Nine

Negative isnt the word, its realistic

And it begins I will be happy with top 10

So you think he might work as one of the front 2 of a midfield 3? Him and Bruno as part of a 3 might only be viable in the PL with an elite DM behind them, would be pleasing on the eye though.

Paquetas natural position is a #10 which has no place unless we plan to change formation, he'd be expensive as well.

Europe next season is an exciting thought but I don’t think we should get ahead of ourselves yet, we’ve had an amazing run since the end of Jan but next season could be an entirely different prospect. I hope Howe hasn’t sort of painted himself into a corner and raised some fans expectations to much already as this is just the beginning and there will be bumps in the road, we have a whole summer window to get through and the squad will be reshaped again so Id be more than happy with a top half finish next season. What a job he’s done this season though, the pressure and management can be very different at the other end of the table but I hope he’s the man for us to try and crack the top 6 a couple of seasons down the line.

I get what you are saying and im not trying to suggest that Joe would be completely uselss from out wide but I just cant see how we'd be any more effective than just keeping ASM there, it just doesnt add up to me. I dont think the direction this team is headed will call for an workhorse type of the left of a front 3, we pretty much have that already on the right with Fraser and we have seen how that doesnt really cut it in this league. Other than today we have scored very few goals from passages of play or even open play at all since Howe came in and I dont think that will change by playing Joe in that position if anything we'd lose progress there, as you say he wouldnt need to be a focal point but hes not creative enough either nor does he make runs or have the movement to cause problems for PL level defenders. He could do a job there much like Miggy does (I think Miggy is a better wide option than Joe) but would not excel and it'd be frustrating to watch after a few weeks, I really think Joes future in this team is either at CM or coming off of the bench. I love the guy to death btw, my fav player currently.

As you say you've based that off of the last couple of years, so have you seen how Joe lacks consistentcy in the box over the last few years? I dont believe he can adapt his game in the box enough to be consistently effective on a front 3, he generally struggles in the box just pushing up from CM. He seems to me like he lacks the mental side of attacking, making the right decision quickly in terms of passing or shooting.. just lacks that clinical cutting edge you need in the final third. ASM while inconsistent also has bad decision making in trying to beat 3/4 players alot of the time (because teams put 2/3 players on him which we'd lose with Joe there) but in and around the box is 10x more deadly than Joe, CM is Joes best position in this side and with a new CM in the shape of Bissouma or Phillips (these 2 probably would cost to much but you get the type of midfielder I mean) this team can afford to play a luxury player like ASM on the left especially with Targett behind him. I just think its madness to expect Joe to perform consistently up top after what we've seen from him since he signed, while he could be industrious in that role its just not his position at all and we'd lose alot more than we'd gain by just keeping ASM there. Coming off the bench for ASM? Yes. Starting in CM? Yes. Starting over ASM? No.

And what do you suggest for ASM then? Sell?

Sorry like but Based off of one game against Norwich? (I know he played on the left sometimes in Germany).

I guess that makes him more effective in that position than ASM then?

He’s had a great run at CM since January and had a game today that was poetic in that he got a start in his old position up top which paid off with a couple of goals, but play him in ASMs position? Let’s calm down a bit

Stay forever.

He'd had a bad knee injury at Barca the season before he moved to us, I remember reading somewhere years ago that his knee would swell up after playing when he was here. Still managed to do the business for us though, love that header vs Chelsea in the cup.. shame his career got cut short like that (suprised he was only 28 when came here in my head he was early 30s at least).

Pogba would never happen for so many reasons

Whoever is 17th after the next 3 fixtures will stay up imo

We hope

Like him as a player just not sure about his attitude, seems a bit of a nutter

If Burnley beat Wolves and Watford and Everton lose to Liverpool and Chelsea, Burnley will be 5 points clear

Would be so poetic for Liverpool to be the ones to dump the scouse mackems into 18th this weekend

People are actually worried about his pace?

Yes

Get in, saints look dogshit here

Wood would have buried that

The way hes been playing there were always going to be links, hopefully its just that

Pukki loves a goal against us and the team will be showing some tired legs, 1-1