Kid Icarus

The two left backs that are ahead of him getting fit I think. My main concern is that Howe reverts back to an ineffective 343 when we have players back.

Death, taxes, and Turnbull2000

It's apples and oranges tbf, they're nothing alike. It's a bit like comparing Pirlo and Zidane, and in the end comes down to the type of footballer you prefer, because their skillsets and styles are just different. Iniesta was a fucking genius and a real big game player. There are only two or maybe three players in my lifetime that I know I'd definitely rate higher than him.

Stopping short of being Howe out isn't necessarily automatically stopping short of the criticism being irrational (amongst other things) mind. There's also still the same old story of posters coming out of the woodwork to criticise him who are otherwise very quiet.

We said the same just after Brentford away last season. Yesterday makes every other away draw this season look worse as well I think.

Remind me how that season turned out again

This is it. With us under Howe there's always the feeling that it's coming, sometimes performances like this are the catalyst as well.

Players can turn corners and yeah he's been okay here, but it would be daft to ignore what he's been like elsewhere imo. I've never rated him, but he's young and football's often much more about potential than evidence, so it wouldn't surprise me, bht Pope's been fantastic this season imo, I've never ever seem him drop clangers like today.

If Ramsdale ends up being a better choice than Pope it definitely won't be based on any evidence we've seen over the last 5 or so years.

Right up until Tino got injured this was seen as a good thing. I still think it is personally, it's just been very specifically unlucky for us that we've lost 2 extremely good left backs.

The weird thing with Gordon is that if he was moved on, it would likely be to a club fighting for the league title, but at the same time I reckon we'd be able to get a better player. Whatever player he is or can be, he's definitely not proving it here at the moment. We got it in 23/24 and since then he's only done it when he fancies it.

Reminder that Dan Burn is playing LB because he's our third choice LB and the other two are injured.

I was careful to say a lot rather than all.

Ramsey was that attempt to upgrade surely.

A lot of nobody posters there that you never see anywhere else.

I did list the negatives like so it's not that I'm saying there aren't any, I'm saying the bigger picture is positive not negative. Take your point about coaches, but I think because we're such an obvious work in progress at the moment, I wouldn't turn to that unless it's a clear problem/Howe thinks we need it. I've said it before as well, but imo Howe has created/re-booted our identity and our DoF should be all about the continuity of that identity. I'm against anything that isn't in line with what Howe has created here. His style of football here is close to a modern Keegan style and I think it feels right.

Nowt to worry about tbh. We're streaky as fuck, I fully expect us to go on a mad run once it clicks. It'll click as well, it has to, Eddie will find a way.

My gut has been telling me this like. It's either that or he's inconsistent in a way that's the opposite of what you'd expect.

Calling it the bigger picture says it all to me tbh, the bigger picture is positive, not negative. We're still a work in progress - particularly after selling the rat - still have to address the away form and the inconsistency, but what bigger picture you're seeing that's negative is beyond me.

And tbf this is always the reason given as well. That there are legitimate concerns that need addressing, which is fine like, no one's saying don't post and discuss etc, but it's really obvious when those situations are in play, because posters who barely post suddenly activate, and that part of it on its own is annoying.

Suddenly Pope is susceptible to mistakes and the answer is...Aaron Ramsdale. Goes to show how far kneejerks can go I suppose.

Tbf it's nauseating seeing this thread bumped when we lose and barely a murmur when we win. Only natural probably, but still annoying. It's a tale as old as time on here that certain posters are only activated into posting Manchurian Candidate style when things aren't going well.

At least it's the same posters, who seemingly haven't learned anything.

Didn't see it today but that sounds extraordinarily bad. Hopefully it's this season's Brentford away.