Yorkie

Yeah I was on about Anfield. Wasn't trying to be edgy, just assumed everyone would agree. Pointless even travelling to that ground.

I can, to an extent, live with the fact we've been drawn against them - when you get this far it becomes increasingly likely. It's just the it's fucking away a-fucking-gain. So frustrating. There were 14 possible draws for us and we've come out with the second worst. That's obviously it as well, like. Not a chance we're getting through that.

I think it's absolute nonsense saying there's no in-between. I think the majority take the view that he's doing an admirable job under difficult circumstances but isn't without errors (that being the very definition of 'in-between'), then a small minority taking the obscene view that the team is a disgrace and he needs sacking. I routinely defend Howe but I don't see it as making excuses at all. "You can't criticise Howe round 'ere fnar fnar" is being leveled at people calling out those chatting shit comparing him to Bruce and/or saying his time's up.

I'd love to see a bit of Trippier LB Tino RB but I know it won't happen.

'Disgraceful and embarrassing' Dunno wtf people are watching and/or expecting at times. As has been the case with most of our sub-par performances (barring a couple of genuine stinkers) it was a mixed bag; like the boss said - some good bits, some bad bits. I fancied us to win well but it was apparent from the opening blows of the game that we were in for a battle. It's like people have never seen an FA Cup game before. If we're disgraceful and embarrassing then we lose that game handsomely. We actually won and deservedly so.

No idea what you're on about. I'm saying it wasn't a great performance but the players gave maximum effort.

See OP.

We could sit here and pore over why the bad performances were bad and decide just how bad they were. But I'm asking, why bring up Bruce? What's the connection?

Agreed that he was weak in the ground duels tonight but in terms of the whole physical package I think he's clearly got more in the tank than Miley (as he should given the age difference). He gets absolutely everywhere, is better in the air and provides a greater goal threat. Again, agree that he didn't have a good game but it isn't a mystery to me as to why Howe keeps him on.

Ropey performance but he hit that ball beautifully for that long range effort, which is a somewhat encouraging sign. We could really do with someone (other than our CB) who can ping one from outside the box - it's definitely something we've lacked in our attacking arsenal.

What does that button look like?

This line gets trotted out every time there's a bad performance but what point is even being made? That we should all be in here united in disgust at Howe? That Howe is as bad as Bruce but no one wants to admit it? It's such a weird point. They don't belong in the same sentence.

Got to be, but I'm failing to see a net gain so far. Still, no plan B etc.

If there's one thing tactically I'm weary of seeing it's Trippier in that centre-midfield position. Honestly don't feel like it offers us anything substantial, meanwhile leaving Lascelles to trip over his feet in the auxiliary RB position, and leaving the centre prone to gaps when Fab goes walkabout. Just keep him on the right. He builds play well enough from there.

Think that's a fair shout and honestly a good reason why they deserve credit for getting through that tonight. Some brilliant composure in the shootout... probably - all moments considered - the most confident I've ever seen us look at pennos.

He's a funny keeper, like. Absolutely capable of a truly glittering performance, but equally likely to spend a match waving feathers at balls as they fly past him.

He was poor but he's still physically more capable than Miley so I don't think there was anything barmy about him seeing out the 120. That said there were one or two duels where he looked weak as piss.

Any suggestions that the players didn't apply themselves to the fullest tonight is absolutely risible, like. Think I spotted someone in the match thread saying he'd lost the dressing room. It wasn't a good technical performance but they left everything out there. Blackburn played well and had the backing of the crowd throughout; there's no way we'd have even got to ET, let alone pens, if the players hadn't given everything.

Boxing Day was easily the nadir. Only Saturday evening comes close.

Loathed the narrative that he needed this tonight. He's safe as houses whatever happened and, as it happened, he led us through a difficult tie. Squad is regaining fitness and hopefully confidence now. Looking ahead with optimism.

We won.

And the rest. Lascelles' header, Bruno, Barnes, Gordon, Longstaff (obvs some of them contained within the same incident). Of course it shouldn't be so close but it's only frustration at the fact we weren't comfortable which provokes exaggerations like we were outplayed.

Ergh this just isn't true though. I know I'm a happy clapper these days but it was an even game. Of course we should be getting through ties like that with minimal fuss, but it's hardly the first time an EFL team has taken it to a Prem one in the cup. I think the lads deserve a fair bit of credit for not chucking it. They dug in and got the result in the end.

Don't agree. 1-1 in normal time and ET was a fair result.