TheBrownBottle

Likewise, for me (assuming we’re in Europe next year) I’d like to see what Howe learned from this season. If the same mistakes are being made after fresh signings and a full break, that’s when I’d start to become hard-nosed about it.

I think you’re mistaking me for someone who thinks that there is a replacement in the wings. I don’t think Howe should be sacked, nor do I think he shouldn’t be given significant time to improve performances. We don’t know PIF’s views on the subject, at all.

No, ‘votes of confidence’ are notorious in football for being the exact opposite.

No, that’s definitely true. Staveley has confirmed previously that PIF ultimately make the big calls on the big decisions. It’s their club, not Darren Eales’.

I’m in agreement tbh - my hope would be that if the current season continues on its trajectory, then the ‘consequences’ are a lot of ‘lessons learned’ sessions in the management / board. My fear is an unnecessary reaction from the day-to-day runners of the club, or from Riyadh.

Meaningless tbf. John Hall made similar comments re Ossie Ardiles when he was literally in the process of sacking him and appointing Keegan. No CEO, Chairman or board are going to come out and say ‘Eddie’s on thin ice’.

This is it like, there is just nothing to inform us of where the pressure point is for the board. I’m far more anxious about them doing something drastic than I am about Howe doing a good job and turning it all around.

Nothing wrong with setting goals and targets - it’s the consequences of not achieving them which should be thought through carefully. I don’t think Howe should be getting the tin tack for not achieving European football, but it absolutely should be one of the things he’s aiming to achieve this season I can’t imagine Howe not wanting to aim high - for himself, the players and the club

It is amortised over the course of the contract - the fee might be paid upfront. So like you say, it would be £6m per season deducted from the P&L ledger. Which is a lot - this season our amortised transfers will be sat around £100m for the entire squad.

The FFP financial year starts 1st July, so it wouldn’t make a difference Without FFP regs it wouldn’t be a concern. But the regs are in place, and £30m+ isn’t what you pay for a potentially good left back who isn’t close to a first team start. It is what you pay for close to the finished article. £30m plus the loan fee would make Hall one of the ten most expensive left backs of all time.

Yes, but price isn’t something that can be waved away. The reason it wouldn’t be an issue if we paid £2m is because we’d have only paid £2m. £30m is a colossal chunk of our budget - it’s not the same as a low-risk transfer. If we had the ability to spend what we want, this isn’t an issue - but we don’t have that ability.

I’m 100% with you if the club is messing the lad about because they don’t want to trigger a clause. That’s disgraceful if it’s the case, they’re messing with the lad’s career. It absolutely is head-scratching because it’s so opaque

I actually didn’t think Livramento looked particularly good in his last few starts

Tbf I do think some of the recent performances have looked severely disjointed and it’s got sod all to do with injuries or fatigue. We haven’t looked particularly well organised of late - yes, we’re missing key personnel who could get us more points but I’m talking about the basics of professional football

Or it could be that he actually isn’t good enough, or has a shit attitude. We don’t know how good he is, we’re guessing. Howe’s view seems pretty clear in terms of where he is at the moment.

We don’t know what the target is. My view at the start of the season was that 7th/8th would represent a decent campaign, and my opinion hasn’t changed. Part of the issue is the lop-sided nature of the season creating recency bias.

He’s played there a handful of times - including for us. I don’t know if Livramento has ever played centre mid, mind

I might get pelters for the suggestion, but given our options and Howe’s system preference I’m surprised he hasn’t moved Schar into midfield as a DM and pushed Bruno and Longstaff further forward. Schar has played a decent number of games there previously

Wouldn’t have been much this season. Next season it could be significant if he signs permanently.

I think there’s plenty of goodwill left from the support (I think there is, anyway). There is from me. Hard to tell what the board will think, as we’ve nothing to go by historically.

Only some of the injuries could be termed ‘freak’ - many of them were avoidable or because we have some very injury-prone players. I reckon a real squad recycle is needed this summer. I think we’ll see it, as well

Yeah, you’re right, but it still shouldn’t be enough to make the side defend like a bunch of strangers

White coming on in MF to replace Miley has to be the final nail in this coffin. I can only guess that the club are trying to extricate themselves from a permanent deal now. This isn’t Howe easing him in - he doesn’t rate the lad.

The loss of Pope has been more important for the downturn than any other player

It’s daft and entertaining at the moment, but we look like a disorganised rabble a lot of the time. And we’re not that far off a starting XI - swap Miley and Dubravka out for a GK and one of Joelinton / Willock / Tonali and have a fit centre forward and it’s a potential first XI. The fatigue excuse went some time ago.