Howe is not the amazing world class manager the fans think, but I do think we're doing well to finish 7th. The big clubs are hundreds and hundreds of millions ahead of Newcastle... we need to accept that.
I think Howe's race is run. B'mth hit the bar, had good chances and a goal disallowed. We look bereft of ideas, identity, fitness and joy. It happens, managers rarely see more than 2-3 years unless they're exceptional. Everybody just looks disinterested.
I think people are allowed to disagree really. I find Roland over the top but there's also plenty of people who seem too keen to think it's all well and good. If we sign no-one now then it's been a very bad window for transfers, I doubt anyone would say otherwise. I said before the window we only needed a CB but that was before we sold Minteh, I'd agree that CB is still the main priority (alongside the options of Murphy and Almiron - Gordon can play on the right with Barnes, Joelinton, Willock or Isak on the left - the latter if Wilson plays. We also have a couple of youngsters). I'm surprised given the lack of quality there that Livramento (or even Trippier) has never been played further up but there you go. With an extra CB of quality it also allows us to go three/five at the back and have our LB and RB pushed up and remove the concerns of a weak right wing entirely. Indeed away from home it's what I'd hope we do at the moment.
First, thanks, I try my best! Second, I think this whole notion of "let's just stick players in there, 'cos they might be able to do a job" is something we should be far removed from by now. Take Joelinton out the middle, that's a lot of steel gone. Put Willock wide left and again it's not a role he's been taught to do. CB is probably the right priority, but only if we'd started the season with Gordon right and Barnes left (I'm sure both can switch). Again it shows Howe's picking the wrong players, or trusting people who've more consistently failed than succeeded. To your final point, how likely are we to really see a back three? I'd say it's almost certainly not going to happen, Howe seems to be very one dimensional on that front. I also don't see how the rest of the team lines up with a back 3. I like the idea, I feel Hall and Livramento are wing backs, I just can't see Howe doing it - he never wavers.
Think we should probably go with Krafth, Burn and Kelly perhaps. The two of them is so poor. We don't have a dedicated CDM either so they're always so exposed.
Madueke wasn't that great for Chelsea last season, he was worth around the same amount a few weeks ago. After all the Guehi crap, it makes sense throw it all at him now.
Agree - we want to try and fit Tonali, Joelinton, Gordon, Barnes and Guimares and Willock into 4 midfield positions. Just need to get one of Barnes and Gordon playing right.
Jesus, there's so much I don't understand with the club right now. Guehi is blatantly not a world beater, and clearly isn't worth £70m. Now if one of our biggest issues is PSR and within that our ability to sell players, why are we overpaying for a centre back who does nothing but eats into PSR, why aren't we trying to find 2/3 decent players at the £20m-£30m mark who can then potentially have more value in the longer term? Liverpool signed a CB for £1.5m (van der Berg) and have just sold him after about 3 appearances for £25m to Brentford. Carvalho signed for £9m, sold for £23m also Brentford. Why on earth would we be spending £70m on Guehi who overnight will be worth about £50m? Another one where, if he doesn't work out, will make a siginificant loss. Chelsea hoover up players for £10m-£30m but always turn a profit. We, by contrast, refused £30m+ for Longstaff, £10m for Trippier, £7m for Almiron. We cling on to these try-hards to the point where they end up worthless, we seem clueless as to the true ability of these players and don't cash out when we should. It seems almost unanimous amongst the fans that £70m for Guehi is utter madness.
Lol, I love the way you arguments overlook us getting £70m for Anderson and Minteh and cite Chelsea as a good example of a transfer model
