space and the threading balls between the lines. Countless teams have exploited us in this area and it's certainly ironic that the one team that didn't (Villa) is the side who is particularly good at playing in these spaces. The other problem we have had, is when losing the ball we normally have two athletic, tactically aware players either side of Bruno, who can sense and deal with the danger. Longstaff is capable of doing this, in fact its his best trait (let's not get into his flaws) but on the other side Miley seems like he's getting caught out regularly. Whether that it is because of age or stamina, who knows but its a key weakness for me. It's not a snipe on Miley, he's got twice the potential of Longstaff and we should rightly be excited about him. We need a short term fix, just while we wait on bodies coming back. With what's currently available (shudder): Dubravka Trippier Schar Botman Livramento Longstaff Bruno Miggy Murphy Barnes Wilson Murphy in the number 10 sounds like a ridiculous idea (until Gordon returns) but in effect he'd be the 3rd midfielder as much as a number 10. He'd harass their midfield or defence with his energy and running, preventing them from picking those passes. Longstaff and Bruno could still press aggressively behind him and there would be fewer gaps. Our counter attacking would be lighting quick with Murphy (until Gordon is back), Miggy and Barnes. In short, don't worry about goals, we've never struggled for goals, we need to find a way to protect our defence better and having a triangle in midfield will help us avoid a flat line. P.S Howe won't do any of this.

Must have thought he was still playing for us.

Reet, time for some positivity... Wilson looked very bright. If can play every game that Isak misses, he will score goals. He's a different player, sure but he will score. Barnes looked ace. If he can get through Forest unscathed, we've now got real options in wide areas. We have never stopped scoring, even in our worst moments we've looked good for a goal or two. Scored 7 in 2 games. Forest aren't in the greatest of form. It looks as though Gordon has just twisted his ankle. Once the pain has gone he will be back. He might only miss forest but don't rule out him making it.

Totally disagree. Miggy looked way better from the right. That said, bit of a problem because Murphy also looked shite from the left. If Barnes isn't ready, I suppose your option is the lesser of two evils.

Oh aye, I'm not advocating us not trying to achieve as much as possible. Some serious, serious, shit needs to happen this summer.

We've all been there. I apologised yesterday too. Much better place when people admit to getting a tad worked up. Just shows how much we care. Sometimes I wish in hated football.

But the two can exist together. Their aim is to win the PL and CL, but in order to get there they need to be top 6 sustainable first. IMO, what's happening ON the pitch is irrelevant until we get the commercial side sorted.

There's now 8 sides who want/believe they should be in the top 6. Someone has to be disappointed. Without these injuries we'd be top 6 (ish). Like I've said before, bin this season.

HAVE to? So nobody said we have to be top 6. Just that we want to be.

He's another numbers guy ain't he. While Miggy and Murphy seem to run around loads and seem involved.... Barnes just knows where the onion bag is.

If someone put a button in front of me and said I could end the season right now, I'd press it in a heartbeat. Every time we seem to be coming out of the clouds and injury occurs and knocks us back 3 paces. How do Isak and Gordon get injured, immediately when Barnes and Wilson return? It's a joke.

Great managers just don't arrive from the womb though. Unless you are Boss Baby of course. Managers grow and develop. Again, Klopp didn't just turn up at Liverpool without making mistakes prior. He was at Dortmund, where he did and unreal job... but I'm sure if I asked a Dortmund fan, there'd be a left back he played for too long or a signing that didn't work etc and before that I'm sure there are even more. Eddie Howe isn't a 60 year old finished product. He's a glorious half baked Red Velvet cake. Give him SOME room for error.

Ake and White. Both better than Burn but Jaqens point stands. Of course you can play CBs at full back... if you have 80% possession every week and the full back hasn't the turning capabilities of the Costa Concordia.

He does need to address this issue but I'm not having the "Elite managers yada". Jurgen Klopp didn't make poor judgements at Mainz? Klopp made poor judgements last season man. Only 2 years ago Pep didn't play a DM in the CL final and got beat. Despite people warning against it prior. Great managers make mistakes.

There's some good points in here tonight and this is one of them. Put Burn in the box, with lofted balls or a bit of a scrap and he will win everything, stick him wide left back with a pacey winger and he's fucked. It's also worth mentioning that there's every chance he's lost a yard since last season.... and he wasn't Usain Bolt to begin with. Things change, he's being exposed. Livramento can at least grow. I'm not saying Burn is done here, in fact, the big fella will benefit from less games and coming into a good side. It's become painful. As soon as Howe bites the bullet, we will benefit from it.

Totally agree with this. He's an 8/10 on the ball, but he's like a 4/10 tactically. He needs some growing and some maturing. I'd suggest a upper championship loan.... however loaning players isn't out strong suit.

Of course I don't think he should be in a job if we draw every week but that's kind of an obvious point. If the board has even once questioned their backing of Howe, then I'd question my backing of them. (That's not to say we shouldn't have our eye on wider football incase things did go to shit, thats just smart business). If we performed like this with a fullish squad, my view would be wildy different. Next year is a big year.

It's not the scoreline, or even the draw. It's the complete lack of control. We didn't control Fulham, we did control Villa (for 75 mins) and now back to letting Luton run riot. I don't even think we controlled the mackems the way I think we should.

I agree on point one and he should see subs quicker, so I kind of agree on point 2 but he's had few options. On the "employers" point, sorry thats nonsense. Anyone with a football brain should be fully behind Howe.

Apologies @OpenCand @David Edgar let my emotions dictate during the game. Trying to clarify my thoughts. Eddie Howe has credit in the bank, so did Dan Burn but for everyone the credit can diminish. People have different breaking points. Fair play, you wanted Burn out of the team sooner, i did want Livramento in my 11 but I wasn't as desperate to see Burn dropped. I thought he deserved a chance after last season. Eddie Howe still has a ton of credit, Burns has run out. If Eddie keeps playing Burn, despite the evidence, his will diminish too. Ultimately, I back Eddie but everyone has their blindspot. I doubt anyone thinks Burn should start from here on out.

Don't deserve a win. Shocking performance in reality.