Antipode23

Glass half full, I like it. What a season.

What's the difference?

Data guy and the set piece coach both stealing a living I suspect.

I do hope that whenever Eddie goes, it happens in the right way. I think his time is coming to an end, but he deserves a lot of gratitude for all the good he's done. Hopefully that's not forgotten.

I have a theory/observation, and it may be totally off. I think Eddie works hard, cares deeply for the club and players, and gives everything, but he can't break out of a certain mindset. He holds so rigidly to the 433, high press style. He's so risk averse in the transfer market, and seems to want so much control. He's so reluctant to rotate, to make subs, to play youth. At a stretch you could also say he tends to move players into more defensive positions, rather than attacking ones - off the top of my head, Woltemade ST to CAM, Ramsey CAM/LW to CM at best, Hall CDM to LB, Joelinton ST to CM, Miley CM to RB. Not saying some of those haven't worked, but they're all defensive moves. I struggle to think of many who've moved to more attacking positions. I suspect Eddie can't or won't adjust his mindset on a lot of things, and when plan A doesn't work, he doesn't really know what to do, and in matches, we see the players kind of pick up on that. Hence the sitting back, inability to control games, complete absence of a midfield etc. I just don't think Eddie has an answer, and he gets found out by tactically braver/more astute managers time and time again.

With respect, there's pretty substantial evidence that Eddie's (and maybe the club's to be fair) transfer nous is pretty bang average, and that's being polite. We've got endemic issues that he's proven incapable of addressing even before this season, so it's dubious that giving him another summer and season will somehow see a miraculous reversal of fortunes. It's also disingenuous to say he's being judged on two games. Have you seriously not seen the rest of the season? I agree there are a minority who delight in Eddie's/the club's failure, but they're a small minority imo and we shouldn't lump genuine doubters in with them. We must allow constructive criticism to be aired. Not saying you're one but there are members on this board who refuse to accept any criticism of Eddie, and that itself is extremely toxic.

I think Howe cares deeply and does his best, it's just that his best - tactically, transfer-wise - is just very limited. This season has highlighted all of that. Unfortunately I think he'll need to go if we're to take the next step. Even more unfortunately, I'm not sure we have the ownership or executive to lead us there, which is an even bigger issue than the manager. Do we seriously have a 3 week international break now? Marvelous timing 🙃

Eddie is just limited as a manager. I wish it wasn't true, but it is. I'm grateful for what he's done but we can't ignore the problems any longer. They're fundamental and absolutely glaring.

The Eddie apologists will still be out after this but this entire season has been an embarrassment and a lot of that is on him. I just don't think he can coach a team of technical, mentally strong players. It's athletes on the press or lose the plot and hold on for dear life.

This is ultimately on Howe.