Eddie Howe

[KingArthur]

15 minutes ago, bobbydazzla said:

Ruthless consistent goal scorers like Haaland, Kane, Mbappe, Ronaldo, Messi. Shearer, Henry, Cole, Rooney, Ageuro etc etc etc etc 

 

If you have a rock solid defence and a player of that calibre and consistency up front, you don’t need to create a lot of chances in order to win games and be successful.

 

 

 

I get what you mean, and this is something xG doesnt take in to account. Best players shooting from same spot is different than average. I dont think EPL at the moment have many players like this tbh. 

[bobbydazzla]

4 minutes ago, KingArthur said:

I get what you mean, and this is something xG doesnt take in to account. Best players shooting from same spot is different than average. I dont think EPL at the moment have many players like this tbh. 

Which is a fundamental flaw with xG.

 

The quality of the players, the tactics the teams are deploying and the game situation will all have a huge impact on dictating the quality of the chance.

[Holmesy]

1 hour ago, Kid Icarus said:

Potentially opening a can of worms here but a lot of these absolutely ridiculous expectations as a consequence of the success the manager himself created out of nothing is starting to remind me a lot of how Southgate went from saviour to scapegoat within a couple of years.

 

Some people do really seem like they'd be better off with low expectations that are set and met, than with higher expectations that achieve more but don't meet the expectations that have been set.

It’s not really the same - Southgate was a prolific bottle job. One of the most cowardly managers I’ve seen in my lifetime. He went from saviour to scapegoat due to his track record of bottling. 
Eddie has the courage to go for the jugular in big games but he is a victim of his own success in that he is seemingly unable to manager his way when we’re fighting on two fronts. Get into Europe, our PL form suffers. That does signal a fundamental issue with his style of management when managing a club that wants to be in Europe consistently. 
 

If it continues and he can’t/doesn’t figure out a different way to manage that suits a dual campaign, it doesn’t mean he’s a shit manager, it just means his management style has a ceiling.
 

Eddie is paid extremely well to get results, and right now he is underperforming. It’s only right that he’s given some loyalty by the club but it can’t be endless because of what he’s done in the past.

[Geordie Ahmed]

34 minutes ago, Jagten said:

His nephew is leading recruitment.
 

That said, whoever is in charge - and I don’t care who - Elanga, Wissa, Barnes and Ramsey was not an especially prudent use of 200m for a squad that, minus Isak, tops out at 5th. 

Isn't Steve Nickson is head of recruitment with Andy Howe reporting into him?

[TheBrownBottle]

1 hour ago, Kid Icarus said:

Potentially opening a can of worms here but a lot of these absolutely ridiculous expectations as a consequence of the success the manager himself created out of nothing is starting to remind me a lot of how Southgate went from saviour to scapegoat within a couple of years.

 

Some people do really seem like they'd be better off with low expectations that are set and met, than with higher expectations that achieve more but don't meet the expectations that have been set.

Not sure he ‘created it out of nothing’.  The squad isn’t full of free transfers and bargain basement signings - he’s comfortably outspent the vast majority of the division during his time at the club. 

[Terrymac1966]

Record for most of this year is ok but the derby match was disgraceful to defend against that lot....they would have crumbled under sustained attacks.,love you Eddie but......

[Kid Icarus]

50 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Not sure he ‘created it out of nothing’.  The squad isn’t full of free transfers and bargain basement signings - he’s comfortably outspent the vast majority of the division during his time at the club. 

We've gone to our PSR limit where possible and beyond it (causing additional problems) from having one of the worst squads in the division, an inadequent academy and training facilities, and 14 years of under investment. I'd say that's shorthand for from nothing considering his achievements. The vast majority of other teams haven't needed to spend what we did. Pound for pound his achievements stand up against anyone bar maybe N-O poster boy Oliver Glasner's.

 

 

Edited December 28, 2025 by Kid Icarus

[Palestoon]

I back Eddie, and think he has more than enough credit in the bank to see out this season at the very least.

 

My frustration is that although I havent always agreed with all of the choices he has made, I could understand the thinking behind it. For the first time, im confused as to what the vision is for the team.

 

I think we have a bit of an identity crisis and Howe is struggling to manage it.

 

We went into this summer with 2 key positions I think everyone knew needed a major upgrade. The Right wing, and the 3rd/4th CM option. We had money to spend. It was a great opportunity to add some variety to the squad. Instead, we spent it on more like for like players in Ramsey and Elanga. Physical prowess over technical ability. 

 

Alot of us werent happy with the choice, but assumed Howe wanted to double down on plan A, and was getting the extra bodies necessary to be able to rotate regularly, and keep our intensity high with European football.

 

Instead, we seem to be playing a much more passive style. Trying to play possession to save legs. Expecting players who thrive in an aggressive/transition style to suddenly be adept at a slower style. The results have been predictable. 

 

If the plan was to mix up our style, why didnt we go after players that could do that in the summer? 

 

We look like a team that doesnt know who they are or what they are good at. And thats something thats never been an issue since hes been here. Quite the opposite, its a hallmark of Eddie's teams since he stepped foot in the door.

 

I think he deserves some patience, but their needs to be some signs of direction. Maybe with the backroom staff sorted, we'll start to see that...

[Kid Icarus]

55 minutes ago, Holmesy said:

It’s not really the same - Southgate was a prolific bottle job. One of the most cowardly managers I’ve seen in my lifetime. He went from saviour to scapegoat due to his track record of bottling. 
Eddie has the courage to go for the jugular in big games but he is a victim of his own success in that he is seemingly unable to manager his way when we’re fighting on two fronts. Get into Europe, our PL form suffers. That does signal a fundamental issue with his style of management when managing a club that wants to be in Europe consistently. 
 

If it continues and he can’t/doesn’t figure out a different way to manage that suits a dual campaign, it doesn’t mean he’s a shit manager, it just means his management style has a ceiling.
 

Eddie is paid extremely well to get results, and right now he is underperforming. It’s only right that he’s given some loyalty by the club but it can’t be endless because of what he’s done in the past.

It's the same in that where England were pre-Southgate was relentless underachievement, regardless of the immense talent pool and supposed quality of the manager. Southgate took on the role, took a squad seen as nowhere near good enough, immediately restored pride and took England to semis and finals, something previously unheard of for decades.

 

Then not long after, that became the expectation and the very manager who had achieved that was seen as the very thing holding back a squad that was suddenly seen as the best of all time. It's not like for like but the perception of Howe definitely reminds me of that.

[Displayname]

I might be too critical towards Eddie in your eyes, but I'd never stoop so low as to compare him with Southgate.

[magorific]

1 hour ago, Geordie Ahmed said:

Isn't Steve Nickson is head of recruitment with Andy Howe reporting into him?

Yes, he is. But don’t let the truth get in the way etc….

[TheBrownBottle]

58 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

We've gone to our PSR limit where possible and beyond it (causing additional problems) from having one of the worst squads in the division, an inadequent academy and training facilities, and 14 years of under investment. I'd say that's shorthand for from nothing considering his achievements. The vast majority of other teams haven't needed to spend what we did. Pound for pound his achievements stand up against anyone bar maybe N-O poster boy Oliver Glasner's.

 

 

 

Agreed to a degree - it’s not that we haven’t done well, but my view is that up to this season Howe has done an excellent job but not a miraculous one.  It isn’t something that another manager couldn’t have achieved, but I suspect most wouldn’t have.  Again until the summer, we’ve spent really well (jury is still very much out on the summer).  So again my view is that he’s done a great job in the main, which buys time at points like the present, but that time bought is not unlimited - and there are serious questions to ask re who is making the calls on the transfers and who we are buying. 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2025 by TheBrownBottle

[mayubeproud]

Has the vibe of Arsene Wenger's final years as a manager imho

[Vinny Green Balls]

55 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Agreed to a degree - it’s not that we haven’t done well, but my view is that up to this season Howe has done an excellent job but not a miraculous one.  It isn’t something that another manager couldn’t have achieved, but I suspect most wouldn’t have.  Again until the summer, we’ve spent really well (jury is still very much out on the summer).  So again my view is that he’s done a great job in the main, which buys time at points like the present, but that time bought is not unlimited - and there are serious questions to ask re who is making the calls on the transfers and who we are buying. 

 

 

 

21-22 and 22-23 were absolutely miraculous. A large number on here were convinced that he was a failure and not long for the team in Januayr of 22.  And eactually winning us a trophy is near miraculous given our grim history.

[timeEd32]

3 hours ago, bobbydazzla said:

Which is a fundamental flaw with xG.

 

The quality of the players, the tactics the teams are deploying and the game situation will all have a huge impact on dictating the quality of the chance.

You’re trying to completely discredit what is an imperfect but useful statistic just because it’s not perfect. None of these stats explain everything, but they do provide useful context.

We’re still +11 if you include the bottom 3 in that big chances chart btw. 

[Lucky]

33 minutes ago, mayubeproud said:

Has the vibe of Arsene Wenger's final years as a manager imho

We wish.

[Jagten]

3 hours ago, bobbydazzla said:

Do you have inside evidence that demonstrates Howe’s influence over his nephew’s job, or are you just speculating that because they’re related to each other then they must be in cahoots ?

 

I worked with a niece and her uncle, where their day to day responsibilities directly affected each other. Both were excellent at their jobs and you wouldn’t have even known they were related. 

 

 

 

 

I’ll be generous and say it doesn’t matter, and that whoever it is sucks. 
 

I do have some insight tho, like this is the genius our analytics dept was farting out lololol

[timeEd32]

3 hours ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Not sure he ‘created it out of nothing’.  The squad isn’t full of free transfers and bargain basement signings - he’s comfortably outspent the vast majority of the division during his time at the club. 

He’s also comfortably outperformed most of the division during his time at the club.

[RUHRLYASLEEVESUP]

Everyone’s different in their views I get that but honestly, how anyone could even think about wanting Eddie replaced makes my head wobble

 

as if PIF are going to bankroll another manager just cos he’s new and shiney (they can’t anyway obvs) which manager could come un an “get it” like Eddie has ?

 

Very very few of the so viewed “elite” managers would ever have the connection, feel & respect that Eddie has and always will for me.

 

be careful what you wish for lads x

[TheBrownBottle]

4 hours ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

21-22 and 22-23 were absolutely miraculous. A large number on here were convinced that he was a failure and not long for the team in Januayr of 22.  And eactually winning us a trophy is near miraculous given our grim history.

I still think 21/22 was - in terms of management / coaching - his best coaching achievement.  Of course a trophy and CL outweighs that in ‘real terms’ - but Bruce left him with a squad which wasn’t even fit in PL terms (in terms of actual fitness, not just talent).  

[KingArthur]

To be honest, we have overachieved under Howe. We cannot expect to end up in UCL places year after year with this squad. Our wage bill is 8th biggest and lot of turbulence in the backroom staff.

[bobbydazzla]

6 hours ago, timeEd32 said:

You’re trying to completely discredit what is an imperfect but useful statistic just because it’s not perfect. None of these stats explain everything, but they do provide useful context.

We’re still +11 if you include the bottom 3 in that big chances chart btw. 

I’m not trying to completely discredit it, I’m highlighting exactly what you’ve highlighted - it’s an imperfect predictive statistic that when used correctly can provide data analysts with some relatively useful insight over extended time frames. 
 

And I’m pointing that out because over recent years casual observers of football have been putting way too much emphasis on the importance of predictive statistics and coming up with increasingly complex but fundamentally flawed ways to apply shoulda, woulda, coulda theories to football results.

 

Hence why I asked why are Wolves, West Ham and Burnley excluded from the Big Chance data that was shared ?

 

It makes absolutely no sense to exclude those sides. It’s just flawed use of the already flawed data and any sensible person should be applying some critical thinking and questioning why the analyst felt the need to do it. 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2025 by bobbydazzla

[KingArthur]

The biggest problem with xG is that it only counts shots. If you have three breakaways and the player each time trips over on the edge of the box and doesn't get a shot away, you get 0,00 xG. Or if you get to good positions, but pass(or passes) are a bit too heavy, ball bounces away, a slightly poor touch etc. You have created the opportunity to score, but the execution fails. That is way watching the games tells a lot more. 

[splinter]

XG is a load of b.......x

 

 

Edited December 29, 2025 by splinter

[SteV]

58 minutes ago, KingArthur said:

The biggest problem with xG is that it only counts shots. If you have three breakaways and the player each time trips over on the edge of the box and doesn't get a shot away, you get 0,00 xG. Or if you get to good positions, but pass(or passes) are a bit too heavy, ball bounces away, a slightly poor touch etc. You have created the opportunity to score, but the execution fails. That is way watching the games tells a lot more. 

Fair point. Which is why Man Utd had a (slightly) better xG than us on Friday, despite us being the significantly dominant team.