Matt1892

Hopefully that is a hint at him negotiating a new contract.

Instead of highlighting a small part try reading the rest.

Then don’t read it.

Before the season I thought he should have gone out on loan due to knowing he was unlikely to get the minutes needed for him to develop properly, I didn’t consider him starting as I knew it was unlikely to happen. I don’t really rate Joelinton as a midfielder and his best position last season was wide left, so he would be the obvious one to move out.

I don’t see anyone angry, a few upset at me pointing out that Howe hasn’t brought through one decent player in his decade of management but that is it.

I would have played him instead of Joelinton.

So you haven’t seen anything to suggest that he can either. Great.

Transfermarkt says he played 395 minutes over 22 appearances which isn’t great, as over 150 of those was in the last 2 games of the season. He then was the outstanding player of ours from pre season and arguably deserved a start, yet is back on the bench with our midfield struggling. I see Anderson as a player whose career will drift away and we will be talking about how he wasn’t good enough, when I think he could be if handled better, which might have been a loan away to get some serious game time.

That he’s been in management over 10 years and I can’t think of one player that he has successfully brought through from academy to be a first team regular of any quality. What have you seen of him to suggest he can?

What was Howe like at bringing youngsters through at Bournemouth? The reason I ask is I haven’t seen anything from him here to suggest he is going to bring through any of our young players successfully, unless they are already coming in established. The handling of Anderson has been poor and I don’t expect any better for smiley’s development.

The issue with the midfield is Joelinton, who was at his best last season playing on the left of midfield and dropping in to cover Willock when he adventured forward. Talk of Tonali and Bruno not being able to work together is just lazy, Redknapp was on about it as if Longstaff was a defensive midfielder and now Bruno has to play the role now he is out. Clearly no idea what he is talking about. He should play Isak off Wilson and then Bruno and Tonali as the double pivot. 4-2-3-1.

It isn’t soundbite when PIF say they want us to be the best, they genuinely mean it and many more performances like this will see Howe as the transitional manager to give us the platform, before bringing in a proven world class manager.

What am I watching.

I don’t think Redknapp has any idea of how Longstaff plays.

I would, for Joelinton and Almiron.

That’s the issue with our midfield set up there, nobody arriving in the box to follow up attacks.

Almiron just crossed with his right foot!

We should have bought a centre back that can cover right back instead of Livramento. Also a right forward instead of Barnes.

It is the sort of group that will raise our profile massively throughout Europe if we hold our own, every team in there will be fancying their chances in the home games which is what makes it such an interesting group. Remember, it’s seen as such a difficult group because we are in there. The other teams will be gutted that we came out of the hat.

Here we go…

Hopefully it’s F.

Did anyone come up with PSG, Dortmund and Milan in the draw generator?

Which goal of ours do people think they will show?

There isn’t any doubt that Howe has been backed significantly by the owners since they came in.