Optimistic Nut

Would take a draw here tbh. Don't think the top 6 is on so let's just get something and stay in touch with the minor European spots.

I think he was pushed (no evidence to support this obviously), for the false Isak promises which stoked this summer shit storm.

He was 35 when he joined Bournemouth tbf so clearly a Wilson back up?

We've clearly got something good with Howe, pathetic the way some have turned after the first real sign of trouble. The day Howe goes is the day we become a club who replace the manager every 2 years or so because the first dip, we call for the sack and the board acts.

I think we muddle through the next month dropping to around 14th. We settle down once the fixtures improve and more gaps between games and finish in and around 9th spot. We should then go and have a strong season next year, and by time he next has to manage a domestic and European campaign, we'll have had 3 more transfer windows. That'll have been 5 full seasons which I think is a more than realistic and decent timespan from us going from the likes of Clark, Hayden & Gayle, to a squad that should be able to manage on all fronts.

Big week for Hebburn with FCUM at the weekend too.

Then you had Speed, Dabizas & O'Brien in the box for wide set-pieces. Was brilliant.

I'm one of his biggest critics but think it's harsh blaming him for that one. Think we're just that used to him stopping pretty much anything that's at his body particularly with his feet. It is just another sign though that he's not doing the things that used to set him apart from the average goalkeeper.

Thank God. Not ready for an Arsenal title..

I think that was the original plan for Wissa. He'd fine in as the Wilson replacement as cover for Ekitike/Pedro. We then needed him to be the main striker which would have been fine if he'd hit the ground running with his Brentford form but then he got injured.

I think if we get £50m plus we lick our wounds and take the hit. We overpaid for Wissa but we always intended to sign him. Woltemade was the "panic buy" as we needed another striker and we were getting further & further down the list with less time. I like him and he'll be a great player somewhere but I think he's eras Tomasson story.

I think we'll sell Woltemade & Osula, sign a new number 9 and keep Wissa as back up.

He's had two and a half unreal seasons, one where he hit "par" and this is the first when he's genuinely underachieving, which is still only a few points off where our minimum should be, has had a Cup Semi-Final and still in Europe where we seem more suited to. I think he's done enough to suggest he's good enough and deserve an opportunity to put things right.

Wonder what Villa would have done if we'd signed Ramsey the same way then we'd tried this stunt.

Nah, Villa well within their rights not to play him and make the deal permanent. Liverpool also well within theirs to tell them to fuck off. Villa shouldn't make this type of signing if they're going to back out when it's not going their way, then moan about Liverpool not bending over for them.

Villa thought they were being clever with the terms, Liverpool agreed to it. Now Villa have decided he's not as good as they hoped but they'd quite like to play him anyway. Deal with the mistake and either play him and pay up, or go a squad member down.

Does that eat into their PSR spend?

Villa more than a lot of clubs have tried twisting PSR, they probably made this deal as a get around until next season. We've made mistakes this summer and will have to deal with it. They'll do the same with Elliott if they want to play him again.

Villa & Liverpool are also top 5 rivals this season let's not forget. If it weakens Villa by not having him available then it's good for Liverpool.

Arsenal manager-in-waiting then.

We don't have any of the success we had the last 3 years without him.

Think I'm at the stage where I'd love him to stay and turn it around (which I think he will), but wouldn't have an issue if the owners felt we needed a change.

With the derby next month, fuck their interpretation of a black cat being a panther man. Some sort of banner with a magpie praying on a little kitten.

A full-back compilation would be good .Could get some crackers in there from Venison, Beresford, Griffin, Domi, Charvet at Boro etc.

Just seen the Facebook post, followed by countless, "StIcK tHeM iN tHe FiRsT tEaM" posts.