STM

Both Schar and Botman had a go at Dubravka for not coming out of his goal... spotted on the match cam.

30/40m for Big Joe? I don't care if he's in the last year of his contract...that would be a crime. I'd genuinely rather keep him for a year than see us let him go THAT cheap.

Momentum is the thing.Villa are sliding. Man Utd are climbing and we are one more win from possibly finding similar momentum. However, as much as its nice to look at the possibilities.... we really just have to do our own job. I'm convinced Villa won't finish top 4 now. Which further solidifies what a superb job we did last year.

Villa look more open than us here.

All I'm saying is that I leave terms like "failings" for Tory governments, not for 9/10 managers who've brought us more success than anyone in 20 years. But you do you.

Good post. If next season (we have half the injuries) and we are playing similar, then absolutely it's a different discussion. I just can't see it though. I think we'd have to really cock up our transfer window in the summer.

I agree, with the slight caveat that we need at least one of our main strikers to have a good fitness record. Therefore, Wilson out and someone in. We should also be looking for wingers of such a standard that could at least fill in up front, like Gordon.

You see even this is OTT. His "failings" man. I don't know if I'm reading it wrong or it's just me but "failings" is just a word I wouldn't use. If I talked about Peps "failings" I'd rightly get laughed at but I could easily point to more than one moment where his decisions cost his side a trophy. On the Saudi point. In a scenario where they sacked Howe, THEY would be wrong, not Howe. Then we could talk about their "failings".

And just to add to the above... I was absolutely foaming about the Luton display last week, so much so that I couldn't even watch the highlights back. Sometimes you (me) just need to take a step back and see where we are and how far we've come. The idea of us playing in the Europa conference with an even better (injury free) squad next year, sounds a hell of a lot of fun IMO. Let that be our target.

For example... Would you theoretically want Mikel Arteta here (I know it wouldn't happen)? Go and have a look at his first couple of seasons at Arsenal? They were so inconsistent (Arteta out anyone?), now he's got them comfortably in the top 4 and (kind of) in the titles races. Again, not convinced at all about Arteta as a manager. He's good sure, is he better than Howe? Put it this way, I think Howe would have done better than Arteta at Arsenal (on that budget) and Arteta certainly couldn't have done what Howe has done here. He's also an absolute weapon.... I don't want to go back to disliking my managers. I don't want an argument about Arteta as a manager, he's done a good job for Arsenal and won the FA Cup, this is more an overriding point about being carefully about what kind of person and problems could be around the corner. Howes an absolute top bloke, a phenomenal coach and we've had a testing year, which alot of people predicted.

This is my big gripe. I've said I don't agree with Howe on Burn. It's a fair cop. Howes got/getting this one wrong. But the "well we don't know how the Saudis will react to us not being in the top 4", crap which does my head in. You can practically see the fingers being crossed that the Saudis might do something ridiculous like sack Howe and hire Mourinho. The idea of Howe not being here terrifies me. There's only a handful of managers in world football who I think are significant upgrades on Howe and those are in the Ancelotti, Pep, Klopp bracket. Fuck me, I'm convinced we have a better manager than the current Bayern Munich manager. We should tread very carefully.

Estupinian is a player who i could see us interested in. It's shame that the selling club is Brighton.

Ultimately, we will have to be super flexible in terms of outgoings. For players who haven't contributed or are now starting to cause a problem through fitness, we need to listen to any offer. The knock on effect means that we will also have to replace them, where possible. Targett is a player who will have suitors and is a player we probably have to sell. He's had two years of not playing for us. Hall, remains a mystery what's going on but again, he can't sit on the bench another year. So either we take what we can get for him... or find a suitable loan. He might have a break out summer and put himself into Eddie's plans, but he won't start. Burn, well I think we are all agreed. He can't be first choice next year. Then there's Tino. If we make any form of Europe, he will get 25+ games in either full back position, so game time isn't a worry. If we get an injury to Trippier, we need Tino... therefore a problem has returned at left back again. A Trippier injury could see: Tino Schar Botman Burn Back very quickly. I've tried my best to put the case forward for a quality left back. It's over to the jury....

Dubravka will be gone. We will need to sign (probably) a quality young keeper to be understudy to Pope. Karius will probably leave, so we might need to dip into the, old 3rd choice, basket too.

There's other positions but I really want a left back. Like a proper Isak, Bruno, Botman, standard left back. It will be tough to do. Like the holy grail but the balance of the side would improve so much with having a quality left back. It doesn't have to be a marauding forward thinking left back. Just someone who's really good on the ball and a beast defensively, that would allow Gordon/Barnes some comfort. We'd then have: RB: Trippier, Tino, Krafth LB: New left back, Tino, Burn I will allow the footy nerds to work out who fits that profile.

We won't finish top 4 but just tighten up, even slightly and we can edge towards 5th or 6th and that's a successful season. Momentum is key.

Like I've said a few times, I don't always agree with you TCD but your post about Miley and our defence being exposed the other day was spot on. It where our problem lies. The lack of Joelinton or Willock is killing us. No reflection on Miley, he's got bundles of potential. He's just young. Give us Willock or Joelinton today and we win thar game at a canter.

Just to give an idea of what I'm talking about, Andybiotics has been quoted above. Madness for me but perhaps I'm in the minority.

If you have a look back at the pre match thread, there's a big post where I explain what I think we should do (Murphy as a number 10, as daft as it sounds) and Livramento in for Burn. Howe didn't switch Burn, which i disagree with but actually did change the other part, put Bruno further forward (which worked). My issue is entirely with the reaction of people during the game. I'm an idiot for letting it bother me. These are a great group, a really good manager, with chronic injuries. Of course its not going to be smooth sailing. Is it so hard to ask for people to just control their emotions a little and support the team? Analyse after, critique after etc but just show support (I know the players can't read this but I feel like "support" is a tangible thing that spreads). Get behind them. Then reflect. That's all I'm asking. The match thread is awash with batshit emotion. That's all I'm saying.

You are arguing back now? You've been given examples of people calling for Howe to get sacked etc, yet you still fight that side. It's highly embarrassing. You either get behind them, or you don't. You don't. You want to whinge and bitch and moan. Keep doing it. You will continue to be called out.

I apologised for making it personal, yes. That's what good people do, reflect on their own behaviour. Perhaps you should reflect on your child-like emotions during a match thread. Unless you think you are being rational. Alot of the long time N-O members are now avoiding the football section because of the irrational, emotional responses from those who can't deal with turbulence during the game. I'm just fighting their corner. I don't always agree with @KaKabut he's spot on, its like kids not getting their candy because we aren't winning.

Got hounded for holding the mirror up. "Weird behaviour" apparently..... as opposed to slagging off every player because you can't control your emotion during a game. It's the pits. I'm pleased I'm not alone.

My view: Good win on the road. Better side, despite what Andy Hinchcliffe would have you believe. Ref was awful. Let them foul all day. Proper homer. Let their fans dictate the decisions. How did Dan Burn play? Got done once and I'm not talking about their first goal, prior to that. Their first was an excellent counter and an excellent pass. If city score that, nobody criticises Burn. If we are to put blame, perhaps blame the midfield for the same issues we've had all season. Aside from that, Forest were shite. Sat behind the ball and tried to hit us on the break (to some success). We should have worked this out sooner and kept the ball better but ultimately they did fuck all... or at least no more than any other PL side at home is expected as a minimum. Howe played a blinder playing Bruno further forward... credit? We dominated the ball but still looked like a side lacking some confidence. We scored 3 goals, again, our scoring goals isn't an issue. We conceded 2, fair but one was a freak. You take them on the chin. Ultimately, we've scored 6 on the road to Villa and Forest. That's fantastic. If we can plug that gap in midfield, particularly on the break, we will improve no end. And yes, of course I agree Burn shouldn't be starting. Get behind the lads during a match. Stop whinging or a mirror will be held up at reactionary bullshit. I love these players, I love this manager and I'm sooooo pleased we aren't in the Ashley/Bruce era. There's issues, sure, so fuck, we will get through them.

Could be owt with this clown in charge.

Fuck sake.