You say villa fell away but they finished on the same points as us in one of our best ever seasons. We’ve struggled to cope with the extra fixtures more than most teams do. Twice.
Managing in the PL is hard. Managing a team in 4 competitions is even harder. Howe has had 2 cracks at it and not done very well. Does he deserve a third? Emery has managed to keep villa in Europe with all of those demands, but not managed to crack a cup yet. It’s hard, but that’s the game he’s in.
Yeah we played 12 (14 incl qualifiers) in 2003. Agree with you though, feels like we could definitely progress even further this time. Quarter final would be lovely.
Correct. Not keen on this narrative re the first knockout tie in our history though. It was a playoff. We’ve played playoffs before to get into the group stage. We also made the last 16 in 2003, just happened to be a 2nd group. We’ll get there again this yr, and maybe win it to really make history.
This is my memory of it also. Pretty sure he was asked about in out of the blue after a big game and he wasn’t happy. Villarreal president doubled down and there was no way he was leaving after the leak. Amateur stuff from our new board.
Not sure they were that bad. Finished on same points as us in one of our best ever seasons. Got to CL quarters as well. We’ve definitely done better in the domestic cups but I’d say they’ve been better in league, and definitely coped better in Europe.
Nicely summed up. We’ve undoubtedly hit a bump in the road. What I want to see is the club (management, execs) recognise it and take steps to address. What that looks like right now - I’d say a couple of additions in January to help the squad have a decent second half to season.
Problem is there are very few positives at the minute. If there was something in our play to hang on to we could be more positive. Nothing seems to be going right at the moment.
Agreed. But let’s face it, we aren’t a top top team. We’ve probably got worse not better, than last season.
Bournemouth a few days later. Let’s rotate before the injuries start rather than reacting after.
Liverpool made both Suarez and coutinho wait. And also sold them abroad. Hope it all works out and isak was pretty untenable. On the face of it tho we can’t hit a barn door so far this season and we look considerably weaker in attack. 12 hours to change it..
If/when tonali no longer fancies it, he knows what to do..
In some ways it’s been good and the squad is stronger, but the team feels like it’s weaker with an isak shaped hole in it. Feel we’re in for a tough season if we don’t bring another forward in.
Could be right. Just want it over now tbh!
Feels to me like Liverpool are having second thoughts about the astronomical fee. They wanted him on the ‘cheap’. Maybe we’re holding off on the 2nd striker until Liverpool actually bid? Who knows. Thank god it’s all over in a couple of days!
Average winter temps in Bremen are also significantly colder than Newcastle. Summer is off season so he won’t be here. So on the whole, not a great deal of adaptation needed.
Think the door will open for you’s to sign him over the next couple of days. How do you feel about potentially splashing £120-150mill on another striker? You happy with it? Have to say I like the look of ekitike.
Yeah I read that. Bit of an issue..
If we target a striker that’s ‘for sale’, that leaves Jackson, Nkunku, or Vlahovic..
He’s made it clear he no longer wants to be here so doesn’t have a future at the club. He’ll be gone within 12 months (unless his stance changes which it won’t). I think the club will sell once we’ve got a replacement sorted. Problem this summer is we already lost Callum Wilson, who needs replacing.
Was never likely to move this window but has laid the groundwork for a move next summer, which is pretty much a guarantee. Could have done it more amicably by training, keeping his head down and doing his job. Another good season with us then could have got his true ‘dream move’ back to Spain.
Meanwhile victor boniface is heading to Milan on loan with a 30 mill option. There’s definitely still players out there, we don’t appear to be looking in the right places.
I think everyone knows he doesn’t have a future at the football club. He’ll be gone either in Jan or next summer latest. There’s still a chance he goes this window but can see the club digging their heels in after the way he’s gone about it. And rightly so imo.
Transfer window is a shit show. Couldn’t give 2 fucks about isak, bottom line is we need a striker (or 2) to lead the line for us this season. Isak is not going to be that, whether we keep him or not. Refuse to sell to Liverpool, but we need 2 in regardless. Clock is ticking..
We might as well give up then and accept our place as a feeder club for the big boys, rather than try to challenge them.
As much as the reds won’t admit it, Liverpool are our rivals (cup final case in point). Even with signings, selling to them significantly impacts our chances of success. Needs to be fully on our terms if we do it. Abroad preferred.
That’s assuming we’re competent enough to sign 2 strikers in the next 3 weeks. Which on evidence so far this summer is doubtful!
Just hope we don’t give in and sell him on anything but our terms. We need to win that battle at least.
The big 6 are signing up all the bridesmaids whilst the one they really want wears black and white. If they want him that badly they should back off and let us do our business first.
He won’t be going anywhere if we don’t sign at least 2 strikers. The greedy 6 keep hoovering up our targets, when we’re the ones with the crown jewel. Shooting themselves in the foot!
