Gallowgate Toon

I'm just really chuffed he's in for pretty much all of preseason. Massively reduces potential Howe bedding in time once the real footy kicks off.

Actually want Palace in EL, tbh. They deserve it but also they've got a decent side and I think European competition would absolutely batter them.

I think some of the mackems' business looks quite canny (not enough to keep them up, so far, but smart decisions for longer term), tbh, but I don't think Adingra is the one. Work with a load of Brighton fans and they don't rate him at all.

Longstaff out, Amir Richardson in?

Get in!

A big, big character gone. It had to happen though. All the best to him.

Remember Arteta's little smirk when asked why Partey wasn't travelling for a CL game? Genuinely sickening stuff, tbh.

Gutted Really hope we try and get a similar profile though.

We've apparently liked him for weeks but yet to agree a fee which is the key bit. As Howe said, you need to move quickly to secure good players as there'll always be others sniffing about. That doesn't mean Chelsea wouldn't have swooped in had we agreed on a number or JP might stall on personal terms, but it's frustrating we can't get over that key hurdle. I'm worried we're so PSR burnt that we want to engineer the perfect deal, even if it takes us deep into the window. This year is going to be tough, I think it's imperative we get off to a good a start as possible. This is exacerbated by Howe's standards meaning players need bedding in time - preseason is a fantastic leg up for that process.

I've liked a lot of our links so far but this one is by far the most exciting to me. Spent quite a lot of time thinking about Isak/JP link-up over the last couple of weeks

FFS, was trying to not spend on any of the kits this season but that's right up me street.

Howe was staunchly 4-4-2 when he was at Bournemouth, right? Took him quite a few games to try 4-3-3 with us, from memory.

I think he makes so much sense. I'd be delighted with him.

Still maintain it's a pretty overrated position and many of these 'strategic' people stay no longer than a year or two. More often than not, they just add another layer of ego.

Felt disappointed in him this campaign, tbh, and the only real mark against Howe for me this season is that I don't like the way he's handled him. Seems like a character that needs something to prove to be at his best but Howe hasn't really pushed into that enough.

Lush. Bring on the gimps

Not loved the management of him all season, tbh.

Arteta used to appear a few times on Revista de La Liga back in the day, aye? Sure he seemed like a decent bloke then. Absolutely despise him now - insufferably arrogant, his preening about the technical area and gesticulating is awful. Just makes me love Howe and his level of self-control even more.

I thought he looked unbelievable, considering. Proper defender.

Just an utter legend.

Absolutely bizarre second half. Felt like we'd prepared all well to have a plan for transitions only so when Jackson went off we shit ourselves. Ultimately, though, we find ways to get shit done.

Selection of finishes at the minute is canny off. Feathered quite a few volleys where he doesn't really need to hit it first time.

The work he did with that 22/23 side was unbelievable relative to the ability of the XI that played the most (Isak was out for about 4 months etc.). Our incredible defensive record, the way he utilised Bruno, the Tripps-Bruno-Miggy triangle, axis of Joe, Dan Burn at left back An absolutely outrageous coaching performance.

Got to appreciate some of the class players we have on days like today.

There's absolutely no way that our service to Isak has ever been 'shit'.