Tiresias

Right but this is why it is set up like it is, it's no coincidence the rules the league could pass are the ones that don't inhibit their spending but screw the rest of us. I totally get that. It's obnoxious because it is a half done job. We totally should be tackling clubs spending more than they can afford, but we should also be making it so clubs don't need to spend that much money to compete in the league. The latter part will always be vetoed however. Is the solution to allow the Leeds uniteds of the world to spend beyond their means? Maybe, I am open maybe to that being the case but how do you put a rule in saying clubs that can afford it can spend it, every owner 'claims' they can afford it. Ditching ffp would likely result in more clubs spending more money, the top 6 would spend more too cos they have plenty of financial headroom, we could outspend the lot so yes we would do well out of it, is that so different a self interest than the situation you describe? I'd much rather some actual financial fair play where clubs weren't priced out and we have to win it on merit.

Honestly, I think a lot of the controversy would be diminished if it was accurately named, "spending limits to stop clubs like Everton spending their way into big debt and thus into oblivion, or rather punish them mildly with the faint hope it discourages others" should be the name, it is absolutely not about sporting fairness or equality at all, in fact the unfortunate side effect is the disproportionate income available to the entrenched super clubs magnifies their spending power. I know it's a little daft with clubs with owners who can no questions ask afford so the spending wouldnt endanger anyone but if those owners are serious and long term they will build up the income to allow the spending, it just takes a little while as ours will. There are seperate rules that could be put in place to make things a lot fairer. Wage caps etc but the league will never pass them. But they put fairness in the name of financial fair play so it looks like they are doing something to help when they're not. It doesn't actually mean FFP is totally bad idea tbh, happy to debate the mechanisms, they may well be daft but I think clubs spending within their means is a good policy, but it's way more about stopping clubs loading themselves with debt to just stay in league and then going bankrupt.

100%. Looking at us recently we are glaringly open at the back and that surely has to be addressed and I'm not sure I see it. I remember when last season started we went through a very very sturdy at the back first half of the season but weren't initially scoring enough goals. Howe said he sacrificed a bit of defensive solidity to get us to score more then Miggy went on that run and a lot clicked. Howe needs to get the team back to that solidity even if we lose a bit in attack because the balance is all wrong right now. While we have never been a possession based team we certainly didnt seem to give the ball away so easily before.

This. We need to try and soak up pressure better, we can't give ball away so much, there's not wrong with when we get the ball recycling it around and away from their press for a bit. Could see that yellow for Bruno coming for literal seconds. Brainless.

Just again letting ball go through us. Don't understand where the defensive sloppiness has come from we were so good for a long time.

It's so easy getting through our team. We can't push so high up and lose the ball so easily.

Ok all worth it hahahaha TAA hahaha

All came from an easy short pass to someone under pressure for no reason.

Gallagher makes sense for them as would count loads for ffp, murdyk less so

Hope Villa can cling on in but can see City and Liverpool accelerating away. Neither seem particularly great sides. Arsenal haven't looked overwhelmingly brilliant this season either so hardly shocking results drying up. Poor season, absolutely ripe for Villa to do a Leicester, super solid and scoring...can't see it tho. City probably will win every remaining game.

Fair, and i agree, but my point is we can't press we need to be more compact, no matter what I don't think conceding 3 at home to Forest is good enough. I am not pissed off, still very much team Howe lol, and think we were always going to have a tougher season, but think this is embarassing even with dummett and lascelles starting shouldnt be happening

If we can't press like mad all season, we need a plan for when we can't. For now the squad is still being built fair enough, but to be honest there can be no excuse for shipping 3 goals to chris wood with arguably our first choice backline. The defense isn't working and should be.

Front to back it's not working, nor is this new just infecting home form now. Lack of intensity means we aren't generating dangerous chances, lack of creativity from our attacking players, and most worrying of all absolutely no defensive organisation. Should be embarrassed to let Chris Wood score 1 let alone 3. I have always and remain critical of anyone reacting with fury, this season was always going to be tougher, but this maybe is a lower tier performance than even I, the arch pessimist was expecting. I am not going to panic, nor do I question Howe too much, clearly the players are in the ground and in need of a break they aren't going to get. However we do need significant change. I have been also critical of the demand for Lewis Hall, I don't think when he has played he has look as good as some have said but probably worth a shot out of desperation, but more, I think Howe maybe needs to adjust how we play. We aren't able to do his high intensity style, we need to I am afraid to say focus on being really solid. As someone has defended Miggy a lot he has totally failed to push on from the form he found last season. We should be looking to replace him next month and ship him in summer. Not good enough unfortunately. Too much responsibility is on Miley's head at his age. Another attacking option beyond that needs to be found. At the back, I think it's a case of pulling it back a bit, bit more first principles defending and maybe be a bit more counter attacking than proactive until we return to some semblance of fitness with players back.

absolute garbage, not really sure how Howe can change this up but something must be done, the squad is not functioning.

I do wonder about Howe needing to spend some time on a lower intensity plan b for these stretches. Clearly players aren't in form and we aren't creating chances. When the intensity drops so hard to create goal opportunities

This can fuck off like. Yes Hendrick has no redeeming features but Ritchie and Hayden have been good servants in shit times, no they aren't good enough anymore but deserve better than to be referred to as turds ffs.

Have you seen the state of our politicians man?

Europe is fun because matchups aren't that common dreadful to make them as common as a league one. Then it's just to make the super clubs further distracted from the rest. I also give uefa don't credit for the europa conference league, everyone pisses on it but i think it's great opportunity for European cup fun for plenty of teams that never would before. This is just everything horrible about modern game, that more more more glitz stars etc makes things better. Albeit European footy had peaked with dan burn scoring against psg.

Aah fuck this season wake me up in September

It's difficult to know if a lot of the players of the Ashley era could have been absolutely class if we'd had half decent coaches. Cisse may have sustained his scoring with decent help.

Hmm feel comparing to Bellingham may be pilling slightly too high expectations on the lad. We can dream ofc

Very possible, shame very likeable bloke

God I'd be so upset seeing him go to City. Would fill their gundogan shaped hole pretty well too... Not gonna happen not gonna happen....

I'm not saying he will be sold or wants to go or anything but i think the idea that a player can't both love playing for a club and also make hard nosed decisions on their career on discussion with their team is a bit of a fan fantasy. It certainly makes it more appealing for him to stay, and easier for us to refuse to sell. It is the nature of the modern game unfortunately that agents are highly motivated to arrange moves for their players as they earn massive financial rewards for doing so (would love for this to change I'm sure little has contributed more to that crazy player price inflation) and players want to play for as high profile a club as they can. I also don't think that means there's any dishonesty in how much bruno seems to enjoy it here tho.

Column inches per game is probably metric that is used lol