The Prophet

We'd get next nothing for him though. In a summer where Trippier, Schar and maybe even Pope leave. I dare say his presence, leadership and actual love of the club will be needed behind the scenes.

Do we think we allow all three of them to leave? Can't see it.

Surely we keep Murphy around for the time being?

If feels like both things are true here. Tonali is one of our best players, who has put in some excellent performances. We've also seen him at his best for less than a full season. We haven't seen the player who was arguably MotM in the cup final for months now.

There was a narrative from the off that Howe was only interested in former-Bournemouth or English players, but our transfer team that knocked incomings out the park for a few consecutive transfer windows. After one summer where a couple of signings have got off to poor to indifferent starts, it's back. The thing is, you'd hope we'll never be in a position like we were in the summer window ever again (if we are, it's PIF that want shooting with shit).

Apart from last summer, where it became a necessity, there's little evidence to suggest Howe wants an abnormal abount of control over transfers.

Probably hasn't agitated because he knows far better offers are coming.

We have occasionally deployed it in certain fixtures, but it hasn't been part of a regular game plan for some time.

Again though,we haven't done "intensity is our identity" on a regiular basis for about 18 months.

Apart from Grabban, Wilson, Adobe, Solanke, Wood and Woltamade, lightening quick.

I don't think Gordon goes this summer. Recently signed a new long term deal and is stating to become the main man for us in offense. Personally, I wouldn't be opposed to listening to offers for him, but with Tino and Tonali's futures up in the air, I think we'd block any move for the time being.

Fair, I'm unable to comment so I'll take your word for it.

I didn't watch it, but by all accounts this happened as soon as Sunderland equalised.

Aye. We've just been a really poor team in both boxes for the most part. Poor goalkeeping and lack of concentration at one end, indecision and sloppy finishing at t'other, compounded by fatigue and a crippling lack of confidence.

It's few and far between I've seen us run ourselves into the ground this season. It's happened a couple of times, but in most games the press is far less ferocious.

The spacing between the defence and midfield is fine for the most part. The problem seems to be if we're chasing the game at home, we tend to lose a lot of control and the game becomes way more stretched than in needs to be. Sloppy defensive errors and poor decision making in the final third then ensure we lose more than we win.

We did finish 7th in the first "lackluster" campaign mind, despite having circa 14 fit players at one point.

I do think we're trying to evolve this season. It's just taking longer than we'd want due to the volume of fixtures.

I agree at the moment, the plan is a lot clearer away from home than it is at home. Given our home games are regularly riddled with individual errors though, it's far more likely a failure in execution rather than a lack of planning.

What's plan A?

It'd be gutting to see such a joyful player used to stand on the keepers toes from Rice's set pieces.

Tonali is an excellent player when utilised correctly. He's an insane athlete with excellent intelligence out of possession. It's a pity we've only seem him at his very best for circa two thirds of a season and it does feel like he owes us a bit more after his ban, but hey it's football and as long as he isn't a dick about leaving, we move on.

First team outgoings and whether we get Europe or not will probably dictate the volume of signings. If we have no Europe, while Tino and Tonsli stay, it'll probably be circa four signings, but I don't think they will.

We don't need a complete overhaul to be fair.