Abacus

I was wondering this, he's played in a wider role before and rather than being out on the touchline might be better able to come inside and not leave Woltemade so isolated. Early goal for us and give it a real good go please. I don't expect us to come through this semifinal really but I'd like to see us have some adventure and not go out with a whimper. A semi final isn't a bad campaign even it it does end here.

Ross Wilson just needs a pre-season. Nah, actually quite excited to see what summer brings. Wouldn't have minded the odd short term loan for cover personally, but we don't seem to do that much. Last (only?) one was probably Targett, that we then delayed on making permanent, and now seemingly didn't want back even when fit and playing. Anyway, we go with what we have for now, so mainly need to make the best of last summer's signings. At least it focuses the mind. Edit, obviously put this in the wrong thread.

Personally, I think it was a mess starting with uncertainty over the unsettled Isak. Not having replaced Eales earlier added to it, Mitchell being a poor fit. Not only that, Howe gets criticism for having Andy assisting with transfers because of their connection, but likewise Mitchell and Eales were reportedly great mates which is almost as bad. Then of course we did try to go for Ekitike before getting gazzumped. As well as with a host of other targets, like with goalkeeper. I think having a shrewd transfer operator in place could have prevented much of this, at least in terms of having a less chaotic seeming window. I do think there was then an overreliance on long term Howe targets, but with him having to call the shots what would you expect. So I don't think it's as simple as blaming any one person for what was a muddle at the top, albeit outright mistakes sit with him. I'm also not quite ready to call it a disaster. Thiaw has been excellent, Ramsey has started to look more effective, Woltemade looks a talent, just still needs to develop and the team to develop around him. Wissa has been disappointing so far, as has Elanga. It does feel like square pegs in round holes, the result of a late scramble to get what we could get. A lot of which might also have been made better with more time with everyone in pre-season and then playing and training together outside of a hectic schedule, so I'm interested to see what happens next season. Even if you are of the view that it was an outright bad summer, I don't think one summer means you write off the manager on the back of it. Yes, I'm aware we can't afford to make mistakes unlike other clubs, but it's surely not realistic to expect everything to go right.

I went for option 1, though I get people who have had a few gripes this season, whether that's team selection, rotation or tactics. I also get those who think he has had too much say over transfer policy, at least this season. But then, I'm not sure how much he can be at fault for that transfer window given where we were in the summer. I'm also sure there are gripes with any manager occasionally over team selection or tactics. And despite an inconsistent season we've still gotten to a semi final and aren't doing badly in the three other competitions, quite apart from what he's done prior to that, ever since he arrived, and how he carries himself. I'm nowhere near wanting a change, but I do think he needs to be able to freshen things up a bit over the summer.

This is where I'm at too.

My take is that it was an excellent performance against one of the best teams in Europe / the world. Gutted that Barnes didn't seal it or I'd have gone ballistic. It shows we can mix it with anyone and have them on the ropes when we play at the edge, and that a lot of the fringe players can really contribute. Miley is going to be a superstar, Burn already is. It's quite a turnaround from a squad that seemed on it's last legs the last time we played in the CL. Just feel really proud today and not down at all, even though I'd have preferred to have avoided a playoff like everyone else.

Cracking performance, Miley and Burn immense

Stick Barnes on the left please, Gordon so far only lofting in easy to defend crosses and no goal threat at all against these.

True. But I suppose on the other hand you could look at it that the same goes for the opposition in knowing what they have to defend against.

I feel he has slightly made a rod for his own back by over performing so much since he got here. Now, even when there's a brilliant, crushing performance in the champions league it just seems like somehow it's expected, or maybe it's just that there are no new superlatives to throw his way. Got it spot on yesterday, the players all seemed bang up for it too. Delighted for him, don't believe there is anyone out there who would do a better job.

Which is it?

Have to say, I agree with the people not as excited about this. This stupid format means limited jeopardy until the knock out stages, just more and more games. We may be reaching football breaking point with demands on players all for more TV money. It's a combination of this and the fact that to take the domestic cups seriously (which Howe always has) you're playing at full throttle all the time. I suppose it doesn't help that we've struggled a bit for form and the whole PL is all over the place too - it's such an odd table with very few teams that are enjoyable to watch. I can barely keep up with our games let alone all the other ones. That might seem like a moan, but it's not intended to be more a genuine reflection. I'll be up for it tomorrow night, but right now it just seems like relentless games and god knows how fans can afford to keep going to everything.

He had quite a poor game as did a few and as has already been said it's about how we're set up and what we've asked him to do. No chance would I sell him, I think he's going to be something special in time. I'm actually a bit more disappointed in Wissa who you'd imagine was brought in to be the ready made striker until his injury. I get the impatience but still, a point away against a team suddenly realising they are fighting for their lives isn't so bad.

We're not actually disagreeing that much, except insofar as I think a constant stream of negativity online seeps into the fan base and reinforces those opinions, and enables them to vocalise it. Not least because many of the most passionate supporters will also be online hoovering up whatever content they can. That trend has polarised opinions and isn't unique to football, because some people increasingly can't see the line that you can and can't cross. At the end of the day, Geoff, it's not like there's no effort or a bad attitude from him, things just aren't working out for him yet. Maybe he'll make it, maybe he won't and I don't have you down as one of the constant moaners. Not saying you can't criticise a bad performance on here or elsewhere, just saying he has become a lightning rod for OTT reactions, that's amplified online and then spills into real life.

Elanga's confidence is shot, and it's why I don't much buy the argument that's it OK to moan hyperbolically online but not in the stands, because it doesn't work that way. I think that negativity seeps through to match going fans since almost everyone is online now.

I quite like Osula as a chaos ball and rotation option when we need to rest one or both main strikers for what it's worth. I think he's shown flashes but is obviously very raw. You can make the case that he needs a development loan spell for game time, but given the insane fixture schedule I'd rather have him in the squad than not.

Good backpass my Sesko

Clearly the idea is that the DOF makes all the high level sporting decisions and has the ultimate vision, so that head coaches can come and go but that vision never changes. Which is all fine in theory. However, quite what qualifies someone to be a DOF in the first place is beyond me and then how you judge good and bad ones likewise, particularly because that role makes then pretty unaccountable. It's not them in front of the press or responsible for day to day results And because they seem to jump jobs almost as much as anyone else, this long term vision thing can fall down. I don't know what the answer is, other than for them to be a key part of the management team rather than anything else, offering constructive challenge and picking up things like the academy etc, which no manager could pick up along with everything else. Ashworth seemed to understand that, and the main frustration from Howe with him seemed to have been that he jumped ship rather than being in it for the long run. Mitchell's abrasive style just seemed to annoy everyone. I don't think that's an alpha, I think that's a fool. Yes, the manager / head coach needs challenge, but in the right and constructive way because they also need support.

Neville just said "No, not a penalty" without explaining why. Cheers for the insight. I didn't think it was either tbf, thought it was a bit of a weird contact rather than a foul, made to look worse because of the way Frimpong rolled his ankle.

I thought everyone unfairly sat back and defended deep against Liverpool, according to Slot, meaning they couldn't play "their" football. Rarely seen them out of their own half, sitting back and defending deep...no hang on that can't be right.

I think this is part of the problem with the last couple of seasons, when promoted sides went straight back down with barely a whimper. It maybe left a few premier league teams who would have been just about alright with being out of danger feeling pretty complacent, when they were actually circling the drain. But as a result becoming prone to relegation if anyone actually did come up and show some fight. Like Leeds, which won't be an easy game.

3 goals for millions?

That early ACL injury and how it was managed / he chose to manage it really did for him. Not assigning blame and it's hindsight and all, I accept. And it's such a shame because on his day he was pure class. I don't know if he'd have always been so prone to other injuries before that, but given his availability since I'd probably be inclined to let him go now. And then have to watch green eyed when he has a stellar career and never picks up another injury again.

Agreed. After Marseille, I was one of those who wanted Ramsdale to have a run in the team for Pope's sake to give him a break as much as anything. Ramsdale hasn't done a lot wrong, in my opinion. But I also think he is mainly a capable deputy to Pope with better kicking but less presence in the box. There's maybe not a lot more Pope would have done with some of the shots Ramsdale's faced. I'd have just felt more confident with Pope in the team instead and wouldn't have put it past him to have stopped at least one of them. At this point probably wouldn't be activating the option for Ramsdale if there are better options out there in summer, which might seem harsh but there we are.