I think at times Howe has not been backed as much as he and we would have hoped. Then again signing Barnes was a complete waste of resources so there is that. I think the tug of war between managers and club execs is normal and a positive thing. A manager should want as much money as humanly possible to succeed and a club cannot allow a manager to overspend.
I think it all depends on how for PIF want to take us. The commercial deals have dried up. The PL have tightened up on things. PSR rules changing to fit the narrative have all gone against us. We have our hands tied behind our back to a degree.
If the PL have tightened things up then the club have to look beyond getting PiF inspired deals. I'm sure there are plenty of non-PiF related companies willing to get in on the action. I still think they are waiting on two things; decision of the stadium and the outcome of Manchester City. EH suggesting that this summer could be transformative which could mean it's because of deals that are lined up and just waiting for the green light.
Think it’s probably nothing more than a new PSR cycle and potential shift to the new financial model. I don’t think City’s situation means anything to us, we just need 1st July to get here so that deals like Adidas can then count.
Given how poor Gordon was when we first signed him, Barnes made sense at the time as an alternative if Gordon didn't work out.
What's the right wing options got to do with the left wing options? It was clear that before we signed Barnes that EH has doubts over AG. AG then went and had an amazing England tournament. Barnes then got the freak injury.
Signing Barnes and a Gordon was actually a mistake. They thought Gordon was going to be best on the right and Barnes would have been on the left, but unfortunately Gordon is far better on the left and Barnes is useless anywhere but the left. Barnes will be sold in the summer I suspect. It hasn't worked out for him for a number of reasons and of all the players that might actually fetch anything meaningful he's the one that really wouldn't be missed.
Happy to stick with him. Like him as a manager and as a person. Doesn’t bullshit and moan. Like his attitude to coaching as well. And most importantly I know it will piss off Roly.
Bit disappointed in him giving the fatigue excuse for the Bournemouth defeat like, going on about having to play Wednesday night then Saturday 12:30, so ****ing what, get on with it. He doesn't normally come out with stuff like that but he did this time. We aren't even in Europe, this is probably my main worry with him, that and a lack of a plan B.
Not only that he doesn’t rotate players. He also plays the exact same formation and if available exact same team.
I don't think that was much to do with the plan. They just got on top straight away and didn't let us get back up. We couldn't find a way to change the momentum. Totally outplayed on the day
Out of interest, who would you have rotated for the Bournemouth game? I just ask as personally the only change I'd have made was Schar for Botman from the start to give Botman a rest post injury.
That's a fair shout, but difficult as he has been arguably the best LB in the league this season. Follow up question is for who? Targett, Kelly, Schar (Burn to LB) or Trippier (Tino to LB)?
For me it would be Targett. He's proven himself under EH. He's just been unfortunate he got that injury and Burn made LB his own. Then I'm his return he got invited again .
