Chicken Dancer

Probably in the minority, but I'd prefer him to have 2 weeks with squad then the Brentford game. Much easier for the arsehole section of our fanbase to use the inevitable hammering on Saturday as a stick to beat him with. Plus Friday will probably be a half-session at most, not much time to make any form of impact. Hopefully he's in the stands and it gives players a kick up the arse, although likely to get beat regardless.

Warmed to the idea of Howe now, and like others have touched on, I've probably been guilty myself of just expecting a 'bigger' name automatically because we have £££. Yes Emery would have a been a bold statement, but fair play for going for blokes like that. For all we know, Howe could have been 8th choice. They've interviewed many candidates by the sounds of it, and if he's impressed them then fair enough. Certainly sounds like he impressed more than Fonseca, who I wanted at first. So good on him and the board for identifying that. We are literally 19th and 6 points adrift. We're probably not the catch we (including I) think we are to many managers. Howe can hopefully keep us up and if he does well, great. 17th this year then midtable next year would be massive progress. Then we can reassess where we want to go summer 23. FWIW, I think everyone - including Howe - will realise long term he won't be the man, but for now let's get behind him and stay up. If he does well then he can leave and get another good job. Our new owners aren't buying us to have Eddie Howe as the face of their club long term, but he's about as good as we can hope for right now by the looks of it. We've probably been knocked back by a good few imo. Maybe underwhelming, but new owners + Howe is 10000000000000% better than Ashley + Bruce, which we were resigned to forever only 4 weeks ago.

I think one of the main things that hyped me up when the news broke yesterday was that it looked likely Emery was coming in this week with the intention of either managing v Brighton or certainly just being there, to then have the entire international break to work with the team prior to a decent home game vs Brentford. Going back to the drawing board just wastes precious time, man. What a kick in the bollocks today has been.

FWIW Emery would have probably been announced today if it wasn't leaked. They obviously had a pretty good indication he wanted it for it to leak. As excited as I was, couldn't help but question the timing of the leak. This is after weeks of praising them for nothing leaking.

The saddest thing about the past 24hrs or so is I've got absolutely no work done and am now massively behind. FIND THE MOLE

I don't particularly dislike Howe, I just think he's a bad fit for NUFC. Don't get me wrong, he'd have been a canny appointment under Ashley but the fact we could have appointed him the day after Bruce left would make the entire period since fucking pointless. Absolutely underwhelming if it's Howe.

Really trying hard not to criticise the new owners, but that doesn't mean they're immune from it. Yesterday I was, like everyone, completely made up that they were after a top manager who's in a job - one who essentially would have cost them £14m to appoint. Seemed their process we were told to trust was absolutely bang on. It's obviously impossible for us to know who leaked it to the press (seems Ornstein was first, followed by everybody else jumping on the story not to be left behind), but it is poor form, especially given Villareal had a hugely important game to contend with. I'd be pissed if I was Emery/their owner too. Not of the opinion that it's a shitshow (just yet), but the handling of the takeover in 2020 and of the Bruce situation were poor imo. No good leaking to the press without 100% certainty else you just end up with egg on your face, and a massive shitty stick for people to beat you with. I don't buy into the fact it's completely dead either, owners on the continent generally use media as a mouthpiece. Many times we've seen owners say 'XYZ player is DEFINITELY staying' only for him to later leave, generally a ploy to get more £££. But the leaks from our side yesterday were ill timed and seemingly very premature. The sooner we appoint some proper football people in Sporting Director & CEO roles the better. It will come in time, but unfortunately time is something we do not have right now.

One of them have just said Johnson is too little to get any respect

Can't really remember anything particularly unique in recent years either. Last ones were probably the Gouffran and Mbemba songs. Even they were probably Strawberry Corner/Away day songs. Saying that, I have absolutely no idea how you just make a song up for it to catch on. Absolutely hate a million times over the 'Martin Dubravka/Hatem Ben Arfa/Nobby Solano' rehash. Look at Liverpool's for Salah, Firminho, Van Dijk etc. Fucking class. I am glad we haven't adapted a rip off version of that 'Allez, Allez Allez' song sung by basically everyone now though. Coming Home Newcastle and Big River would be class.

Wish we had a better songbook like. Would be class to get songs like 'I'm coming home Newcastle' in away ends. We just rehash basically everything. Even the Callum Wilson one now is Shearer's ffs.

Didn't realise he actually orchestrated a 22 game unbeaten run early in his first year at Arsenal. Sounds organised and meticulous with detail - basically exactly what we need. I was all in on Fonseca, and yes I'm probably blinded by the fact he isn't coming now, but I did touch on in an earlier post in this thread, not sure Fonseca would be a good fit *right now* due to having to basically change a team that's designed to sit deep into an attacking, possession based team. Emery seems perfect for our current predicament and really good statement from the owners. Happy fucking days.

Hopefully all those shitting their pants now understand why it's taken so long. A huge statement from new owners imo. To take a top manager from a job would basically just confirm everything we hoped we already knew - they've got serious plans here.

3-0 defeat, unless they go down to 9 in the first half or something.

Has Reuben been at the last 2 games? Haven't seen him on any of the photos etc

‘Next to 0%’. There’s always a chance - like you say, money talks. But I’ll be astounded if it’s him.

As others have touched on, domestically Ajax are flying and top of their Champions League group with 100% record. As tempting as the promise of riches will be, I just think he’d be more inclined to see the season out and see what other jobs are available. He’s been linked with Barcelona etc, I just don’t think he’s realistic now. Would love him, just maybe a few years too early for going and taking Ajax manager off them whilst he’s still in a job . Also read numerous times that the owners basically want someone out of work, rather than get tangled in a legal battle.

It’s definitely not going to be Ten Hag. It’s OK to dream though! But we have next to 0% chance.

Hasn't Rafa been called a 'fat spanish waiter' by basically everyone forever? Definitely the media pushing this narrative. Rank.

I'm OK with that to be honest. Gives the new manager the full international break to get things together and a relatively nice run of fixtures to hopefully get a 'bounce' (Brentford, Arsenal, Norwich & Burnley). Pretty horrendous run after that mind

Be funny if this prick got snagged by Dark Justice or some other nonce vigilante to see how the press would react to their darling then. Also, best bit of advice I can give anyone is mute the word 'Bruce' and mute Talksport on Twitter. Much better.

Quite telling that the abuse Benitez was subject to at Chelsea (personal too IIRC) is just brushed under the carpet from the media.

Will be over the moon if it's him, granted don't know huge amounts about him but given the consortium aren't 'football' people as such, they've cleared taken advice on this. Reservations on whether he will be able to implement his style on a team fighting relegation that is designed to sit deep by nature, but look at how Rodgers was able to change Leicester after a window or two. If he can keep us up, I'd be very excited for next season and beyond. It's been a long, long time since we've had a team that plays on the front-foot. Would be an exciting appointment for sure, but won't please a lot of the fans who clamour for Eddie fucking Howe (nowt against him by the way, but this is far more exciting)

YESSSS

Howe is definitely meh but much less meh than Bruce so I'm in. In all seriousness, not the bloke to sort out the defensive issues but could give us a bump for a few games. Brentford, Norwich and Burnley back to back home games in Nov/early Dec. 7 points needed as a minimum in them.

If we are on another day off he's probably deliberately doing it to avoid them. Probably blocked their numbers too and has his blinds closed at his gaff. Watching tele in the back room so nobody can see any lights on (like me on Halloween).