Colos Short and Curlies

if you read/quote the last part of my post you’d see that I’m in favour of that.

Chelsea have 4 home draws in the cup this year and 4 home draws in the Carabao, so no away draws at all. Don't think I'm suggesting anything here...

Quarters are right before the sodding international break aren't they? Full strength City team coming up

Its not a complicated theory at all, and I haven't made any reference to results or this season. Eddie is obviously a master at building a club up and making the players play above themselves for a period of time. There is evidence in 2 clubs, starting from 2 different bases to show this. There is also plenty of evidence that Mourinho and Ancelotti are masters at leading the biggest clubs and churning out trophies. There is also plenty of evidence that they know that they have a shelf life at each club and don't hang around. There is also plenty of evidence that Big Sam is a master of the escape from relegation scenario (as much as we all hate him). You wouldn't put Mourinho into Sheff Utd now and expect them to stay up, similarly you wouldn't put Big Sam in charge of City and expect them to continue their dominance. Managers like Klopp, Fergie, Wenger who can build a team up and then maintain the status at the top are few and far between. We're all hoping that Eddie is another one but there is no evidence (yet) that he will be. Nagglesmann is likely to be the best option available this summer if Eddie was to leave, but if the club are happy to fully back him now then I'd rather he stays (albeit I'd like to see an evolution in playing style and a bit more flexibility). My point in this thread has been back him or sack him at the end of the season, don't keep him on if there are doubts. I'm comfortable with either but happy that they've decided to back him early on.

Someone should have told Ratface that the whole club was available for £350m a few years ago, much cheaper and easier than moving us brick by brick to Old Trafford (via Beamish of course)

there’s another part to that in that maybe Eddies strength is in taking a club at rock bottom and building it up, but then isn’t the one who sustains and adds the cherry. they are different skill sets and have different pressures. People often say a Mourinho or Ancellotti wouldn’t do well at a Bournemouth, and they are probably right but they are 2 of the best at managing the big clubs

I don't think we'll get Liverpool, Klopp's final domestic game at Wembley is written in the stars. It will be Coventry away or Chelsea home I reckon

im being a little mischievous here, and I’m only quoting you NWM for the wording, not directing this to you. and for the record I do not believe Eddie is bang average. but… there is a fair bit of comment on how the players who got us to 4th last season are not good enough to take us forward and need to be sold. Reverting to type as above and last season was a move from the norm. so why can’t the same be true for Eddie and what we are now seeing is the real Eddie, with the first 18 months being exceptional? fwiw I said early in his tenure that I thought Eddie would win us a cup but wouldn’t get is the league. I stand by this. He’s done a phenomenal job to get us here, and I’ve a sneaky feeling that we’re going to get a nice draw this evening and will get to the final of the FA cup. I then have doubts on whether he has enough left to be the one who takes us forward again. Sometimes people just have a useful shelf life and ultimately lay the groundwork for the next person to benefit

Not taking every sodding set piece from the left would help in that regard as well.

If we don't see an improvement - or at least signs of something turning around (and we have a favourable fixture list to do this now) - then I really don't see the point in waiting to September to make a decision. All in or all out but be 100% clear on the decision

See I disagree with this. He's earned the right to have a clear decision on next season made early in the summer He's either got the whole of next season barring a total unforeseen disaster and therefore the summer going balls deep in Howeball and who he wants Or the board decide that this wasn't good enough and we move on. Being a little indecisive does Howe no favours as the summer will be compromised and we know that we can get a better manager in during the summer than we can in September.

tickle me Elmo

I know we beat Fulham but i thought the same in that game. we either don’t have a plan on how to play the players can’t execute the set plan the players don’t want to execute the set plan

Of course we will, against Liverpool. Actually no, scrap that. It will be City and we'll win. Then cruise past Coventry in the semis and get Liverpool in the final for the third leg of Klopps quadruple farewell tour

I hope he means there is a lack of perms and shellsuits and no other reason

I reckon 21 points from those

I suppose today has technically gone better than expected with ManU losing and Brighton dropping points at home

Antwerp was amazing but I don’t think you can say one amazing round and then throwing away the second round to be brilliant ?

I’m not overly fussed on the results - other than the worry that Isak, Bruno and Botman will all be off in the summer. The issue for me is that he’s played the hand he has been dealt badly with the way we’re going out with the same midfield issue, creating the same defensive issues and the compounding our attacking issues through running any fit player into the ground. If we are going to progress we need a manager who is a bit more proactive when things aren’t going well. the power play/dynamic that is seemingly in place with Ashworth is also a little concerning. there is of course a very plausible scenario where he was the right person for the last 2.5 years but has hit the ceiling. i dunno, thinking out loud really but I’m coming more around to the idea that he needs a storming end of the season or that will be all folks.

Ritchie on for Miley

you could say Howes been as bad as any coach this past few months so we wouldn’t miss him. of course neither is true

mid a team doesn’t know what it’s doing then it’s on the coach. if the players aren’t good enough to compete he gets a pass

along with Bruno and Botman wouldnt surprise me if we are starting again this summer