ExiledGeordie

Totally agree

Basically a disaster. Major question marks raised over this.

Big match for Howe and the players after a break. A win would breed positivity going into Everton, a poor performance and loss and the negativity will really build particularly in the stands (social media would inevitably explode too). Racing in the lakes so will try and catch the match in Keswick after.

Fully agree. I think some may have softened because he’s been very complimentary about the fans and club and defended us in some situations (genuine or not). Pardew was a cunt but never reached the same levels as Bruce amazingly. Bruce’s continued pathetic stance at every opportunity with anyone who will listen (I’d imagine with talksport this week but couldn’t give two fucks what he’s said) cements him as Uber cunt. Useless manager and utter wanker.

Managing injuries, rotation and developing a plan B could be his undoing or making moving forwards.

Yeah I think respect for fans, Howe and probably gets wider perspective on this was always going to be a difficult season/severe injuries. Gives us another season after summer transfer window then re-assess end of next season.

Nobody can predict exactly what will happen but realistically he’s probably with us one more season and there’s a ‘chance’ he could go this summer. As much as he loves us the draw of playing in the champions league and winning trophies will come calling eventually.

Too right, bedwetters will be out in force

I agree

Well I was just thinking that Joelinton will almost re-sign and I think we’ve got Bruno for another year (you never know though and we’ve been heavily linked with that Ederson in Italy) so we’ll be fairly well stacked in midfield. LB situation needs sorting/finalising but not as urgently as RW and striker as we at least have options at LB with Targett, Tino, Burn (yes I know) and gos forbid Hall.

What do people think are our priorities in terms of position? 1) RW 2) Striker 3) Pacey CB

Striker wise he’d be perfect for us but the combination of cost and questionable personality means I just don’t see it. He’ll surely end up at Chelsea as he’s exactly what we need. I think we’ll go abroad for a striker but either way Wilson definitely needs replacing as a number 2 striker or joint rotational striker with Isak.

The Tonali situation has been a disaster because he was clearly bought with the champions league games in mind given his experience. I think he’ll come good. The club probably didn’t do enough to provide immediate impact players but the Barnes situation has been really really unfortunate with his toe injury. His goals would’ve made a huge difference (discussion aside over whether a RW upgrade might’ve been more appropriate). Howe is saying there won’t be a total overhaul due to PSR, but you’d have to think there’s going to have to be a fairly major transformation clearing out deadwood and securing a few key positions in the summer.

Whose contracts are up this summer?

I’d be amazed if anything ever happened to it, there’d be massive uproar. And to be fair I wouldn’t want to see that area built on.

Too many players still in the squad and starting who were there in the championship. Loads need moving on, thanks and goodbye. We still lack genuine quality and its painfully obvious when key starters are out

Yeah Rafa is as able to adapt in terms of the cards he was dealt. Howe is brilliant with everything at his disposal but I’m not sure he has that plan B when it’s not going well or lack of options. That’s fine to a point with horrific injuries but it could be his eventual undoing.

Yeah this summer is huge. Time to move on the deadwood (top lads but thanks there’s the door) and bring in some real quality. With the likes of Tonali returning and a fresh start with signings I’m confident things will be far more upbeat and positive next season. This season is almost like what we should’ve had last season in terms of league position after the 11th place finishing. I think the club will be looking at a lot of things they could’ve done better this season too and that includes Howe and the medical team.

This is the problem, we had 14 years of complete stagnation. I guess humans rights discussions aside (whether that’s something that bothers the individual fan) we’ve got a board who want us to progress and be as good as we can which is what everyone wanted. The issue now that most fans are going to have to accept is that it’s probably not going to be as exciting in the new few years as we’d all hoped after the initial takeover and rapid rise in success.

Yes well the Saudi ownership doesn’t sit comfortably with me either I’d agree. Not that it’s stopped me from going albeit on rare occasion more recently (I’ve been washed I guess ha)

Why other owners?

The thing for me is I didn’t expect us to go out and spend gazillions and I’m all for the graded approach. However it’s becoming clear that it’s going to be almost impossible to match the spending power of the big 6 because the rules in place simply won’t allow progression at anything other than glacial levels of speed.

Injury didn’t look good, looks like he’ll be out a while, bugger.

I agree I think Howe has been let down by recruitment last summer and even Jan. How much influence he had in the summer who knows but going into a champions league campaign we needed impact players for now. Granted we couldn’t have foreseen the Tonali situation or rather got royally screwed on that one. However injuries have been a complete disaster for us but Howe might also have to look at himself in terms of could he have managed things better early on in terms of rotation and style of play. My worry with him is does he have a plan B when players aren’t available. That was piss poor last night and with the players available we should’ve been able to put in far more of a display. However there’s just too much stuff that’s happened this season with injuries to really write Howe off. He defo gets the summer and start of next season though. If we’re struggling with a full squad come the autumn I think he’s gone. Huge huge pressure on Howe next season and the board in what is a crucial summer transfer window.

To be honest I think a lot of teams outside of the big 6 will have the same feeling of “well what’s the point really?” If they’re constantly going to be hamstrung by restraints.