christ

Big asterisk next to yesterday as a result of the early red card, but when was the last time we had the most possession in two consecutive games? EDIT: Two consecutive games away from home too.

Targett, Burn and Wood have addressed gaps in the squad and improved us, but they’re still playing alongside 8 players who were already here. 8 players who were viewed as being not PL standard the other side of Christmas. The turnaround is really impressive, and that’s all on Howe. Just take the defence. We’ve been told for years - even by Benitez - we can’t play a back four. Bruce spent two seasons complaining they couldn’t do it. Yes, we’ve added a couple of players but not at great cost and at no point did I believe Schar and Krafth could do the job they managed yesterday, or at West Ham last week. I’ve no doubt that if Burn or Targett do get injured that Lascelles and Dummett could come in and do a decent job too. The midfield went from a porous mess to being one of our strongest areas, to the point Bruno is still sitting on the bench. I don’t think Howe is a managerial mastermind (not yet anyway) but fuck me is it nice to have someone in charge who knows what he’s doing on the training ground, on the touch line and has the nous to implement it. A little bit of competence gets you a long way.

Not really. I think it was evident to everyone that we needed a striker yesterday and we found one with a release clause. It wasn’t a normal situation. Our need was urgent and we didn’t have to negotiate.

I’m not an administrator. Can I call you?

I was hyper critical of them over the Emery farce - go back far enough and the evidence is on here - but I don’t think they’ve put a foot wrong after that. They’re good advocates for the club and can articulate the vision for it pretty well. They’re not from the Garry Cook school of chatting absolute shite to try and gee up the fans. It’s just jarring to have people in charge who actually talk to the media.

I definitely did like.

Staggers me that there’s young, hungry coaches that are being passed over so this work-shy dickhead can get himself another lucrative payday. Of all the PFM that still get jobs despite being 15 years behind the times he’s got to be the most loathsome.

I think everyone up to Villa will be looking over their shoulder now. The teams behind are for the most part in better form that those being chased and you’ve got some pretty inexperienced managers among that group. I wouldn’t want to put money on the bottom three at the end of the season.

I think he’s been alright but I’d be looking to replace him with Bruno after 20 mins.

Crying shame ASM is injured. They can’t cope when any of our lot carry the ball.

I hope not. I think Murphy is a much better option.

Yeah, that’s not my point. I think we’re much better balanced with a winger in place or ASM that shunting Joe to accommodate Bruno.

That requires rejigging the midfield at pretty short notice. Joe will have trained all week to start in the middle. Like for like makes much more sense IMO.

Murphy in for ASM. I’d leave the rest unchanged.

Have you seen what happens when you try and move an image about in a Word document?

It’s something Staveley was interested in when she first wanted to buy the club. Had meetings with some architects about it iirc.

This would be my preference too, for purely selfish reasons.

Basically that their trust fund saviour is either a) a bit of an idiot who is being taken for a ride or b) in on the grift.

Grumpy probably should’ve called it a day when he spent a fortnight getting them all excited about Companies House rules he totally misunderstood.

To be fair from the bits I’ve seen they appear to have collectively twigged that a subscription to QuickBooks doesn’t make you a football finance expert. He’s had a bad day.

If the roles were reversed I’m sure we’d have a number who were beside themselves in much the same way but it’s absolutely fucking relentless at the moment. Even during the deepest, darkest days of Ashley when their results had a direct impact on our ability to stay in the league I don’t think I gave as much of a shit as some of that lot do. You do wonder about the well-being of some of those behind the keyboard.

You wonder how they ended up here and you read absolutely unhinged shite like that. Rather argue about us and the Chronicle’s reporting than do anything about the shysters running their club. Lunatics.

Imagine spending so much energy focusing on our takeover, hoping it was some sort of gigantic fraud, that you completely miss the shit show at your own club. Alanis Morrisette could have a field day.

It appears they’re starting to realise that Grumpy Old Man is a complete knacker too. What a day.

No set of fans deserve shit owners, but they really don’t do themselves any favours by refusing to put any pressure on because protesting is ‘Mag behaviour’.