Eddie Howe

[The College Dropout]

We’ll finish no worse than 8th. Which is probably the lowest Howe could finish and keep his job. 
 

If we can get some fitness and rest, we’ll go on a good run and get into the top 7 imo. We are on track for 58 points but I expect us to end closer to 64-65 points which is usually enough for Europa league.  

[AyeDubbleYoo]

14 minutes ago, Dr.Spaceman said:

 

I like the bloke and want him to succeed as much as anyone, but 17th would be an absolute disaster (that he wouldn't survive anyway).

 

It would also mean losing pretty much every game between now and the end of the season. Him not being able to arrest a slide like that in something like 5 months would have to count for something. It's not going to happen anyway 

 

 

 

Why are we talking about this?

[The College Dropout]

1 minute ago, jackyboy said:

I don't know that getting into the Europa league is any big advantage apart from maybe prestige. I remember from when we qualified in the Pardew era that Ashley said that you needed to get to the semi final just to break even. The only big rewards are in the Champions League 

 

Think it helps with our inflated sponsorship deals. And I think the adidas deal has performance based bonuses.  

[mondonewc]

I haven't read many of the comments in here but the gist of it seems clear, and like many others during the game yesterday I was well and truly pissed off at the performance, arguably our worst under Howe due to the shock of it and the seemingly sheer incompetence of our team as a whole to defend. It was so fucking easy for them, could've easily been a worse hiding than it ended up. 

 

Do I think Eddie Howe is perfect, no, do I think he makes some mistakes in games that are costly, yes, is there a manager in the world who doesn't, NO! 

 

I remember being surprised reading a stat pre-season that teams who get back into Europe on average finish eight places lower in the league the next season, that's pretty wild. Then there's the obvious reason that everyone's sick of hearing now but the number of injuries just can't be denied, we've been battered.

It's highly likely going to get rougher before it gets better with the games to come in the league, but we could lose the next four games and there's still no manager I'd rather see in that dugout than Eddie Howie. 

KEEP THE FAITH!!!

 

 

Edited December 27, 2023 by mondonewc

[Upthemags]

Eddie could do a lot to quiet the chirping if he grabbed a couple of points from the next 3 league games. Not easy/likely of course, but that would dull the blade-sharpening that some (really a small minority) seem keen on.

[Dr.Spaceman]

16 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Why are we talking about this?

 

Someone said they'd still want Howe here even if we finished 17th.

[The College Dropout]

46 minutes ago, The Butcher said:

 

Bruno has also played qualifiers in SOuth America. What’s the plan to rest him up?

[Big Geordie]

It's worth noting that the usual media haters will be loving this, because it gives them another excuse to 'stick it to the Saudis and PIF'. These cunts love stoking division and are aided by the small but very vocal malcontents among our support, as well as from other clubs.

 

Now is not the time to panic - let Eddie regroup the players - hopefully get some loan signings in sharpish, in Jan (Tonali can be replaced in squad, etc) The reduction of the amount of games we are on will also help massively.

 

We will be OK. Good run at the FA Cup and a top 10 finish would be OK by me, all things considered.

[madras]

2 hours ago, The College Dropout said:

And he didn’t score nor look like scoring. 1-0 down he didn’t even give Haaland 10 minutes to overturn the result. He prioritised Haaland’s long term sharpness and fitness of a LC R3 tie even if that meant losing. 
 

Despite a congested fixture list and an injury crisis - Howe has not prioritised player fitness and sharpness over the immediate game. 
 

This is where I can admit to results bias. Had we beaten any of Bournemouth, Everton, Spurs or Chelsea his decisions would be vindicated. As such we’ve lost and played badly - almost progressively badly - and his decisions are rightfully being critiqued.  

Pep started off with closer to what you'd class as his strongest XI than we did, then brought on Nunes, Foden and Doku.

 

Fwiw Trippier stayed on  the bench and Schar was on for about 2 mins

[Theregulars]

Victim of his own success and I think people are ignoring or downplaying the physical and emotional fatigue. The players obviously look tired because they’re not running as much or as effectively and they’re losing control / skying chances where they wouldn’t normally. I remain of the opinion that I’m not sure what else he was supposed to do bar train and play less intensely prior to the injury madness, but a good number of the injuries dont seem to be caused by physical intensity.

 

I’ve seen managers sacked for less in this insane industry, but to bin off Howe now would be to delegitimise the ownership. 
 

I hope he’ll be fine and think he still benefits from massive caveats. 

[Guest reefatoon]

13 hours ago, Interpolic said:

 

No need. Fuck off. 

 

We made those changes as it was necessary to win the tie. The alternative was throwing it. You're focusing on minutiae in one game where Howe got everything right. Laters. 

I have great joy telling people this, but if you hoy him on ignore fella, this place becomes so much better. One knacker pot spoiling it for all, take him out the equation and bingo, let the good times roll.  

 

Works for all people. Looking to enhance your NO experience? Try the tested TCD mute button and bring instant joy to your day. Cuts out all the bullshit at no extra cost. Try yours today.

 

 

Edited December 27, 2023 by reefatoon

[The Butcher]

Good thread. Really hope he can turn it around.

[Ben]

This new thing where our defenders follow the ball in the box leaving attackers totally free needs to stop, they were all over the place yesterday 

[Dr Jinx]

1 hour ago, Slim said:

Because Howe would not think "We are going to lose anyway"

Liverpool are going to tear us apart on New Years Day. We’ll be overrun.

 

[Lazarus]

No way Howe gets sacked this season - weve still got players who were in the championship ffs.

 

If he was - the players would be in uproar, so would the fans and the staff - it would be counterproductive.

 

If in the extremely unlikely event he was, who is available?? Potter?

[The College Dropout]

45 minutes ago, madras said:

Pep started off with closer to what you'd class as his strongest XI than we did, then brought on Nunes, Foden and Doku.

 

Fwiw Trippier stayed on  the bench and Schar was on for about 2 mins

As in 2 of the players that played in the CL final - Akanji & Ake.

 

A team that included Oscar Bobb, Ortega, KALVIN PHILLIPS, Sergio Gomez, Mateo Kovacic.

 

Like I said - his key men. Ederson, Dias, Rodri, Haaland - not a single minute despite losing. Pep Guardiola didn't want to run his star men into the ground so they sat it out completely.

 

What is/was the plan to rest Bruno? Almiron? Trippier? Schar? Gordon? He's ran them into the ground. He has to take some responsibility for that.

 

Milan (H), old boy bursts past Bruno before the winner in the 85th minute. On the weekend, Elanga runs straight past him to setup the second. MGW runs straight past him to head wide at 46 minutes - the lad is knackered and hasn't had a rest in months. Howe is responsible for that.

 

We've had injuries at CM - serious ones. But I've always thought we needed 2 CMs in that position in the summer. We didn't do it. Likewise we are a quality player light on the wings.

 

 

Edited December 27, 2023 by The College Dropout

[STM]

4 hours ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Sorry, who is ‘you lot’?  From Froggy’s post:

 

’My thoughts:

 

Are you in poor form? Yes.

Is fatigue/injuries to blame? Yes.

Should Howe also take blame? Yes.

Should Howe be sacked? Only if you're a fucking mentalist.’

 

That’s pretty much every post on here which has been critical of some aspects of Howe’s management. 

 

I was half joking about "you lot", also I take your point about hardly anyone is asking for him to be sacked.

 

 

 

 

It's the stuff above that gets me riled up.

 

Pressing the red button at the first signs of problems.

 

 

 

[madras]

11 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

As in 2 of the players that played in the CL final - Akanji & Ake.

 

A team that included Oscar Bobb, Ortega, KALVIN PHILLIPS, Sergio Gomez, Mateo Kovacic.

 

Like I said - his key men. Ederson, Dias, Rodri, Haaland - not a single minute despite losing. Pep Guardiola didn't want to run his star men into the ground so they sat it out completely.

 

What is/was the plan to rest Bruno? Almiron? Trippier? Schar? Gordon? He's ran them into the ground. He has to take some responsibility for that.

 

Milan (H), old boy bursts past Bruno before the winner in the 85th minute. On the weekend, Elanga runs straight past him to setup the second. MGW runs straight past him to head wide at 46 minutes - the lad is knackered and hasn't had a rest in months. Howe is responsible for that.

 

We've had injuries at CM - serious ones. But I've always thought we needed 2 CMs in that position in the summer. We didn't do it. Likewise we are a quality player light on the wings.

 

 

 

The plan was probably Tonali, Murphy, Barnes, Lascalles etc to help rotate rather than  be out injured for months or suspended. 

 

Injuries to Burn, Barnes,Murphy, Anderson, Pope, Willock weren't down to too many minutes. Man City through years of unfettered spending on the first team and academy are possibly the only team that could get through what we have comfortably..... and even they are currently struggling by their own standards.

[Jaqen]

3 hours ago, The College Dropout said:

And he didn’t score nor look like scoring. 1-0 down he didn’t even give Haaland 10 minutes to overturn the result. He prioritised Haaland’s long term sharpness and fitness of a LC R3 tie even if that meant losing. 
 

Despite a congested fixture list and an injury crisis - Howe has not prioritised player fitness and sharpness over the immediate game. 
 

This is where I can admit to results bias. Had we beaten any of Bournemouth, Everton, Spurs or Chelsea his decisions would be vindicated. As such we’ve lost and played badly - almost progressively badly - and his decisions are rightfully being critiqued.  

 

Pep was happy to lose that tie as the club world cup clashed with the QF round anyway for them. Haaland would have came on if it was a competition they could have actually won. 

[pubteam]

20 minutes ago, STM said:

 

I was half joking about "you lot", also I take your point about hardly anyone is asking for him to be sacked.

 

 

 

 

It's the stuff above that gets me riled up.

 

Pressing the red button at the first signs of problems.

 

 

 

Idiots like that are just looking for people to interact with the their tweets/shit YouTube channel.

[Orphanage]

21 minutes ago, STM said:

 

I was half joking about "you lot", also I take your point about hardly anyone is asking for him to be sacked.

 

 

 

 

It's the stuff above that gets me riled up.

 

Pressing the red button at the first signs of problems.

 

 

 

Ah yes Lee and his ' supa fan ' crew . Give them pelters in the comments . Let them know 

[mondonewc]

3 minutes ago, pubteam said:

Idiots like that are just looking for people to interact with the their tweets/shit YouTube channel.

This! Don't give the twats the click and hope the fuck off. 

[gbandit]

26 minutes ago, STM said:

 

I was half joking about "you lot", also I take your point about hardly anyone is asking for him to be sacked.

 

 

 

 

It's the stuff above that gets me riled up.

 

Pressing the red button at the first signs of problems.

 

 

 

People afraid to boo? Guaranteed that guy thinks we’ve all gone too soft, should have national service, should allow parents to hit their kids, the world’s gone woke. 
 

What the fuck is the point in booing a bunch of players and manager who love the club and have produced amazingly for two years. Honestly, if people can’t support their club when things aren’t going well then what’s the point of being a fan. I’m not saying don’t criticise the players or manager, but do it constructively like Sanjay on Twitter. Actually build an argument rather than just saying we should be booing them off the pitch or calling for Howe’s head.

 

Its the worst thing about football aside from the greed in the game, idiot fans 

[The College Dropout]

4 minutes ago, Jaqen said:

 

Pep was happy to lose that tie as the club world cup clashed with the QF round anyway for them. Haaland would have came on if it was a competition they could have actually won. 

You don't think they could have won the league cup?

 

Or he prioritised the fitness and sharpness of his team in the medium/long-term over the 1 game?

 

Howe said: "It's in-built in me, I think every game is a must-win, and the term is probably overused in football.

"But it's the only way that we prepare. We prepare to win every game, we never have anything else in our minds and we will prepare to win this one."

 

6 minutes ago, madras said:

The plan was probably Tonali, Murphy, Barnes, Lascalles etc to help rotate rather than  be out injured for months or suspended. 

 

Injuries to Burn, Barnes,Murphy, Anderson, Pope, Willock weren't down to too many minutes. Man City through years of unfettered spending on the first team and academy are possibly the only team that could get through what we have comfortably..... and even they are currently struggling by their own standards.

So when Tonali, Murphy & Barnes got injured - long-term injuries btw - the best course of action was to run the fit players into the ground?

 

You can't rule fatigue out as a contributory factor when you play a lot of minutes unless it's a high-impact injury. You could also argue at least one of these players came back too early and played too much.

 

With injuries and fatigue. Howe needed to be more flexible in his approach both tactical and in terms of personnel.

 

I'm not saying it's all his fault. But he could have taken a more long-term approach to keeping players fit and sharp.

 

 

But ok - Bruno has played 93% of available minutes + Brazilian internationals and there is nothing Howe could have done to help keep him fresh and sharp. It's just unfortunate. Onwards and upwards.

[TheInfiniteOdyssey]

I don’t want to see him sacked, but this is the worst situation we’ve experienced since the Cambridge cup loss. Our away form all season has been wretched and dire performances are now compounding the negative results.

 

On a basic level, I’m concerned we’ve been found out. It feels like if we concede, we have no answer. When we play, we can’t adapt. This obviously stems in large part to our injury list, but teams seem to find it incredibly easy to play against us now. We look so vulnerable on every attack.

 

I also think that in the last couple months, mentally we’re just not there. We’ve made some catastrophic human errors in a game that have led directly to a goal. 
 

I don’t really know what the answer is but I’m extremely concerned. I don’t think we get a single point in the league in January and I also have little faith the team will actually put in a display that gets us a win at Sunderland.

 

If we lose the derby, there will be an avalanche of negativity. I wonder if the ownership are aware of how bad it will be if we lose that game.

 

Ultimately, it all hinges on results. If we continue to spiral down into the bottom-half, the owners will act, especially if we have a fuller squad available.