Eddie Howe

[joeyt]

39 minutes ago, Holmesy said:

I knew someone would come back with this . I'm not comparing our own journey to City's, for obvious reasons, but the comment was in direct response to 'some people seem to forget about his past achievements with us (referencing Eddie)'.

We all know what his achievements have been - the man has worked wonders! But there are also things that could be improved - better set pieces, more imaginative player recruitment, more impactful substitutions, forgoing player loyalty for better team balance, more flexible tactically (ie a proper plan B,C and D), a better away gameplan etc.

 

 

 

You can't mention Pep as an example of a team changing a manager and then not expect to be questioned on it surely - I'm not sure why you would bring Man City and Pep up and not the countless other clubs who haven't had success

[KennyUtd]

1 hour ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

One of the most annoying cliche comments in sports, up there with 110%

Firstly it isn't a cliche but I'll humour you. How should I word it? Go on educate me.

[Heron]

4 minutes ago, Doctor Zaius said:

 

Reckon Murphy is the key to breaking teams down when they're sat in? I realise he scored at the weekend (on the break) and he's capable of producing, but there's a reason we went big on a right winger in the summer. It's just that he doesn't seem to be the answer either. 

 

Having said that, I'm not particularly convinced that either Barnes or Gordon are consistent enough either.

Loads of Isaks goals came from Murphy assists. Murphy is our one winger who consistently gets balls in the box and shots off at goal. In fact he's the most important winger we have for breaking teams down in the final third. Especially with someone like Woltemade up top.

 

Gordon never gets balls in the box of any quality and very rarely scores, he's the one who needs more space in behind and is nullified when teams sit in. Barnes would be better as again he has a wicked strike. Both Elanga and Gordon excel with space in behind and when defences are stretched.

[JT24]

13 minutes ago, Lucky said:

I asked ChatGPT “what went wrong for Eddie Howe at Bournemouth?”

 

Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth story started as a fairytale but ended in steady decline due to several overlapping factors — tactical, psychological, and structural.

 

At their best, Bournemouth played fearless, expansive football built on quick transitions and brave possession from the back. Howe’s man-management and attention to detail inspired loyalty and overachievement in a small squad with limited resources. But the same strengths became flaws as the Premier League evolved.

 

Tactically, Bournemouth remained too open. Howe’s insistence on building from deep with technically modest defenders often led to costly turnovers, especially once opponents learned to press them high. Their defence was never properly fixed; Bournemouth consistently conceded 60–70 goals a season. Even after major spending, defensive recruits like Ake aside, the balance between risk and control never improved.

 

Recruitment became muddled. Money was spent on players who didn’t suit Howe’s system (such as Solanke, Ibe, and Billing initially), while core players aged or regressed. The team’s energy and intensity — once their hallmark — faded. When injuries hit key leaders like Aké, Lerma, and Wilson, there was no reliable depth.

 

Psychologically, the club lost its edge. Survival became expectation rather than motivation, and Howe, a meticulous but emotionally intense manager, seemed drained by the burden of constant firefighting. By 2019–20, Bournemouth looked tactically stale, predictable in possession, and lacking belief — a shadow of the hungry side that rose from League One.

 

Ultimately, Howe’s downfall at Bournemouth was not a collapse of ability but of adaptation. His philosophy stopped evolving while others adjusted faster, and his loyalty to certain players and methods — admirable early on — became a limitation when the margins tightened.

Worth just not reading beyond this part in bold, to be honest. 

[Vinny Green Balls]

11 minutes ago, KennyUtd said:

Firstly it isn't a cliche but I'll humour you. How should I word it? Go on educate me.

it absolutely is a cliche. Go through any sports forum, particularly an English one. Considering that people have been saying that since he's been here, questions are being ased about him. I don't know, say, "his tactics and subs are dodgy".

[SUPERTOON]

Our turnaround starts Wednesday night, I’m convinced after Howe’s post match comments yesterday.

[Bimpy474]

Just now, Heron said:

Loads of Isaks goals came from Murphy assists. Murphy is our one winger who consistently gets balls in the box and shots off at goal. In fact he's the most important winger we have for breaking teams down in the final third. Especially with someone like Woltemade up top.

 

Gordon never gets balls in the box of any quality and very rarely scores, he's the one who needs more space in behind and is nullified when teams sit in. Barnes would be better as again he has a wicked strike. Both Elanga and Gordon excel with space in behind and when defences are stretched.

 

Dunno about anyone else but I'm sick of wingers on the opposite side to their favoured foot.  Inverted bollocks and all that.  

 

If you're a centre forward who wants crosses you ain't getting them players who cut back, especially in Gordon's case as he keep cutting in into trouble. 

Now Murphy, is a proper cross it winger, and it's no surprise we score more with him in the team. And one of our best headed goals was Gordon on the right crossing first time on his right foot, to Isak against Arsenal.

 

I know it's to encourage overlapping full backs, but if those full backs are Dan Burn and Emil Krafth, you probably need to adjust if Tino and Hall are unavailable.

 

I'm just moaning, i just like seeing an old fashioned goal now and again, instead of cut back, pass inside, back out side, back inside, meh meh meh, maybe a shot on goal.

[Vinny Green Balls]

16 minutes ago, JT24 said:

Worth just not reading beyond this part in bold, to be honest. 

and our defense has been fairly solid for every season he's been here bar 23-24.

 

But I love it when people use chatGPT as an oracle to prove something, when it's just taking a library of comments particularly from the pundit class, who incessantly give us talking bullet points that paint an incomplete picture.

 

From ChatGPT: What makes Steve Bruce an excellent manager? 

 

Steve Bruce is often described as an excellent football manager for several reasons — even though opinions about him can vary depending on which club’s supporters you ask. His strengths lie in his leadership, man-management, and experience across all levels of English football. Here are the main qualities that have defined his managerial reputation:

⚽ 1. Vast Experience

Bruce has managed over 1,000 professional games, a milestone few managers ever reach. He’s worked at a wide range of clubs — from smaller sides like Wigan and Hull City to giants such as Aston Villa and Newcastle United. This gives him deep tactical and practical knowledge of the English game, especially the Championship and Premier League.

🧭 2. Promotion Specialist

One of Bruce’s standout qualities is his success in gaining promotion to the Premier League:

Four promotions from the Championship (with Birmingham City and Hull City).

Known for building solid, resilient teams that perform consistently across long seasons.

His ability to navigate the Championship’s grueling schedule is highly respected.

🤝 3. Man-Management and Leadership

A former captain under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Bruce learned from one of the best. Players often describe him as approachable, honest, and motivating — someone who creates unity and loyalty in the dressing room.

He’s especially good at managing experienced professionals and getting them to buy into a team-first mentality.

🧩 4. Tactical Pragmatism

Bruce’s teams are typically well-organized and defensively solid. He may not always play flashy football, but he builds squads that are hard to beat. His pragmatic style often suits clubs aiming for stability or promotion rather than risky attacking experiments.

🏗️ 5. Resilience and Adaptability

He’s managed under tough circumstances — including limited budgets, ownership turmoil, and fan criticism — yet he’s repeatedly rebuilt squads and delivered competitive performances. His ability to handle pressure and media scrutiny shows strong mental resilience.

🧠 6. Respected Figure in English Football

Even those who critique his tactics acknowledge that Bruce commands respect in the football community. His professionalism, longevity, and consistency reflect his deep understanding of the sport.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 3, 2025 by Vinny Green Balls

[Lucky]

11 minutes ago, JT24 said:

Worth just not reading beyond this part in bold, to be honest. 

My point is that the AI thing has no skin in the game or an agenda against Eddie Howe, but there are many similarities in what happened there in terms of being overly loyal to underperforming players, being picked apart when having the lion’s share of possession and an inability to adapt to teams figuring us out and pressing us high up the pitch.

 

Whether or not you want to see that cycle happening here or not is on you but doesn’t mean it’s not the reality of the situation.

[KennyUtd]

1 minute ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

it absolutely is a cliche. Go through any sports forum, particularly an English one. Considering that people have been saying that since he's been here, questions are being ased about him. I don't know, say, "his tactics and subs are dodgy".

You know that's what I'm on about though. Questioning his decisions rather than the man. I'll try to do better in future. 

[Vinny Green Balls]

Just now, Lucky said:

My point is that the AI thing has no skin in the game or an agenda against Eddie Howe, but there are many similarities in what happened there in terms of being overly loyal to underperforming players, being picked apart when having the lion’s share of possession and an inability to adapt to teams figuring us out and pressing us high up the pitch.

 

Whether or not you want to see that cycle happening here or not is on you but doesn’t mean it’s not the reality of the situation.

FFS man. AI is a massive digital library when it comes to things like that. It's not Skynet giving its unbiased robot opinion.

[Vinny Green Balls]

4 minutes ago, KennyUtd said:

You know that's what I'm on about though. Questioning his decisions rather than the man. I'll try to do better in future. 

I know what you're on about. It's just that particular sports cliche that gets to me for some reason.

 

 

Edited November 3, 2025 by Vinny Green Balls

[HaydnNUFC]

1 minute ago, SUPERTOON said:

Our turnaround starts Wednesday night, I’m convinced after Howe’s post match comments yesterday.

I’m more convinced now by this post, collector’s item seeing you be positive.   

[Vinny Green Balls]

1 minute ago, HaydnNUFC said:

I’m more convinced now by this post, collector’s item seeing you be positive.   

He's been positive for awhile, man  He's been one of the more positive posters since March.

[KennyUtd]

1 minute ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

I know what youi're on about. It's just that particular sports cliche that gets to me for some reason.

I'll 110% try to write better posts. I don't know, it's a funny old game and I know Eddie is a top top manager. 

 

[Lucky]

Just now, Vinny Green Balls said:

FFS man. AI is a massive digital library when it comes to things like that. It's not Skynet giving its unbiased robot opinion.

Yeah I agree, I’m not using AI as some oracle, if it had brought up points that were irrelevant to our situation now I’d have said.

 

But can you not look at those points mentioned and use your own eyes to make an opinion on it?

 

I made all these points after Brighton and got stick for it, but same situation again, nothing has changed or improved away from home.

[Heron]

7 minutes ago, Bimpy474 said:

 

Dunno about anyone else but I'm sick of wingers on the opposite side to their favoured foot.  Inverted bollocks and all that.  

 

If you're a centre forward who wants crosses you ain't getting them players who cut back, especially in Gordon's case as he keep cutting in into trouble. 

Now Murphy, is a proper cross it winger, and it's no surprise we score more with him in the team. And one of our best headed goals was Gordon on the right crossing first time on his right foot, to Isak against Arsenal.

 

I know it's to encourage overlapping full backs, but if those full backs are Dan Burn and Emil Krafth, you probably need to adjust if Tino and Hall are unavailable.

 

I'm just moaning, i just like seeing an old fashioned goal now and again, instead of cut back, pass inside, back out side, back inside, meh meh meh, maybe a shot on goal.

Agree with you. It's whatever the latest tend is isn't it. But there's a lot to be said for old fashioned getting it to the byline and whipping it in. It worked until the new millennium

 

 

Edited November 3, 2025 by Heron

[Vinny Green Balls]

"ChatGPT, what makes Weekend at Bernie's great?"

 

Weekend at Bernie’s (1989) is one of those films that somehow became a cult classic, even though on paper it’s an absurd premise: two young guys dragging their dead boss around pretending he’s alive for an entire weekend. So why does it work — and why do people still talk about it decades later?

Here’s what makes Weekend at Bernie’s great 👇

🎭 1. Ridiculously original premise

The sheer absurdity is what hooks you.

A pair of average office guys discover their boss is dead — but keep up the illusion he’s alive to avoid being blamed or losing their weekend plans.

It’s so over the top that it becomes oddly believable through sheer commitment.

It’s the kind of idea that shouldn’t work… yet it does.

😂 2. Commitment to the bit

Everything about the movie’s comedy depends on staying in the joke.

The actors (Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman) play it completely straight — which makes the dark humor land even harder.

Terry Kiser’s physical comedy as the dead Bernie Lomax is legendary. He somehow gives a performance as a corpse — floppy but expressive.

That full commitment makes it feel like live-action cartoon logic done perfectly.

🏖️ 3. Perfect late-’80s vibe

Beach parties, pastel clothes, yachts, cocaine jokes, synth music — it’s a time capsule of the yuppie era.

The movie doubles as a satire of excess and greed. Everyone’s so self-absorbed that they don’t notice a corpse hanging around.

It’s as much a parody of the decade’s values as it is a dark comedy.

🕶️ 4. Surprisingly sharp social satire

Underneath the slapstick is a subtle message about corporate culture and selfishness.

Bernie’s death literally doesn’t stop the party — a metaphor for how 1980s materialism kept going no matter what.

It’s a darkly funny commentary on apathy and denial.

You laugh and you realize how ridiculous people can be when protecting their image or lifestyle.

🔁 5. Enduring cultural legacy

“Pulling a Bernie” became shorthand for pretending something dead (literally or figuratively) is still alive.

It’s referenced in everything from The Simpsons to How I Met Your Mother.

Even Weekend at Bernie’s II (as absurd as it is with the voodoo subplot) kept the gag alive — proving how iconic the idea became.

[Mike]

2 minutes ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

“Pulling a Bernie” became shorthand for pretending something dead (literally or figuratively) is still alive.

 

 Trillion dollars of investment into something that sounds like me lying my way through a middle school book report.

[SUPERTOON]

6 minutes ago, HaydnNUFC said:

I’m more convinced now by this post, collector’s item seeing you be positive.   

[Sibierski]

31 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

 

None then?

If you want a Bournemouth game, how about us rocking up under the shite of Steve Bruce and winning 4-1  

[Vinny Green Balls]

4 minutes ago, Lucky said:

Yeah I agree, I’m not using AI as some oracle, if it had brought up points that were irrelevant to our situation now I’d have said.

 

But can you not look at those points mentioned and use your own eyes to make an opinion on it?

 

I made all these points after Brighton and got stick for it, but same situation again, nothing has changed or improved away from home.

yeah Brighton was 12 years ago. Amazing that we haven't completely changed since.

[Yorkie]

I'm not convinced we'll see an outright turnaround. Firstly because I think the notion of having a 'turnaround' indicates a downward slide that has been continuous for a while, when in reality - prior to yesterday - we'd won five games in our last six. We don't need a turnaround, we just need to improve our performances on the road in the league.

 

My prediction is that our league form will continue to be choppy as the team is a little bit deficient and we're putting a significant effort into the cup competitions. Meanwhile, I think we could very well go unbeaten in the CL until we face PSG on the last day, and I think we'll progress in the League Cup.

[Vinny Green Balls]

5 minutes ago, KennyUtd said:

I'll 110% try to write better posts. I don't know, it's a funny old game and I know Eddie is a top top manager. 

 

 that's the spirit

[Vinny Green Balls]

chatGPT is not the oracle that I hoped:

 

Why are people drawing Steve Bruce in a sea of penises?

ChatGPT said:

I couldn’t find credible evidence supporting the claim that people are systematically drawing Steve Bruce in a “sea of penises” as a meaningful meme or trend. It seems likely to be a combination of internet trolling, absurd humour, and meme-culture mischief.

Here are some possible reasons why this kind of imagery might appear:

🔍 Possible explanations

Shock or absurd-humour effect: Drawing penises in unexpected places is a longtime prank/meme trope (see commentary on why crudely drawn penises are funny). binderclipscorpion.com+2Reddit+2

Internet meme remixing: Sometimes a public figure’s image gets paired with intentionally ridiculous or vulgar elements simply because chaos = laughs in certain online spaces.

Association by wordplay or in-group joke: It’s possible that some subgroup (e.g., of football fans) adopted an inside joke linking Steve Bruce with a visual gag.

Trolling / anti-fan behaviour: If someone dislikes the figure, they might deface his image or use it in strange ways to mock or provoke.

If you like, I can check deeper (e.g., on Reddit threads, meme-repositories) to see if there’s a specific origin or story behind that particular motif. Would you like me to dig?

You said:

yes

ChatGPT said:

I looked around and could not find credible evidence that the Steve Bruce-“sea of penises” meme is a recognized or well-documented meme trend. What I did find is some interesting adjacent material — which suggests the image you’re referring to may be either very niche, probably local to a forum or WhatsApp chain, or possibly mis-attributed. Here’s the breakdown of what I found and what might be going on.

🔍 What I found

There is a known meme category labelled “Grotesque Steve / Steveposting”: a meme format that features random images of people named “Steve” or unexpectedly bizarre/uglified edits of “Steve” characters. On the site Know Your Meme there’s a page indicating the tag has many “Steve is horrified/Steve gains chaos emeralds/Steve prepares for victory”-style absurd edits. Know Your Meme

However, that collection doesn not explicitly cite a “sea of penises” motif in association with Steve Bruce.

I found Reddit threads referencing “Steve” in absurd or meme-contexts, but nothing concrete linking Steve Bruce to a large number of penis-images or a specific “sea of penises” image. For example:

“Steve … (https://www.reddit.com/r/rickygervais/comments/196qjfc) … To be fair Steve, if I saw you in the sea with your knob out and your glasses off then I would let you drown too.” Reddit
That’s crude but isolated and not the pattern you described.

Because of the lack of structured documentation or widespread references, this suggests the meme is either:

Very niche/local to a small community (football fans, perhaps a particular club forum)

A one-off or very small edit that hasn’t spread widely

Possibly mis-attributed to Steve Bruce (i.e., the “Steve” in the meme may not be Bruce)

Maybe an inside joke among a fanbase (which wouldn’t show up in mainstream meme‐archives)

🧭 What might be causing or motivating this meme if it does exist

Here are some plausible motivations or contexts for such a meme being made/trending in a small circle:

Mockery or satirical visual trolling: If a manager is unpopular or perceived as making questionable decisions, fans might create extreme absurd images to express frustration or ridicule. The “sea of penises” might be a metaphor for chaos, incompetence, or being overwhelmed.

Inside joke around “Steve”: The “Grotesque Steve” meme shows how people take the name “Steve” and apply weird/absurd edits. It’s possible someone inserted Steve Bruce into that genre for additional comedic effect.

Shock & absurd humour: In many online fan forums, the more over-the-top the edit, the funnier/bookmarked. A sea of penises is so visually outrageous that it becomes memorable.

Mistaken identity or mis-labeling: Maybe the edit features another Steve and people just tagged “Bruce” incorrectly. Or the image was repurposed and re-captioned with “Steve Bruce” for extra trolling.

Localized to a particular club’s fan culture: Steve Bruce managed several clubs (e.g., Newcastle United, Aston Villa). A subset of fans might have made the image during his tenure—and it stayed inside that “bubble.”

✅ Conclusion

In short: there isn’t enough verifiable evidence to confidently say the “Steve Bruce in a sea of penises” meme is a widespread phenomenon. But the elements are there (i.e., “Steve” meme formats + fan trolling) that such an image could easily exist in a niche form.

If you like, I can attempt a deep dive (e.g., using archived forum posts for the specific club, Twitter image searches, football-fan Reddit subforums) and see whether I can find the earliest instance of this specific image. Would you like me to do that?