One Game To Go Before The Real Work Begins

What we didn't need after an underachieving PL season was to lose our last game at SJP. That would really have put a dampener on the usual after match walkaround.

We didn't lose instead winning at a relative canter 3-1.

For a team fighting for their PL lives West Ham gift wrapped three goals to the Toon with a mix of bad passes and awful defending. But, all three goals were well taken.

Osula a silver lining to the two W's

If either of the W's had performed this season to anywhere near expectation the third W - Will - wouldn't have got the starts that he has. And boy has he taken advantage.

The confidence is now starting to ooze out of him and his first goal was taken with aplomb with well a struck daisy cutter that gave the keeper no chance at the end of a great passing move.

His second was a typical CF's goal, anticipating the pass, getting the right side of the defenders, and burying the chance.

As much as his goals were a highlight, I was also impressed again with the physical side of his harrying of players with the ball. He is a nightmare for defenders in that respect and when he does get the break on the ball he has the skill and pace to get away.

Other clubs have noticed that too with Aston Villa and Everton rumoured to be among PL and Bundesliga clubs who are interested in his signature.

I definitely would not consider selling this lad. He just might become the real deal.

His goals per minute from starts are now the best in PL this season and - if he is sold which I hope is not the case - his fee as a 22 year old with a massive upside has to be north of £50M.

Eddie forecast issues this season

The i are reporting that Eddie Howe told those close to him that losing Isak and the chaos of the summer under a rudderless management team above him would impact the coming season.

That apparently included saying "they won't give a s**t about credit in the bank" if the team struggled. By "they" I'm assuming he primarily meant fans and the media.

The i are also reporting that he told CEO David Hopkinson that if the club no longer had confidence in him he would leave, and he also asked the players if they were still listening to him and wanted to play for him.

All heavy stuff, if true.

The players were apparently still right behind Eddie and Hopkinson said so were the board and PIF. The i goes on to say that Eddie confirmed in the Matfen Hall meeting that he still has the desire and ambition to take the club forward and wants to stay.

That was good enough for Hopkinson and PIF to tell him his job was safe.

All rumour remember, but I wouldn't be surprised if the gist was all true.

I'm expecting early in's and out's

Ross Wilson has a lot to prove this summer.

His first real opportunity to show his mettle comes at a time when 'major overhaul' is the buzzword for what is needed. After the shambles of last summer both he and the club literally can't afford to repeat the same mistakes.

That puts a huge responsibility onto Wilson's shoulders and with the World Cup looming that is an extra burden on Eddie's demand that players are signed early so that they can be bedded in pre-season - unlike the last late transfer debacle.

Signing players who aren't involved in the World Cup is one way around that but will that affect the calibre of players we sign? We'll soon find out.

Quick decisions also need to be made on any players deemed surplus and not just those past their best and nearing the end of contracts. Eddie needs to be ruthless in those decisions, no matter who the players are, when they signed, and for how much.

Note: I am on jury duty and not sure yet for how long so my new posts may be at odd times.

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