Gallowgate Toon

Weren't most of his defenders picked up in League 1&2?

He isn't our best player, like. Most talented, yes, but Wilson is currently a level above everyone else in terms of what he brings to the side.

Yes! Looking forward to the first interview.

In the short-term, part of me wondered if the diamond could do with a return, but it requires us to go a bit too kamikaze with our full backs imo. The main things I can see as issues are that we need to sort CM as best we can, get ASM into his correct position (LW), and get our left back situation sorted ASAP. Dubs Lewis Fede Lascelles Manquillo Fraser Hayden Willock ASM Almiron Wilson I'm pretty sure Lewis is actually right footed. If he's going to play he's going to need protection from the winger (if Fraser can get committed), but I just can't stomach seeing Ritchie as a full back anymore - it's absolutely killing us. ASM absolutely should be playing on the left but Manquillo is the only full back we have that can play behind him until Dummett is back. It's dysfunctional but I think this is just about as good as it can get for us currently. Would be up for subbing in Jo for Fraser. Would love to have Schar in but I'm not convinced about him in a back 4.

Honestly think Almiron will be the biggest beneficiary of Howe's coaching and philosophy. Judging by the videos, Howe loves wide players with loads of energy back and forward. Miggy can be that guy on the left (still think he's best as a 10). Almiron has been without a plan for a long time now. Told to just get back and run around a bit and you can really tell. Sometimes, his talent shines through like Man U away, but there's so little structure for him to do that consistently.

Shown up by Jonesy

Honestly, that was just a must not lose. Between now and January is primarily about staying with reasonable distance, imo, with a big transfer window to see safety through.

I'm classing that as the last game of the Ashley era. Pretty apt, tbh; largely dull as dishwater, a mental moment, the team shitting themselves at the end. Howay, Eddie, here we go

That's a good point, tbh. If we were less tragic, I'd still have been relatively satisfied with a point. Hopefully, that second half gives some extra confidence to help the new manager bounce. Can't wait for the next game now.

Gerrin!

That's a truly shit lineup.

We desperately need a CM (we need 2 quality CM starters in, really) and a left back. I think our CB core is still salvageable but we should probably be looking to get a really strong defender in there who comfortable in either a back 2 or 3. Our season really hinges on the fitness of Wilson, which isn't the type of bet you'd really want to be making. So we really, really need another quality striker in who can play across the frontline. I think we probably need to be spending £80m minimum in Jan to get in the level of quality we need.

I've gone from being lukewarm about him to pretty excited, tbh, after reading about him more. Looking at the Bournemouth team he got playing before he started splashing big money, it was hardly a stellar side that he got to very solid midtable finishes while playing some great football. Feels like he can be a good shot-in-the-arm for us. Hate to say it because it's so cliché but it feels like he is a good fit for us 'DNA'-wise too with his style of play and general football obsessiveness. He's even got his own KK story with the dramatic rise up the ranks... Absolutely not a PFM or cut from any kind of cloth that we've been used to before (Benitez aside). He's clearly in the Rodgers style of manager.

Diame's PED era was amazing, like.

Would've wanted 'better' and glad we at least seemed to aim 'higher', but Howe is a manager I can 100% get behind. He's progressive, attacking, and seemingly wants to improve too. Wouldn't say I'm confident he'll keep us up, like, but let's try and at least enjoy the journey Need a big, big January.

The Howe thing is a sort of fair question but it's not as binary as just 'philosophy', is it? Howe may have been way down the initial list but everyone else has shown little interest, they might see Howe as a good shot-in-the-arm manager that is here for a year or two, but would rather have someone higher calorie like Emery to be here for many years. Maybe Howe has learnt from his days at Bournemouth and has talked about more balance during the process?

People just have an obsession with being negative, unfortunately. The fact is that we have businesspeople without football experience who, less than a month ago, had a deal sprung on them very quickly picking up a club & team in the mire. As fans, we struggle to afford time, but they're not going to think like we do and nor should they. If we've learnt anything about this consortium it's that they don't give up. Anyone who thought this would be absolutely perfect from the off was off their rocker. I'm confident they'll get it right but not necessarily first time. We don't demand a board that wins, we demand a board that tries!

Balague definitely has an in, but he's been one of those hammering the takeover (iirc) so I have a feeling he's probably enjoying playing this one up.

If he's held hours of conversations and given them a 'yes' that he'd accept a formal offer, it's a bit weird to be spooked by something as common in football as a leak. I think he's doing a bit of face-saving in the public eye because he's looked a bit of a dick to his employers and the players.

We could hire Pep and they'd still find a reason to try and make themselves feel better - "not won the CL in a decade! had a 7-game winless streak once! never felt the fear of 3 thousand mackems taking over a town yet!"

I think he'll be great for Almiron in that he might actually have an attacking plan for him.

I feel like he has a tarnished rep on these shores because of his Arsenal days but he has a bloody half decent record. He's not in the top, top tier of managers, imo, but he's in the next bracket down. That's fucking brilliant considering where we are.

Excellent stuff. He feels like a good foundation manager, purely judging the majority of his time at Villarreal. Great statement.

Really wanted (and want) Fonseca but I'd obvs be absolutely thrilled with Emery.