Eddie Howe

[The College Dropout]

35 minutes ago, Kanj said:

Heading defense: Burn > Botman

Heading attacks: Burn > Botman

Pace: Burn > Botman (not by much but it's pretty noticeable) 

Ball Playing short & long:  Botman > Burn

Tackling: Botman > Burn (Burn is a better backs to wall tackler/defender though) 

High Line defending: Botman > Burn 

 

I'd personally rotate Burn and Botman with emphasis on getting Hall back into the team at LB. Hall was nearly a lights out 1 v 1 defender prior to his injury and really only had issues with generational Mo Salah last season. His ball playing and line breaking passes were crucial to us in our uptick in form last season. I think Botman still has much to improve in his aerial defending - if it’s a standing jump he's toast. 

I would start Burn at CB 75-80% of competitive games while they are at this level unless form improves or dips. 

I don’t think Hall is as good defensively as you’ve suggested.  But the team desperately needs more football in it. 

[Pata]

3 hours ago, r0cafella said:

Good post and as your a money man I'll give you another. 

 

We hang on to players for far too long. I estimate we will get zero back on the following players 

 

Wilson - cost 20m let go for free. 

Pope - cost 12m and unlikely to recoup. 

Burn - cost 13m unlikely to recoup 

Tripper - cost 13m unlikely to recoup. 

 

The issue im attempting to highlight is these players cost money, we aren't getting anything back for them and to replace them will cost money again. When you factor in the average purchase price for players we buy it isn't pretty. 

These are some of the best buys the club has ever made and bar Wilson everyone is still contributing. All of the fees are low too.
 

At what point do you suggest we should’ve cashed in on Burn for example? After the player of the season year he had and scoring in the cup final? Would someone really pay enough for a 33 year old CB for us to be worth it to let him go especially knowing Botman’s injury history? Pope just got picked for England again and we would’ve been absolutely fucked this season without Trippier.

[LaurentRobert]

Think we'll look a far better outfit with Tino and Hall on the overlap. The wingers are really struggling with Trippier and Burn offering very little going forward.

 

Also think Woltemade needs to drop deep behind Wissa to play his best football. 

 

I think we should therefore shift to a 4411 

 

                          Pope 

Tino         Thiaw       Botman        Hall 

Murphy    Tonali       Bruno           Gordon 

                     Wolltemade 

                      Wissa

 

 

 

[madras]

19 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

We have 3 genuine first choice fullbacks. That isn’t enough and was an obvious weak spot imo.  It required Tino being fit all season to work.  As soon as Tino gets a medium term injury like he has - we are suddenly wafer thin at FB. If anyone else gets injured - like we have - we are stuffed.  
 

 

We are light at FB and CM still.  
 

Lack quality on the wings.  

I think it required Tino and Hall not to be out at the same time. How many full backs should we have ? I'm sure it was you who was saying we can't have two first XIs when I was saying about needing another forward which is a more pressing need imo. 

[Bellis80]

He wouldn’t let Alex Murphy go out on loan in the summer because he needed the cover. Think he was the other full back but he’s never going to use him.

[Holmesy]

Clearly he thought BDB could adequately fill in at LB if Hall got injured, which is a horrible piece of judgement after what we saw last time. We even let Targett go out on loan, such was the confidence/loyalty in Burn. Maybe we couldn't find anyone decent to sign, maybe we didn't have the budget but I don't think any of us really think those things are true. Even those who piss their knickers any time they hear anything remotely negative said about Eddie must be sitting there wondering.

 

 

Edited November 11, 2025 by Holmesy

[The College Dropout]

29 minutes ago, madras said:

I think it required Tino and Hall not to be out at the same time. How many full backs should we have ? I'm sure it was you who was saying we can't have two first XIs when I was saying about needing another forward which is a more pressing need imo. 

4. Unless we have a genuine hybrid CB like a Levi Colwil

 

One of the 3 we have is 35. C'mon man.

 

I also think we are still a genuine CM light. We've too many of these weird hybrid players like Ramsey, Willock and Big Joe.

 

I advocated for higher level stopgaps - like better than Krafth.

[Pata]

6 minutes ago, Holmesy said:

Clearly he thought BDB could adequately fill in at LB if Hall got injured, which is a horrible piece of judgement after what we saw last time. We even let Targett go out on loan, such was the confidence/loyalty in Burn. Maybe we couldn't find anyone decent to sign, maybe we didn't have the budget but I don't think any of us really think those things are true. Even those who piss their knickers any time they hear anything remotely negative said about Eddie must be sitting there wondering.

 

 

 

 

Nah, Tino is the backup LB.

[madras]

11 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

4. Unless we have a genuine hybrid CB like a Levi Colwil

 

One of the 3 we have is 35. C'mon man.

 

I also think we are still a genuine CM light. We've too many of these weird hybrid players like Ramsey, Willock and Big Joe.

 

I advocated for higher level stopgaps - like better than Krafth.

Re Trips being 35, I did say that would be a priority summer of 26 as he'd be away. Agree re CM but enough to get by when we have 1 no 9.

[Lucky]

8 hours ago, Interpolic said:

 

You can't stand the manager and have been wishing him into unemployment since your previous username, which was presumably laughed off the forum. What was it, out of interest? 

That’s total bollocks. I’ve said repeatedly I really like Eddie Howe and I would love dearly for him to succeed.

 

Am just not seeing it though. The top managers are consistent in the league. Eddie Howe has been consistently inconsistent. And I have criticised him before and been made to eat my words when we go on a prolonged run of form, but then we’re right back in a shit spell again. How is that sustainable?

 

This season feels different though. We’ve never played as badly as this under him.

 

And to whoever is saying nobody has the balls to say he should be replaced, i have said this on this thread. I think he should be given the season as am sure we won’t be relegated. But approaching the summer we should look to bring in a top coach and try and kick on as a club from that point.

 

Ross Wilson should be the one picking the players (if any) that we sign in January.

[Interpolic]

2 minutes ago, Lucky said:

That’s total bollocks. I’ve said repeatedly I really like Eddie Howe and I would love dearly for him to succeed.

 

Am just not seeing it though. The top managers are consistent in the league. Eddie Howe has been consistently inconsistent. And I have criticised him before and been made to eat my words when we go on a prolonged run of form, but then we’re right back in a shit spell again. How is that sustainable?

 

This season feels different though. We’ve never played as badly as this under him.

 

And to whoever is saying nobody has the balls to say he should be replaced, i have said this on this thread. I think he should be given the season as am sure we won’t be relegated. But approaching the summer we should look to bring in a top coach and try and kick on as a club from that point.

 

Ross Wilson should be the one picking the players (if any) that we sign in January.

 

We've never had a user called "That’s total bollocks. I’ve said repeatedly I really like Eddie Howe and I would love dearly for him to succeed.

 

Am just not seeing it though. The top managers are consistent in the league. Eddie Howe has been consistently inconsistent. And I have criticised him before and been made to eat my words when we go on a prolonged run of form, but then we’re right back in a shit spell again. How is that sustainable?

 

This season feels different though. We’ve never played as badly as this under him.

 

And to whoever is saying nobody has the balls to say he should be replaced, i have said this on this thread. I think he should be given the season as am sure we won’t be relegated. But approaching the summer we should look to bring in a top coach and try and kick on as a club from that point.

 

Ross Wilson should be the one picking the players (if any) that we sign in January."

 

 

Edited November 11, 2025 by Interpolic

[Lucky]

Just now, Interpolic said:

 

We've never had a user called "That’s total bollocks. I’ve said repeatedly I really like Eddie Howe and I would love dearly for him to succeed.

 

Am just not seeing it though. The top managers are consistent in the league. Eddie Howe has been consistently inconsistent. And I have criticised him before and been made to eat my words when we go on a prolonged run of form, but then we’re right back in a shit spell again. How is that sustainable?

 

This season feels different though. We’ve never played as badly as this under him.

 

And to whoever is saying nobody has the balls to say he should be replaced, i have said this on this thread. I think he should be given the season as am sure we won’t be relegated. But approaching the summer we should look to bring in a top coach and try and kick on as a club from that point.

 

Ross Wilson should be the one picking the players (if any) that we sign in January."

 

 

 

Grand yeah, just ignore valid points that you can’t make a case against 👍

[Holmesy]

This fucking place is mental . It is ok to have different opinions on stuff you know. It's not North Korea

[Skeletor]

There's no point looking at our away form last season. Its not just a decline, its a complete collapse in away performances this season. We haven't won a single away game in the league and the only good team we've played are Villa. We've still got all the top teams away to come.

[Interpolic]

Just now, Lucky said:

Grand yeah, just ignore valid points that you can’t make a case against 👍

 

 I asked you a question, you're avoiding answering it. 

 

Of course I can make a case  It's not the first time you've called Howe "consistently inconsistent" and it's one of the most laughable views I've read on here, ever. 

 

To be consistently consistent he'd be winning the league at a canter every season. It doesn't matter which order the points are put on the board. He's got the 7th or 8th highest budget in the league and has consistently over-performed against it, in the face of massive challenges. 

 

What was your previous username? 

[Andy]

6 minutes ago, Interpolic said:

 

We've never had a user called "That’s total bollocks. I’ve said repeatedly I really like Eddie Howe and I would love dearly for him to succeed.

 

Am just not seeing it though. The top managers are consistent in the league. Eddie Howe has been consistently inconsistent. And I have criticised him before and been made to eat my words when we go on a prolonged run of form, but then we’re right back in a shit spell again. How is that sustainable?

 

This season feels different though. We’ve never played as badly as this under him.

 

And to whoever is saying nobody has the balls to say he should be replaced, i have said this on this thread. I think he should be given the season as am sure we won’t be relegated. But approaching the summer we should look to bring in a top coach and try and kick on as a club from that point.

 

Ross Wilson should be the one picking the players (if any) that we sign in January."

 

 

 

 

Nah I think we did, but since he deleted his account, his historic posts are now called "Guest That’s total bollocks. I’ve said repeatedly I really like Eddie Howe and I would love dearly for him to succeed.

 

Am just not seeing it though. The top managers are consistent in the league. Eddie Howe has been consistently inconsistent. And I have criticised him before and been made to eat my words when we go on a prolonged run of form, but then we’re right back in a shit spell again. How is that sustainable?

 

This season feels different though. We’ve never played as badly as this under him.

 

And to whoever is saying nobody has the balls to say he should be replaced, i have said this on this thread. I think he should be given the season as am sure we won’t be relegated. But approaching the summer we should look to bring in a top coach and try and kick on as a club from that point.

 

Ross Wilson should be the one picking the players (if any) that we sign in January."

[Fak]

I like Eddie Howe.

[Holmesy]

Just now, Fak said:

I like Eddie Howe.

That is the correct opinion. You can stay

[Lucky]

Just now, Interpolic said:

 

 I asked you a question, you're avoiding answering it. 

 

Of course I can make a case  It's not the first time you've called Howe "consistently inconsistent" and it's one of the most laughable views I've read on here, ever. 

 

To be consistently consistent he'd be winning the league at a canter every season. It doesn't matter which order the points are put on the board. He's got the 7th or 8th highest budget in the league and has consistently over-performed against it, in the face of massive challenges. 

 

What was your previous username? 

Not avoiding at all. It was Dr Jinx.

 

Thats irrelevant to the topic though. He’s been inconsistent in every season, there have been reasons for that, the injuries in the last CL campaign season for example.

 

Less excuses last year as the schedule wasn’t as horrific and arguably we had a better team. There were times of frustration but those weren’t as prolonged as this seasons decline.

 

He headed recruitment this summer. All of those players were his picks, he should have known exactly how he was going to integrate them into the side.

 

If the argument is that Woltemade breaks the press system. Why doesn’t he just play Elanga up front to hassle defenders?

[Interpolic]

1 minute ago, Lucky said:

Not avoiding at all. It was Dr Jinx.

 

Thats irrelevant to the topic though. He’s been inconsistent in every season, there have been reasons for that, the injuries in the last CL campaign season for example.

 

Less excuses last year as the schedule wasn’t as horrific and arguably we had a better team. There were times of frustration but those weren’t as prolonged as this seasons decline.

 

He headed recruitment this summer. All of those players were his picks, he should have known exactly how he was going to integrate them into the side.

 

If the argument is that Woltemade breaks the press system. Why doesn’t he just play Elanga up front to hassle defenders?

 

Which top level managers are not inconsistent? 

[Vinny Green Balls]

15 minutes ago, Holmesy said:

This fucking place is mental . It is ok to have different opinions on stuff you know. It's not North Korea

This is exactly people having different opinions. 

[Pata]

2 minutes ago, Interpolic said:

 

Which top level managers are not inconsistent? 

 

Aye, Pep had a horrible last season by his standards. We finished above Klopp's Liverpool in 22/23 when they missed the CL. Arteta has been consistent in not winning things outside the one FA Cup.

[madras]

2 minutes ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

This is exactly people having different opinions. 

No it isnt.

[Vinny Green Balls]

22 minutes ago, Lucky said:

That’s total bollocks. I’ve said repeatedly I really like Eddie Howe and I would love dearly for him to succeed.

 

Am just not seeing it though. The top managers are consistent in the league. Eddie Howe has been consistently inconsistent. And I have criticised him before and been made to eat my words when we go on a prolonged run of form, but then we’re right back in a shit spell again. How is that sustainable?

 

This season feels different though. We’ve never played as badly as this under him.

 

And to whoever is saying nobody has the balls to say he should be replaced, i have said this on this thread. I think he should be given the season as am sure we won’t be relegated. But approaching the summer we should look to bring in a top coach and try and kick on as a club from that point.

 

Ross Wilson should be the one picking the players (if any) that we sign in January.

Yeah you get the season, but we are canning you after that. Do your best. Not as bad as the rotating managers bit, but have you ever worked with anyone in your life? 

[Lucky]

1 minute ago, Interpolic said:

 

Which top level managers are not inconsistent? 

Klopp wasn’t, Arteta has been on an upward curve for 3 seasons now. Pep is usually there or there abouts.

 

Top clubs get top managers and that’s how they stay being top clubs.

 

We’re a good side at our best, but we’ve either stood still or declined while others have improved. Why is it heresy to suggest that Howe shouldn’t take responsibility for that?