Think it depends a bit on whether we sign more players now. If we go into the season with one quality finisher who is made of China and nothing else then I think he's got a bit of leeway. If they spunk another 50m+ in the next few weeks then yeah they'll want to see a genuine attempt at top 10 or... heads will roll.
For me, I can't see it being anyone other than Lampard/Rodgers/Hasenhuttl in that order. Leeds fella a good shout too. Silva and Arteta outside bets.
I think he'll see out this season tbf but won't last long the following. He can't coach a defence and that'll see his demise once the Bruce/Rafa coaching wears off. The Martinez effect. Top half must be the target this year though?
Bruce coaching? He had us in one day a week! The defence under Rafa was tight (football was turgid sh!te though) and gradually the number of goals we conceded snuck up after he left. Our defence was unexpectedly better after Howe got settled though he massively benefitted from 30m chucked at Burn, Trippier and Target so he can't take all the credit for that. Main issue is a tendency to get spanked by the big teams and Tottenham. When the wheels start to come off they really do crash. Improvement is the target. Whatever that means...
If we were to lose Maddison and / or Fofana, as well as Tielemans, then I think Brenda would walk ... which is why I think we won't lose them in this window... Kaspar looks like leaving and Tielemans possibly, although there have been no bids yet... wouldn't be the biggest surprise if United came in for him late, if the de Jong deal doesn't happen ... Scott Parker for me ...
As strange as it may seem to say, I don't think Kaspar would be any loss to you, might actually do the club a favour at looking towards the next future prospect. Kaspar is no where near as good as his dad, and whenever I see him on the box, it seems it's more a moaning miserable cheating windbag between the sticks. Vocal goalkeepers are better than quiet ones, but there's something in me that says, Kaspar gets the rub of the green because of whom his dad was and he's a spitting image in looks but not ability - some might suggest he's better, if so then I have a deluded memory of Peter. You'd be better off signing up Mary Earps, that would keep you entertained for the season Fosse.
I agree with a lot of what you are saying mate ... he had one stellar season when we won the league ... but a lot of that was down to the back four and Kante ... Huth and Morgan (and Wasilewski) meant that Kaspar was shielded from having to deal with high balls to a great extent... and both Simpson and Fuchs were decent in the air ... Kaspar is great on reaction saves and one v ones ... but flaps under aerial pressure and has always been susceptible to longer range efforts into the top corners ... Iversen has looked good in pre-season and has been voted Preston POTS whilst out on loan for 2 years in a row
Parker is a good shout, saw Bournemouth in the flesh twice last season and they were woeful, God knows how they got automatic promotion. They've lost a lot of players, and not added many. This seasons bottom club for me.
The hierarchy brought him in because they felt they were in real danger of going down ... they stayed up - from their perspective the change achieved the objective and was therefore a 'success' ... Expectation this season will be higher than 'staying up' ... so pressure is on ... but he didn't do too badly at Derby in all fairness...
The objective was achieved but football wise I think they were dreadful for the most part. Either way, you're correct. The pressure is really on this season. I personally have them down as relegation certs
Rodgers is up against it imo. A run of bad games and he'll be under big pressure. Lampard similar. If Howe doesn't get results regularly then the Toon will get excited and bin him. Think I'll go Brendan.
