Theregulars

It was a colossal achievement to finish 4th with that squad. it doesn’t mean that he’s also not the best in big games - he just isn’t, his record in them for us is mixed.

I’ll go through them again: - cup final: lost - CL crunch run-in: Leeds away scabby draw, Leicester home very nervy, Brighton home fantastic - last year away games vs sky 6: lost at Liverpool, lost at Man City, drew at arsenal, drew at Manchester United, won at Tottenham, drew at Chelsea - meh record - cup semi last year: it gets forgotten but we laboured massively. Adam Armstrong was fucking unlucky not to tie the home leg 1-1. - last year home games vs sky 6: great draw v city, meek against arsenal, great win against Manchester United, poor loss against Liverpool, good win vs Chelsea, destroyed spurs - this year first 2 big games: lost with poor performances. The point I’m making is, on evidence, his record on big occasions isn’t great. I don’t think it’s as wild a take as you’re making it out to be. This is before we remember all the really disappointing performances last year when we couldn’t score. He is a very very good manager, I sense that he isn’t elite. I hope I’m wrong.

As I’ve said in my other post now, his record in big matches is really mixed. We seem to line up afraid of the bigger sides. That needs to change or he won’t last in the role; it’s denying factual reality to suggest he’s a big game manager. He isn’t, on evidence with us thus far.

Well I’m not sure your take is as nuanced as reality suggests it should be. When the pressure of the run-in really ramped up - ie when Liverpool started winning every week - we drew at leeds looking pretty ropey, we played great v Brighton, and we were edgy and a pope wondersave away from a loss against Leicester. We were meek AF in the cup final. We were meek away to city both this and last season. We were wank at home to arsenal last season. We devoured spurs when we needed to and beat Man U at home in a big match. His record in big fixtures is mixed. It suggests to me that he isnt quite top table at this stage. Today we didn’t look like a well coached team.

Not the man for the big occasion, at all.

That wasn’t the performance of a top 4 side, basically.

Indeed - which makes it even more difficult to explain why the manager instructed the players to stand off them let them have possession.

Well they had a body short, and still deservedly and confidently beat us. That match was nothing to do with FFP. Was just crap from manager in particular and players.

I hope someone asks Howe in the presser “why do you seem to be scared of Klopp and Liverpool?”

Yup - really poor from him today, and last week. Same as the cup final, home to arsenal, Leicester match etc - there’s an evident and clear trend of them bottling the big occasion and not knowing how to step up. That was a concession, not a defeat.

No, I won’t. It’s a fair comment. That was extremely poor in-game management from Howe.

Can folk see now how we can upgrade at manager?

Well Eddie Howe has had his first absolute disaster here.

Hate to engage in the NUFC360 shit but Bruno has been so mediocre.

Yup, one of his weak areas, alongside playing the big teams.

Why are we so afraid of passing the ball?

Hate to say it but Howe deserves so much criticism for this. Really cowardly second half.

You can tell that we’re still completely not accustomed to competing at the top level of the league in my view. This is a nervous and immature performance.

He did dive

This is pretty poor, we look scared to grab the initiative.

Big time

That’s a sitter for Botman

too timid here.

Literally almost scored a goal which would have been in contention for goal of the month, if not season, 10 mins ago. Come on

Why do you think so?