How much of these problems can we attribute to the Isak saga and the time it took to resolve it. The clubs reluctance to let him go and leaving it so late meant we didn’t get that striker in early enough? The injuries also are not helping with Hall and Tino. But we didn’t get any proper cover for hall. I know Tino can cover there. But we maybe need another couple of full backs. I’m still not sure what’s the reason. This isn’t a recent issue with our away form either. Do we have a mentality problem away from Home?
Loyalty and comfort were both Howes solutions and latterly issues at Bournemouth and you just cannot change the nature of a man, he believes in these values and given the relative success at both clubs you can understand why. However I think these are the values to create a stable environment and not as critical when trying to get to the next level. Sir Alex, Wenger, Mourinho, Pep, these guys do what it takes and nobody was above being got rid of. The sheer amount of players who aren’t playing well is incredible and you can physically see Tonali struggling with his workload as a result of Howe sticking with players who just can’t cut it. He has precedence here in the last CL season; he was criticised for not dropping poor performing players such as Burn and Trippier then and it was only injury that got Hall and Tino in. If Schar hadn’t been concussed then Thiaw would still be on the bench every week. Now we have a huge chance to get Hall, Ramsdale and Ramsey in - hopefully they can do a job because after that there’s nobody left to play.
Feel's eerily similar to the last CL campaign currently (although obviously progressing better in Europe) with the same players playing week in week out due to injuries. Also think it shows the need for better depth in the squad especially in the defence, luckily Hall is back to replace the suspended Burn but Trippier is playing 90 mins a game currently because there is very little option there. I think Howe has to take some of the blame, especially for the away performances - could we be better off, sitting in and countering away from home, instead of the high press and little defensive cover? think we will do what we do most seasons and have a run where it all clicks but one things for sure, we need to start improving and quickly.
We do have options but Howe wont or is reluctant to use them: Option 1: Move Thiaw to RB Option 2: Start Trippier and then swap out with Kraft or move Thiaw to RB as one of the subs on the usual 60 mins Option 3: Start Kraft and then swap out with Trippier if required. He had similar on the left if Trips moves across whilst we wait for Hall etc. All are options but Howe just goes with the same personnel and then wonders why in the 2nd half we capitulate and lose from a winning position.
