AyeDubbleYoo

Nah it wasn’t obvious, we were taking about if Howe should be sacked so it sounded like you were saying they should’ve actively looking for better options.

I'm not sure there's much in it TBH

What do you mean though, always be looking to change the manager if someone who might be better is available? As I said before, knowing which managers are out there is sensible and professional. Looking for alternatives actively is not.

We honestly wouldn't even be talking about this if we'd drawn 0-0 yesterday like we should have. Obviously we'd still be unhappy with the season but it wouldn't have anywhere near the level of intensity. Even if we'd won in Germany, you could at least say that Howe prioritised that game and it was arguably the right call. But sadly both went against us.

I think this is exactly the type of players that Gordon and Barnes are meant to be though

Sure, fine, but that's not really 'looking at alternatives'. That's more like just having an eye on managers you could go to if you had to.

Yeah of course, but we're not suddenly going to become a squad of 22 class technicians in one transfer window. I do think we've been quite poor, there's no doubting that. But it's like people are saying playing more and harder games is meant to be easy with basically the same players. After losing your only world class forward. I think it's possible we've rated ourselves a bit too highly and thought we can get by a bit too much by lowering the intensity. Maybe we just have a squad where the only way to play is to run ourselves into the ground and outwork everybody. If so then Howe will need to go back to that, at least for a while.

But what is it about a manager that would mean they can't handle more games? I mean the manager specifically, rather than the club.

I still don't think it's clear cut between him and Pope like, ultimately neither is good enough for us.

Must've been working too closely with Murph.

But don’t you think it’s the squad that struggle with the extra games too? Like, if you gave Howe Man City’s squad I’m sure he could handle any number of games you want.

I think most people are the same ultimately, we just want good performances. I wouldn’t expect much in Jan as you say, hopefully a couple of players in to tip the balance a bit and maybe a sale of some deadwood.

If they’re looking at replacements now I want them mentally assessed. Not doing their job FFS.

A manager should be kept or sacked based on whether we think he’s a good manager for us. That should be reviewed always but must be longer-term than whether he had a good or bad season. And must include all the off field factors as well, such as the Isak saga, strength of squad etc. Personally I would be more worried going with a new manager than going with Howe again. And it’s at least as risky giving money to a new manager before his first season than allowing Howe a few more signings. I don’t think expecting a manager to reinvent himself mid season is realistic, but giving him a summer to think, tweak and try again would be much more reasonable.

Not this season, no. Gets the summer to revamp and go again.

I would love to believe it's that easy to row back on a bad signing. Let's hope so.

Any recent updates on this guy?

The away fans always look pretty young to me. I don’t know how they get the tickets mind.

Yeah, anyone can take a victory photo at their own ground. It’s a bit silly.

Funny to be so motivated and annoyed by our photo then do the same thing yourselves to motivate us for next time

Well you solve that by beating them. We actually did beat them very recently.

Hard to say, probably not on what he’s done but he did score the pens and looked much sharper. Right or wrong I just think Gordon is seen as having more to his game, so that higher ceiling is something the manager wants to see. Of course he needs to show it more. They should both play really. Edit: or I guess the ultimate aim was that they would rotate and they’d both be playing well and we’d be enjoying this better squad we thought we had built.

I think the fact Gordon has been better is important to remember like, it’s not like the decision to play him was just random.

Osula could be our best RW at the moment.

It's much wider than that. Woltemade could close down a defender if everyone else was running their arses off as well.