Hhtoon

A 32 year old Woods would still likely go for 10m or so to a Champ team in a couple of years. It's not like the 17m now is totally sunk.

Other clubs will be whacking 15% on to any transfer fees after that debacle

If the red cards are for off the ball headbutts then I'm in. If they're for Clark-esque blunders then I'm out.

It's smart, saves a days wages and earns an extra days interest on the 12m

It's the Wilson injury that worries me most over the next few weeks.

I'm too soft, I want to berate him but I just feel sorry for his useless ass

He's coaching and setting the team up to how he ultimately wants it to be. I'm sure he's aware now where the deficiencies are so I guess he has a choice... 1. change to a more conservative system to try and shore up/protect the defence. Potential short term gain but possibly a backwards step. 2. Persevere and hopefully if we do get early signings in it'll all click in to place quicker.

Not sure why he'd suddenly replace Schar with Clark otherwise. Wish he'd just tell us to be honest cos if it was tactical then my concern levels would be elevated

Yeah, why would he have dropped Schar otherwise? Surely was down to medical advice not to play 90 mins.

The Fed issue was odd and it would have been interesting to see if he would have picked him instead of Clark today given the choice. Schar was clearly rested - Howe did mention there was a limited recovery after the Liverpool game.

Why did we need him before? Howe and Nickson will have a transfer wishlist between them of potential signings and this guy is likely just here to assist Nickson with the actual process of recruitment in January. Sure an article was posted before that this was the plan... It would be mental to get someone in temporarily and let them dictate recruitment policy.

Reckon he'll purely be used alongside Steve Nicols to assist in the actual recruitment/negotiations to get Howes targets in over January and then he'll toodle off.

Christ I'm glad I cancelled my BT sport subs

Press in the 1st half looks good but without really achieving anything.

We have a Head of recruitment already, surely this is just someone to assist him with the actual process when it happens, rather than an integral part of the structure with any decision making. No need to get them in early, just for Jan when they're needed (for our 100m transfer window )

Look at the shit with Rafa and the Everton DoF. Last thing we need in Jan is an additional decision maker in the mix - it has to be recruiting based on who Howe identifies is needed immediately to keep us in the PL, not based on a long term strategy.

Only got to see the MOTD highlights of this and they made it look favourable to us...quite a few blocked shots etc so we definitely look a threat. Considering most of these players were involved for 80 mins with only 10 men on Tuesday seems positive as well regards to fitness levels etc. Possession and attempt stats are up over Bruce ball since Howe arrived so positive moves on that side. Can imagine this win will be a weight off the shoulders so hopefully that will be reflected in our games going forward.

When was the last time he played a full 90? 80 mins and down to 10 was probably pretty tough - maybe didn't want to throw him straight back in.

A significant number of our squad have errors in them, that's why we're where we are. Think it was fair Howe gave people a chance based in training - if Clark outshone Schar and Fed then he deserved the chance. For all we know, Schar makes fuckups like the one that almost cost us the game tonight multiple times in training whilst Clark is a rock... Fed on the other hand is odd - something seems off there but I guess we don't have the luxury of knowing what happens off the pitch.

Was that "Joe, fucking have it!!" from Howe??

Hanley to have a stormer

Counting down the hours...so fucking nervous. Need a win and a good performance, though obviously I'd accept a Norwich OG against the run of play if needs be.

I remember someone once said Obertan was the most skilful player they had played with in training. Wonder if Krafth is solid in training but bottles it come game time. He's had his chance so hopefully now he'll be benched. Dunno what's with Fed, but whatever it is, we need experienced heads at the back.

Jesus, can't we just give players a clean slate. When/if they're shite again then we can berate them accordingly

Guy needs to get a bit of a grip. Some admittedly slightly shoddy governance but it's a supporters group full of volunteers. He's obviously got an axe to grind but might as well just front it up rather than rooting through the regs picking on whatever he can for 4 months. Personally I think Hurst is self serving who has waltzed back in as he knows the club is going places and he wants to ride it's coat tails for his own profile. I don't particularly give a shit that they don't have the balance sheet available at someone's house. I did like the "we don't have a complaints procedure so we've just made this one up now. As you can see we have yet to complete this made up process so suck it"