ponsaelius

Yeah great post Haydn, I'll allow the plagiarism in the second paragraph go . Totally agree with your summary. We've really lacked creativity and ruthlessness in the transfer market for me over the last 12 months. We all know we're basically bunged up with PSR but you have to find ways around it to keep moving forward, and I think we've lacked the dynamism and bravery to do so and things have become very stagnant. I definitely think Howe for as good as he is as a coach is potentially an issue with us navigating the next stage due to his approach to recruitment and playing style. We are in an awkward position.

I still think it comes down entirely to them getting replacements. I think they'd need two CBs in to sell him.

RIP. The Amazon documentary is worth a watch, although I would have enjoyed more about his early career pre-England.

Clubs still have room for those players in their squads they just won't pay any money for them. Brentford will sign Ben Mee on a free transfer but they'd never pay actual cash for a Callum Wilson, as a blunt example. Like you say every single club is basically circling the same market for the exact same kind of players, just at slightly different levels. Data driven recruitment means every club basically has the same information available to them, and coaching philosophies have narrowed to want to play largely the same style of play.

Ideally I'd agree but it's clearly proven extremely hard to find a market for these players - particularly with PSR. Lower PL clubs are just far more sensible with their money than they were 5-10 years ago.

Again this is why part of me actually wishes we had just got a big fee early on for one of blue chip players tbh. We'd have got breathing room to go straight out and buy 4-5 first choice players to address all the major positions. Instead we're kind of scrambling around unsure which gaps to plug, and waiting to the last week of the window to see which opportunities arrive for how best to allocate the funds we do have. It may be that we've moved for this purely because the right wing options have all closed up, and this one has become a potential goer on favourable payment terms ala Hall. Controversial maybe but I hope we just bite the bullet and sell somebody big next summer. It's shite that PSR encourages this but it's probably our best bet of getting value from our new recruitment set up.

Yeah when you look through the noise we do definitely still need a either a long term or immediate Pope replacement (which is why we have looked at both Trafford and Mamardashvilli). That hasn't changed from the start of the window, it just seems bizarre because we signed that Greek lad for accountancy and haven't been able to shift Dubravka.

Called this yesterday when I saw our bench. It is a classic of the genre if we go for him and don't upgrade other more obviously crucial positions. We are obsessed with long term planning and securing targets we want when the opportunity arises rather than addressing immediate issues in the XI. Generally I appreciate the calculated nature of it all - but it feels particularly jarring right now.

He's a great goalkeeper in a lot of ways but his ball playing ability is truly atrocious for the top level.

Semenyo a player fans would probably turn their noses up at if linked but would be a massive improvement on our options there. Maybe we really need to stop letting perfect be the enemy of good in that position.

We're stuck between a rock and a hard place though IMO because we do massively need to refresh things across the park and look to the future. I think Tino would be far better with a more creative right winger ahead of him.

He looks like a Bournemouth utility player who ran his contract down and they weren't that bothered about losing. Definitely a significant upgrade on Dummett. Not sure I could say much more though.

Both still equal I'd say. CB pairing combined with Pope's ball playing was a huge problem today.

Subs changed the game yes but I don't think it shows any real tactical acumen. We just brought on four very expensive players at once and got a footing in the match as they tired a bit - and they had less options to bring on in retaliation. It's shit being able to make so many subs tbh.

We've absolutely robbed them there. Didn't deserve anything really. Classic case of the 5 sub rule influencing the game I'd say. Only thing that got us back into it in any way was being able to throw on 5 quality players with energy and flex strength of the squad compared to theirs.

Hattrick Hate to say it but he would have been perfect signing for us. Think he will have a break out season.

Same players, same style method of play, but without the the energy or momentum that made us successful. It's early says so I don't want to jump to conclusions but it is definitely a worry. We could really do with two proper signings and Tonali turning up like a player to shake things up.

It's a competitive league. Bournemouth have skillful players with a good manager. They have a CL level striker they've just dropped into the side. This is my real concern with the transfer window - everybody is looking to move forward and improve - you can't afford to stand still. A dirty part of me really wishes Bruno's release clause was met and we were able to do a refresh with 4-5 signings. At the moment it just looks so.... stale.

I like Murphy. But he's just not good enough for a front 3 in a side that supposedly wants to compete in Europe. This has been a weakness for the entire time Howe has been here and we just haven't moved to upgrade. The weakness of that side (Longstaff included) is exacerbated when you don't have Trippier's creativity. Gordon really poor too, looks well off the pace. At the moment I feel sorry for Isak who looks up for it but well isolated.

Biggest issue is that Gordon and Bruno don't seem at full fitness yet but overall we just seem a bit flat so far this season. A lack of new signings and new ideas.

Oot the door maybe. Can see us signing Trafford still tbh, Burnley selling their whole squad at the moment seemingly.

I try to see the best in all places tbf, nature of what I do for a living. Many northern cities actually have a lot going for them they're just often hollowed out in terms of deindustrialization, unkempt due to endless public cuts and suburbanised to the point of being ghost towns (all of these factors compound each other). The genuinely worst places I've been to recently are smaller towns that are geographically isolated but aren't pretty enough to be touristy. Making my way through the 92 has taken me to Barrow-in-Furness and Grimsby in the last 12 months. If you want to see genuine 'shitholes', give them a whirl.

I was in Hull two weeks ago and it has an inaccurate reputation, certainly since the recent city of culture investment. The city centre has some great architecture and the Marina/Humber St area is really nice particularly on a sunny day. I'd also say it is a lot tidier than Newcastle city centre in terms of public realm and general upkeep at the moment. Just a shame it takes places to hit rock bottom in this country before anything gets done about it. Wolverhampton on the other hand has very little about it and feels like a lesser suburb of Birmingham with no distinctive identity. Made particularly less visiting in a matchday by the way they treat away fans. Sunderland is probably somewhere in-between the two, both in terms of offering and attempts to regenerate.

Jamaal looks delighted with your handsy approach Paully

Barring any late hitch he's signing for them permanently. Not sure he'd have been the right player for us personally, although he's decent.