The Fish

Did you know that Bill Withers had a brother called Bear? But he just wrote hold music

Back to Earth with a bump. 2-1 to Brentford

If we were to sell him for anything, it'd be pure profit. But it's unlikely he'd command any fee. We signed him for €2.9m in 16/17, in terms of PSR he's paid for 10 times over.

You're giving office etiquette advice? You are?

(but yeah, we're losing this one 0-2 or worse)

Although Howe has spent a lot of money in an attempt to turn a relegation candidate into a club capable of competing with the top half of the table, right now it's not working. However, just like last season where Joelinton and Pope's absence meant the high-line, hard pressing style wasn't viable, we've got issues due to having a thin squad again. Botman's absence and Schar's increasing age means while we want to play out from the back, we lack the pace at CB, or the experience/quality at fullback. That was obviously an area of weakness that was identified in the summer, but it wasn't resolved. And that's a pretty damning failure, but it's not on Howe. We need to sign someone in January, someone who can pass the ball around and who has pace and all that good stuff too. But look at how far back from the established elite we were, look at how quickly the gap we closed has grown once more. Man Utd drop €214m on players for a manager they know they'll need to get rid of, Chelsea spend €238m and have the most bloated squad in the league, Brighton, Villa, Tottenham, Arsenal.. all spent more than we did in the summer. Not because we haven't got the funds available, but chiefly because the PSR rules stop us from enjoying the same freedoms as the established elite. So, given that a lot of the reasons we are underperforming are, in fact, away from the training ground I'm not sure we can blame Eddie enough to fire him. He deserves criticism, not the sack.

I'd want more than that for Isak.

That's awful mate. Sorry for yours mate's loss.

I do, if we have a few different ways to score that means we're harder to defend against and that would be good. If we rely on shit just falling into our laps... well I shouldn't have to tell you that would be bad.

1-1

Absolutely perfect that the anecdote begins in El Prat airport.

It baffles me that, when we've got talent like Bruno, Gordon and Isak, we're still chiefly using our defensive line to act as the creative side of things. Our top 4 for touches were Hall, Schar, Kelly and Livramento. Lloyd Kelly had more touches than Isak and Gordon combined. Compare that to West Ham and their top 4 for touches were Paqueta, AWB, Soler and Bowen.

AWB should have been picked up by Joelinton, no?

Minteh was the solution. And Anderson would have provided more creativity around the box last night as well.

I don't see the creativity. I see us making opportunities, but through function rather than flair. There's not enough invention, for my liking. Not enough joy.

Those I've mentioned have proven themselves, I'm not sure Tonali has yet.

The way we're playing isn't getting the most from Bruno, Isak or Gordon and frankly with that amount of talent, it's pretty damning that Howe isn't getting it done.

More pricey than a Mercedes GLA?

Never even broken a toe?