This probably won't surprise anyone on here, but I think Fulham will toast Newcastle and I firmly believe this the rest of this season is going to be grim. I'm not even joking either unfortunately. Your thoughts on this game? Are more people starting to see Howe's inadequacies?
Just a case of seeing the season out now really, it's been annoying for one reason or another but Howe has earned the chance to have a fresh go at it next season, we take it from there.
Fulham are just as inconsistent as we are but without the injuries. To think we have around 10 injuries again is insane. Something has to be looked at in terms of analysing why we have so many and the types of injuries, freak or not. It’s a combination of tactics, style of play, work rate and the players not built for that style possibly. A bit of bad luck. Playing players out of position doesn’t help either. Puts their bodies out of their natural playing style.
Good news on Gordon, but Longstaff will still be on the pitch though... this manager is friends with his family btw. I know what's going on..we had this favouritism situation in the teams I played in and it doesn't stop at any level all that ****.
Fulham **** away but great home. Some of their recent home results - 3-0 Spurs 3-0 Brighton 2-1 Arsenal 3-1 Bournemouth. Needless to say, any result here would be great. Wouldn't be surprised if we pull of an Aston Villa type of result though. Beating villa away, getting slapped at home to Luton. Beating Forest away, drawing to Bournemouth. Scoring 4 against West Ham, struggling to score against Everton. On a positive note, since the start of 2024, we've only lost to Arsenal (A), City (H), Liverpool (A) and Chelsea (A).
People look at our results and think "we're not consistent", but actually it's more obvious than that - if we play dynamic, counter attacking football we tend to do well. We're useless breaking down teams that defend well, too one dimensional with the ball.
It was the same problem last season tbh. Couldn't beat Bournemouth, leeds, Palace etc at home, scraped a 1-0 win against Everton, except this season we had to play Paul Dummett. We really needed to sign another creative player last summer, and it should have been Maddison or Bowen IMO. Instead we went for Tonali.
Ah, but remember Ashworth was the one who allegedly said we should focus on Anderson as the creative outlet. I mean, I'm not daft enough to not understand the argument that we've effectively got an entire PL team (top 10 as well) injured/suspended and Howe's somewhat right - there's no such thing as bad luck, but we've had....some actual bad luck. That said, I'd say half of the injuries are down to bad training, medical assessments and too many demands on the players. It was completely impossible to play 100mph 4-3-3 high press for an entire season, with more or less the same XI, which is what Howe does. He's not alone - but Klopp has Liverpool where they are because he trusts the kids like Jones, Bradley, Elliot to come in and do a job. Howe lets Hall, White, Murphy and even Miley when people are fit sit and watch from the bench. I don't like his methods of integration, he's far too slow. Livramento is our best right back, Hall best left back, neither start when everyone's fit. I'd bet a lot of money Alex Murphy is better than noth Schar and Burn, probably better than a half-fit Botman, yet he has about 3 minutes under his belt. Miley should be starting ahead of Longstaff all the time. Anderson should start ahead of both. Willock ahead of all three. Then you've got the added problem where we could really do with playing 5-3-2 or 5-2-3 sometimes just to change the control of the ball and the energy levels spent. Howe claims we've been working on it extensively. We've seen it maybe 3 times all season. Yet our worst results have always come when he rigidly sticks to 4-3-3. West Ham, best spell came when we had full backs attacking and Isak dropping. It didn't happen, he pushed Isak up front against two heavyweight defenders and told the wide players to throw crosses in, which is ****ing mental. Huge defenders and a decent keeper. I'd understand that vs Spurs, but against Everton it smacks of ignorance. Barnes doesn't suit a controlled game. Isak's also better on the counter, Tino and Hall better at LB, Schar and Burn better in a back 3, Bruno better when he's got more protection. Yet here we are doing the same thing over and over and over, with the same results.
I think we have to look at our results and see what haven't done too badly in 2024 considering the state of our squad though. Missing trippier for large parts of recent games, no pope, Botman out, Lascelles out, Tonali and Joelinton out, Wilson out etc. We're basically getting the results team in the top 10 could expect. Brighton, West Ham and Chelsea are our main competition now for Europe and they aren't consistent either. If we were full strength now we'd be higher in the table and probably have 7th wrapped up.
Yep, this is the truth of it. I think we'd actually have 6th wrapped up and it'd be a 3 way fight for 4th again. The problem is ifs/buts don't count as squad management/fitness is part of the game so big question marks over Howe. Howe will 100% be given next season and if he makes suitable adjustments to his rotation, player assessments and - at times - tactical approach, I think we'll finish top 4, or be in contention. Lot hinges on recruitment which MUST focus on improving the first XI. Howe is particularly poor at integrating youth into the team, and we're probably 5 short of a top team - GK, LB, CB, CF, RW. I suspect we'll do what we always do and be two short come August, and I just hope to Christ they don't prioritise a CM unless it means selling Longstaff. Almiron, Targett, Dubravka, Longstaff, Krafth all sold. Ramsdale/Pope Tino/Trippier New CB/Schar Botman/Burn New LB/Hall Bruno/Tonali Anderson/Miley Willock/Joelinton New RW/Murphy Isak/New CF Gordon/Barnes Backup: Karius, Murphy, Heffernan, Ashby, White, Diallo, Minteh. Maybe keep Wilson 3rd choice. And for the love of Christ get trash like Ritchie, Dummett, Lascelles, etc., gone ASAP.
I really hope Trippier stays. Losing him would be awful. Without him we have significantly less creativity.
