Eddie Howe

[Displayname]

Not that I think we could get any better for us at all atm, but are we ever going to challenge at the very top considering how streaky of a team we seem to be under Eddie?

Title winning teams can't afford these poor periods which seems to come quite often for us.

[Heron]

1 hour ago, Lucky said:

Where do you rank Howe in terms of current PL managers?

Top. Seriously.

[TRC]

Just now, Displayname said:

Not that I think we could get any better for us at all atm, but are we ever going to challenge at the very top considering how streaky of a team we seem to be under Eddie?

Title winning teams can't afford these poor periods which seems to come quite often for us.

I don’t think it’s to do with being streaky I think we just lack those super star level players the bigger teams have to take us that extra mile. The big 4 have lots of players who can bail them out each week. I’m excluding Spurs and Man U from the big 6 they are just competing with the best of the rest for now.

[SUPERTOON]

2 minutes ago, Displayname said:

Not that I think we could get any better for us at all atm, but are we ever going to challenge at the very top considering how streaky of a team we seem to be under Eddie?

Title winning teams can't afford these poor periods which seems to come quite often for us.

We won’t ever challenge at the top with the current PSR restrictions. Without them, I see no reason why we wouldn’t challenge under Howe (assuming Saudis really wanted to splash the cash, but that’s a different topic).

[andycap]

Do you think the pre seasons we have under him are the problem? 

The way he never really plays his starting 11 together until first game of the season.

cannot be many teams that do that. 

[Jamesmcc222]

14 minutes ago, Displayname said:

Not that I think we could get any better for us at all atm, but are we ever going to challenge at the very top considering how streaky of a team we seem to be under Eddie?

Title winning teams can't afford these poor periods which seems to come quite often for us.

We are streaky because we have an upper mid table wage budget and net spend.

 

The fact we’ve been finishing as high as we have and winning stuff is because of Howe not in spite of him.

 

We wouldn’t be streaky without him, we’d just be losing. 
 

Honestly. 

[Lucky]

17 minutes ago, Heron said:

Top. Seriously.

You think he’s a better manager than Pep and Arteta?

 

I think he’s a solid top 6 of managers in the league.. you could argue that he’s top 3 but our league positions don’t add weight to that.

[Heron]

Our transfer business and strategy is what causes us to start "late" for me and whether or not that's down to the structure of the club, Eddie Howe and/or others is a bit of an unknown to me.

 

What I do know is with Eddie Howe "at the wheel" we've done nothing but signed players who have always improved the squad and/or team, whom he has maximised their potential, and whom he has managed to mould into multiple tactics or simply moved on if they didn't fit the new style of play at more than likely an increased value because of said maximisation of potential.

 

I don't think there's another manager in the country who has changed tactical outlook and style in such a transformative manner as Howe. Guardiola, Slot, Arteta, Maresca none of these have done what Howe has. Sure they've won stuff, but under much different circumstances. Glasner has to be the closest and aside from him Thomas Frank.

 

For lack of adaptability see Postecoglou.

[Heron]

2 minutes ago, Lucky said:

You think he’s a better manager than Pep and Arteta?

 

I think he’s a solid top 6 of managers in the league.. you could argue that he’s top 3 but our league positions don’t add weight to that.

Yes.

[TRC]

Just now, Lucky said:

You think he’s a better manager than Pep and Arteta?

 

I think he’s a solid top 6 of managers in the league.. you could argue that he’s top 3 but our league positions don’t add weight to that.

I think to be top he needs some European pedigree. It’s the only reason Emery is ahead of him in my eyes. 
 

Pep, Arteta are ahead in their own tier. I’d probably put Emery, Howe, Glasner, Iraola in the next tier. None of those fan bases would swap their manager out for the others.

[Drewboy74]

1 minute ago, Lucky said:

You think he’s a better manager than Pep and Arteta?

 

I think he’s a solid top 6 of managers in the league.. you could argue that he’s top 3 but our league positions don’t add weight to that.

Do you think Pep or Arteta could get a better tune out of our squad? I don't. 

[Heron]

1 minute ago, TRC said:

I think to be top he needs some European pedigree. It’s the only reason Emery is ahead of him in my eyes. 
 

Pep, Arteta are ahead in their own tier. I’d probably put Emery, Howe, Glasner, Iraola in the next tier. None of those fan bases would swap their manager out for the others.

This is surely based on trophies won though right? With multi-million (billion?) Transfer expenditure and a starting position of prior success at respective club...

 

 

Edited October 18, 2025 by Heron

[Colos Short and Curlies]

Things like signing players consistently who have improved the squad and the best British manager since Fergie are really doing Howe with faint praise. They are such low bars.

 

That's not a knock on Eddie, it's a knock on what he's being compared against.

[Fak]

Arteta is a helmet. A billion quid spent to achieve next to fuckall. 

[The College Dropout]

23 minutes ago, TRC said:

I don’t think it’s to do with being streaky I think we just lack those super star level players the bigger teams have to take us that extra mile. The big 4 have lots of players who can bail them out each week. I’m excluding Spurs and Man U from the big 6 they are just competing with the best of the rest for now.

Increasingly the top 4 have incredible depth more so than super star level players.

 

Chelsea started today without their first-choice midfield and won 3-0 away from home. Ange tax aye but still. Starting Lavia, Santos etc. squad is a joke.

[Colos Short and Curlies]

3 minutes ago, Drewboy74 said:

Do you think Pep or Arteta could get a better tune out of our squad? I don't. 

 

They'd have built a different make up of squad tbf.

 

The question is would they be doing a better job of they'd started when Howe did and had the same amount of cash to spend.

 

What sets Howe apart on the conversation is how he has grabbed and improved the culture in the club 

[The College Dropout]

4 minutes ago, TRC said:

I think to be top he needs some European pedigree. It’s the only reason Emery is ahead of him in my eyes. 
 

Pep, Arteta are ahead in their own tier. I’d probably put Emery, Howe, Glasner, Iraola in the next tier. None of those fan bases would swap their manager out for the others.

I've had this argument with my friend. Glasner winning Europa and FA Cup -  had to concede that one, Emery, Slot, Pep.

 

I won't put Arteta above him. With the financial backing Arteta has had and trust through a bad season.. Emery developing Saka, Martinelli & Saliba, Gabriel not being his own signing (maybe Gabriel).

[Heron]

2 minutes ago, Colos Short and Curlies said:

Things like signing players consistently who have improved the squad and the best British manager since Fergie are really doing Howe with faint praise. They are such low bars.

 

That's not a knock on Eddie, it's a knock on what he's being compared against.

They are contributory factors to add weight to the debate though. He's consistently done well in the transfer market with regards to signings. IF that is his responsibility at all, then it adds weight to his abilities as a coach and manager.

[Kid Icarus]

8 minutes ago, Drewboy74 said:

Do you think Pep or Arteta could get a better tune out of our squad? I don't. 

Bang on, this is the question to ask. 

[TRC]

1 minute ago, Kid Icarus said:

Bang on, this is the question to ask. 

This isn’t really a fair question, I don’t think Howe could have done what Nuno did last year but I think Howe is a better manager.

 

 

[Kid Icarus]

Just now, TRC said:

This isn’t really a fair question, I don’t think Howe could have done what Nuno did last year but I think Howe is a better manager.

Not sure why you wouldn't think Howe could do that like, it was basic counter attacking football.

[Jamesmcc222]

10 minutes ago, TRC said:

I think to be top he needs some European pedigree. It’s the only reason Emery is ahead of him in my eyes. 
 

Pep, Arteta are ahead in their own tier. I’d probably put Emery, Howe, Glasner, Iraola in the next tier. None of those fan bases would swap their manager out for the others.

Arteta. What European pedigree does he have, other than perhaps being Spanish.

 

Pep has done magnificently with the resources he has. Honestly no one knows if he can develop average players. Next tier is Howe, Emery, Glasner and Iraola. All shown they can actually improve teams. 

 

Slot is too bald to consider for any tiers at this stage. 

[TRC]

Just now, Kid Icarus said:

Not sure why you wouldn't think Howe could do that like, it was basic counter attacking football.

Nuno has Chris Wood playing like prime R9

[Vinny Green Balls]

15 minutes ago, Lucky said:

You think he’s a better manager than Pep and Arteta?

 

I think he’s a solid top 6 of managers in the league.. you could argue that he’s top 3 but our league positions don’t add weight to that.

Oh Jesus, do you understand context? The top 3 teams have much stronger squads. One could argue that Arteta is punching slightly below his weight. Slot inherited a brilliant team and went on to spend a record amount. Pep is Pep and has been class everywhere, even if he has only gone to giants. Howe has consistently punched above his weight since he went into management.

[Heron]

I mean...imagine having a "Is he the best manager in the league" with his predecessor...