Dr Jinx

Fuck this settling for 5th.. this season has been a golden chance with other clubs standing in the stalls as the race started. The World Cup happened and we’ve not been at it since we resumed. Even with a full strength team we don’t look the same. And it’s not only “just one game”. Aside from Leicester we’ve been crap. Even against a Nathan Jones Southampton we were hanging on those last 15/20 mins in the 2nd leg. Howe needs to approach this like he did to turn things around last season when we were staring down the barrel of relegation. Some sort of bootcamp and team bonding because they just look out of ideas currently.

Awful news, RIP. Hopefully the club do something to pay respects later today.

Out of the frying pan into the fire comes to mind. No doubt they have a few shillings but they won’t be able to siphon money in through other places, but they don’t necessarily need that. The club makes plenty. What that club has needed since probably a few seasons before Fergie left was good decision making. They need a Dan Ashworth and he’s already taken so regardless of money and influence, the real currency is talent behind the scenes and there’s a massive shortage of that in football. We’re in a good place regardless of what we win or don’t this season. It’s only starting.

He was being asked about ex players coming back to speak to the current squad and was asked if he planned on getting anyone in to speak before the final and he said something to the effect of.. “I’m looking at that, there’s one person I have in mind but nothing confirmed yet” It’s in the first few mins of the press conference

From Howe's press conference, it sounded to me like he was going to try and get Keegan in before the week to talk to the players, without actually naming him.

Nope, let them stick with the yanks in some other leveraged bullshit takeover. Doesn't really bother me in any case, we’re running our own race and the more competitive clubs in the league the more unpredictable it will become.. it feasibly gives several teams the chance of winning something each season

Fuck Liverpool, the whinging asthmatic cheating scratters.

I’m more worried about them sticking Rashford on Burn out wide than Trippier. A few weeks ago I was far more confident. Form is everything and ours has been slipping, while they have come right into it after a shocking start to the season. The Liverpool game at the weekend is still massively important, I think a win there would do the confidence wonders. Ten Haag is showing himself to be an excellent coach at this level. Don’t forget, most of this squad was absolute turd last season.

Nar ? but I’m also not a Leeds supporter thankfully

I’d have him over Lampard or Stevie G any day. Yes been a long time since he managed but still better than the usual PFM’s bandied about. He’s only 64.

Nunez will be a problem if we give him the pitch to run into. If a simpleton like me can see that I’d say Howe has them well sussed.

Agree re: Salah, whether he’s lost a yard is debatable but he’s nowhere near the level he was. His dip in form has also coincided with his massive pay increase on his last contract. He ain’t hungry no more.. edit* that aged well. ? although my point stands.. having an open goal is hardly a resurgence of form

Ah man, it’s good to see Terry Mac in good fettle. He hasn’t let his condition get the better of him by any means yet. Lovely moment.

David O’Leary returning to Leeds would be a good shout. Knows the club, and did well there for the most part. Don’t think the decline was on his door way back when. They were still firmly top 6 before there was a “top 6”.

I wasn’t overly impressed with him today, he got bullied off the ball a couple of times that I took note of. But overall solid enough in a team that misfired. He’ll do better.

Saying this now, we play even remotely like we did today against Bournemouth and we lose.

The team created nothing for him. I mean even just a pass to him around the box to get a shot off, there was nothing.

We look tired all over the pitch, we’re having to push the issue more in games now and there’s been times when we look stretched. It’s leading to individual mistakes, injuries and a general loss of form across the board. The World Cup was terrible for us. Not that we had too many there, hasn’t seemed to have affected the England players but the squad who remained just look shot. I know giving the players time off is not something Eddie Howe does much of but they look like they need a week in a health spa.

Willock going off changes things up a bit. We’ve been stale in the midfield for a while, even with Bruno in. This might just be an eye opener for Howe that different lineups can work.

Remains to be seen if Shelvey would even have played as club didn’t want to extend his contract. Whilst we all would have liked another midfielder in, none wound have been our top targets and what’s the point in bringing a body in for a short time who may not be the ideal plan going forward? Bruno will back.. we’ll be fine

Arsenal having their blip.

Howe said he hasn’t played much so a bit behind on fitness.

"Moaty, it's Alex.."

If we didn’t mind moving for 2 years, I’d knock the lot down. and rebuild by turning the pitch 90 degrees. There’s so much you can do so without having to spoil the area. The Aviva Stadium could be a loose template to work off, the shorter end could keep Leazes Terrace happy but absolutely go to town on all other sides. Not a fan of the space ship/childs potty design, something with cleaner edges would be better.

I would have a bet for a red card on their next game at the weekend.