TheBrownBottle

Yep. Livramento is the only player signed in the summer who has had any real impact on the side (and of course I’m aware of the circumstances around all the signings). This can’t happen again next summer.

Is that normal pooing you’re doing, Moyes? Doesn’t sound like it. Doesn’t smell like it.

He’s every bit a centre forward for me. Wasted when moved out wide.

Bringing him off the bench is still an appearance - and from memory, it was something like one match to trigger the permanent move. It was an FFP fiddle, not a genuine option.

I still think that Pickford being handled by our current management / coaches could be significantly better than Pope. But it’s never going to happen, so we’ll never know

I’ve a lot of sympathy for him, he’s a model pro and a top player who is so completely cabbaged at this point that it’s sad to watch him. Glad he misses Fulham, given that Howe simply won’t rest him a ban is the only way he misses a game or two. Hopefully the knowledge of a week off to rest after it will see him back to something like his best vs Milan

I think Pickford is a better goalkeeper, and the only reason Pope would play ahead of him here is the obvious - I doubt we’d go for him (for obvious reasons) and I doubt he’d sign (for obvious reasons).

You’re right, but for this one it’s a case of savour it and see how it goes for me. Fantasy land stuff playing Milan in the European Cup - and we only need a draw to go through

Milan were Europe’s dominant club when I was young. Their 4-0 demolition of Cruyff’s Barcelona in the 1994 European Cup Final remains the greatest performance I’ve seen by a side in a big game. They absolutely were levels above them - Romario, Stoichkov, Koeman, Nadal, Guardiola et al included.

I’d have Pickford ahead of Pope for England

I’d be astonished if whatever means we have to bring players in is not used on a GK first. Howe has never rated Dubravka - and Howe isn’t wrong on much when it comes to football.

Perfectly reasonable to ask questions or even criticise managerial decisions. Absolutely crackers for anyone to be wanting this man out - I haven’t seen that, tbf. Howe is a first rate young manager who will (hopefully) grow with the club long-term. He’s very, very unusual - an intelligent, ‘European’ style English manager. They are rarer than hen’s teeth - I’d want to us to be losing at least five or six times the numbers of games in a row than we just have before more serious questions are asked. If we lose the next eight to ten games in a row, then possibly escalation occurs.

PS for Mags of my vintage, Milan pretty much is the world’s greatest club. You can’t shake off where the football world was in your youth. Milan are comfortably the biggest club in our group - I dreamed of seeing them playing at SJP. Unbelievably exciting, this - whatever happens.

I’ll be over the moon if we’re in Europe this time next week - regardless of which competition it is

Gordon played consistently last season, also Howe wasn’t making un-Howe-like comments in pressers about him. He’s also playing 17 YO Lewis Miley regularly in MF, despite Hall also being capable of playing there. It does feel like there’s a rabbit off of this one at the moment. You’re right to take the longer-term view, though.

I agree - I think if we’re potless by the end of the 2025-26 season then Howe isn’t here. But that’s a fair way away yet - plenty of time

The ownership can’t be realistically expecting any type of dominance at the moment - the squad is still in transition from perennial relegation strugglers. We’re five to eight players away from being genuinely competitive at the top end. Today we were starting with five Bruce-era players - and another three came on as subs. Time is still required to get the squad up to scratch, I reckon. What I can’t say is how patient the ownership is, of course (and by that I mean PIF). No idea what their thinking is.

Honestly, I don’t think there is much he can change at the moment given the injury situation - but we have been very passive all season away from home. Playing with fear - everything set up to snatch a goal. The last two performances have been more excusable than the previous away days - despite them both being heavy defeats.

Last year isn’t this year, and we weren’t playing well away with the full quota of players

Ooof, that’s a big and early call. Howe’s Bournemouth didn’t play like this. I’ve got a lot of faith that Howe will evolve with the team / club.

It is concerning, like. For anyone who isn’t aware, this is the away table:

Ah well. Not at all good, again context allowing. We desperately need those injured players back, but we didn’t look right from the first minute. Away form is abysmal, can’t imagine Howe isn’t aware of that already.

Not sure commentating on a football forum counts as support tbh. I fucking hate people pissing and moaning at the match - it can have a negative impact on the game. Someone on the internet saying the full back has been shite literally has zero impact. Support doesn’t mean writing non-stop positives comments online.

Excellent finish mind

Yes Jow