robbo_11

Just a quick scan of our first team on transfermarkt and we've actually been left to rot for a number of seasons. The squad is due a full upgrade in every department as we've just been sticking plasters over the cracks by offering contracts to an ageing team.

Out of contract in the summer? We could see some movement in next couple of weeks as would be free to talk to other clubs from January - for him as well given our current position ahead of a World Cup.

He puts a lot on statistics and metrics, but we need to look at players.

He needs to be taken out of the team, just not good enough this season.

Joke of a performance

Potentially off to Alianza Lima in Peru, sounds like he has faded away at Doncaster.

If we manage to bring in Trippier, Tarkowski, Ake on loan, Lingard and a back up striker it would be quite the window. I can't see that happening as imagine mistakes will be made in the first window without much guidance, but the ride should be an enjoyable one!

If we can get some decent corners in could take advantage against them - 10 set pieces in 15 games with 10 of those games they've conceeded two at least.

I think that is what the underlying feeling, not really sure what they're doing or what they're not doing. The Trust has an active role to play for supporters and the football club. You would gain more attention bringing back the NUFC Fan Forum because honestly, the club published minutes and their reach is greater than the Trust. It looks like September 2018 was the last fan forum with a host of various representives across the fan base. In fact a quick search shows actions outstanding from December 2019 Fan Focus Groups on the club website with agenda items such as United as One, Ticketing, Stadium and Matchday Experience. It has been two years since these and I'm sure a lot will have changed - quick win for new ownership to broach this in early 2022 and for Trust to put these items to members around a scale of importance. Stick to the basics - represent the fan voice and listen to key issues that come through. We don't need to make this too hard or berate individuals.

SImple way around this would be to document and share minutes of board meetings surely? If the idea was awful and could see why it was shot down then fair enough, but it doesn't lend itself to a fair process. It does exactly what they say they'll do to provide a formal voice to supporters, although from the board members perspective that have left it would seem the trust can't even do that. It seems like it has gone too far down the number of members rather than the importance of a members voice.

Players are playing for their futures. Clark will be gone in January.

A lot of static players in these drills, seem to have used players as mannequins at one point!

You do wonder if he had symptoms to move the 10 day isolation period to that instead of the Friday. He would have had to have had symptoms from the Tuesday or Wednesday to be released before the match, although it sounded like the routine test picked it up on the Friday evening.

I'm trying to remember the layout but this would be the opposite way from the press conference room. If you entered the dressing room and looked right immendiately this would be straight ahead of you, I think there used to be a drinks machine so above that room would be towards the players entrance on a match day as they drive in. Be interesting to see what they do with it, but work must have started after Saturday as they've plastered it already!

With all the recent managerial changes it got me thinking about the number of England players that have progressed into coaching/management and wondered if it was jobs for the boys or if it is just an age thing where this has always happened. If you take the 2006 England World Cup squad as an example: Gary Neville - managerial spell before move into punditry Ashley Cole - currently with Chelsea academy as a coach and England U21 Steven Gerrard - Aston Villa manager Rio Ferdinand - pundit John Terry - coaching Frank Lampard - managerial career Wayne Rooney - Derby manager Sol Campbell - managerial career Jamie Carragher - pundit Jermaine Jenas - pundit / TV Michael Carrick - interim Man United manager Scott Carson - Man City player Joe Cole - pundit Peter Crouch - TV Owen Hargreaves - pundit David James - coaching career / pundit I wonder if the post career guidance around this time was an either or situation on media training or coaching and if we will ever see a transition away from the game fro those young players that are now 16 - 21 and actually make it professionally.

Still need to self-isolate for the 10 days.

Staveley didn't look well when the camera cut to her - you feel like they need to get the CEO/DoF in to take on some of the workload. Nice to see Yasir at the game again today too.

Teams will have a spell, a bit like Fulham last season, but we just need to weather it. The performance was pretty good today minus a few errors - Darlow does need to be dropped. We need to bring in some defenders to bring more balance to the side.

There is currently a ban on this at the moment for 4/5 weeks? It was voted in at the last meeting 18-2 clubs.

I'll assume this has already been shared http://outsideoftheboot.com/2017/10/06/tactical-philosophy-eddie-howe/ but just reading it and fills me with a bit of confidence moving forward. I'm hoping when/if we move to a 4411 we can make some clear personnel changes that have been crying out. Could see Wilson, Almiron, Joelinton, Saint-Maximin and Willock all fitting into the team with a pairing of Schar and Fernandez with Hayden protecting. The issue will be fullbacks, but with January coming up if we can get a decent pair it would help push us up the field.

Personally I don't like the constant leaks - it has to be coming from the consortium as it has been referenced by local journalists they've got wind of information before it has happened. Craig Hope mentioned this on a recent podcast, Caulkin had the first interview after the failed takeover and Keith Downie mentioned this before his 24 hour stint. I can understand after years of zero communication trying to get the local media onside in what should be a brilliant time, but I think the consortium are not above criticism. I'm glad they haven't rushed into an appointment, but they were clearly looking at replacing Bruce as soon as it was confirmed and the process has spectacularly backfired in the early hours. I think the most important appointment moving forward will be a CEO that understands the game and a Director of Football to focus on that aspect of the club.

I might have misread today, but did we approach Emery on the Friday before the Spurs game and he was unsure about it? They then went and did other interviews and due diligence before coming back to him? Happy with the appointment should it go through, it is a clear difference from previous regime where it ultimately seemed like they just went scrapping the bottom of the list.

While I do think Jones has made some errors his hands are tied. It does go on the players as well because we're not a great side with a lot of talent and the little talent we do have we haven't found a way to play that suits them all. I'd struggle to describe our system or tactics as we rarely play football. If he does get the Brighton game just go for something radical with either a change of formation, players or both. It isn't like he is risking his shot at the job and for those players on the fringes they'll most likely not get much playing time moving forward. Some quick wins are get Dubravka back in to offer some leadership in the backline, Fernandez needs to come in for any of the other three and Almiron should be back in the starting line up.

I'm sure Pablo Longoria was mentioned early on in 2020 as the man to take us forward, although he is now the president of Marseille so doubt he would leave that to come back to the club. There was links with Villas-Boas and Sampaoli who have both been a manager under him at different clubs and he has experience with Juventus, Atalanta and Sassuolo.

I think it might have been last year where they were looking at the mental health of young footballers in the aftermath or even through the season at the decision stage where they either get offered a professional contract or released. I mean even Longstaff for example who did an interview where he spoke about feeling low around the time he was injured and out of the team. The pressure of the game might start at 8 year old for some as they battle each year to stay in the system and as others have mentioned most likely be released!