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4 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

For context, if we continued at that pace for the rest of the season, it would be the worst we’ve had in the top flight since 60/61 - when we were relegated (and about half of those seasons were 42 game seasons).

 

This context is worthless without reference to the amount of goals we're scoring and how that compares to those seasons.

 

We're conceding far too many but we're also scoring plenty.  I'm not happy with performances either but only 3 teams in the league have scored more than us, so to ignore that and compare to relegation seasons is disingenuous at best.

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1 minute ago, Interpolic said:

 

This context is worthless without reference to the amount of goals we're scoring and how that compares to those seasons.

 

We're conceding far too many but we're also scoring plenty.  I'm not happy with performances either but only 3 teams in the league have scored more than us, so to ignore that and compare to relegation seasons is disingenuous at best.

It’s a perfect comparison; we scored 86 league goals that season :)

 

I was being deliberately hyperbolic - I don’t for a second believe that the rate we’re conceding at will continue.  But it does put into stark contrast the rate at which we’re conceding vs what we were conceding

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This season has been a frustrating one. I guess we have to just be patient and hope the club is able to re tool the squad somewhat. The weaknesses have been laid bare and now we can see we really did over achieve last year. This horrific run of injuries hasn't helped but it is what it is.

 

 

Edited by OverThere

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There is of course work for Howe to do. We've been far too easy to play through for a few months. It looked like he might have finally cracked it v Wolves, but last night we were let down by a lack of concentration and workrate, which is uncharacteristic of us.

 

Context is important too. Players have mentioned, it's been a mentally and physically draining season, with our soft underbelly exposed by an unprecedented injury crisis and gruelling fixture schedule. I'm sure it's been a steep learning curve for both Howe and a few of the player who haven't experienced European football.

 

Up until late October, what Howe had achieved at the club was nothing short of remarkable. Even in the face of a lengthening lost of absentees, we battled on longer than we had any right to do before the wheels come off. 

 

Since the turn of the year, with personnel returning and the fixtures easing, things have gradually improved, but we're still far fron our best and at times a soft touch to play against. For every Villa or Wolves, there's a Luton or Arsenal. We are of course still missing a couple of key players, while others look short of confidence, but it's down to Howe to make the best of a shitty hand.

 

So while there are concerns, Howe's minor miracles of previous seasons has earned him the chance to put those right. He still fully has my backing until it becomes evident he's taken the club as far as he's able to.

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3 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Mental how many fans seem keen on Mourinho. Not sure I’d bother much if he ever gets the job tbh.

Obviously I want is to keep Eddie and for him to push on but people fancying Mourinho shouldn’t be surprising given he’s won practically everything in the game. 

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My biggest concern at present is when teams put up even the slightest bit of resistance we seem to buckle and turn to shit. Where have the leaders who were so present last season gone. If Trippier isn't playing we don't have a single player that takes control. Bruno has had to cool it understandably but others need to step up. Our press is so half arsed we might as well not be pressing at all.

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2 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

Obviously I want is to keep Eddie and for him to push on but people fancying Mourinho shouldn’t be surprising given he’s won practically everything in the game. 

Hasnt it been quite a while since he won anything significant though?

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Just now, Displayname said:

Hasnt it been quite a while since he won anything significant though?

Won silverware with Roma if I’m not wrong. 
 

Point being he’s a genuine legend and a massive name; of course a small section of the fanbase would be thinking he’d be a good appointment 

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1 minute ago, pubteam said:

My biggest concern at present is when teams put up even the slightest bit of resistance we seem to buckle and turn to shit. Where have the leaders who were so present last season gone. If Trippier isn't playing we don't have a single player that takes control. Bruno has had to cool it understandably but others need to step up. Our press is so half arsed we might as well not be pressing at all.

The togetherness does not seem to be there like it was last season. When Dubs made that error against Bournemouth, i dont recall anyone going to him to have have a word, everyone just dropped heads and turned away. There where few worrying sings of giving up yesterday at the end,  Longstaff for example just gave the ball away without any concern. It is not a happy camp.

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6 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

Obviously I want is to keep Eddie and for him to push on but people fancying Mourinho shouldn’t be surprising given he’s won practically everything in the game. 

He’s been finished for years, pisses everyone off after alienating players and every club improves when he leaves.

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I watched Liverpool the other day and they absolutely swarmed all over City and didn't allow them to settle. Reminded me of how we played last season but performances this season are worlds apart

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4 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

Won silverware with Roma if I’m not wrong. 
 

Point being he’s a genuine legend and a massive name; of course a small section of the fanbase would be thinking he’d be a good appointment 

He won conferance and finished 6-7th in his 2 seasons there before being sacked this season after dissapointing results.

A legend, but a finished legend.

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I feel bad for him and I hope he's getting a chance but let's not kid ourselves... He's in deep shit as it is. Miracle season, injuries, bad luck... none of that matters when Chelsea smash Burnley in their next game we are in 11th in the league, looking clueless and disinterested on the pitch with a massive spend of around 468 million €.

11th.. that's Pardew territory.

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7 minutes ago, Donut said:

I feel bad for him and I hope he's getting a chance but let's not kid ourselves... He's in deep shit as it is. Miracle season, injuries, bad luck... none of that matters when Chelsea smash Burnley in their next game we are in 11th in the league, looking clueless and disinterested on the pitch with a massive spend of around 468 million €.

11th.. that's Pardew territory.

To even compare Howe to Pardew is mental.

 

Some of our fans need a reality check! If we had finished 12th last year and were pushing to get into the top 10 this year the majority of the fan base would be over the moon! 

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8 minutes ago, mofo said:

To even compare Howe to Pardew is mental.

 

Some of our fans need a reality check! If we had finished 12th last year and were pushing to get into the top 10 this year the majority of the fan base would be over the moon! 

 

Nah, not with the investment we've had. Don't think fans would have been "over the moon" to be honest. Especially when you consider how strongly we finished that first season when Howe took over after the takeover.

 

 

Edited by Ikon

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I think a pass mark for this season was to finish best of the rest. So 7th or 8th. I think anything below that will be concerning for the owners, even with the injury issues. 

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2 minutes ago, Kanji said:

^ good. It’s about bloody time they shifted on anyone who can’t cut it. 

 

But he said Howe isn't going anywhere. :tino:

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5 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

Baldwards reporting he's going no where and there will be an overhaul of the first team squad this summer.

 

I hope this is true. The club need to be ruthless, because I don't feel Howe is. Longstaff has to go, he isn't good enough. Miley at 17 is already a better player and can be the squad player we need atm. 

 

Hopefully we'll have a director of football in place soon. It feels like this will be a pivotal transfer window. 

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