Whitley mag

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.

Tension is probably the right way to describe it, civil war might be a stretch but I suspect things will settle until Jan window, which will be the acid test. The fact Yasir pulled the plug on the Guehi negotiations shows clearly that when a decision needs to be made he will make it, if they can’t work together it will be a sad state of affairs but results on the pitch will dictate who goes. On the plus side Howe seemed impressed with Bunce which is certainly a positive and hopefully puts that one to bed. Finally the man who has kept quiet during the international break Darren Eales, think he needs to step up as Mitchell was clearly his appointment, I’ll reserve judgement as hopefully he’s a man of action behind the scenes, but would have been nice to have heard from him during this period.

I’m not sure all the local media would revel in this, the majority want the club to do well as they’re supporters as well, was listening to Jordan Cronin earlier who seems like a normal lad and there’s definitely rumblings that things aren’t well, I think Howe acted very professionally today as he always does.

It’s not just Hope reporting that all is not well, all the local press pack are hinting that there’s tension behind the scenes, if Howe hasn’t spoke to Mitchell for 10 days I’m inclined to think the relationship isn’t great.

There’s a reason Liverpool and Man U wanted to hold their own private interview with new PL CEO.

Can’t see the training ground going there it’s primed for more housing.

Every confidence the infrastructure developments are coming, Brad Miller couldn’t have been much clearer on his reasons for leaving Manchester Airport. They’re huge decisions that need to make business sense and future proof the club for years, quite happy they’re doing proper due diligence.

Or the lad from Sporting Lisbon.

US Bank Stadium is one of, if not the best in my opinion. Something like this with a huge single tier at one end and the window overlooking Leazes Park/City.

The Sun seem to have the knives out for Mitchell, would reflect very poorly on all concerned, including Howe if they can’t make this work