Deuce

Iraola feels like an Arsenal hire for sure

Got his ex-wife deported so he could get custody of their kids. Nice guy.

Shirley not

5 defenders and 3 defensive midfielders Liam, you are a star.

Wouldn’t even care if we did a Macclesfield Town after winning the PL and FA Cup. obviously being hyperbolic but I reckon I’d take a relegation or two in exchange for winning the league. Leicester’s title is one of the greatest achievements in the modern game.

Makes a lot more sense when you see them as any another venture capital investment.

Really hope this doesn’t become the defining narrative. If so, it suggests that far too many people at this club are pathetic smol beans.

We might have to resign ourselves to the same in some circumstances.

I try to take unconfirmed dressing room drama rumors with a grain of salt, but if he doesn’t shape up and produce, he’ll end up being an even worse signing than Elanga.

As we’re not in a position to compete directly with the cartel for players that they’re set on (see: Mbeumo, Sesko, Ekitike, etc.), reckon we ought to be the club that does to the likes of Brighton, Brentford, Bournemouth, etc. what the cartel does to us. Swoop in on their signings, the ones that they flip a year or two later for a big profit. It sucks to be a stepping stone club, but we’ll have to be resigned to that as we grow.

I’d say there is quite a substantial middle ground between those poles, actually.

It’s important that PIF make a firm and early decision to stick or twist, so I’m glad it seems they’ve chosen to come out early and back Eddie. We are in need of a pretty substantial squad refresh regardless. I’m encouraged by the quality of transfer rumor so far - it seems like Wilson is up and running and letting Nickson do his thing. Would love to bring in a handful of promising young players to build out the squad and hopefully pull the trigger on a few purples, depending on outgoings. Gonna be an interesting summer. We simply can’t afford a repeat of last year.

I really despise this “get in line” sentiment.

Hoping he has a good run of form at the World Cup to build his confidence. He’s been stuck in his own head all season.

I’m cautiously optimistic given the names that have been floated about already. Seems like we’re already looking more abroad, which makes sense with Wilson.

If Eddie’s still here come summer, I’d sound out Chelsea for Delap.

I do agree that we’d be having a very different conversation if Wissa were sitting on 10 league goals and Pope had simply replicated even last season’s form.

At this point you’re just asking for clairvoyance

I’m not defining “the buck stops with him” as anything other than “he’s ultimately responsible.” It’s not a straight line from “bad season -> sacked”, but yes, being sacked is absolutely a possible and justified consequence for a manager who has a bad season, even if said manager is not 100% to blame for everything (which is not the case in any scenario).

The players didn’t win that trophy, too? Or contribute to those great seasons? Eddie Howe is the manager of this football team and the buck stops with him. There are plenty of mitigating circumstances, but ultimately…that’s just too fucking bad. I’m really tired of this “good tsar, bad boyars” act - and it’s far more pervasive than the “blame Eddie for everything” schtick.