St. Maximin

Don’t think his reaction is any big deal. I reckon Howe will appreciate his desire even if the reaction wasn’t great. I could swear Klopp often angers Henderson by taking him off, but hasn’t stopped him being picked as skipper. Did think it was weird being the 93rd minute though.

Just about got over the fact we didn’t take Rafa back last year now.

I think we’ve possibly been overanalysing things too much in thinking about whether he suits Howe’s style etc. He absolutely does, but he’s been dealing with a combination of injuries, confidence issues and increased competition for places. In previous years he could play like yesterday and be the best player on the pitch and that would just be seen as a typical ASM performance. Nowadays we probably shouldn’t be expecting him to be that guy, but to be an effective winger among multiple strong attacking players, even when he’s indirectly making things happen rather than scoring wonder goals.

Speaking admittedly as someone who didn’t watch Brighton much, but I don’t get why people say he did amazing at Brighton. I think he had a good season and before that finished below Steve Bruce’s Newcastle. We all know Bruce didn’t have a clue but ‘on paper’ I don’t think his squad was better than Brighton’s. Also I’m sure Chelsea’s problems go a lot deeper than a manager, but it hardly reflects well on him that they’re still underperforming this much despite the millions spent.

Tbf there are some weird criticisms aimed at him, but I do still support the general premise that we don’t beat the best teams in tournaments under him and that’s ultimately where he gets judged. He’s beaten no shortage of good sides outside of them (and should still be praised for that). There’s absolutely nothing embarrassing about losing to Croatia, Italy and France by the way. It’s the fact it continues to go that way over time that makes a lot of people disillusioned with him rather than him just proving himself as a fraud (which he definitely isn’t). Find it hard to feel that strongly though when there’s no clear candidate to replace him.

Personally I find the polarised views towards him really puzzling. He’s done a brilliant job at generating an excellent culture in a likeable team and that’s contributed to far more big tournament success than we’ve had previously in my lifetime. That he could win a group stage match against Italy was never a surprise though. He’s proved time and time again he can win these games. He’s continued to show his limitations in the big tournaments though and that’s why I’d be pretty happy to move on. You can say some of our players are overrated and you might be right, but it’s still one of the best squads in the world on paper. Finishing second in a tournament we practically hosted is hardly anything special. I’ve always said there’s some completely disproportionate criticism of the guy and people seem to have some bizarre ideas of what international football is like and typical standard of its managers. But this win shouldn’t really change anything.

Find it hard to see why some people want him to stay. He’s had over six years and three international tournaments where he’s not remotely disgraced himself, but that’s a long time to manage one of the best teams if you aren’t going to win anything/get past the quarters in your last tournament. I like him as well (some of criticism is still a bit crazy), but he’s done his time now and the uninspiring and predictable approach is far less justified now.

I don’t go to matches, but my season ticket holding friend criticises him a lot and says everyone around him in the East Stand gets really annoyed by him for his work rate, decision-making etc. Is this normal for the rest of the ground and can’t help surely? Funnily enough most other fans I speak to or read online seem far more positive about him. It wasn’t his best game, but I thought he was pretty good. Swear some fans just form a negative opinion on someone easily and go looking for their flaws early on, then convince those around them to groan too.

To be fair they wouldn’t be. He’s the chairman of a large bank on the stock exchange in Qatar, with a 17% Qatar Investment Authority shareholding. Clearly there’s a state connection there, but the it’s far less direct than being state-owned like us. Based on what we know about the bloke, I don’t see why this wouldn’t be allowed.

To be fair the guy has a held a managerial career for over 20 years. I really doubt he’s simply fluked all the good times - I’m sure he has had something about him that could help a team keep a momentum going for a while, as with Bruce. That doesn’t mean he’s any good overall though as ultimately things will crumble, he’ll be unable to address the issues and be found out. It seemed to work like that often for him, accept at West Brom where he was just useless from the off. A bit like a certain someone else who has managed us in recent years. Ultimately these old-school 4-4-2 “man managers” could probably get by for a while despite their limitations, but by the time their career had declined to getting the West Brom job, the game had completely moved on and they had very little to offer. You could include Allardyce there too, but I would say it’s harsh on him to be compared to the others.

That season we finished 5th - on paper where should our squad have finished? Given some of the talent there I reckon 7th would have been right and it just happened that Liverpool and Chelsea had poor seasons. Don’t think we massively overachieved really.

He’s a great centre-mid and I want him there every week. Glad Howe seems to think so. That dive though. Pathetic and he knew it. But we’re such great shithouses aren’t we etc.

Yeah I’ve seen some research into how people often focus disproportionately on the athleticism of black players even when they’re also very good technically. I personally think there’s some racism in how black players are described, even if it’s subconscious and can be in a positive way. Animalistic comparisons seem more common. Big and powerful players are often described as a ‘beast’, while clumsy and ineffective players are a ‘donkey’ - pretty sure these terms are used disproportionately way more frequently for black players.

He did an excellent job at Burnley, makes his teams hard to beat and has joined a club in a shitshow as you say, so doesn’t seem a silly move. Can’t say I have any desire to watch his football, but despite using the phrase “proper football club”, he spoke very well in his first interview and is actually a very articulate and funny bloke. Maybe too likeable for that club actually.

He’ll surely be in the Harvey Barnes category of always being known by his full name.

I don’t get why him out of our back five. I actually thought Newcastle fans overrated him a bit… maybe not just Newcastle fans now

My favourite moment has to be new members on this forum being told their posts are unoriginal. Never gets old.

So we have to be a dick then to have all those things? Ok then.

Err isn’t that what most teams do, fouling all game? I don’t really care whether Murphy reacts like that or Lascelles gets booked when off the pitch to be fair. But I’m not going to be like “hahaha we’re such good shithouses aren’t we” when it happens.

Our shithousery is nothing to be proud of tbh. I like the aggression, passion and desire to win. We can have all that without being a dick.

Hope they change their name to Nottingham Wood as a mark of respect. Best of luck big Chris.

For my sins I grew up in Kent so can nail a sarfeast Lahndaan accent if needed.

I’m going to this. My local team since moving near to Crystal Palace. Going to be sat with the home fans though, so will be a bit awkward constantly having to prevent myself from celebrating all our goals.

Aye but he’s such a ‘likeable’ player though, that Son is.

At times, watching Mahrez is just like watching Almiron.