Sibierski

So one game at an elite level, he was always going to have those at a young age, part of playing youngsters. Why you then sign players for £45m+ if you don’t want that and play them like Ramsey and Elanga… oh.

The run from Man City to FA Cup 3rd round game will decide Mileys mind on his future IMO. It’s a midfield that’s poor currently, it’s a run that’s a game every few days. Doesn’t get a good amount of starts, then he will rightly be thinking I might need to leave. His contract length means he won’t have the power for a permanent move, but pushing for a loan move in January could happen.

He didn’t take 12 months to bed in, he just wasn’t favoured early on. And despite all us screaming for him to play, we had to endure Burn being torn at LB over Dec/Jan before Hall did play and he looked great and it was all “Howe knew when to play him”. He would’ve been up and down if he started earlier on, but he was a kid so it be expected. It’ll be like now if Ramsey comes in after break and starts playing well, it’s not “Howe knew when to play him / bed him in”, it’ll be he’s a good player who’s finally got a run ahead of someone who’s not great anymore in that position (Joelinton). The one criticism I’ve always had of Howe, is his reluctance to bring new players into the XI unless it was a forced change. Let’s be honest, Thaiw would not have got this run if Schar wasn’t forced out.

All comes back down to owners and what their actual vision is moving forward. If they’re content just being owners of a prem club, then Howe has a job for life regardless of what we do. If they’re serious about wanting to challenge the elite, then no Europe and he’s gone. Tuchel will be wanting a club job and if the owners want a named manager that’s won the big stuff, he will be front of line.

Tino can easily be a RCB when we build up and Hall is the one pushing on. More pace in the recovery transition at the back. Effectively like Walker was for Man City past few seasons. He can still get forward at times, but primarily he sits deep. That’s something that can Tino can do and stops us being so vulnerable on transitions. Just when he comes out, Krafth / Trippier is an immediate change in style, then when Hall is out for Burn, it’s even more so. Why we need to sign two players who can play in full back areas that are of similar skill sets to both (Pace on right, technical ability on left).

How many managers reinvent themselves when in a slump? Can’t after this break, roll out the same midfield, Wolte up top on his own and expect different results. Even if it’s the wingers sitting narrow so they’re closer to Wolte, or a 4-4-1-1, or a 3-2-4-1 shape in build up (so Thaiw starting RB with Schar CB and Hall coming inside to build attacks / help possession), it just had to be different.

I don’t know how we haven’t changed up the midfield when we literally have three fit and available. Not convinced we will change it either for Man City unless Joelinton is injured.

Yea my argument is to change it, but he’s showing he’s not going to. So my suggestion is just my view of what I would like, but I don’t think for one second Howe will do it. We’ve also been poor at home, so it’s not just away. Wolves and Fulham were proper slogs for home wins, and they’re bottom 5 sides. We’re fundamentally off it in the current shape / personnel.

But the point is he can play there, and it gets Wolte playing in a role that’s then plug in for Wissa to play in replace of Elanga. We’re not going to suddenly play a completely different way when Wissa is back and it’s deluded to think so. We’re going to have £150m worth of summer signings on bench in November/December when 3 of Wissa / Wolte / Ramsey / Elanga are on bench.

Said it in tactics thread, Elanga as the striker and a 4-4-1-1. Instead he’s getting scrap minutes, and we’re playing bad with 4-3-3 with same midfield and Wolte increasingly getting isolated in games. Wissa will be playing LW or Wolte will be on bench more. They’re not playing together anytime soon.

He should be starting a run of games, like Elanga. Then we ca n make a proper judgement. Thaiw and Wolte both had consistent runs, and both been our better players. But it means permanently benching two of Howes trusted players.

Do people genuinely think Howe is going to break up his trusted midfield three to play two strikers? When we could’ve done that already this past month. Said it last month, people are going to get a reality check is this past month hasn’t done it, when Wissa is back and nothing fundamentally changes. We have the personnel already where we could change it, and Howe has not done it. That’s very much on him and if he’s going to be stubborn, it will do serious damage.

Sounds like all the issues we knew would happen, happened again. Suppose we can roll out the same guys against Man City at home. Blessing Burn suspended for it.

Just seen the score and all the subs WTF happened? Someone want to give me a quick summary? Saw same midfield three started for third game in a row, shock.

Thankfully miss the game because of a Vets game. Hopefully check phone at 4pm and see a pleasant Sky Sports update saying ‘FT Brentford 0 v 2 Newcastle’. So I can travel back excited to watch the recording.

Our fans still going to stick head in the sand and not accept Sunderland are going to be pushing us this season in prem up to April at least?

It’s denial and not facing what they’re doing to think otherwise. It’s wide open for European places so far, and their style and execution so far puts them in a great spot. Confidence does a massive thing and so will their home form. 55 points is very achievable, which puts them in the European race going into mid April where hopefully they drop off like we’ve seen in past seasons with Fulham, Brighton, Bournemouth etc.

Don’t think teams are underestimating them. They’re just compact, and regularly getting their attacking moves correct and being lethal.

Think we need to accept Sunderland are in the European race. Theres no denying it, just got to hope ACON knocks them off stride.

Sunderland 2nd on 21 points in November

I’m braced for Sunderland winning here as Arsenal look stinky as ever in open play.

Trippier leaves, it’s two full backs needed. Need a young CB to replace Schar. Need a dynamic CM that can progress the ball. Then it comes down to the front attack. Gordon / Barnes / Murphy / Osula all have a selling price. One or two goes, then both need replacing of game changing quality. Think it will be just Osula who goes in 2026 though. Murphy is a hard one, because he will have a good price point for someone who’s 31 with 12 months left. And he will rightly want to cash in for one final big contract. Do we give him a 3+1 at £80k+ at his age? Or accept he’s off for £15m+ and let a bottom end prem club pick him up.

Osula is terrible. If we’re to be a serious club, he shouldn’t be seeing minutes. And it’s not third choice, would be someone to back themself to push Wissa out the side, as Wolte is surely signed with a 4-4-1-1 in mind. We’ve seen with Gordon he can’t play up front, Elanga I want to see tried up there, but probably doesn’t happen. So then you want someone who’s better than Ousla. Because let’s be honest, if we’re playing games next season and Osula is leading the line, Christ.

Burnley showing how shit West Ham are.

No side plays with two strikers though and there’s a dearth of talent in strikers, but three probably by end of decade isn’t an unreasonable thing for squads to have (obviously not three out and out 9s, but three that can play centrally effectively). Osula IMO is not good enough in any of the positions. He is bang average. He will need selling and someone signing in summer who can play up front if club is looking at a 4-2-3-1 /4-4-2 evolution.