Thumbheed

Admittedly, didn't get to see that game

Loving his performances at the base but the real test will be how he performs against the top teams who can press more effectively. He's been afforded a lot of space the last couple of games, which he won't get against the better sides.

Can't say I'm familiar with your work, but there's something completely disingenuous about claiming to be right all along when you've been proven to be wrong. Everyone felt there was more from the team and everyone knew we had the quality to be better but it was the vocal minority who haven't grasped yet, that football isn't a transactional sport who's results are based solely on formations or player quality alone, and that there are a huge number of factors which impact a team's performances. Those with a longer lense saw that there wasn't anything fundamentally wrong with the team, but we hadn't quite clicked yet and were clearly lacking a bit of confidence. Howe has barely put a foot wrong in 3 years, I can't point to one single thing that would make me question his capability. Even last year was a remarkable achievement in my eyes. Some short memories here.

I am once again asking for Bruno to be kept at 8.

I am once again asking for Bruno to be given the freedom of a number 8 role. He is just so imaginative around the box.

We are so good on the counter. I wish we saw it more often tbh.

Win, lose or draw, I think it's completely fair to say he's turned St James into a stadium that travelling sides dread. That to me is hallmark of an excellent side, which he deserves an unwavering amount of respect (and patience) for, all things considered. The hallmarks of a great side are what we do away, which I firmly believe he'll crack. I don't think people have quite appreciated the dearth of technical qualities between our squad and the squads or the great sides in the world. Tactics, coaching and motivation can only go so far. Ultimately, absolute execution of the these things and the postivie results they garner are defined by how good a player actually is with the ball at his feet. We still have a very long way to go and are already comfortably sticking it to some of the best sides in the world.

He can be pressed pretty easily which is why Bruno is so important to how we play.

I think Howe will take every chance he's got to develop him tbh. As for rawness, can't say I've seen anything which qualifies that barring the fact we've not had a chance to see his finishing but from what I saw last night, for the most part it was because he was 2-3 steps ahead of his teammates who rarely released the ball quick enough.

Thought he did well when he came on, only player who was willing to take a high risk pass barring Schar. We need more risk takers in midfield if we're to break down the buses we're inevitably gonna be playing this year.

Think we've got a really good player here. Didn't really get chance to show too much but whenever he was active he was really positive and seemed to have that natural instinct to drive towards the goal. A lot of strikers nowadays are quite passive. Loved that little moved where Bruno (I think) played him through and he rolled his defender and got a left footed shot away. Really showed his speed of thought and intelligence.

Played alot as a number 8 in the first season with Shelvey sitting too and bagged a fair few goals.

He is the captain. Taking the armband away from him was a mistake imo, inspite of me desperately wanting Bruno as captain.

Seems like Georgia might be becoming a bit of a hotbed for talent. Some good players starting to come out of there.

Get the press right/going and it'll all fall back into place.

Surely you can only judge how far he can take us when he's got the tools to take us as far as possible?

Bit of a naughty way of wording the question, this. Howe vs Mitchell - Howe. Alternative question with the same implications as above: A club strategy and structure based on a specific footballing identity that recruits proficiently inline with that strategy (including managers) vs a club strategy based entirely on a manager's footballing identity that recruits to said footballing identity and the hierarchies ability to identify successful managers - Probably the former.

Distribution too

Basically. I dunno if it's a strategy or a failing at this point. Firmly bekeive, there'll be a 'click' moment though, Barnes aside there doesn't really look like a single player who's in any sort of form at the moment. Once people get into gear it'll come, I hope.

I don't think it's too much to do with the formation but rather our application. We simply haven't pressed well enough and won the ball as high up on the pitch as possible. The change of formation at half time certainly helped but I don't think it or any other personnel adjustment would make a great bit if difference at this stage, we need more intensity.

I just want to see his quality on the ball further up the pitch.

The game vs Girona in pre season made me think we'd be back pressing wise buts it's seemingly no way near effective as it was when he first took over. If you don't get the press right the whole strategy falls apart.

I feel like we really miss Trippier's playmaking ability. Tonali will hopefully pick up that mantle but for now, it seems we're lacking any real incisiveness in our passing.

Yeh that's a fair point but surely there's some recognition that there did need to be some rules implemented? Particularly with Abrhamovich turning the game upside down and with clubs like Leeds and even us overextended ourselves in pursuit of the same success. Tbf, the main point was that their income was gained in unethical ways rather than the amount they spent.

I thought Villa's suggestion was perfect tbh, in fact I'd probably go higher than the £135m loss they wanted. We've just about managed to build a fantastic squad with £105m loss, imagine the scope we'd have with growing income and say a £180m loss?