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Just be glad he's actually left, while you still have many years left of these players.

Gordon is causing all sorts of problems.

Trent has done that a few times now. Dangerous combination.

So much more direct. Looking good. Gordon is a terror in behind and should score, but a thumping finish from Rice.

Look to be playing with a lot more urgency.

I mean he's only introduced three new players into the team and changed the formation. 'Nothing has changed'

Tonali looking so good.

France getting cooked. Deschamps ball stinks.

Dembele is SHOCKING!!!

Tonali assist to DiMarco. Lovely flicked pass.

France Vs Italy is on YouTube on Viaplay International. Tonali in the first team for Italy.

Exactly. Both DOF and coach have to be aligned on these things. From day one Mitchell said it was one of the reasons he was keen on the job, as he appreciated Howe's football. That Sun article is so full of shit.

From that Mail article: Indeed, the sporting director of one side interested in Guehi has indicated that only a fee of £30million or below would tempt them. Just to give an idea of how much his price is plummeting, with him now approaching that final year.

Combative Mitchell clashing with Eddie and his staff over transfers and the playing style? Complete and utter horse shit of an article.

Pathetic article.

I felt the same after reading the Athletic article

Yeah, when we started both, a lot of times, it was with Isak out left. He has also played off Wilson at times too though. That 4th placed season we went to that setup to chase games at times, when we were behind. It looked good too.

That was the role Howe had Josh King play with Wilson at Bournemouth. Thought he was going to do the same with Isak and Wilson when we first signed Isak.

He said he was in agreement with sticking with the original strategy, and so he is just as culpable. Deflecting blame would be if he came out and said that he decided not to get involved till the next window and the strategy had nothing to with him.

Decent front four that. Really nice mix of abilities.

Fantastic play from Gyokeres in the lead up to the first.

Ah, okay. Well all I can say then is that perhaps people are reading too much into what he's said then. Time will tell. Maybe it will be proven there is something to that point of view. Not so sure there is though.

I'm sorry but I just don't agree with how you've stated this. He explained that he was in agreement with the already agreed upon strategy for this window, having come in late into proceedings. He then states that he thinks things can be improved upon going forward by broadening the scope for recruitment, and providing more options for the manager. Bemoaning, distancing himself, them seeing it as a failure of a window, attaching Howe alone to how things played out, apportioning blame ... I'm not seeing any of that.

Fair enough. I think he's just trying to explain what the approach was, because of the negative reaction to the window. From Howe and Mitchell's point of view it appears they were fine with sitting tight if they couldn't land Guehi, which was the manager's preference. From their side they don't seem to have seen it as a window that went wrong in some way, which blame needed to be taken for. Obviously, we don't all agree with that view, as we were expecting a different approach, but that's the strategy they felt was right at the time, rightly or wrongly.

He says upfront that the agreed approach for the window was to go with the strategy that they already had in place, and they were all in agreement on this. If anything he is coming in not looking to throw his weight around, but instead respect what was decided upon already. He said that they were working on multiple deals and options but that they then determined that Howe preferred a CB he was certain would impact the first team, in Guehi, and if not, he was fine with the quality he had, and so he supported that view. Struggling to see the negative slant being put on these quotes