TheBrownBottle

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Some were, but the style does increase the chances of suffering injuries We’ve got a very injury-prone squad, either way

It’s tricky for me because I don’t know football like Howe does - I’m an old school terrace gobshite, who took a long time to accept I didn’t know more than the manager (unless that manager is Steve Bruce). But I can’t get away from the thought that I think Isak is a phenomenal footballer and we’re failing to make the most of his gifts.

😀 It is a bit - but I think STM is right; Isak is unsuited to a high press style, and is too fragile for it There may only be two options available, and both would have been unthinkable a short while ago Gun to my head, I’m probably taking new manager and Isak staying. But it very much would be gun to my head.

Yeah, you’re right. Isak is the most talented player I’ve ever seen in B&W play centre forward (I never saw the man in my profile picture play no.9 ‎). But he isn’t built for our manager’s preferred style of play. It sticks in the craw the idea of the lad being moved on, mind. He’s the only player I’ve seen who could be a ‘generational talent’. I’d rather Howe evolved and we play a style suited to him - but i suspect it is either one or the other …

Completely agree - we didn’t set the expectations; they did. No-one forced those statements - now they need to deliver or come out and tell us that something has changed. And of course the ‘we don’t demand’ banner wasn’t speaking for all of us. Never liked the sentiment behind it - it’s ’the glory game’ - I want to win things.

I suspect you’re probably right, but I do also think that Howe is a better ‘thinker’ of the game than he’s often given credit for. What’s odd to me is that he hasn’t built a ‘pressing’ squad. Other than Gordon, I don’t think any of his big money signings are ‘pressing monsters’. Isak, Bruno, Tonali, Barnes, etc. There’s a disparity between signings and philosophy.

It absolutely broke our squad last year. We’ve got too many injury-prone players to actually play like that for an extended period. We needed to evolve into a different playing style - spunking lots of money usually allows you to do that. As yet, we haven’t evolved. I’m fully prepared to give Howe time to evolve the style - though to date there’s been little indication that he will.

Depends who the owners are

It’s not the extra 8-10k seats that would make a difference tbf. Which is why expanding SJP would be a waste of money

He’s right of course - we can’t break in under the current circumstances. There is no ‘natural’ growth route to catch those teams. The only avenue available which PSR etc doesn’t touch is a new stadium.

Honestly, you might be right. I still think Howe’s done a cracking job all things considered - but I am more than a bit concerned atm. We don’t seem to play in a co-ordinated fashion.

I think if Staveley had managed to spend a short time not briefing the press re Emery we’d much further ahead than we are. I agree generally re momentum, but I still think Howe has done a good job.

Howe's power can only come from performance on the pitch - he would have been in a strong position with Ashworth. I can't imagine Howe's stock is all that high at the moment - so I can't imagine he'd win an internal battle

SIR Steve Redgrave? Christ they’re just giving them out to anybody these days

Which is what happens when you stand still in the transfer market - teams absolutely know how to play against us, and so far Howe hasn’t found the answer to it.

It never looked like a particularly good midfield to me - it’s far too slow for a start; Joelinton isn’t technically good enough to play there, and Tonali is very much ‘jury’s out’. I haven’t seen anything to convince me that any other manager would be able to make that work as a three man midfield.

He’s not playing the same position(s) that he did that season. He’s clearly much better further forward, but he’s a middling (at best) midfielder.

We’re three years in and hundreds of millions spent. Howe does have some responsibility for the current squad if it isn’t good enough. Failure to buy a right winger or a centre half with pace in those three years can’t just be blamed on PSR - the money was available to spend.

Cheers mate ‎

It does indeed ‎ - the FA screwed the Football League over many years ago with the creation of the PL, but they haven’t ruined them by taking a European place away from the League Cup

League Cup win = European qualification 😉

The burning question remains though: who’s dad is hardest?

I’d take a League Cup trophy and finishing 17th over finishing second in the PL tbh.

Based on what I’ve seen so far, I’m not at all sure we would have. I’m yet to see our midfield look much cope with Tonali in there.