Ken Tone

No. He'll be CB so Stephens can play LB !😉

Harsh IMO. Thought he showed promise last season, in spite of Martin playing him in so many different roles so he couldn't settle. And he's obviously done really well at Wednesday, captain of NI, and now linked with Arsenal in (admittedly unreliable) click bait.

Don't think managers like Clough, Feguson etc allowed much disagreement in the players. Clough said something like if a player disagrees with me, we have a frank and open discussion .....and then we agree that I'm right.

Disagree. Thought he was very good against Everton, after improving steadily over the last few weeks.

A cracking old ground? Jesus, you make me feel old! I went to a game there whilst it was being completely rebuilt. They turned it through 90 degrees and at that game they only had one side stand in use.....yards away from the touchline.

Surely should be taylor ahead of manning for defending today..

Suspect Potter is hoping for the Man United job.

More like a parallel universe!

So is manning going to play as a third CB, with KWP at LB or is he experimenting with KWP playing further forward as sort of right winger? Either way, it's pretty clear he's just trying anything in tge hope of arriving at a successful set up, with no clear plan.

Well Stephens won't be playing.....banned for 2 more matches. Hope we fine him as well as the FA. Some captain's example!

Yes. Had been wondering whether to go , had just about decided to, in spite of Monday's display, then just got email saying we can't have our own seats because they're closing the whole Kingsland stand. They just don't get it, do they? We were disrupted by the moving of away fans, but did manage to move with some of the friends and neighbours we'd met in years of sitting in the same place...and now they want us to sit with strangers in the 'wrong' part of ground. It's a social thing going to football, not a commercial transaction as they seem to think. Never mind fan zones, food and drink outlets etc, just let me watch football with the people I know.

I can't understand how Bournemouth have avoided being in trouble with financial fair play or whatever it's called now. Their fan base is so small that I can't see how their regular income can cover the sort of money they've spent in the last 4 or 5 years.

Well I hope Stewart can take penalties.

Yes. And at a pinch we could even play KWP right wing in front of Sukiwara.

Stephen's is a broadly competent CB, third best at the club IMO, or maybe 4th best if ABK is back in the fold. However Stephens is NOT a competent midfielder or LB at this level. He should be the one we take off to bring on subs. He should not be moved to other positions while we take off others.

Agree. But needs must I suppose. We have enough left backs,especially if KWP stays, and we need cash to pay for other priorities.

It would be good to see the official announcement before noon nonetheless, so he can play on Saturday --- and there ain't much time left. Wonder if he's been around our training this morning?

Don't worry. The delay is just because our doctor's guide dog needed a walk first. 😉

Delighted with this signing. Had thought a permanent move wasn't on because of his wages. Could have fiddled that on loan but can't think how we've got round it long term. If he's taken a pay cut to be able to play, then good for him

Structure it so we don't pay huge wage ...arsenal do, but we pay them a bigger loan fee.

OR..... he allowed himself to be sold so the club could get in a transfer fee and stop paying him £100k a week, so we could avoid going broke. He's not like Lallana or Van Dijk, agitating to leave ...... as far as we fans can tell.

Guessing here, but maybe you can't transfer before the actual QR code comes through? ie 24 hours before the game.

Message from an acquaintance who's Geordie fan, and was at the match . "Yes. You were the better team. It was a red card. We only scored from the goal keepers mistake. How did you not score several times..? Eddie will not be happy with it all. But…. Joelinton was excellent."

So was the deal last year that Sheffield United bought Archer but Villa had to buy him back if sheff were relegated? That's the first deal like that I've heard of. Interesting alternative to a year's loan with option or requirement to buy. Certainly implies Villa don't rate him much.

That's encouraging. Thanks Trouble is though, before "in a few weeks' we may well have lost the first few games and a bad start is hard to overcome at this level.