ExiledGeordie

Until there’s something concrete that comes out it seems like it’s all noise. We’ll know soon enough though with Ratcliffe getting his % of Man U

Id rather we were proactive rather than reactive but I get your point about re-evaluating at the end of this month in terms of injuries to the squad

Well said ?

Yeah losing ALL of them has completely knackered us. My West ham mate actually mentioned this yesterday when we were talking about it funnily enough

Might add our lack of rotation on the wings means we’re not stretching teams away from home and don’t carry as much of a threat. Teams are pushing up more against us. We’re weak in the middle of the park too, too easy to play against away from home for whatever reason.

Our progression after the takeover was always going to have some sticky patches, it was never going to be a linear upward curve. I’m sure Howe accepts there’s probably things they could’ve done better, it’s all a learning experience as we progress. I mean I was with some mates in London last night who support London teams and they were saying how well they thought we’d done given just how many players are out. But Howe is going to have to get us back on track away from home. Injuries have killed us this first half of the season and that has definitely affected our away form.

We’re also far too open in midfield, opposition players just strolling through acres of space. I think the whole side away from home has lost its edge a bit, teams aren’t afraid of us - because they know we’ve got such limited options at the moment that we can’t play with the same intensity. The one positive, Dubravk looked much sharper.

Yes I don’t think we can get away from the fact last season we had full weeks of prep for games. That helps prep time and helps prevent injuries. This season has been night and day in that respect. I’m sure Howe and the board will acknowledge they could do some things better and make note of that.

? well said. I wasn’t confident today, yes very disappointed, Howe will no doubt be very critical of himself. We’re still learning as you point out, manager, players and fans.

Nope, too far off and horrific away form. I actually think if we get the bulk of our injured lot back and a couple of signings we’ll be really strong 2nd half of the season but I think top four will be a bridge too far

Get the reinforcements in to give everyone a lift, we’re shot to pieces.

The weird thing is as much as I was lacking confidence in a really today I’m really confident we’ll beat Forest at home. The combination of injuries and being awful away from home is really effecting us though.

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Yeah I think this will probably end any chance of this. I think he’d be very useful second half of the season and could be a great signing but it’s still unclear how good he’ll be with fitness and lack of games. So having to sign him in the summer after a loan period given we have Tonali (and probably have other targets in mind too) probably signals the end of this.

It would completely ruin football

Has there been anything concrete yet though. I saw one of my journo mates yesterday and he said he’d heard nothing concrete at all yet. The original story mentions the link between Asworth and Brailsford but then there’d just been rehash stories after the initial story (can’t remember who wrote the initial story).

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Imagine him scoring a free kick in the derby ?

I’ve heard one very strong rumour about his person life (as have a few others I’m sure) and you can make your own guesses about what that involves but have no idea whether that’s true at all though. Hopefully the lad gets sorted though ?

Fair point. I wasn’t saying they’ve been lacking or it didn’t mean to suggest that. I just mean they have to go all out for deals if they’re there to be done (no reason to think they wouldn’t back Howe obvs)

Yeah he’s vital at the moment.

Board really needs to back Howe in Jan and get some quality reinforcements in to give everyone a lift and help us push for top four or at least secure Europe. Injuries in danger of completely derailing the season but things can turn around and I think we’ll have a strong second half of the season. The board needs to come through for Howe in Jan though.

Bloke is colossal in midfield now, just hope we het players back and sign some in Jan to help him and the other lads out. We’re also royally fucked if he gets injured.

Thought he was immense given just back from injury again.

Yeah very frustrating, what was he doing ffs and similar to Joelinton crossing v Liverpool away when he should’ve taken it to the corner. I think we still lacks players with that nous and experience to see games out. Chelsea away when Havaertz scored at the death too. I think as our quality of player improves we’ll see less of this. We fail to close out too many of these type of games. Miggy is knackered though with Barnes and Murphy out who would’ve been coming on with 20-25 to go and even starting some games.