I'd agree with this to a point. However, and I know this is an unpopular point to make on these boards, that manager who purchased all of those players overspent getting out of the championship. Had he of taken a leaf out of Hughton's book of blueprints to get back up, he could have been a lot smarter and left more money to manoeuvre when we got back up. He also made poor decisions on players - a prime example being making Lascelles captain/automatic pick, and discarding Mbemba. Looking at Mbemba, I'm pretty sure he'd still be useful to us now. Shelvey getting made vice captain was another error. He knew Ashley was a **** from day 1. Why he spunked all that money has always bewildered me but we have to believe he thought those he purchased were good enough for the PL too. Either that or he was reckless. Its been a catalogue of errors ever since. From sickening good players like Merino by playing Mo Diame, to managers not having the balls/gumption to simply rip out the rot - from Benitez through to Howe. Bruce was too indecisive who instead of going in and accepting we were a sell first buy later club, played safe and stuck with the likes of Lascelles/Shelvey. I accept he'd have got slated had he sold them and then Ashley bummed him by not signing players, but as a manager you have to think positive. Now we have money and Howe has no excuses. If at the end of this window we are still sat with Jonjo running midfield and Lascelles organising the defence, then I'm afraid it'll never work with Howe. He has been handed a window of opportunity to do something positive for the long term future of this football club. Staying up or going down is matterless in this regard.
I agree with the main of your point. The abuse Bruce got was bad. Im just not personally (not matter of fact) seeing an improvement since Howe took over. It’s just my opinion nothing more. Yes they seem (although yesterday begs the question are either in the second half) fitter. Yes they appear to be more attack minded. But overall so far I’m not impressed. I will however give Howe a chance.
But but but....You're talking about a man who's entire reputation was built on AC Millan going to **** in a bizarre crazy 2nd half of football once upon a time a long long time ago.
Aye Rafa also bought Muto for 10m then didn’t play him. Rafa made some seriously bad signings. But I guess he was shopping at Poundland. God when you think of some of the flops he bought I shudder. But again like we are all saying the one consistent is Lascelles and Shelvey. Two key areas that more or less dictate our overall play.
We weren't a proper football club back then though. We had an owner who didn't want to invest in the squad and just wanted to survive season on season. Any other club would have systematically ditched these players after 2018.
Rafa was so immune to criticism it was unreal. He bought so much goodwill by coming out and criticising Ashley that everything else was overlooked. He was relatively poor and Bruce was more of the same. Howe has to be given until the end of the season now, but the club needs a full revamp of the squad with all that **** removing.
It’s almost poetic justice that the season he does indeed go looks like a relegation season. Having said that the damage was done over years.
The **** to which you refer to are all 4 years older aswell. I admit I’ve been slightly harsh on Howe on this. And I will give him the time he deserves.
I agree, Howe seems like a smart guy but it’s baffling that he’s risking his career by playing the likes of Shelvey and Lascelles, what’s even more baffling is he doesn’t have any loyalty to them, he has the perfect opportunity to dump them….I can only assume the reason Howe and Bruce have persevered with them is they are liked by the rest of the squad and neither of them have the balls to make a big call
Or there are currently no alternatives in the squad who would do any better? That needs sorting asap!
I don't agree there are no better alternatives to Lascelles here already - but successive managers have been reluctant to play the alternatives. We need new players in fast though and these players removing from the squad.
I don't doubt your right as to why. But he's making a mistake and he needs to learn from it as you say. These guys are stiffing him badly. As you say its about balls and being forthright. End of the window, still playing, I'll lose faith.
When we go down we can have no complaints. I know we will be back so I am content with it. We are going no where fast at the moment.
