TheBrownBottle

That wouldn’t be defendable if you were bottom three …

The performances had taken a massive dive, and he was managing a club which had a turnover level with Liverpool. It was underperformance and looking like a decline. Souness being utterly incompetent was the issue with his replacement.

Robson was also managing one of the world’s richest clubs - our turnover was a long way ahead of two of the current ‘big six’ and was comparable to Liverpool’s.

It wasn’t luck to finish 4th, we were a good side and Howe provided some exceptional management and coaching. We’re a long way short at the moment including Howe but we can’t be rewriting history.

Our shocking away form cost Robson his job - two wins in his final full season was fucking woeful. As was his continued rigid selection of the same players again and again regardless of performance or form.

Not a great analogy, given that Robson should’ve been sacked a lot earlier than he eventually was, and the failure to sack him when we should have damaged us badly.

Likewise. Maybe I’m mellowing with age but my piss isn’t boiling. Perhaps slightly above normal temperature. Just feels like we’re watching a team not playing for Howe, who I think is a decent man. But the outcome when that starts happening is usually the same each time.

I said at the end of last season that if we were in the bottom half and struggling halfway through this season I’d be looking to push Howe out. This has come to pass, but he still should have a bit of time offered. If we’re out of both cups by the end of January and if league performances don’t improve is likely when I’ll join the cacophony. We haven’t looked like a well-managed side for quite some time now - performances against the big boys at home are meaningless, as the players self-motivate for them.

If we’re out of both cups by the end of January then the pressure will start to build I think. We can’t keep playing like this - not helped by what felt like a really odd team selection.

That second half felt like the majority of halves this season. Not good enough, unfortunately.

Nick Pope brain fart almost makes it five

The Ghost of Xmas Future says - turn the fucker off now mate, nothing good is coming your way

And that’s that. What we’ve deserved second half.

Class by Isak - think Tonali shut his eyes heading that

Finishing 4th = overachieving doesn’t make bottom half = par

Sure, I also think Howe needs time and I’m not yet ready to call for his head. This is poor again mind, and the ledger is building against him. Plenty of games left in the season (and mins left here) to turn it round

Not without selling

Some folks are getting a bit overheated, it it’s time for the ‘have your forgotten the Ashley era’ stuff to end. We’ve spent hundreds of millions since Ashley went - they’re not comparable at this point. Howe isn’t playing with a shit hand.

Yep - plenty of time left

You can’t expect Joelinton and Longstaff to watch the ball either mind

That wasn’t luck tbf, just poor defending

We’ve got five goals in three halves since he came back in. He’s not the greatest footballer in the PL but his directness can be effective.

He’s much better further forward. His deficiencies are exposed in midfield.

That and he just isn’t a midfielder

Aye, I’d rather be entertained than not. Still, we do need to iron out the switch-offs at the back.