Yorkie

I obviously agree wholeheartedly with that principle but it really does feel futile at this scale, without any meaningful movement behind it. I'm not even sure what difference my boycott would even make even at a micro level. I don't think we need to stray into the matter of hypothetical hypocrisy (re our owners), but there is the point that it's not just the World Cup. Football was sold to these characters ages ago and the shark has already jumped. Why would this be my tipping point?

Sadly my principle of 'consume any and all football I can' outweighs any principles I might have centering around morality. If there was a supremely organised movement which could legitimately provoke a meaningful and majority boycott, I would happily jump on board. Or vuvuzelas. Sadly that ship has never been in the dock, let alone sailed. Top level football is far too popular a thing for the type of people who control it not to control it. The game's gone so I'll just stick me head in the sand and enjoy the action, rather than be in - what feels like - a pointless minority taking a stand. Pending the outcome of a butchered and bloated group stage format, the World Cup will almost certainly be mint, because it always is.

There's absolutely no justification whatsoever for putting Barnes in any kind of failure/unsuccessful pile for us. He's been a great signing.

I liked his explanation to the club media after the game, about showing his confidence in the players to see it out, in turn theoretically giving them confidence. He always knows what he's doing and the logic to his decisions is understandable, even if you don't necessarily agree.

May finally see Tino, Hall and Wissa all in the same team soon.

I don't rate Johnson very highly but 33 seems quite cheap in today's market for someone with his numbers. 55 for Elanga didn't seem mental to me but clearly looks like an overpay at this point given his limited technical ability.

Guess Joelinton has been reading the council's Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment and has spotted something the Saudis haven't.

All black away kit? Aye alright!!

Unfortunately Chelsea will always be winners I think, depending on your definition (they did win the CWC just a few months ago too). Easily the team in English football most deserving of comeuppance but furthest away from ever getting it, imo. They're forever bathing in shit and coming out smelling of Dior.

All wrong except Guy. Good stuff.

All guesses: Lewis Guy Lad called Donaldson. Or Doninger? Both? There was a cup game under Hughton where a load of academy lads played and we lost; I'm picturing one of these names on the teamsheet. Gary Caldwell Callum Roberts John Karelse Lionel Perez

We'll only get no one if we fail to get a deal done imo, but I think we'll be in the market for sure. Why wouldn't we be? Howe has basically said as much; it's just that precisely who/what we target will be dependent on the state of the squad (i.e. injuries). With that in mind I wouldn't expect any recruitment to be instant. That Ake link seems extremely plausible for starters.

Well we've had 13 fresh Nos in the last 24 hours!

Seeing as it apparently isn't obvious, people don't get banned for being in the minority on issues like the manager. People get banned for routinely making the place miserable to read, either through misery itself or by being deliberately antagonistic (you ticked both boxes fwiw).

Favourite Match: / Liverpool cup final / Benfica / Man Utd (4-1) Favourite Goal: / Burn v Liverpool / Tricky to separate a variety: Miley vs Bromley, Gordon vs Arsenal (h), Murphy vs Palace, Barnes' second vs Man Utd, either of Barnes' vs Benfica, Miley vs Fulham. Favourite Moment: / Seeing the engraving being applied to the trophy / Standing on my own on the terrace at Rosie's, a couple hours after FT of the final, nattering to two older gents about the majesty of what was occurring / Won't name names but some of the most emotional embraces with fellow forumers in the moments after that whistle went Favourite Player: / Burn / Bruno / Schär / Also lots of love in-particular for Barnes, Trippier, Joelinton Any other favourite memories: Parade and Town Moor

Interesting that there were no additions to the yes column yesterday for the first day in a few days.

Seems plausible given the fact he can do the Burn thing playing CB and LB, and Howe has worked with him before.

there was just a lot of embracing, generally initiated by Wissa, who was absolutely buzzing. Seems absolutely thrilled to be here, like.

Good God, man.

Obviously started like a house on fire and bundled in two goals. We surrender the initiative as we often do, essentially failing to weather the storm from Burnley as they tried to recover from their awful start. Neither team really had control of the first half thereafter and it was uncomfortable viewing, with us giving away possession cheaply - with one occasion in particular nearly leading to an equaliser. We had a couple of big chances too though. Second half, we lost possession almost immediately from kick off and it's all Burnley until like 65 minutes, after which the game dies down a bit. They definitely have the better of it but again we squander a massive chance on the break. We get lucky in this spell because we can't keep the ball for shit. No changes are made and Howe claims he did that for character-building purposes. The game peters out a bit and we snatch a third out of nowhere thanks to them self-destructing, mirroring the very beginning. Dubravka is serenaded by the away end. Wissa tries to get with Eddie on the touchline and he's not exactly having none of it. Three points in the bag, thank you very much.

Nine in January.

Think it was more that he was buzzing with the win but the second question from the in-house media guy was "why were we rubbish" and he understandably couldn't be fucking arsed with that. I don't think he actually believes he's clueless. He says towards the end that it's "all about our evolution as a team." He sees a team that's changing, not one that's 'a bit shit.'

Yeah interesting. I feel like he's pulled the curtain back a wee bit in recent times (relatively speaking, as he always keeps his cards so close to his chest). Maybe it's a symptom of being under more pressure than he ever has been whilst in the job. Not that he wasn't composed. Just the insight into why he didn't make any changes (the stuff about character building) isn't necessarily what I'd expect him to usually share.

@Interpolic thought you might like this, mate.

Thought he was our worst player as well. He was absolutely brilliant when he came on for twenty minutes against Fulham so maybe it's as simple as fatigue.