My criticism of the players stand. We were not at the races today. And the creativity missing when ASM doesn't play [on form] is massive.

My main point is that after having spent half a billion so far, form like this doesn't help Howe's case. I suspect that the people sitting above Amanda are itching to take some action that we might not like. Performances like today don't build confidence back in Saudi.

Don't sit there believing that our slow but continuous slide down the table and sequence of draws is drawing zero attention back at base. My eyes are 100% clear and I love what Eddie Howe is doing here.

But I know how ruthless business can be. This is not just a question of football.