timnufc22

Said it before, say it again; it should be Barnes left Gordon right. For me, it just seems a real waste to not have the quality of that front 3 (with Isak) on the pitch at the same time and we’re handicapping ourselves by not choosing so. The reason why Gordon is just as good on the right is because his game is not really about coming inside to shoot or even coming inside and threading intricate passes - at least, not as much as Barnes. His game is about pace in behind, link up play, getting in good positions to score. He can go inside or outside on the right and I think having someone rapid as him going down the line at times adds a good balance to the other winger coming inside. Barnes will give us goals and assists, we need his quality & technique in the final third when it comes to finishing. Look at his assist for the offside goal too. His form has been up and down, I remember he had a stinker away to palace last season, like most that night. But he needs a long run in the side to get into his rhythm and be afforded the odd misfire here and there. I do think Murphy is good enough as a squad player, I understand we need another winger quality wise but if Almiron isn’t sold then I’d actually not be averse to rotating him on the left now and again. Because he’s so one-footer it would force him to go on the outside and focus on whipping crosses in for runners and if Hall is left back, it would actually compliment him as there is a clear tactic for Hall to drift inside and even get into the box, which would dovetail well with Almiron going down the line.

I would argue Shola was very much bordering on lack of effort on the odd occasion, very much a Rashford-esq vibes at times between him and the fans. One of SBR's biggest mistakes was constantly picking him over LuaLua (which was even more baffling considering he identified years earlier that a pacey Bellamy type player alongside Shearer was the best combo). Longstaff doesn't help himself as he often appears laboured and definitely dives far too much. But once he crosses the white line he should be supported as much as possible and you can't deny he's had some great games for us too.

On one hand I understand where he's coming from when vitriol can come down from the stands after a miss etc but on the other it's like the many moments fans belt out the names of himself, Dan Burn & Almiron are just forgotten. We had similar with the England players in the Euro's. How many times has "he's from Blyth", "he's one of our own" "na na na Miggy Almiron" been heard ringing around SJP? Plenty. It feels like there's a mentality from some players these days to focus solely on negative noises and ignore the positive ones. If the argument is the internet then again I kind of understand but at the same time you're a grown man and it's up to you not to be looking at unfiltered comments... like, you have all the money in the world, surely you can find something better to do than scrolling along twitter reading inevitable negative comments if you've played poorly? It's not to say that I agree with unnecessary negativity towards the players, we know there's moaners at every football ground and I'll never approve of it unless a player is taking the piss.

I’m intrigued at what Howe would do if we get Guehi because you know how much he loves Dan Burn and I think he’d want him in the team ideally, especially with his leadership skills. But Shar is our best CB I’d say… perhaps a extended break for the latter after coming back late this summer?

If it goes through, who would you pick to partner him first game - Burn or Shar?

He comes across as someone giving it the 'big I am' and it feels shallow as a result. His attack on Spurs fans and the club itself over a completely unique situation vs Man City last season felt like he was using the while thing to project "I'm a winner and I'm surrounded by losers, woe is me". I just don't think he comes across as very authentic. I really hope things work out for Howe because I'm so glad we have someone who has no BS or baggage and represents the club brilliantly.

Joelinton lacks nous & midfield intelligence imo, I know he’s strong and can win the ball back so well but if we’re to progress I feel we need more quality. I’d be tempted to play Wilock although again I feel he’s more a no10 than a deeper midfielder. Really hope Tonali hits the ground running.

But every situation is different and has their nuances. We have a manager who likes to have a lot of control over many aspects, obviously player signings being the obvious one. With this in mind, wouldn’t you want to let him know what the structure will be going forward when appointing a new DoF? And clarify if he’d be happy to work with that structure? If they rate the structure above anything else then they’d have to make the hard decision to let Howe go, fine that’s on them sort of thing. It’s not about whether that’s right or wrong on a football level. But don’t have no detailed discussions with him, appoint Mitchell anyway and seemingly cross your fingers hoping it will all work out.

Like I say, I understand the positives and concept of bringing someone like Mitchel in and Bunce, even if you think that a DoF should have final say over player recruitment isn't necessarily the point here. It's the fact they've clearly had no detailed discussion with Howe over what the boundaries will be with a new DoF and whether he'll be happy with that. When I say boundaries I mean final say on player recruitment. I understand different scenarios may come up in other areas but this is the main thing. Would Howe really have made those comments if the board had said to him categorically "we're bringing in a new DoF to replace Ashworth but you have total assurances that any player signed will only be with your explicit agreement"? The second thing is Bunce as director of performance. Have they really sat down with Howe and said along the lines of "We're bringing in a director of performance this summer who will primarily look at fitness; they will include giving suggestions around training levels and structure and making amended to this to minimise injuries, as well schedules around injury recovery"? It doesn't look like any of this was firmly drawn up and agreed, which to me is a mess and I don't know what they're playing at. It looks reckless to me and dare I say almost unprofessional. The point isn't about appointing Mitchell in principle, its about the way he's been appointed and the process.

It’s clear boundaries haven’t been ironed out by what he’s said and there’s nothing sensationalist about that obvious conclusion. For me, I’m surprised and concerned the club have appointment a DoF without ironing out these boundaries with the manager first. Seems messy and totally unnecessary. That should have been done in a concrete manner before any appointment was made and I don’t see how that’s hard to do. Surely a back & forth between Howe and the board around every possible scenario and who controls what and who has final say. Certainly for the first team, the manager should never have a player brought in without explicitly agreeing to them imo. If the whole set up was indeed sorted out thoroughly before the appointment and then Howe and Mitchell have since had three weeks or so since to catch up to establish this further, then I don’t see Howe saying what he’s said.

They’re absolutely lush, can’t believe anyone would complain about them.

Watkins playing on the shoulder. Gordon left, Saka right. Kane playing deeper (as he likes to do anyway) linking as a trio with Rice & Bellingham behind him. Football tries to minimise player attributes too much these days. Bellingham looks like an all-rounder, someone who can run, tackle and pass and time his moments in the box. Can I ask how the likes of Rob Lee and Gary Speed scored double figures from playing in CM? They weren't playing as a no10, yet somehow managed to do it. Kieron Dyer played CM and used his pace and athleticism to great effect there. I don't see why Bellingham cant pick his runs more while he has the strength and pace to hold his own further back. Kane then doesn't have to cover as much ground and we also have many goal threats on the pitch. Watkins will cause one CB a headache running in behind all the time and the other CB wont know whether to follow Kane deep or not. Either way we have fluidity and constant threat. If we stick to the current formation then replace TAA with Wharton and Foden with Gordon, or Eze.

Fair play you obviously see more of your team, what I would say is I’m not laughing at Ten Hag I’m sympathising with him. From what I could see there was more than Rashford & Sancho going through the motions, Casemiro to me was a disgrace when he literally let players waltz past him (Burnley at Old Trafford in the middle of the pitch) which was nothing to do with where he was playing and everything to do with lack of effort. Even Mainoo away to Palace for that first goal, he’s barley running when ‘chasing’ Olise, it’s ridiculous.

Agree, I can’t remember seeing a team so blatantly down tools and not play for a manager as much as last season with them. Obviously a cup final is different on the day (and I reckon the players probably thought he was leaving afterwards anyway). The players will be thinking not only do they not like him, clearly the board don’t like him either but couldn’t find a good replacement. They’ll sense that no confidence and walk over him even more. Could be wrong and I’m not saying the players are in the right, I think they’re a disgrace, I couldn’t believe what I was watching last season with them.

❝It isn't just cloth and colour or a wear once a week shirt. It's a second skin. A citizenship. A way of life.❞ potential banner @Heron ?

This exactly. Yeah very said before, it’s so frustrating to see most teams playing what is perceived the only & ‘right’ way to play. Shooting outside the box is now looked down upon through snobby eyes. How many Laurent Robert’s have fell by the wayside because they’ve had their talent drilled out of them? Rooney made a good point about playing two strikers - when Iceland are as deep as that, get some quality crosses in with two top strikers in the box. Unfortunately I think Gordon lacks the cutting edge quality coming in from the left when playing against teams sitting deep. His best position in such games on the right and I see him as Keith Gillespie v Barca out there. Once again, it seems like playing with traditional wingers who go down the outside is being ridiculously coached out of the game, but that doesn't stop such tactics being effective if actually implemented.

Was full-time after 1-1 with Arsenal, the game when Robert was sent off.

We literally finished top 4 in 2023. I know it’s a bloody tough task but, without going into detail, it is possible, I actually find the challenge an appealing one along with growing the club in clever ways. But if PIF had free reign to spend with no consequence, I think their wealth would blow others out the water. As much as they spend ridiculous amounts, I don’t think Man Utd, Arsenal & Liverpool owners would be happy to write off the losses PIF would, or Man City. The last point is, it’s 100% soulless. Football has been impure for a long, long time I know, but I’d try and carry on with at least some redeeming factors attached and die on that hill come what may, than to hand over all sense of achievement.

ffs I really hope fans draw a line in the sand and have the gumption to say they disagree with our owners and while ffp should be modified, we don't want to play a 'virtual reality' game of championship manager where everything basically becomes hollow, where winning because we happen to be owned by PIF as opposed to winning because we've grown the academy, made astute signs & judgement, showed loyalty to the right manager(s), garnered the right atmosphere at SJP etc.

Exactly. People compare that scenario with what we have now, with the gap between the 'big 6' and others... but we're talking about a scenario of owners with billions upon billions putting in whatever they like, with zero concern over any financial 'loss'. It may be difficult to breach the top 4 (what did we do last season again?) as things currently stand and growing the finances may be a long and arduous road ahead (and yes adjustments need to be made to ffp), but its not impossible as some may think. Whereas it absolutely is impossible for the vast majority to compete with owners who have billions upon billions to spend with effectively no limit. I don't see how any club could compete with Man City & us if we were given carte blanche to spend whatever we want. At some point, the likes of Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool would have to reign in spending if it went tits up. We'd just keep spending until we get it right and keep spending to solidify. The whole thing then becomes worthless, may as well get out the old championship manager game, change the stats and play that instead.

I really wish our owners would rise above this sort of stuff and publicly back sensible rules around spending. It's embarrassing if we're seen to be one of the clubs supporting man city in this.

Yep, they can’t muster a proper celebration during trophy parades and when winning the PL doesn’t bring excitement or pride, you know something is deeply wrong and the whole thing is unnatural.

And you see this as a good thing? Man City have no soul and their success is underpinned by luck of simply landing - completely out the blue - the richest owners. Nothing to do with building their success and building their revenue as a result. Spending crazy money under our new owners like City did pre FFP holds no appeal to me and I assure you the novelty will wear off.

The way Klopp & Arteta behave, such as Arteta's disingenuous speech (and the clubs subsequent statement) after our defeat, actually undermines the game imo and seeing either of those lift the title this year would have been bad for game, just in a different way imo. Their lack of class, humility & maturity is actually off the scale and for Arsenal to be putting out that statement talking about an investigation (or something along those lines) was a disgrace and didn't get the backlash it deserved, because throwing the toys out the pram with the mentality of a 10 year old is creeping in to be the norm. It prevents progress of the games around refereeing quality, encourages further over-analysis with refs second guessing everything and the authorities getting tied up in trying to respond to and resolve the disingenuous hysteria. I do agree with what you've said about Man City in general though. It is why I would hate for us to spend/grow the club like they did before FFP; it's soulless and genuine sporting achievement is replaced by the luck of being taken over by the person who has the most money. Obviously that's over simplifying but you get the gist. I know everyone hates FFP and granted it supports the big 6 but there has to be some kind of regulation in place. Having said that, I do think when Pep leaves it will effect them and there's a decent chance they will drop off some levels and maybe not be this runaway train.

Like I’ve said in another post, I don’t think we need to sign a major RW especially if Mineth comes back, with Murphy, Minteh & Gordon we have enough there. It’s primarily a LW I’d be signing.