Super Duper Branko Strupar

This is a loaded reply, so I'll just expand a bit because its irked me. Below is a list of players bought whilst Howe has been manager that any normal football fan would say would be extremely competent in a possession based set up. Trippier - 12m Bruno - 40m Botman - 35m Isak -63m Gordon - 45m Tonali - 55m Hall - 28m Which is 278m. Ive left out Barnes even though I'm very confident he'd play well in a possession based team playing well, but as he's the boo boys' persona no grata I'll leave him out, just for a quiet life, basically. So who'd you say doesn't "have the profile" for playing in a possession based side who we've wasted all that cash on. Pope - 10m Barnes - 38m Tino - 35m Wood - 25m Burn - 13m Thats a very generous 121m. Of which we got 15m back for Wood plus the loan fee. Pope clearly sits in that list, but picking up that kind of goalkeeper especially when you're desperate for a goalkeeper and there's a bargain to be had on an international would be clutching at straws to criticise given the timing of it. I wouldnt put Barnes and Tino in that list myself but theyre in there to satisfy the people that are desperate for a stick. Even Burn is harsh. All that said that's not a quarter of a billi wasted on players of the wrong profile that would prove Howe's teams aren't inherently able to play possession based football. To look at the list of transfers made whilst Howe has been in charge and say it suggests he doesn't have the ability to get a team playing possession based football is wholly unserious and not rooted in considered thinking.

What, because we didn't sign Ross Barkley?

Are the people saying possession based football not being Howes style just people that never watched his Bournemouth side? Or just haven't listened to him talking about wanting to implement more possession based football since he first arrived. He went on about it loads when he first joined, but that they were all working with what we had. Im guessing some of it is just lack of awareness, some of it is disingenuous. Whether it's working as intended or not ATM is a different question.

Can he play as a 10?

Think I agree. Tonali was definitely bought with this change in mind, though. I think him on the right of the 3 kills what is being tried a little, though. He has to be more central to our play if we're going to do that as Bruno is too erratic. I just think the midfield needs a bit of a move around, personally. Would love to see Bruno replace Longstaff on that right hand side and Tonali move in to the central role, especially at Home or "easier" away games. Joe L or Joe W on the other side as appropriate.

We don't play like that anymore by choice I think is more the reason. Howe wants us to have the ball more, rather than be happy for the opposition to have it in their half and us win it back with high pressing. Last year the press was being bemoaned as we had a huge injury crisis which the running and pressing was being pointed at for being the cause. And apparently it wasn't Isak's game and we were wasting him (kind of agree). We're trying to be a possession based side now and creating chances of of own, rather than stealing them off the opposition. Right way to go imo, not working atm though.

Not 10s.

Liverpool for the past however many seasons.

Ross Barkley? A 30 year old who's had 1 good season at Luton Town since he last played well at Everton in 2017 is now the answer we should have gone for?

Ross Barkley.

Don't worry. Your opinion is worthless so I have no reason to read what you say. It's a happy place, more people should follow suit.

He's the pits. Put him on ignore.

Refs a cunt

Sounds like you need a duvet day.

Get the fuck in. Much more like it. Far from clean, but we'll have it.

Madness we're not going with Kelly's recovery pace at the back, mind.

Typical of this season so far.

Kick off is an hour away

You've mentioned it before.

A 10m pound PL starter? It's not 2001.

Villa 2-0 Bournemouth Brentford 3-1 Ipswich Brighton 2-0 Wolves Man City 3-0 Southampton Everton 1-1 Fulham Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle Palace 0-2 Spurs West Ham 1-1 Man United Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool

This well so far this season might be a stretch, but certainly still able to start and give a decent return in the PL. I think the frustrations people had of what he was (or wasn't) doing for us are clouding peoples judgement somewhat. I'm not saying he didn't have bad performances for us or miss chances he should have scored because he did, but to call him awful and look like he was finished is wild imo.

He was asked to play a very limited role in a very limited team at the time, playing very reserved football, usually up top on his own. He did exactly what he was asked to do and did it well from what I remember. Then we bought one of the best strikers in the world so we sold him. No surprise to me he's still scoring in the PL in a more progressive role. Good on him for smashing them in so far this season.

Fools.