ExiledGeordie

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.

So to summarise we’re going to be in a worse position as are the likes of Villa with the new changes?

Absolute wank. Highlights how big transfer window the summer is. Loads just need moving on

Poor performance so far tonight (staring the obvious)

I’m feel quite confident about tonight. I’m in Keswick for a few days so will be watching there tonight.

If we get a new starting RW, new number 2 striker and a pacey new centre half we’ll be looking good. LB situation needs sorting though too whether that’s another playing coming on or whatever. We’re pretty well stacked in midfield especially with Tonali coming back and I’m sure we’ll re-sign Joelinton. Though we keep getting linked with that Ederson Brazilian midfielder.

That’s my thoughts, we’d get smashed by one of the top sides currently.

Its really not even great has it

There is obviously a working relationship but they’ve made mistakes I agree. Summer is a BIG window to sort a lot of things out and make a bit of a statement too. I think this season was always going to be a tough one but there’ll be an expectation we push on again next season. Pressure on everyone at the club.

If he’s starting next season as our first RW option then questions have to be asked

It’s also closer to his family home. It’s disappointing he’s going but people move regularly especially in sport and I can see why he’s going also for the reasons you’ve mentioned.

I’m sure he’ll manage given he’s on several hundreds thousand pounds a year and likely off for multiple holidays. Howe is right about one thing though, you need a sporting director in place longterm to really see the benefit.

I think it’s definitely been a mistake not brining in another striking option this season given Isak and Wilson’s injury record.