Eddie Howe

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Yep, changing to parking the bus is an option, but then he can't mix the messages and jeopardise the overall philosophy because of a bad spell.

[OverThere]

19 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

I honestly find it mind-blowing that anyone has changed their perception of Howe - and whether or not he is 'elite' or whether or not he's capable of evolving - based on one very specific matter, i.e. his continued selection of a LB who's been an ever-present in a team which: soared into 4th, got to a cup final, performed admirably in the Champions League, and is in contention for European places again. 

 

I appreciate that the context has changed and a good idea isn't a good idea forever, but you can surely at least recognise that continuing to pick him isn't 'a basic error.' It's a tactical choice designed to benefit our structure when we're in possession and/or attacking. 

That last point should be the case. However, I'm seeing BDB being caught way upfield in the opposition box. If he is supposed to be part of the three when we attack, then why the heck is he way out on the LW or in their box. Also, given we now have the second to worst defensive record since December, wouldn't that trigger a review or evolution?

 

 

Edited February 19 by OverThere

[OverThere]

3 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Yep, changing to parking the bus is an option, but then he can't mix the messages and jeopardise the overall philosophy because of a bad spell.

Why wouldn't you alter depending on the opposition? I understand the philosophy, but you have to be pragmatic with it sometimes.

[TRon]

10 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Yep, changing to parking the bus is an option, but then he can't mix the messages and jeopardise the overall philosophy because of a bad spell.

 

I don't think he needs to park the bus. But by sitting a bit deeper, we could look to draw teams in then release the front three, all of whom have some pace on the counter. It would only be a temporary tactic to suit the players we've got available, once we have the more mobile midfielders like Willock back you could revert to type.

[Lush Vlad]

I was thinking about the Arsenal game and looking further ahead, the Chelsea game, whilst out walking the hound this morning. I wonder if he might go to a back 5 or change the formation and style a bit, at least? 
 

Not exactly spoilt for choice with bench options in the midfield and forward areas. Yet fairly stacked at the back on comparison.
Arsenal are free scoring and even if Willock and Isak are available. How long can they realistically play and how sharp will they be? Certainly can’t be risking them yet AGAIN in this. 
 

Chelsea are not great but recently played us off the park at their place when we had a similar team out and should have scored a lot more. 
 

Just concerning how easily we have been played through and how wide open we are against far worse teams. Pretty much been the case since mid-December and surely there has to be some give at some point. 
 

The few tweaks at Forest give me some hope he might alter things. 

 

 

Edited February 19 by Lush Vlad

[Coffee_Johnny]

I’ve added Keegan’s second spell to his overall record as our manager. Still leaves him best overall performer, points per game (PPG) wise but only just. Should Howe’s team accumulate 31 points from the remaining games this season (title winning form admittedly…) he would become our, relatively speaking, best ever performing PL manager with a PPG of 1.77. Unlikely, but point is he is already outperforming Robson and it is easy to forget how good a job he is doing overall. 

 

 

 

Edited February 22 by Coffee_Johnny

[RS]

I don’t think there is anyone who could do a better job with our squad and ffp restrictions.  Amazes me when I see veiled comments about changing him based on who is available, Assworths replacement putting him at risk etc. 

[Vinny Green Balls]

On 19/02/2024 at 11:42, Dr Jinx said:

Same mistakes week in week out. We have gotten worse with the players that are out there.

 

No way that team should be losing to Bournemouth 

You should lose your rotating manager idea to Amanda

[Dan Gleebals]

On 19/02/2024 at 16:49, kingxlnc said:

Seriously. Too much knee-jerk. While Howe can certainly learn a thing or two and being more adaptable and flexible, no-one can deny that when the team was not injured, they were up there in terms of dominating games etc. In fact, I think NUFC would be a dark horse for the title next year providing the recruitment is right, as we can see with the team available, Howe is capable of getting them to perform at an excellent level. Even some of the losses earlier in the season were highly unlucky (e.g Liverpool). With the amount of bad luck this season, that will even out next season I'm sure. They'll get 60+points this season, and I think 80+ next year. 

 

Agree, he can make the team perform at a very high level. I would just like him to be a bit more unpredictable in his management, team setup, tactics etc.  It's the same most weeks, same formation, subs at 62-63 minutes etc.  I know that it has not be possible due to injuries, and with a bigger squad and more options, maybe he would be a better tactical manager.  He is obviously prepared to try stuff (Bruno higher up against Palace) but overall, his "system" seems pretty much the only one we consistently stick to.

[Gawalls]

On 19/02/2024 at 16:42, Dr Jinx said:

Same mistakes week in week out. We have gotten worse with the players that are out there.

 

No way that team should be losing to Bournemouth 

No way a team with Dummett starting should be beating Man City, Man Utd either - talk about cherry picking a result to prove a point 

[TheBrownBottle]

On 20/02/2024 at 03:42, Dr Jinx said:

Same mistakes week in week out. We have gotten worse with the players that are out there.

 

No way that team should be losing to Bournemouth 

Bournemouth has won seven and drawn seven PL games this season.  It’s just plain odd to think that there is ‘no way’ NUFC should be losing (or drawing) to Bournemouth.  

[El Prontonise]

1 minute ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Bournemouth has won seven and drawn seven PL games this season.  It’s just plain odd to think that there is ‘no way’ NUFC should be losing (or drawing) to Bournemouth.  

 

While true, they had just gone 5 games without a win.

[Chris_R]

12 minutes ago, El Prontonise said:

 

While true, they had just gone 5 games without a win.

So you're saying they were due a win?

[Holmesy]

On 19/02/2024 at 19:42, Lush Vlad said:

I was thinking about the Arsenal game and looking further ahead, the Chelsea game, whilst out walking the hound this morning. I wonder if he might go to a back 5 or change the formation and style a bit, at least? 
 

Not exactly spoilt for choice with bench options in the midfield and forward areas. Yet fairly stacked at the back on comparison.
Arsenal are free scoring and even if Willock and Isak are available. How long can they realistically play and how sharp will they be? Certainly can’t be risking them yet AGAIN in this. 
 

Chelsea are not great but recently played us off the park at their place when we had a similar team out and should have scored a lot more. 
 

Just concerning how easily we have been played through and how wide open we are against far worse teams. Pretty much been the case since mid-December and surely there has to be some give at some point. 
 

The few tweaks at Forest give me some hope he might alter things. 

 

 

 

I’d really love that to be the case, but I can’t see anything other than Dan Burn at left back getting dry bummed by Saka, us conceding another 3 goals and Eddie doing exactly the same the following game. He just seems determined to keep Burn in the starting lineup regardless of consequence. 3 CBs, with Livra in at LB would make so much sense, but I fear it’s wishful thinking. 

[Vinny Green Balls]

2 hours ago, Gawalls said:

No way a team with Dummett starting should be beating Man City, Man Utd either - talk about cherry picking a result to prove a point 

And this is the least bonkers thing he’s said recently. 

[timeEd32]

No way the treble winning best team in the world should be losing at Wolves or drawing at home to Palace either. Shit happens in football.

 

I think this is another way last season distorted things for people. Plenty has been said about how finishing 4th raised expectations ahead of schedule, but also we only lost five games, a feat only matched by the title winners. The games we lost were to Liverpool x2, City away, Arsenal, and Villa away. Going back to April of 2022 that Villa game was the only league game we lost that isn't just easily accepted like City / Liverpool / Arsenal. As far as not losing games goes we were about as good as anyone bar the best team on the planet for over a calendar year. 

 

But while we were really good, we were also really fortunate at times. I can think of 4-5 draws from last season that could have easily been losses. Everything went right for us. Now the opposite is happening - we can't catch a break. The injuries and related effects have exposed problems that have always been there (go read that Villa thread where Emery is better than Eddie, Burn is a donkey, our back four is too slow, we need a DM, and there's a dumb amount of space between our midfield and defenders). This season is no doubt disappointing (yet still has some wonderful moments). I wish people could just accept that and chill out instead of making every week a referendum on the manager's future.

[Guest]

The only games I can think of last season that we probably deserved to lose but didn't, were Brighton & Arsenal away (Arsenal away even seemed like we just came up with a plan to get 0-0 when Burn was being exposed). Can't think of any others?

[andycap]

2 hours ago, Optimistic Nut said:

The only games I can think of last season that we probably deserved to lose but didn't, were Brighton & Arsenal away (Arsenal away even seemed like we just came up with a plan to get 0-0 when Burn was being exposed). Can't think of any others?

Bournemouth away and maybes palace away. 

[Holmesy]

On 19/02/2024 at 17:01, Yorkie said:

I honestly find it mind-blowing that anyone has changed their perception of Howe - and whether or not he is 'elite' or whether or not he's capable of evolving - based on one very specific matter, i.e. his continued selection of a LB who's been an ever-present in a team which: soared into 4th, got to a cup final, performed admirably in the Champions League, and is in contention for European places again. 

 

I appreciate that the context has changed and a good idea isn't a good idea forever, but you can surely at least recognise that continuing to pick him isn't 'a basic error.' It's a tactical choice designed to benefit our structure when we're in possession and/or attacking. 

Totally understand where you're coming from, but when one player is consistently costing you goals and points, picking him is a basic error. Not just from a tactical POV as well - players will be talking, regardless of how matey they are or how tight knit they are, there will be elements within the squad that are talking about Dan Burn letting the side down and undoing their efforts. It just doesn't send a good message to other players, that consistent shit performances will not be punished. No 'elite' manager would persist with a player like this - they had/have a ruthlessness that demands higher standards, and they all would've dropped Burn a long time ago. 

EH has literally ignored a catastrophic weakness in our team, that every opponent has exploited to good effect over the past few weeks. They don't have to be any more sophisticated tactically than 'fast player, run at their left back'. That's as basic as it gets. It's non-league level stuff. Attacking plays in the PL should never be as simple as that, this is elite level sport ffs!

 

Pundits have started questioning his selections and highlighting DB, journalists as well. All that stuff starts to seep into cracks that weren't there before and threaten to pick away at the positive atmosphere that has been around the club since the takeover.

And it's just not the DB element that had led to some doubt creeping in - poor squad/fatigue management, mis-managing certain games eg. the Liverpool one mentioned earlier. If it was a one-off, you put it down to a bad day. But there have been 2-3 more occasions this season where poor game management and tactical naivety have cost us.

I am still firmly behind Eddie Howe as our manager. I think he's been a revelation, but where I was 100% last season i'm probably more 90% now. Still firmly in his corner but with some question marks creeping in. 

 

 

Edited February 23 by Holmesy

[SteV]

13 minutes ago, andycap said:

Bournemouth away and maybes palace away. 

We absolutely battered Palace away, bar one excellent save from Pope, which was about the only time they were in our box all game.

[Guest]

We weren't great at Bournemouth but I can't remember thinking we got lucky to take a draw.

[andycap]

50 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said:

We weren't great at Bournemouth but I can't remember thinking we got lucky to take a draw.

I do miggy nicked a goal it was all them majority of the match. 

[jackyboy]

Bournemouth have put in some excellent performances this season. If I remember right they were seconds away from beating Arsenal 

[Shearergol]

They're also our bogey team (along with Liverpool, obviously )

[Colos Short and Curlies]

15 hours ago, timeEd32 said:

 

But while we were really good, we were also really fortunate at times. I can think of 4-5 draws from last season that could have easily been losses. Everything went right for us. Now the opposite is happening - we can't catch a break. The injuries and related effects have exposed problems that have always been there (go read that Villa thread where Emery is better than Eddie, Burn is a donkey, our back four is too slow, we need a DM, and there's a dumb amount of space between our midfield and defenders). This season is no doubt disappointing (yet still has some wonderful moments). I wish people could just accept that and chill out instead of making every week a referendum on the manager's future.

 

I think this is an important point when thinking about the longer term sustainability of how(e) we play. This season has been one of pretty much everything that could go against us going against us whereas the opposite was largely true last season - starting at the top no Europe, early FA cup exit, 3 of the Sky 6 underperforming, Villa giving everything a Gerrard sized head start, relatively few injuries and when they did occur they were in a 'good' order such as one of Wilson or Isak being available.

 

Next season will take away some of the issues from this season in terms of level and amount of games being played but we can't expect it to be like last season unless we upgrade in a few areas of the team or evolve the style of play