AJ9

Build the statue

Hope that’s the message from Wor Flags!

hard to know what to make of that. Looked a bit better from an attacking sense but also ragged as fuck with some awful passing, finishing and decision making

Spot on - and when he’s not at it mentally, like he has been for loads of games outside of the big ones or UCL he looks bang average.

As I’ve said before, I’ll back Howe until he either leaves or is sacked. It’s pretty obvious that this season isn’t going to plan but it is in no way a sackable season. The only massive fuck up has been the mackems game, really. Beyond that, we’ve been poor with a lot of extenuating circumstances. I look at our squad and see so many players that would be nowhere near other teams competing at the level we are because of the influence of Howe. We’ve squeezed everything out of players like Joelinton, Murphy, Schar, Burn, Pope, Willock that are still here, and the likes of Wilson, Longstaff, Targett who aren’t. He’s not done well at all this season, and the recruitment has been so poor overall in the past few years, but we need strategic direction and a plan to move the club forward, not a change of manager.

I’m not as tuned in to all the commentary from our fans around him, but I don’t think it’s unfair to criticise him. He’s been poor for us for the majority of games over a significant period of time. Yes, while in a poorly performing team, and so have many others I guess. However, if I’m being honest I don’t like him as a winger. His finishing is so poor, his ability in tight spaces is lacking, his decision making in the final third is not always there. Technically, not really that great if we’re being honest. I think I’d like to see him moved on for profit and us to reinvest.

He’s been a shite signing so far. Whether he’s actually shite is a different matter

Same

Pathetic from us. We look completely devoid of ideas and this match is making me question what the fuck is wrong at the club. We look so bad

Problem with this window is that due to the cluster of injuries at the back, we need cover, when we actually really need to bring in some creativity in forward/midfield areas. Full back is a priority, but I wouldn’t have been targeting other areas of defence massively without this.

love this post

This is the correct answer. Though some of the failings re: squad could be placed on him (Elanga being the big one). We didn’t improve the starting 11. That’s criminal really, and the Isak thing has done long term damage. Can’t blame Howe for that, and I don’t see a manager getting a tune out of some of our players in the same way he has.

Are people seriously saying he has no credit left? That’s crazy man. For me, the man always has credit. There will be a point where maybe I might say fair enough time to move on, and it will be in recognition that he’s taken us as far as he can…but he will always be able to cash out on what he’s achieved as far as I am concerned. Man is a legend of this club.

Agree with that. Would have preferred Longstaff in there today. The midfield is a shambles. We don’t know where to play Bruno, Tonali has been cack, Miley has so much work to do.

Can we send him back? The lad is a fucking Olympic hurdler, he’s never a footballer

I’m going to back him until he’s gone, because he’s achieved so much for us, both in terms of actual success but also the intangibles of uniting the club. However…that today was a fucking joke. The front 3 were a state. We bottled the game in terms of energy, and it’s symptomatic of wider problems. If he can’t do Europe + a league campaign, he’ll be gone eventually.

Bottled it. Absolutely hopeless performance, outfought, outclassed, never looked like threatening them. We were epically shit.

So poor today

The lack of a striker who can be a threat behind the back four means we can get pressed more easily when on the ball, but that we stretch our midfield to link up with Wolt. We don’t have the personnel to play with Woltemade at present and I think this is the key issue.

Sloppy tonight with his passing. Didn’t seem to impose himself on the game. Bit of a concern but I think we need a change in midfield. Miley needs to play with him.

I like what he brings to the build. That’s about it. He’s unfortunately worse than Pope at every other aspect of the game. We’re fucked with either of them for the long term, Pope invites teams onto us through poor retention and turnovers, Ramsdale gives confidence to the attacking teams that you can score from any set piece scenario in our own half. You just need to progress the ball far enough for a foul or a corner. We desperately need better, but there isn’t a plug and play option out there.

Would have taken that before but feels like a loss

Fuck off. Late goals again

Fucking told yas

Miley has improved us so much