What has happened

[Zippity]

...to the Eddie Howe we knew and loved?

17 defeats this season compared with 5 in that 22/23 season.

Backwards, cowardly, boring and hugely inept football compared with our exciting, high pressing, quick passing style.

I've gone from being proud of our style to being embarrassed.

It's like two different managers. In fact. it's like 'original' Eddie and Bruce or McClaren. And that's not intended to be an insult-some folk have forgotten what this man has done for us-but, for me, it's an accurate and very unfortunate comparison.

Where I'm wavering in my support for Eddie is in that word 'done'.

Nobody can deny what he's done for us but, sadly, that's becoming less relevant to what he's doing now. And the 'doing' part stretches back to the last part of the previous season.

Eddie needs to change, to rediscover his balls...or he'll be changed. I hope it's the former but I'm not confident it will be.

[Curian]

All good managers eventually move or get moved on. Exceptions being, Pep and Arteta. Look what happened to Mourinho. Big Al thinks he should stay for another season but the idea behind this takeover was to build year on year, not go backwards. Losing Isak, backroom staff and injuries all add to the woe but that is the same for many clubs. The passion seemed missing most of the time, that drive and determination gone apart from mainly Bruno, some Jo the occasional glimpse of the old Trips and Tonali.

Nearly every week on here we would lament the tactics and selection but kept the faith. That dogma by Eddie has proven to be a failure this year. I also think the dressing room will now be quite mixed, e.g. Wissa. Wolty will not really feel part of the Eddie family.

If he was to go, I would like the rest of us, sing his praises as probably our best manger in a long while, maybe since Sir Bobby. However, I would not be worried or concerned if that change led to a decent replacement.

ps Any news on Rag?

[Jammy89]

Have also been wondering about Rag - no idea - hope he is ok.

I think if Eddie is going to be changed it'll be done sooner rather htan later . . . however, the only fly in this ointment is the World Cup, if they are planning on changing then they may wait till end of that to see who is avaliable.

7 points out of 21 isn't a good return for the last 7 games.

I have no idea what's happened to the Eddie we knew - what I do know is that this change seems to have happened since that Bunce came in as a performace person to support us getting less injuries.

I think for Eddie to survive, he needs to be ruthless and do a full cull of players that don't buy into him etc. Particularly since he's lost some key squad leaders who backed him.

However, again, I don't think he is that ruthless.

I don't know.

I love the bloke for what he has done but we cannot have another season like this one.