TheBrownBottle

Willock hadn’t been called up to the senior squad before - he definitely hasn’t been capped I still think there’s a player there, but it’s been about three years now since we last saw it

It’s not inevitable as far as I’m concerned. I’ve got a ‘Pictorial History of Soccer’ book which talks about the ‘inevitability’ of a European Super League in the next few years. It was published in 1968.

FIFA and UEFA won’t sanction it, and that’s not allowing for the govt intervening. Even if the clubs do, any player who follows won’t play international football.

what also doesn’t get taken into account is that Isak was screaming for a move when we signed him, and Elanga worked best with Wood up top. I’ve seen Wood upfront in a Newcastle top, and he didn’t seem particularly effective in our system - and looked absolutely nothing like Isak as a CF

I’d rather torch football itself than let the cunts get that outcome. Fuck em

The US owners are the biggest poison in English football - and that takes some doing. It feels like the horse bolted long ago, but football clubs really should’ve been protected as community / state assets and not been allowed for sale to non-citizens (and preferably not in private hands). There isn’t even the pretence of being custodians or part of the football family / pyramid.

I suspect that’s happening regardless in the summer

Selling Woltemade in the summer is hardly an insane idea if Howe isn’t going to adapt the system to him and the lad can’t play in that system. I’m not advocating for it, but it’s hardly an illogical thought.

Then he really should have thought about saying that - he only has days to prepare one or two questions, you’d think that the thick cunt might think about it. Tbf, he’s only a journalist - who’d expect a journalist to have an understanding of language or the time when events occur? The Ronnie Gill’s professional window-licker has been pushed to the front by the cowards who sit next to him in the pressers is my thinking. There are serious questions hanging over some of the current issues at the club, and the moron-in-residence gets to make it all look silly by going on about a non-existent hour-long onslaught.

Not sure that defending well can be written off as ‘luck’. They’re well-organised and hard to break down. Agreed re us in 22/23 - they just don’t have the money to spend that we did (though they have spent a fair chunk of change). They were also starting from a much lower base than us. I’ve long believed that it isn’t miraculous to get a team into the upper echelons of the PL - if the team in question are well-organised and fully committed. Both of which we are lacking at present.

Three - James Trafford is also on the list

Didn’t we go back in for Ekitike after he fucked us about and went elsewhere previously? I don’t think Howe is any different from any other manager - if a player he wants is available, then he’ll try and sign him.

Amazing what a bit of effort and application can achieve in the PL. It isn’t a great team individually that the Mackems have by any stretch, but their run has gone far too long to suggest it’s a fluke.

Agreed that an interim CEO would have ‘fewer teeth’, but it’s completely negligent what occurred. Absentee landlords.

And whose fault is that?

Can someone explain what the ‘transition’ folks keep mentioning actually is, or is it just an excuse for being a bit shite? Howe’s signings in the summer very much pointed to more of the same. The formation hasn’t changed. So what is the ‘transition’ we’re going through?

If they change the law, that’s fine - but at present they don’t enforce the law that exists.

I agree - it’s just that it isn’t a great look to have such a fundamental issue in the side / squad. It’s the basics that haven’t been met.

Just most of the spine of the team, then

I mean, it isn’t in the long run - if your away form means you can’t achieve anything or get anywhere. It’s far too soon to be sacking Howe IMO, though.

I’ve thought this for yonks, too. Ball is constantly released late

Agreed - he plays a ridiculous number of games I.e. all of them

We won, not a great performance but we won. Hopefully a confidence-booster and a springboard to better performances.

I thought Bruno was really poor today tbh

I thought Bruno was really poor today tbh