Originally Posted by
Ragatino
Point 1 - Eddie Howe.
Qualification for the CL has been a blessing and curse. It's come too soon. Had we achieved a nice 6-8th last season fans would have be happy & the press would have said that's about fair.
EH super over achieved last season. As the board repeated constantly in the documentary. "The finances don't match our progress on the field."
My opinion on Eddie is that he gets this season to do the best he can. I see this season as a free hit. We're in the Champions League, We'll host Dortmund, PSG & AC Milan at SJP. If you'd have told me that in the 2019 I would have laughed in your face.
Even if it doesn't go well I am not going to turn on Eddie. We own his a huge debt for the 11th finish with the 'Cabbage Patch Kids'. That can only be described as a miracle.
In terms of Eddie being replaced, what would that take? Repeated Brighton performances & corresponding results. Losing isn't a concern for me, the team will lose matches, it's football. However to go down without a fight is the complete opposite of what we know and expect from an Eddie Howe team. If we go down fighting then I'm not concerned. If we go the next 4 games without a win, losing 2 and drawing 2 with the performance being disjointed and lacking intensity then that is a sign that things ain't good. That would be of more concern.
Summary - If we finish in the top 8 this year, qualify from the CL group, have a nice FA or League Cup run I'm happy. 24/25 season will be the season that Eddie has to qualify for the CL again (if we don't do it again this season), as all clubs who play CL football for the first time experience a drop in league form. We have a small but quality squad and we are gonna need everyone fit and firing. EH has to maintain that intensity!
Point 2 - Ashworth Signings
EH is very much part of the process of identifying players. Tonali was Eddie's No.1 choice for example.
Repeatedly the board said in the Doc how hard it was to get player to top quality in. Amanda's comment about midfielders in one episode "Getting this midfielders is so difficult!".
Did we need a different profile of player this past summer? Time will tell.
On the evidence of the Villa game, no. We were excellent! The Midfield 3 bossed it. We have to remember that Tonali & the team need to work together for a while to get the kind of relationship the Brazilians have with Longstaff for example.
The signings point to a long term strategy avoiding the 'Boom & Bust' scenario seen at other clubs. Everything about the Board & Owners is "process driven" not emotional or over-confident/cocky.
Do I think we needed to sign more players / different positions?
Yes and no.
Yes because I'm unconvinced Miggy can be the player that scored 11 goals last season on a regular basis. Murphy has improved 100% under Howe. The two of them are a cause for concern - for sure. The board & EH chased a RWer but unlike previous regimes, we are not prepared to compromise on the profile of player we want to sign. So we didn't drop down to 3rd or 4th choice. I like that ethos, stick to your main targets or don't waste your money.
Also I have a sneaky feeling that EH might deply Tino in the Right Wing position at some point.
It's a concern not a worry.
Did we need to bring in another left winger in Barnes?
The like for like with Maxi was good business, opened up FFP a little and replaced a fan favourite with a goal getting Home Grown player. I wouldn't have prioritised that looking at the bigger picture it improves the positive massively. +10 goals from that position this season we didn't have last.
Lewis Hall & Tino Signings
Excellent prospects both with bags of EPL experience. Delighted with both signings, can't wait to see Hall stake his claim at LB & Tino to be among the team.
Hall especially is quite a coup IMO. Future England international for sure. Geordie family, a match made in heaven! That left hand side will be very dangerous with Barnes or Gordon in front of him.
Over all I'm happy with the signings.
Did we need more? Yes
Did the board do their best to bring in more? Yes
However it just shows how tough a spot we are in right now. Balancing the finances, attracting the precise player we need not just signing 'meat in the seats'. It would have been easy for the club to 'Do a Notts Forest' and sign 10 players on the level of our current squad. We only target 'young class players who are top internationals in the making.' There isn't a huge pool from which to draw.
I expect us to sign 1 or 2 in Jan & then go again with 4-5 next summer.
The true test as I mention above will be 24/25 season. We'll have had 3 summer windows. The completion of that 3rd transfer cycle will have seen us clear the last of the deadwood (Hendrick contract expires etc), possibly have moved Miggy and the like on, replacing them with the quality of talent we required to compete at the top table consistently.
It's a slow process, we have to stick with it & give the team, Manager and board our full support. Especially when the team is not at their best. That's when they need us the most, not to p1ss & moan at every little thing.
