Eddie Howe

[Dyeyzzon]

He tried the Brentford away trick last season. 1-0 down and hammered then unleashed Isak and Wilson up front at half time. Unfortunately by the end of the game it was apparent we were still shaped like we always have been - 4-3-3.

[dcmk]

Just now, Beth said:

He'll be off to be England manager when Southgate leaves after the WC. I'd imagine the owners are already putting feelers out for the next manager.

 

That is not a criticism, he's far exceeded my expectations since he came and injuries have ruined us this season, but he is not faultless. No real plan B if it's not working and playing the same players who are clearly half fit or knackered.

With any game plan you need to have players who are pressing/counter pressing.  We haven't been able to do that for a long time now, since players don't have any legs, so can't imagine any plan would change much.

 

I think we would be the first to admit he could have rotated players more, especially earlier on in the season.

 

He's very critical of everything that doesn't work out, his work ethic is common knowledge, sure it will turn around.  

[Whitley mag]

Apart from Bruno and he can be hitty miss when we start chasing the game, who actually out of our midfield and wide players is good at passing and looking up ? 
 

If Howe wants a quick, pressing, power based running team, it’s just not going to cut it unless we get a clever player slotted in somewhere.

 

We are massively missing St Maximum’s unpredictability and creativity, he got this massively wrong in the summer and has left us very predictable and pedestrian.

[thomas]

IMO we can keep a fresher and rotated midfield if Tonali uses a burner phone to pop bets on. Can we all agree that once again, it's Italy's fault?

[sempuki]

He looks as knackered as his team. It's been a long season already.

[Lotus]

1 minute ago, Whitley mag said:

Apart from Bruno and he can be hitty miss when we start chasing the game, who actually out of our midfield and wide players is good at passing and looking up ? 
 

If Howe wants a quick, pressing, power based running team, it’s just not going to cut it unless we get a clever player slotted in somewhere.

 

We are massively missing St Maximum’s unpredictability and creativity, he got this massively wrong in the summer and has left us very predictable and pedestrian.

With you until the 3rd paragraph. 

[SUPERTOON]

Still think what we are seeing currently is a result of the summer window. Obviously not the clubs fault not having Tonali and Barnes for the majority of the season, but I’d still argue we didn’t do enough to strengthen the starting 11. I’d imagine it’s a lesson they have learned and it won’t be repeated.

[GeordieT]

Faith that he’ll turn it around and performances need to be considered in the context in the quantum of unavailable players that gives new meaning to ‘injury crisis’. Need to be pushing the button on incomings January 1st. 
 

But we absolutely have to beat Forest or it could be 1 win in 7; with unenviable trips to Liverpool and Villa, a banana skin of a third round tie, and the only home comforts to count on a game against Man City. At which stage any manager is going to be under pressure.

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by GeordieT

[TheBrownBottle]

6 minutes ago, Paulinho said:

Ignoring how thick a good 75% of our fan base is for a second, I have been surprised by how many people think an unprecedented level of fatigue isn’t the primary explanation for this. We’ve had a) the most intense fixture list of any team in Europe and b) more first team players missing for longer than any other team in Europe.

 

Will be unfortunate if social media freaks create so much noise the club eventually feels the need to act. 
 

It would be what most of you deserve though. 

‘Below average intelligence’, ‘thick’

 

You need to stop throwing the abuse about for me.

 

Part of the reason for so many players being missing could well be the manager failing to make changes to a style of play which is likely to cause burnouts and injuries when you’re playing two games per week for months.  That doesn’t mean he should be sacked or under pressure, but it would be hoped that next season - if we’re in Europe - the lessons will be learned. 

[Lotus]

Think our whole 'a good press is better than a good 10' approach has come completely undone due to injuries and fatigue. Probably impossible to develop a new style or system on the fly. 

We need different types of players than just runners. FFP has hindered that so we'll just have to tough it out until we can recruit more along the lines of what we need for the new challenges.

[ExiledGeordie]

1 minute ago, GeordieT said:

Faith that he’ll turn it around and performances need to be considered in the context in the quantum of unavailable players that gives new meaning to ‘injury crisis’.
 

But we absolutely have to beat Forest or it could be 1 win in 7; with unenviable trips to Liverpool and Villa, a banana skin of a third round tie, and the only home comforts to count on a game against Man City. At which stage any manager is going to be under pressure.

The weird thing is as much as I was lacking confidence in a really today I’m really confident we’ll beat Forest at home. 
 

The combination of injuries and being awful away from home is really effecting us though.

[Pilko]

He's definitely a manager who sticks to his core system and his principles even when things aren't going our way, which is light years better than a tit like Bruce or someone clueless chopping and changing things constantly with no discernable pattern.

 

But... away from home this season and particularly lately it is starting to feel a little bit like flogging a dead horse. The wide players and the forwards particularly look absolutely beat, yet the system depends on them hugely to have lots of energy. We're starting to get players back now but the core team isn't getting a rest - how long does he keep going away from home in similar vein? It's a real test of his mettle but I wonder if he reverts to something with something less dependency on that energy, narrower, more compact that grinds out results whilst we're in this away form rut.

 

Today wasn't good enough, players and manager. He'll know that, and he'll also know everyone watching is giving him at very least a partial pardon because of the injuries and the schedule. I just hope we don't go to Sunderland and play like that today or we'll be buried.

 

Can't help but think that surely next season he won't have as much shit go against him either - rock hard cup draws, Tonali, injury crisis, narrow margins in the CL (woodwork several times, PSG pen farce) - there's definitely an element of shit luck this year that can't continue for ever.

 

 

[Jordan]

Should be under no pressure at all this season. We do however need to look at tactics/shape away from home. If we can’t press due to squad availability then we need to work on a low block and being able to pass the ball to players on our own team. 

[jonny1403]

9 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

‘Below average intelligence’, ‘thick’

 

You need to stop throwing the abuse about for me.

 

Part of the reason for so many players being missing could well be the manager failing to make changes to a style of play which is likely to cause burnouts and injuries when you’re playing two games per week for months.  That doesn’t mean he should be sacked or under pressure, but it would be hoped that next season - if we’re in Europe - the lessons will be learned. 

He’s completely right though. You’d have to be incredibly thick to be calling for the managers head at this stage.

[andycap]

I have faith in him shouldn't be sacked under the injury crisis we've had. But he went 4-4-2 but kept miggy and flash on the same wings it drives me mad. could've went tino and hall swap for the two of them and played more orthodox wing play. 

[Amir_9]

Still confident he will take us to 6th this year with players coming back from injury and hopefully some additions in January. Man United, Brighton and West Ham are just as capable of dropping points.

 

The concern for him shouldn't be now but it should be if this same situation happens again next season or in the future as I think this will be the one and only time he is afforded this lesson.

 

Of course not all of it is entirely his fault.

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by Amir_9

[Jordan]

I did think the Miley sub was odd as well. If he was punishing him for the goal, it’s a bit hypocritical starting Tripps after the goals he’s cost us recently. Made even stranger by the fact Miley was looking good and Longstaff was anonymous. 

[andycap]

Just now, Jordan said:

I did think the Miley sub was odd as well. If he was punishing him for the goal, it’s a bit hypocritical starting Tripps after the goals he’s cost us recently. Made even stranger by the fact Miley was looking good and Longstaff was anonymous. 

Was tripps not meant to be on the post where the goal came from? 

[Displayname]

Maybe he is struggling abit with mental fatigue himself

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by Displayname

[TRon]

Just now, Jordan said:

I did think the Miley sub was odd as well. If he was punishing him for the goal, it’s a bit hypocritical starting Tripps after the goals he’s cost us recently. Made even stranger by the fact Miley was looking good and Longstaff was anonymous. 

 

Miley looked far more confident on the ball than Lonstaff whose first touch was often landing a yard i front of him. But maybe he wasn't tracking back properly. I didn't notice it, but someone in the match thread said his side was wide open.

[Whitley mag]

1 minute ago, Jordan said:

I did think the Miley sub was odd as well. If he was punishing him for the goal, it’s a bit hypocritical starting Tripps after the goals he’s cost us recently. Made even stranger by the fact Miley was looking good and Longstaff was anonymous. 

One of the few who can actually pass the ball as well, its a sign Howe is slightly struggling to find answers at the minute and was very out of character to make an early change like that.

[TheBrownBottle]

6 minutes ago, jonny1403 said:

He’s completely right though. You’d have to be incredibly thick to be calling for the managers head at this stage.

It’s daft, no doubt about it.  But it’s also an emotional reaction after a piss poor performance.  I don’t read too much into it - I doubt the same folks will write the same thing even a few hours later.  I’m happy for football fans to have their cathartic rant tbh.  

[Gallowgate Toon]

3 minutes ago, Jordan said:

I did think the Miley sub was odd as well. If he was punishing him for the goal, it’s a bit hypocritical starting Tripps after the goals he’s cost us recently. Made even stranger by the fact Miley was looking good and Longstaff was anonymous. 

Tough one - I'd have kept him on but likely just a protective move as Miley has played so much intense footy in a short span, plus playing in a 2 is a lot more work for a young lad.

[WideopenMag]

I feel for Howe I think he done everything right over the summer really. We devolped a good identity and style of play last season- high intensity pressing which he knew would be hard to maintain with our extra games. He signed Barnes to give us 4 competing wide men and to add more goals to our side. Tonali so we weren't over reliant on Bruno and to allow us to retain possession more and two young full backs to allow us to rotate and keep us fresh for the press. He's lost the ability to do any of that mainly through freak injuries and suspension.

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by WideopenMag

[Orphanage]

Always thought it was a bit odd not to get another striker in the summer .