Yorkie

They do; so do we. It's called PSR. You didn't need to list the flaws, like I said: they're obvious. Again I'm just trying to find the nuance and the logic rather than defaulting straight to the Ashley-era style "everyone is a fucking idiot" explanation.

I know. Villa didn't go on a spending spree either really; they bought Malen and made some (presumably expensive) loans, and it still completely neutered their ability to operate in the summer market. When it comes to the full-backs we've got Tino, Krafth, Trippier and Miley who can cover RB and Hall and Burn who can cover LB. The flaws in that gallery are extremely obvious but, again - solely in countering the idea that something is 'seriously broken' - you can understand the logic for not investing in a stopgap, weighed against the impact on the summer budget.

His comment is fair in isolation. It's just the fucking nerve of the man to be coming out with that 48 hours after fanning the flames. Fucking dickhead.

For the record I don't necessarily agree with the decision to stick rather than twist this month. Really I'm just countering the suggestion that something is 'seriously broken.' Tbh I don't think it is, I think they've made calculated decisions intended to be in the best interests of the club. The impact Villa's January had on Villa's summer is an entirely relevant cautionary tale. They got away with not being able to make any real investment. The one player they did spend real money on has already gone out on loan. With the repair job we've got on our hands we can't afford that to be the same for us.

I suppose you can't rule out that something is 'seriously broken'; but to me it's either that, or they've taken a calculated decision to withhold investing now in order to maximise our capabilities in the summer. If you choose to believe everyone at the club who has talked about the window, then I think we'd have done business if a key target was available at a fair price. But they weren't so we didn't. Summer '25 has really hammered home the notion that we simply cannot afford to miss when it comes to recruitment. Villa did stuff last January and it was enough to get them into the Europa League, before being unable to do anything really meaningful at all in the summer window. To their immense credit, that hasn't halted their progress, but I think most here would agree that we can't afford to take that risk.

If they were determined to make a change then surely there's no reason at all to sack him now, unless the person they had in mind was available right now.

Supports Spurs. Hell of a time to be on other clubs' message boards acting the cunt.

A team like Newcastle United burning brightly, but briefly, before plateauing...? in the era of PSR? Surely not.

We couldn't.

Love Popey for his contribution to the brilliant times since the takeover but if we don't replace him then we don't progress as a football club. It's that serious now, we've simply got to get a better goalkeeper. It's arguably the most important signing we can make tbh; that and - annoyingly - probably CF assuming we cut our losses on at least one of the apparent mistakes from last summer.

I'm not and I don't.

Ah yes. Isak leaving makes Howe persist with Trippier Nope.

The point is reducing things down to 'spent loads but are worse' is exactly that: reductive. There's various reasons for why those things are happening and some of them have fuck all to do with Howe.

Clearly nothing else happened between finishing 5th and having a £125m net spend.

I expected us to lose today and we did; I was behind the manager this morning and I am tonight. I'm very much looking through the big picture lens atm so unless it's obvious the squad aren't playing for him any more or he turns up in the Epstein files, my view won't change. I do understand why people might feel that a change is appealing because he is accountable to certain issues this season. Generally those are tactical, with the occasional personnel choice, though I put less emphasis on the latter. However, the bottom line for me is that I truly don't believe he's the main reason why we're in the position we currently are. That is, of course, if you discount the contribution he's made to us having an unsustainable schedule. (Ie CL campaign and cup run) I still have faith in him and believe that he will continue to be a success for us beyond the immediate term. In order, I'd put the following things above his managerial performance to explain why we're struggling in the league: 1. PSR. This issue is embedded into the very fabric of the game but it's main impacts on us have been: -- Isak leaving; -- Being unable to sign any of our preferred targets -- Being cornered into not investing in January. It's double-jeopardy too, because not only have each of those points weakened us, they've strengthened our competitors. I simply cannot get away with anyone who doesn't recognise this as the principal issue. 2. The Champions League format. Another 'state of the game' issue, but eight high-intensity games on top of a domestic cup run has had an absolutely brutal impact on the squad. That extra two really does make a difference. And, really, from our point of view... for what? A favourable tie before the inevitable Last 16 conclusion? Yay. What a ride. Take the money and run. Shit tournament. 3. Key injuries / continuous injuries. Wissa, Tino x2, Hall, Schär, Burn, Botman, Elanga, Krafth, Osula, Ramsey, Murphy, Pope, Miley, Joelinton, Bruno. Many all at the same time. It's been a fucking nightmare and isn't talked about enough. 4. Boardroom upheaval. The whole domino effect of Ashworth departure > Staveley departure > Mitchell appointment > Eales cancer diagnosis > Mitchell departure has been incredibly disruptive and had a trickle-down impact on the pitch. 5. Wissa and Elanga. Two players who were, on paper, really good signings and have simply been playing at levels way, way below what they did for their former clubs. I don't hold the manager responsible for that. 6. Manager's performance. Apparent inability to get to grips with a four-tournament season, some tactical misgivings, persisting with certain players.

The tiredness excuse can’t absolve all the issues we are seeing mind. We where shit before the congestion I'm not saying it does. It's the biggest thing holding us back/preventing us from improving though imo.

If a new manager can mean we've not already played 39 games with up to another 20 to go with a tired and injury-stricken squad, I'd consider a change.

Another painful day in a really depressing season.

Why did we buy a striker if his strength isn't shooting?

Thank fuck

Not true

Good to see some spark. No idea how long we can expect it to last given the obvious fatigue.

Assuming not sarcasm, yes I agree. It's not like we're playing no marks either. It's CL away to PSG, PL away to Liverpool, cup semi away to Man City. There's no surprise they're on their last legs.

Maybe the manager (without any time on the training pitch) should be crafting a system which counteracts the players' increasing tiredness and picking up one or two injuries per week, but I feel like it's a big ask, genuinely. I get that it's what he's paid for but it feels a bit like an impossible task.

Yeah. We're playing badly and the problem is they look like they've got fuck all left in the tank in order to go up a level. Schedule absolutely killing us as expected.