AyeDubbleYoo

He’s a shit footballer and always has been. He/Howe performed miracles getting a productive season in the PL out of him. Fair play to them both but he’s always been fundamentally crap.

I don’t think it was meant to be a risk though, that was the whole point of overpaying for him. It was meant to be a safe bet.

Mainly in hindsight though right? It was reasonable to assume Wissa would score a good number of goals for us.

I’m sure we’ll add more technical quality. I actually think that’s what we thought we were doing last summer.

But he wasn’t really trying Woltemade in a more defensive role because he thinks he’s good there. He was trying to get him minutes in the team while still having a pressing player up front, and also cope with injuries in midfield. I don’t think anyone believes Woltemade is a midfielder or ever will be. I hope so anyway, anything else is crazy.

It would be better for him not to go to the World Cup TBH. Needs a full pre season after his injury heals.

I think that’s a bit premature but I am disappointed by how little he’s being used. I feel a fresh start next season will help Howe be more confident to try things, which is part of the reason I want him to get another year.

The whole tone of SJP needs an overhaul TBH, I’ve said it before. It’s more like a lovely day out with the social club. “Enjoy the game” has to go. No music at half time. No fucking birthday announcements. No amateur league-style match ball sponsor, no Las Vegas competition. No congratulating ourselves for the attendance. It has to be made levels more serious and more hostile. Justin Lockwood in the bin. I’m not even an ultra or anything like that but it just smells altogether too nice and too focused on things other than beating the opposition.

Wissa was a reasonable signing though, surely. Too expensive but should have scored 10+ goals this season quite easily.

Just the matchup was too tough for Barnes to really get any joy. Jimenez has been playing well and is hard to get past.

I mean, sure.

I don’t know why we assume the worst possible outcome just because last summer didn’t go well. We have a new DOF now as well.

From the first few minutes you knew Barnes had no chance. Even before kick off TBH. Same reason he’s no good as an impact sub, when there’s a tough job on he’s sadly just not the person to tip the balance. Still a good finisher and crosser with good technique but he is too easy to stop.

That's damning but not on Howe

Yeah, but I still think signings like Wissa and Elanga should’ve contributed more and there was no reason to think there’d be as useless as they have been. The hope I have for this summer is that we now have a more rounded and professional recruitment setup in place which should help everyone. And hopefully a better idea of the players we can realistically get.

I still think we can do this with Howe though, I guess appointing Wilson was already a move in that direction. He's basically the only functioning DOF we've had since Howe has been here (hopefully).

Even if you have a very negative view on this season it just seems to me another level that you also don’t believe Howe could go again with a summer to refresh and improve the squad. I’ve pretty much given up on anything good happening this season but it just adds up to one poor season for an otherwise brilliant manager. So I don’t think I’ll be changing to Howe out for a long time yet.

I got right leg cramp in the second half of the match, agony Thanks for coming, well played.

It was more dejection around me than anger. Really only Elanga that was getting hammered, as usual really.

Fine strategy as long as Eddie survives long enough.

I’ve been disappointed in him TBH. Not sure how much is to do with his limited minutes though.

He’s miles better than anything we have now. Would probably have got us 15 goals this season TBH.

Aye true, I guess that’s why people like the idea of a fresh manager. I understand it but I don’t buy that it’s inevitable.

Aye, I get what you’re saying. I just think he has shown that he can take a struggling team and dramatically improve it. Which I obviously hope he can do again.

I think it would’ve been better for Eddie just to keep Woltemade off TBH. Looked really bad.