Whitley mag

I mean you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but don’t think many of them look like they’ve travelled up and down the country through thick and thin.

I think the fact Yasir’s been over twice in the space of a few weeks says everything, the PIF aren’t going anywhere and where not that insignificant to them as some would have us think.

The most interesting part of the Douglas article is the new board member linked to the Reuben’s property portfolio, either Jamie is taking a step back, or they’re getting people in place for the infrastructure projects.

Reuben’s are converting fire station in to 5 star hotel.

I’d say they have no regrets about buying, we were the last real sleeping giant and Bloomberg already valued us at 1 billion. Factor in we’ve still not won anything, my guess is they’re very happy with this long term investment and will in 10 years be hoping our value is circa 3 billion.

I’d be amazed if PIF after all the red tape to buy the club and the undoubted kudos of owning a PL club decided to just settle on being an also ran and leave us with a tarted up 52k SJP. It was always sold as a long term investment and if they want to realise a 2 to 3 billion value it requires significant infrastructure investment. I think we’ll see something next level even if it means staying at SJP and a complete rebuild lifting all the current roofs off.

On paper one defeat looks a massive overreaction if we’d won on Saturday we’d be top of the league, it would have definitely been papering over the cracks though. Midfield is the major issue and was before Tonali was banned last season, nobody knows their position, it’s disjointed and teams can get straight at our back 4 with one pass. The above was an issue for large parts of last season, we now also have our star centre forward isolated and feeding on scraps. The upcoming fixtures will make, or break the season and tell us if where going to be competitive, transfer strategy aside Howe doesn’t know his best 11 at the minute and needs to work it out fast.

It might be a bit nippy down by the river in winter, but if I was an Everton fan I’d be counting the days until we left that shithole.

Income to compete and allowing younger generation a chance to become regular attendees. Its not just capacity though the place is dated and requires huge investment to bring it up to date.

If only I was a Freeman.

It’s hardly befitting of a club with our stated aims of being best in class having about the 10th largest stadium in the PL, I wouldn’t say SJP is currently cutting edge in many areas these days either.

Exactly so if he was fixated on Guehi there was nothing left to spend on a right winger. This is why i think Mitchell has a point about the transfer strategy not being fit for purpose. Mitchell should have kept his trap shut about deals that have gone by and simply said due to PSR we’ll be revising our strategy going forward and widening the net. The narrative that Howe wasn’t backed doesn’t sit right with me unless people were happy for us to have our pants pulled down over Guehi. The most concerning thing is that Mitchell was happy to sanction that huge bid for Elanga if true, he’s no better than what we’ve got and just more of the same. My thoughts currently are that we kept our powder dry and im hoping we are a lot smarter going into January and next summer. Not sure I would have been happy with Howe and Amanda conducting transfers this summer if the list of targets in the press was accurate, a full reset and approach needed to take into account PSR.

We were scouting Ederson from Atalanta heavily I’d presume Ashworth’s plan was to upgrade and bring a better quality player in to make the next step. Joelinton for all his qualities isn’t good technically and I think once his physicality goes he’ll decline quickly, I don’t think not offering Joelinton a new contract was entirely down to PSR, but more evolving and taking us to the next level.

Howe’s undoubtedly part of the problem and it’s due to the fact he’s always had total control on transfers at Bournemouth and since he came here. He’s massively out of his comfort zone since PCP left and his interview in Germany was a misstep, though maybe borne out of the approach Mitchell came in with if you believe rumours. Our current transfer strategy is a mess, your new guy wanted shot of Joelinton instead of giving him a new contract, I think Ashworth was right but Howe had all the power and Amanda granted him his wish. I think a lot of fans think our transfer approach looks to narrow under Howe, the bids for Elanga and Guehi looked desperate and unimaginative. The major problem here is that nobody knows if Mitchell is the right man, he hasn’t stayed anywhere very long and he’s come across a bit arrogant and clumsy in his quotes. Think you’ve got the better man in Ashworth in all honesty, whilst I get the pull of Man United I do worry that the reason he left is because PCP and Howe were just calling all the shots and he was pretty pissed off with the scope of his role to implement things here.

I think everyone would like him to be the manager who breaks this trophy hoodoo. Feels like a big opportunity missed today though, going top even for 24 hours would have just fired this season up after the disappointing summer, the manner in which we played first half with that at stake though doesn’t bode well. The fixtures have been kind which is also a major worry, this week feels massive we must progress in cup and look competitive at home to City next week.

You’re right he was the first one to come out and play power games publicly in Germany.

No patterns of play, reliance on widemen who just constantly come inside, could drive a bus through our midfield, can’t retain the ball, look fragile at the back and no composure in final 3rd. Not sure where he starts to be honest, we just rely on that bit of magic constantly to bail us out, the biggest crime is we’ve got one of the best strikers in the league starved of service and isolated constantly.

Really poor from all concerned huge game midweek now.

No chance now he’s signed 3 year contract and they’ll sell him to anyone but us.

MK Dons stadium looks very good with the all black seating.

Think Roma’s new stadium is costing circa 1 billion so would expect a 65k plus new stadium to easily come in over this. I think it cost Liverpool 80 million to add 5k seats at the Anfield Road end, but this was a far easier development than we would face at the Gallowgate End, a more comparable expansion would be Man City’s North Stand development which is costing them 300 million. I’m massively in favour of a new stadium the only concern I have is that Castle Leazes appears the only option, I think someone on here said that the footprint required for a 70k stadium is to big for that site though. I think looking at the above numbers and difficulty of finding a city centre site it’ll be a redevelopment of St James we get. My only hope is that it’s a complete refurb like we’ve seen at the Bernabeu and not just a mirror image of the Leazes End which would be a disaster for the atmosphere and wouldn’t future proof us, as facilities in rest of the stadium are sub standard and dated.

The most disappointing option and would fuck the atmosphere at St James forever.

Far from impressed by his performances this season, no doubting his ability on the ball but serious reservations about his defending, unless the fee drops significantly I’d be shopping elsewhere.

Funny that so have the muppets at True Faith.

Was reported in the aftermath of window would have to dig it out, might have been Caulkin or Douglas.