HaydnNUFC

Putting shite to the sword. Class. Back it up in the next 3.

Reiterating this. Out from 11:30. No pressure, lads.

People not as bothered as much as we're shite again. Unglamorous opposition. Proximity to Christmas with all lower bowl tickets at least 50 bar are my excuses/guesses.

Hope we go with the Greek fella over Duflapka.

Good counter, mind. 2 nowt.

Haven't watched Juve for ages but this current side is an enormous far cry from that 2016-2018 Dybala, Douglas Costa, Higuain, Chiellini side.

They weren't both in form, Wilson was but his injury record is his injury record and could not be relied on. He was also over 30. Almiron wasn't in form, he had a good month: he scored just twice in the new year that season, Bournemouth away and a deflection against Wolves at home. He was never going to replicate it and his career suggested that the purple patch was going to be exactly that. They should've been sold after the end of that season yet they got new contracts either side of the end of it which they'll both see out without contributing for the overwhelming majority of the last 2 whole seasons. Poor planning or lack of ruthlessness. Or both.

We could've got £25m-£40m ish for them collectively then imo. Both coming off their respective best ever season, Almiron was still younger than 30 and Wilson was fit all summer.

Could call it hindsight (not really though in regard to Wilson when you look at his injury record since 2015, almost all of which under Howe) but we should've tried to flog him at the end of 2022-23. Almiron as well tbh. Could've gotten decent money for them collectively with the two of them coming off the back of their best ever seasons. Instead they got new contracts, and we'll now lose both for nothing.

The only remotely reliable ones we've had off the top of my head are Thiaw and that total nonstarter of Tapsoba in the summer just gone and Bakayoko yesterday.

Him being our 2nd striker costs us points long term. It did last season; meant Isak couldn't exert himself fully in all aspects of play especially our pressing. As if he'd got injured we'd be truly fucked. This is last season admittedly but may as well apply this given how reluctant Howe is to use Osula.

He probably needs to just retire at this point. Class when he gets a new contract at the end of the season.

Injured yet again.

I doubt a player with 18 months left on his contract in January is going to command a fee that'd make him the 3rd most expensive outgoing ever from the Eredivisie tbh.

Scenes if we continue to whinge about PSR yet spend £35m-£50m on the likes of Elanga.

Maybe, but that depends on who Mitchell et al target. But I think we are capable of attracting a manager that could well be a better one. And money that was being waved about for Guehi I assume is there, plus I'd want any manager that succeeds Howe either in the near future or long term that's proactive & ruthless in squad management and open to selling players at opportune moments to try and avoid the PSR wrecking ball. 6th whilst playing CL football as well, whilst we are currently 12th without Europe or major injuries to contend with outside of Botman.

To avoid plagiarising @ponsaelius again, I'll just quote him. Away from what's being served up on the pitch atm, I think even he's a wee bit of an obstacle to that as per; I mean, Emery has won numerous European trophies. I don't think Howe has the nous tactically to win us something. Agree that there's issues upstairs, the club as a whole seems incredibly reactive rather than proactive.

'Bruce to Rafa' is extreme, howeh. But there are good managers out there, and suggesting that any of those that have a decent chance of being better categorically won't come here is shortsighted imo. No one knows that, and we are still an attractive proposition especially with some of the players we have.

We don't know that those managers wouldn't come here, though. No one ever thought we could attract someone with Benitez's stock in 2016 under Ashley whilst 19th in the league, yet we did.

The amount of people filming him behind the goal there. Good lord.

Ange starting 2 unfit CBs who have had to go off. Just who we are mate.

They signed a Skipp rat in the summer.

So they'll likely sit deep? Oh dear.