Dr Jinx

Timing of that comment is purely so Eddie Howe can be asked about the link at tomorrows press conference. Anything to disrupt preparations.

She did say “a coach”.. like it was implied that it was Steve Bruce but she chose her words very carefully.

The strawberry would be fucked! Can all agree on that one surely

Not correct, what your thinking of is that he’s not a scout.. he doesn’t do what Steve Nickson does in writing reports on players. What he does do is collect that data and keep a database of players to fit a system as agreed by a committee. He would certainly have had the power to veto signing certain targets, or in the case of Alfie Harrison, arrange for a signing that Eddie Howe knew little about.

I think the reality is that only a small portion of that would go back into a transfer pot.. they still have to pay him up until end of gardening leave and then the next person that comes in might be expensive as well in terms of us having to pay out compo. The main take away from this is that the club have set their stall out that we’re not to be fucked with.

No they’re fairly spot on with this one. I was told this last week, but that compensation doesn’t release him to work for them straight away. The club do not want him working for them until after the summer window is closed, so I’m assuming there’s some deals that are fairly advanced in negotiations that he would have been privy to.

No I think they’ll propose a breakaway league in the same way they did LIV golf.. something like that.. but not until they are cosy with the FA and other leagues. Ultimately after a power struggle, the PL will back down and merge giving PIF the seat at the table and a bit of a rebrand. It’s worth more to them than having a single club dominating. Don’t get me wrong, they won’t drop us like a stone.. we’ll be left in very good shape whenever they sell us and whoever they sell to won’t be a bunch of chancers.

I think they’re still learning on the job with this one but ultimately I think their end goal would be to own the Premier League in the same way they have a stake in other various sports. Probing for weaknesses is probably the name of the game currently.

Most of these guys are very savvy operators, without knowing what went on while Ashworth was here, it does seem that he didn’t quite get going in the role, even in the short time he was here. It’s quite plausible that they just didn’t take to him on a personal level. That Man Utd speculation started last summer too so if the writing was on the wall they probably gave him a limited capacity of responsibility. Like if you suspect your missus is cheating on you, you’re hardly going to give her full access to your bank accounts and a heads up of your fall back plan? It’s sort of same thing.

Oh I’d say it’s more Chris Wood silly (on top of the already agreed compo)

My info (contact at the club) was that they had agreed to a compensation just over 20m but the sticking point is when. We won’t allow him to work for them before end of summer window. They are insistent on it so the club will demand silly money for that release but they aren’t really seriously contemplating it so it’s anyone’s guess what that crazy fee would be.

No. Not having a pop at him and I’ve never gone in on him with both barrels but my opinion on him is the same. The team has regressed, probably with some valid excuses but we’ve got players back now so give it a few games and see what were like when players should be up to speed. I have my doubts long term. I still think we have to work way harder than other teams to win games and tactically we’re going to get caught out by the established teams. The gulf between us and Arsenal was ridiculous last week. It’s hard to see Howe providing a path where we can boss those kind of games. Don't think he’ll be leaving so let’s see where we are this time next season.

The loan didn’t bother me at all, although in hindsight it weakened us for the final. I think he backed himself to have a stab at the no.1 spot there because there was no way he was getting in ahead of Pope. His confidence must have taken a battering in recent seasons so he’s taken a while to return to the levels we’ve seen in last two games. Pope won’t be thrown in when he’s available either.. so looks like he’ll be no.1 choice for the remainder of season. The psychological side of injuries like that will play their part too.. for example not throwing yourself down to save as willingly as you would have before. So it will take Pope some time to build confidence that he won’t get hurt again.

We’d have to go somewhere for a season or two. Scotland.. how about Murrayfield? Just over 2 hours travel on the train. Has hosted football matches before and am sure the Scottish Rugby Union wouldn’t turn down the rent money.

The press is on its way back, still don’t think they have 100% confidence in it yet though. Wolves had the better of the play and looked to be in control but we’ve played well on the break.. scoreline flatters us so we’ll probably need another to feel safe

Wolves have a nice shape to them

19 clubs backing it.. I think the key thing to look at is that they will ease the rules in.. so the first 2-4 windows for transfers will be line the Wild West for those with the cash.

I think you’re focussed on the wrong part of your own sentence. Enough bad performances to remember a line being “trotted out” is surely the concern?

He’s got enough credit built up so that recent performances will be met with a general apathy.. there’s no genuine anger yet but there will be. If we’d played like that with Steve Bruce as manager, there’d be multiple posts of cabbages and die in a house fire type rants. But that’s how bad we’ve been playing lately.

It would seem with every passing week more and more people are coming to my way of thinking when it comes to EH.. I’ve thought his goose has been cooked for months now and nothing I’ve seen, even the odd win, has changed my mind. We need a change. I like him though.. maybe not quite as much as Rafa but he’s always represented us very well so I’m annoyed that this will probably drag on long enough that the good memories will be overshadowed by the pure frustration of watching the team at the moment.

We’re so shit at the moment. You’d wonder what they do be working on between games.

If you get caught, the punishment should be optional.. take a points hit or if you can afford it, pay a fine where the proceeds get through to lower leagues or grassroots.

Hearing a settlement is agreed now in excess of 20m

Liverpool had a dysfunctional midfield and their defence took the flack.. they brought in quality and now look solid again. Were the same.. our midfield and attack has been rank this season so it’s inevitable that the back line will come under more pressure.