Lucky

Someone like Dara O’Shea from Ipswich wouldn’t cost a bomb and could fill a gap, that’s if Alex Murphy won’t be trusted to start. Perhaps not a stellar signing but we said similar when we got Burn, players like that tend to overachieve a then become more when given a chance with a club like ours. Ciaran Clark did ok for us back then too, similar sort of profile.

I’ve been in the poo thread

They scored 10 at the weekend like.. Both sides will have learned something from the game earlier in season, they’ll probably show us more respect and let us have more of the ball perhaps. Then pick us off. If we manage to turn the game chaotic where it’s end to end. We could ride our luck and try and finish th game with a few goals. This is the starting lineup from the 2-1, we can’t play the same 11 so it’ll be a different game. I’d say at least 4 changes. That’ll give them something to think about at least.

The ugly truth is perhaps that they just don’t want to, at least not right now, maybe not ever. Maybe the growth potential isn’t quite there. Not in the way a true supporter would see. Maybe they just want the club to reach some financial milestones before they commit, it’s impossible to know because all we get are vaguely reassuring sound bites from those in charge. The longer this gets left up in the air, the more time for doubt to creep in which will feed into the supporters and in turn back towards the club. Some brutal honesty would be just fine. But don’t think we’ll ever get that either.

That’s my point. For them, that’s considered a mess. Zidane won, stepped away, his replacement was 2nd..he came back to sort things. Ancelotti has won it may times with them but they obviously felt a change was needed. Seems like something of a poisoned chalice but they continue to collect trophies regularly enough.

They finished 2nd…

Has “Don Carlo” just signed a new extension with Brazil? Zidane is available. Not sure if he’s interested in sorting out their mess again. Not even sure how interested he is in full time management as he’s never really been strongly linked with anything other than the France job.

Happy with this, removes any doubt that he wanted out and hopefully he can now focus on just getting that sharpness back as he’s technically our best defender when he’s firing on all cylinders.

A good player no doubt but massive risk given the circumstances. Yes huge payoff potentially but could easily be something we get ridiculed over. Intuition says that if he’s struggling to keep fit in a league with less physical demands than the PL, that niggling injuries would be inevitable.

What will the future of our midfield look like? Miley will be there for sure.. but who alongside?

This will send a few ripples now in terms of other potential sackings. Slot will be twitchy now.

Fitness/sharpness has been his issue with the all the niggling injuries he’s had. It’s quite common for players to pick up injuries like this after the ACL he had. We all know the story there, he’s probably months behind where he should have been if he’d just have had the operation to begin with. Simple fact is if he can find that sharpness he’s our best defender. And at his age could be a long term partner for Thiaw in the centre of defence. It’s way too soon to write him off.

Keegan just has this spark that’s so infectious. Impossible not to feel optimistic listening to him talking when you see those old clips. There’s really nobody like him and we were very lucky to have him at that time. Always be my no.1

I really would like us to purchase another capable left back to unleash this man in our midfield. Really do think that will be his best position for us.

The sporting director role in the Dan Ashworth remit is really just a glorified project manager, not actually doing much work but measuring how everyone else is doing theirs. No need to be a cunty alpha in that sense. And there was no need for Mitchell to be either. At end of day, nothing really happens at this club now without sign off from PIF, as much as Hopkinson and Nickson and Wilson may be capable, they do not seem to be autonomous in making big decisions without the big ok first. I guess my point is that we’re never really going to see the full potential of these people as their success will rely on how interested PIF are. Maybe that’s changed with Hopkinson coming in, but hard to tell so far. Was certainly the case with Eales.

Mitchell came in trying to be the alpha in the situation. Took a hardline approach to sensitive issues, like telling Isak that the club would discuss his contract next season despite Howe wanting to keep the player. Telling a star player that you’re under contract, just get on with your job was never going to go well. It would seem the club, or at least Howe’s side tried to smooth things over with several members of the squad with the news of Mitchell’s departure ahead of the end of the season but the damage had been done by then, especially in the case of Isak who had been well tapped up by then. We had a window to keep him (and keep him happy etc) but this passed and then he did act the cunt but I do believe he was put in a position where he didn’t feel valued by those upstairs, doesn’t excuse what happened but there’s always a reason for shit that happens. I do believe Eddie started to feel like Mitchell was not only a hindrance but also a threat. So as soon as the cup final happened, Eddie pulled rank and gambled that the summer would go ok. Massive pressure now over Wilson because he’s rubber stamped his approval. He’s always just wanted help and not someone who feels and acts like they are over them, which is how Mitchell carried on. Ashworth at least got that and acted accordingly.

We’ll be rinsed given the circumstances.

#1 King Kev, there’d be none of this without him. #2 SBR - classy.. impossible not to respect him. Sorted out a mess and gave us some fantastic years. #3 Eddie - has probably had things at his disposal the first 2 could only have dreamt of but he saved us from almost certain relegation and given us air to breathe so we could go on to do the things we’ve done since. Right up there in the conversation. #4 Rafa - he just got it. Knew what we needed and repeatedly kept polishing turds. Sad the way it ended. Someone I’d have loved to have seen backed properly. Honourable mentions Roeder & Hughton.

Broken ankle I reckon 😔 Still shot doesn’t look good at all (hidden in the spoiler thingy) Really hope it’s not the last time he plays for us. Best value signing the club has ever made. Absolute legend. (thank you Rafa!)

Awful news. Absolutely love the bones of this man. Fingers crossed he makes a full recovery. Hopefully his name is sung from the rafters tonight.

We wish.

Think it’s fair to say that Eddie Howe is far superior to a vast majority of our recent managers with the exception of Rafa. We took to him as well. But that doesn’t make him elite. Doesn’t mean he’s going to take us to the level we all crave. It’s not a knock on the manager, he’s done wonderful things for this club and will forever be thought well of here regardless of what happens this season. My point always has been that football is a fickle game at times and if someone else were to come in and kick us on to that next level, the current debate will soon seem like a distant memory. The club should always come before any individual.

Whatever PIF’s long term plans are for this club shade in the reality that we’re free from Mike Ashley. My gut tells me that cash flow is not quite as good as what we may think for them and we’re far down the list of priorities in terms of massive investment. Ultimately, if they do sell us it will be to an American investment company and they’ll most likely want the shiny new stadium ala Spurs so they can host NFL games and other events. The future of the club is safe.

The problem is that some of the new players adapting to this rigid system is that it makes those players less than what they could be. You don’t replace Isak with a totally different player and expect to play the same way. That’s what it seems like he’s trying to do.