Eddie Howe is Free — But are we ready for the Boyhood Blue? | OneFootball

Eddie Howe is looking for some peace and quiet after departing as manager of Newcastle United

(Photo by Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)

The news broke across the footballing world like a thunderbolt yesterday: Eddie Howe has stepped down as manager of Newcastle United.

After nearly five years, a historic 2025 Carabao Cup victory — ending Newcastle’s 56-year major trophy drought — and multiple European campaigns, Howe has opted to walk away just weeks before the start of the 2026-27 Premier League campaign.

Following a difficult 2025-26 season where Newcastle dropped to 12th place amid mounting friction over transfer policy and boardroom dynamics, Howe’s departure feels like the end of an era on Tyneside.

For Evertonians, however, every headline involving Eddie Howe comes with an inescapable subtext. It is one of English football’s worst-kept secrets: Eddie Howe grew up an ardent Everton supporter.

As a boy raised in Dorset during the mid-1980s, Howe fell in love with Howard Kendall’s legendary side, idolising Gary Lineker, Peter Reid, and Neville Southall. He has spoken publicly on multiple occasions about his childhood affection for the Toffees, making his name a staple of Goodison pub debates whenever a managerial vacancy arises.

Whenever Everton have found themselves at a crossroads in the post-Moshiri era, Howe's name has inevitably bubbled to the surface. But timing in football is everything, and the two have never quite aligned — until, perhaps, now?

What Next for Eddie Howe?

Before measuring Howe for a royal blue tracksuit, it is worth looking at where the 48-year-old manager actually stands:

Could Everton Persuade Howe to Replace David Moyes?

This brings us to the thorny puzzle at Finch Farm.

David Moyes returned to steady the ship and provide veteran stability through the club's ownership transition under The Friedkin Group (TFG). Moyes brought discipline and defensive shape when Everton needed survival above all else.

But the season ended like a dead squibb: seven dreadful games where Everton under Moyes simply failed to perform, with excuses about injured players, the underlying motive for not playing Idrissa Gana Gueye, and the unpleasant smell of a perhaps deliberate policy to avoid qualifying for Europe.

The fanbase remains fundamentally divided on the style of play and long-term vision.

The Arguments FOR Howe replacing Moyes:

The Arguments AGAINST (and the Cold Reality):

Pipe Dream or Future Reality?

It's undoubtedly a romantic proposition, but improbable in the immediate term. While the storybook narrative of Eddie Howe walking through the gates of Hill Dickinson Stadium as a bright, young and inspring new manager the club so despeartely needs is tantalizing for many Evertonians, common sense suggests a deal won't happen today.

If Howe takes 6 to 12 months away from the dugout to recharge, however, the landscape in late 2026 or 2027 could look very different. If Moyes's pragmatic brand of defence-first football creates another dismal season of negative 'progress', don't be surprised if Dan Friedkin keeps Eddie Howe’s phone number right at the top of his contacts list.

Reader Comments (80)

Jeff Armstrong 3 Posted 30/07/2026 at 12:51:00

Howe is taking a break from football. Maybe around Christmas if Moyes is failing he might be interested then, personally I’d prefer Carsley.

Shaun Parker 5 Posted 30/07/2026 at 13:12:08

Get Howe in now.!!!!

Thanks for all your hard work David Moyes but we now need someone who can take us forward.

Too many good managers have been snapped up this summer whilst we stand still.

Bring in Howe and let him build for the future.

Sean Kearns 6 Posted 30/07/2026 at 13:17:09

Eddie Howe is a big Everton fan and would love the chance to manage us!! Move Moyes upstairs and get the fella in… see if he can bring Lewis Hall with him too…

And living in Liverpool is going to seem like Las Vegas compared to shitty ass Newcastle… Our cheap bastard owners would perish at the thought of paying Moyes off though.

Jack Convery 7 Posted 30/07/2026 at 13:43:02

What is the opinion of getting Howe in? Would our owners rub him up the wrong way, as the Arabs seem to have done with Howe? Imagine, having to sell Isak,Gordon, Tonali and by the looks of it, Guimaraes too. Talk about feeling pig sick.

This move by Newcastle shows how difficult it is to break into that Sly Six. The money Newcastle could spend is being restricted, whilst those who spent like no tomorrow in the past have the rules in place to make it really difficult to break into their club.

Jeff Armstrong 8 Posted 30/07/2026 at 14:00:35

Shaun,

Howe wants a break, then again can he afford to turn down a chance to manage his boyhood favourites, as long as he's banned from bringing in that sunbed-loving prick Tindall with him, oh and Gaeme fucking Jones!

On second thoughts, stick with the dinosaur! 🤣🤣

Paul Hewitt 9 Posted 30/07/2026 at 14:02:54

I can't believe people saying they would take Howe. Madness

Jeff Armstrong 10 Posted 30/07/2026 at 14:04:30

So Hewey, straight choice, Moyes or Howe ? Can’t say neither.

Paul Hewitt 11 Posted 30/07/2026 at 14:14:04

Moyes. Easily

Ajay Gopal 12 Posted 30/07/2026 at 14:52:24

I would absolutely welcome Eddie Howe as manager in place of David Moyes. He is more attack minded, he has won a domestic trophy, managed some big names, and he is a boyhood Everton fan. What is not to like in his profile? The Moyes era has run its course, and TFG will not get as many good candidates to find the next Everton manager as they have had this summer - Iraola, Glasner, Howe. If they are forced to make a managerial change due to poor results during the season, they will look back in regret at the missed opportunities.

Mark Ryan 13 Posted 30/07/2026 at 14:59:48

Don't move Moyes upstairs unless its to an old folks home TFG are sitting on their hands where Everton are concerned and they will not be backing Moyes heavily in terms of recruiting players, its just not their style. Sadly we are stuck with TFG just like we were stuck with Kenwright. Neither know how to run a Football Club but in answer to the Eddie Howe question, well the answer to that is an easy "yes" All day long. Head and shoulders over a lot of managers and doesn't bullshit like Moyes either. He is a blue, Moyes was a blue until he fucked off to Manure chasing the bright lights but now like TFG we are stuck with him. A long struggling season awaits if Moyes stays. Operation Get Eddie. Will it happen ? one can dream

Sean Kearns 14 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:17:17

Eddie Howe is taking a break from football, fortunately we don't play any football!…

It could be on, lads!

Paul Hewitt 15 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:22:40

No no no no no. Just no.

Les Moorcroft 16 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:30:22

Paul, you not had enough of David Moyes? He's a fossil. I don't have to go into why. If you go the game, you know.

Would you trust him with money?

Paul Hewitt 17 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:31:03

The football is boring, he plays players out of position, he plays his favourites, his substitutions are too late.

And no, that's not Everton fans talking about Moyes. It's Newcastle fans talking about Howe last season. Sounds very familiar.

Jay Harris 18 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:31:43

I have always felt that Eddie Howe suited the likes of Bournemouth and no higher. Nice guy but not an elite coach.

When the likes of Maresca, Iraola and Glasner were available, we showed no ambition.

TFG may have stabilized us but they have stabilized us as a lower mid-table team but seem to lack ambition to go further.

Bill Gall 19 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:31:48

What I think is our ownership will look at what Moyes 2.0 has brought to the club in his short time at the club, and what they see is a stable position manager. After the past previous number of years of insecurity, they will keep him on for this season. This could change at any time depending on Everton's league position and performances.

Eddie Howe rebuilt Newcastle, backed by a Middle East country with unlimited funding, to get players to suit his style of play. So the question is: Could he reach the same standard of play at Everton with the squad at his disposal with a minimal transfer budget?

It would be interesting to see though...

Sean Kearns 20 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:32:32

If we had won the League Cup and been in the Champions League, I might not be too hasty to call judgement like….

My single biggest gripe is going out the cups early every season so we can be stronger later in the season, then we are the most knackered team in the entire league at the end of the season with nothing to show for it. Fuck That!!!

Tom Bowers 21 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:32:46

We shall see what Howe has in mind. Certainly Everton have to look beyond Moyes and what we have seen in three pre-season games gives us all a lack of confidence.

They now have three even tougher games before the season starts and, despite some decent performances by some players, the woeful ineptitude in the final third gives us little confidence in winning games -- and let's face it you have to score to win.

Dave Lynch 22 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:33:59

Frying pan to fire springs to mind.

Then again...could it get any worse? At least the young lads would get a chance.

Id rather finish mid table having a go than sitting deep and boring the arse off fans.

He'd have a go in the cups as well.

Mike Hayes 23 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:40:05

Howe, being a blue and if offered the job, would at least have the passion to win games, get us up the league and have a decent cup run instead of feckin capitulating in the early stages.

We need someone with the passion for Everton, for the fans, and to be a winner. The Moores were passionate as was Big Joe Royle, we need someone with Everton's best interest at heart for a feckin change.

Paul Kossoff 24 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:40:15

Michael, are we ready? Were Newcastle ready for him when he went to them? If we aren't ready as a team that desperately needs new blood, in as a new manager, when will we ever be ready?

Do you want David Moyes staying for the foreseeable? Are we ready? I think 99% of us would say Yes, get him in now.

Christy Ring 25 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:41:51

Howe is supposedly taking a break.

Even though he was a massive Blues fan, I couldn't see him being inspired by our owners.

Les Moorcroft 26 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:48:17

Paul @16.

That's Moyes's CV. People say he won a cup at West Ham. Eddie done what at Newcastle?

At Stoke the other night, people coming out all said the same: "This is going to be a long season."

For God's sake, move him on. Scotland job is free. If not Eddie Howe... Eddie Murphy. Got to be better than this fossil.

Paul Hewitt 27 Posted 30/07/2026 at 15:49:34

Apparently this young German manager Newcastle are getting is supposed to be the next big thing.

So someone we'd never look to appoint.

John Collins 28 Posted 30/07/2026 at 16:02:58

Is it Hoeness, Paul?

Paul Hewitt 29 Posted 30/07/2026 at 16:07:53

Matthias Jaissle, John. Never heard of him. But he's got a big reputation in Germany.

Worked in the Red Bull organisation for a few years before going to Saudi.

John Collins 30 Posted 30/07/2026 at 16:10:13

Me neither, Paul.

Have a, look at what Hoeness has done since running the youth teams, mate. Exactly what we need if we are going down the development with young players route.

Andrew Merrick 31 Posted 30/07/2026 at 16:43:57

Nothing will happen immediately, so this window is a Moyes window.

Apparently., Howe wants a break, would 6 months be enough?

Since it became apparent TFG were sticking with Moyes, I've accepted that we won't see any movement until at least Christmas, more likely next Spring, at which stage Eddie would be welcome on a short list of available candidates. A better option than Moyes.

Jimmy Hardacre 32 Posted 30/07/2026 at 16:51:54

As unlikely as it seems, Eddie Howe, as a Blue, surley would jump at it. Newcastle have sold when they sell their captain, all his midfield, and Gordon, this smells like a crew looking to get out. Opportunity awaits: we cannot do any worse than soft arse Moyes. Pull the trigger.

Bournemouth played good attacking football when he was there... why not now? I don't even think the safe hands excuse cuts it. Moyes's time is up; go gracefully and leave us with someone who will at least have a go.

Alan McGuffog 33 Posted 30/07/2026 at 16:57:59

Six months away from football?

Where better than... ?

Gerry Quinn 34 Posted 30/07/2026 at 16:59:32

If he is wanting to take a break from football, maybe joining Everton would be ideal! Just saying.

John Collins 35 Posted 30/07/2026 at 17:00:35

38 39 😂😂

Bill Hawker 36 Posted 30/07/2026 at 17:22:06

I would like Moyes out but I'm not sure on Howe being a good replacement.

Daniel A Johnson 37 Posted 30/07/2026 at 17:53:40

The mediocrity millionaire Moyes is locked on £6M a year he isn’t walking away from that.

Mick O\\\'Malley 38 Posted 30/07/2026 at 17:59:09

Paul Hewitt, you have got to be joking...

Howe -- wether he was in charge of Bournemouth or Newcastle -- regularly had the beating of Everton. Newcastle didn't play boring football, we do.

I'd love Eddie Howe here... but No, let's plod along with Moyes.

Derek Knox 39 Posted 30/07/2026 at 18:01:21

PH @ 10, so your tongue is firmly implanted in Moyes's Anal Cleavage ?

Get real mate !

Ian Pilkington 40 Posted 30/07/2026 at 18:27:34

Howe would be a significant upgrade on Moyes and would at least play attractive football. He could come in immediately and save us from Moyes signing more duds like Delap and retaining the dreadful Barry and McNeil.

£6.5M to pay off Moyes would be compensated by not having to pay anything for Howe. Moyes could then take a huge drop in salary to bore the Scots for the next 4 years.

The Everton connection may have some minor relevance to Howe but why would anyone on here advocate the third-rate Lee Carsley if he'd never played for us?

Jeff Armstrong 41 Posted 30/07/2026 at 18:37:38

Because Carsley takes chances, he completely changed an England team when he was in charge for a few games. It didn't work out, but he at least had the bottle to experiment, at the highest level, whilst on trial, took balls that, oh and at least he plays the youngsters 😉😉😉

Hewey is always game for a laugh,he's more of an expert on RL, I wouldn't argue with him on that sport!

But this is a football website 😂

Ian Horan 42 Posted 30/07/2026 at 18:39:58

Put Moyes on garden leave; if he takes the Scotland job, we stop paying him.

Get Howe whilst he is available. We missed 2 quality managers in the summer. Let's not fuck it up again.

Martin Berry 43 Posted 30/07/2026 at 18:42:21

If Everton were to want Howe now, do you think he would turn it down? Never in a million years as he may not get the chance again.

Moyes will be with us for another year, the players we manage to bring in? and the final position we end up in the Premier League at the end of the season will dictate if he is given a further extension or not.

Of course, long term, Moyes won't go on forever... so we will have to see who is available on the Manager Merry-go-round at the time.

Kevin Naylor 44 Posted 30/07/2026 at 18:49:39

The inevitable will happen and Moyes will get sacked before the season is out (probably before Christmas) by which time no one of any credibility will be available.

This is the last chance saloon for me, for us to get a decent manager and get rid of dour Davey before he relegates us.

Paul Hewitt 45 Posted 30/07/2026 at 18:52:45

Derek @44.

I was asking who I want between Moyes and Howe? I said Moyes. Ideally I'd not want either of them. We made a big mistake in not getting Glasner.

Anthony Dove 46 Posted 30/07/2026 at 19:14:24

Anyone but Moyes is my standpoint.

John Collins 47 Posted 30/07/2026 at 19:15:58

Almost unanimous on TW re Moyes Out

Jeff Armstrong 48 Posted 30/07/2026 at 19:18:20

Start a poll, moderators: Moyes, In or Out?

Fair point from Hewey, he's said Glasner for months. I asked him Moyes or Howe?As he said, he wants neither, but I asked him one or the other.

Fair play to PH, he is always game, despite a bit of stick. I think he'd prefer Billy Boston? Or Alex Murphy?😉

John Collins 49 Posted 30/07/2026 at 19:21:03

I reckon 98% out.

2% Stabilisers

Andrew Ellams 50 Posted 30/07/2026 at 19:22:02

Howe isn't coming to Everton!

Why would he commit career suicide right now?

Liam Mogan 51 Posted 30/07/2026 at 19:27:35

I can't bear Moyes, but the reality is unless we get some decent players in, any manager would struggle.

Feeling completely uninspired with the new campaign. Saying that, I'd be happier if I didn't have to hear that ginger demagorgon whinge and obfuscate all season. Or have to watch his godawful approach to games.

Tom Bowers 52 Posted 30/07/2026 at 19:31:36

We shall see what Howe has in mind. Certainly Everton have to look beyond Moyes and what we have seen in three pre-season games gives us all a lack of confidence.

They now have four even tougher games before the season starts and despite some decent performances by some players the woeful ineptitude in the final third gives us little confidence in winning games and let's face it you have to score to win.

Jeff Armstrong 53 Posted 30/07/2026 at 19:32:08

Straw poll on here today says 95% Moyes out. Win our first two games it drops to 50% Fickle ? Evertonian’s? Never.

Brian Harrison 54 Posted 30/07/2026 at 19:32:08

I am sure Eddie Howe wil take a well earned rest for a couple of months, but I am sure he will get offers to return to the Premier league, but with our owners I doubt despite being a fan he would be in any hurry to take over Everton. I always have reservations about owners who have a portfolio of 2 or 3 football teams, it always looks to me as if they are there to make money rather than make the teams great, also you have to question their commitment, does each club get the same involvement. Certainly of the teams that TFG own they seem to spend more time at Roma than any of their other clubs. Even the Glasiers visited Old Trafford at least a few times in their first season of ownership, but Friedkin is nowhere to be seen. So if things go pear shaped don't expect Friedkin to come in and sort it out, he will leave it to his muppet Kinnear.

Tom Bowers 55 Posted 30/07/2026 at 19:42:17

If, by some miracle, Everton get a good start in the Premier League, then many of us will think twice about moving Moyes out for the time being.

Sometimes there's a fine line between winning and losing but we all know what Everton's weaknesses are and it appears nothing is being done about them.

Heaven forbid these weaknesses contribute to a poor start and place them near the bottom again because only then will the new owners be convinced a real shake up is needed.

I have seen some real talent developing despite some poor results but more improvement is needed at all levels to make this team more competitive -- starting with the manager.

Mark Ryan 56 Posted 30/07/2026 at 19:42:29

Jeff @ 58,

We won't win 2 of our first 10 this coming season.

Jeff Armstrong 57 Posted 30/07/2026 at 19:47:23

That's relegation form, Mark.

Act now?

Dave Lynch 58 Posted 30/07/2026 at 20:05:13

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Moyes does have a transfer kitty, so why in god's name is he not utilising it?

There are decent players available and playing in the Premier League on Premier League wages is a pull in itself.

David West 59 Posted 30/07/2026 at 20:13:57

I like Eddie a lot. He was under huge pressure to deliver super quick at the Looney Toons, which he did achieve, but their owners' haste has now slowed them down, with PSR & SCR.

If he fancies the Everton job, which I'm sure he probably would, he may like a job where he's in control, and has the time to build something at a more sustainable pace.

A sabbatical is only a sabbatical until something pulls you back in.

Lots of changes of managers in the Premier League this year, which usually means a few will not do well and get the sack, so lots of movement will happen this season, I think. Which, if Moyes doesn't hit the ground running, may then force TFG to follow suit...

Hopefully Eddie will still be sitting at home in his Everton PJs, watching Howard's Way on repeat, when desperate Dan makes the call!

Julian Wait 60 Posted 30/07/2026 at 20:17:11

Gosh, a dead squibb sounds even worser than a damp squib!

Jeff Armstrong 61 Posted 30/07/2026 at 20:18:31

You'd like to think Kinnear and Co would realise the ramifications of today's developments and start crunching numbers, and the what if we do, what if we don't scenarios.

Do they stick or twist?

Gavin Johnson 62 Posted 30/07/2026 at 20:21:34

I really wanted Moyes gone after the end of season capitulation, and think we should have gone for Glasner instead of allowing Forest to make their move, but to be honest, I'd keep him until end of this season now and see where we finish.

Howe is a good manager and I thought his defence would be like Swiss cheese when he first took the Barcodes job, but he proved me wrong. However, I don't see him as that much of an upgrade that I'd bring him when pre-season has already started. Maybe it's a move we could revisit during the season if Moyes has us playing like the back end of last season.

Raymond Fox 63 Posted 30/07/2026 at 20:28:51

Football is fucked.

Look at Howe and the players he had; if the players get a better offer, they are off. Some of them obviously downed tools last season and wanted out... I wonder what the Newcastle supporters are making of it now.

Managers can only do so much nowadays, players are getting silly money... even Alex Ferguson said the players could buy and sell him and it was time to retire.

The Premier League is a non-competition for the majority of clubs, fought out between the usual suspects who are able to buy success.

Paul Griffiths 64 Posted 30/07/2026 at 20:29:59

PH - Hewey - your characterisation of what the geordies think of Howe is way off mark as is your characterisation of how his team played.

Howe can play it tight when called for - he is actually versatile unlike - but I don't tnink of Moyesball when I think of Newcastle, Quite the opposite, in fact.

Mick (43): sadly that's not true mate.

Howes's Newcastle/Bournemouth record v us:

P 21 W8 D4 L9 F34 A 34 PTS 28

Ian Jones 65 Posted 30/07/2026 at 20:41:30

Michael K. Re your 'Bramley-Moore Figurehead: An articulate, Everton-minded manager leading the club in its shiny new era would instantly unite the fanbase and generate huge momentum.'

Looking at the comments on here, I can't see him instantly uniting the fanbase. Any generation of huge momentum would disintegrate at the first corner given away.

Michael Kenrick 66 Posted 30/07/2026 at 20:46:08

I think you're right, Ian.

I'd been reading one too many of Tony's excursions into nostalgia about the good old days and how football could be reinvigorated if only we would all 'unite'.

Sorry about that.

Jeff Armstrong 67 Posted 30/07/2026 at 21:21:09

PG 65, bit unfair on Hewey that, he offers no characterisation on either Howe's barcodes style of play nor their fans' opinion of him anywhere on this thread, or any other manager or team for that matter.

Hewey has been consistent in saying his personal choice would be Glasner, PH is often slightly off kilter with his erm… predictions, but Eddie Howe is not for him, or Moyes for that matter.

Now, if Shaun Edwards was available, he might nail his colours to the mast.

Paul Griffiths 68 Posted 30/07/2026 at 21:26:38

Read #17 Jeff.

Paul Hewitt 69 Posted 30/07/2026 at 21:31:49

PG @69. What I wrote on that post was what Newcastle fans had been saying about Howe for most of last season. They are not my opinion.

Jeff Armstrong 70 Posted 30/07/2026 at 21:36:45

Soz PG, missed that one, but it is Hewey we’re talking about, hardly Darren or MG territory to start a “ conversation “ is it? No offence PH

Paul Griffiths 71 Posted 30/07/2026 at 21:37:35

That's simply not true PH. Like us, some of them turned against Howe and the team for their miserable end to the season. In their case, seven games, I think.

Paul Griffiths 72 Posted 30/07/2026 at 21:39:20

I'm not a massive fan of general misrepresentations to make an argument JA mate.

Jeff Armstrong 73 Posted 30/07/2026 at 21:40:49

I think Newcastle were poor all season, with 5 games to go, they could have been dragged into it.

I think they got a couple of decent results late on and eventually finished above us.

Stu Darlington 74 Posted 30/07/2026 at 21:47:02

Moyes is going nowhere until his contract runs out or things have really gone pear-shaped by Christmas. I think TFG's lack of action in the summer, when several promising candidates became available, demonstrates this.

Being a long-term Everton fan is no qualification for a manager; if it was, we would have thousands of candidates!!

I've seen nothing in Howe's career that makes me cry into my pillow every night because he is not our manager.

One ray of light in the dark is that Count Binface could be available after the Clacton by-election... He's got to be more attack-minded than Moyes and is very experienced at fighting lost causes -- which this club could become very quickly given TFG's underwhelming interest in making Everton a competitive force in the Premier League.

Jeff Armstrong 76 Posted 30/07/2026 at 22:02:20

Tom#75, the weaknesses you mention are definitely going to impact us in the start to the new season: no decent right-back (or left-back), no goalscoring or creative midfielder, and no decent striker who can control a football and then strike it towards the goal frame.

Same as last season.

Tom Bowers 77 Posted 30/07/2026 at 22:08:31

Raymond Fox is so right.

For many years now the top six is almost written in stone thanks to the moneybags behind them.

Okay, just now and then a smaller team creeps in and even just sometimes wins the title like Leicester..

Everton, once a moneybags team themselves back in the Sixties have been mismanaged at board level for many years and we have seen many bargain basement failures pick up wages that has kept the team one of the also rans.

Moyes did his best during his previous tenure with limited funds. but I now seriously doubt he can do anything without some serious money being at his disposal. That may come if Ndiaye goes along with one or two others.

We live in hope.

David West 78 Posted 30/07/2026 at 22:32:48

Tom 77. You can have as much money as you want ( ask Newcastle) you cant spend it !! They've got the money to buy who ever they want !!! The rules are scewed to keep that top 6 - 7 in place.

It's framed as keeping clubs solvent and out of financial trouble,

But what kids want to grow up supporting a club knowing there's zero hope of bridging the gap and competing.

Don't hear songs in stadiums about how.. "we're by far the most solvent team the world has ever seen "

It's this PSR, SCR that is actually ruining the game, as a competition it's a 3 - 4 horse race. It will eventually ruin the PL as a spectacle, it's started already, with owners knowing they can't compete, so they are willing to just stay in the PL milk the cash cow, no need to try and be competitive.

John Collins 79 Posted 30/07/2026 at 22:42:31

Agree with that David. My thinking is you may as well have a go and see were you end up. Employ an attack minded manager asap.

Jeff Armstrong 80 Posted 30/07/2026 at 22:49:14

David #78 post of the day, depressing but so true.

Paul Griffiths 81 Posted 30/07/2026 at 23:13:01

Important last paragraph David (78). I hadn't quite thought of it like that before but it does make sense.

It's great for Bournemouth etc. to get the odd year in Europe but no higher. It keeps them going.

Saint Daniel-the-Absent is not really bothered about being top-4 because it would cost an inordinate amount of money to get us there on a regular basis. All that matters is staying in the PL and that thing of beauty on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey.

But perhaps the appointment of Cox suggests otherwise? I'm confused. It's like each ending of Soap.