Superior Acuña

Last two rounds couldn't actually be harder than last year. 2nd in the semis, 1st in the final. (Plus 4th and 7th earlier)

We can’t be losing out to Tottenham or Villa though man. Thats why I find it hard to say I’m fine with Europa. There’s not a fifth team I can really be okay with being below - or already accept that we cannot catch. Tottenham were so far behind us AND share our burden of CL football.

We were 12th after matchweek 15 last season. People would’ve said it was gone then too. There’s clearly time to turn it around and we look no less likely to than last season. But we need to see a change soon and a similarly great run as last season.

Could do with one of those mega run, like the winter one last season. Last season we got 2 points from the next three games…

Whats it like getting a ticket at the moment? I’ve been to Tynecastle but never a Heart’s match (went when Scotland played there) - seems a good season to go. (Ps doesn’t Tynecastle sound like what we might be called in ProEv)

Probs only one interested in this but updated after Sunday games Us -6 Villa -5 (same points as us last season) Tottenham +7 (28 points behind us last season) ManU +3 (24 points behind us last season) Chelsea -4 (3 points ahead of us last season) Changes are ManU +1 with their draw after losing last season (no Elanga to destroy them) and us -3.

I direct you to the title of the thread. That was the difference and it didn’t necessitate beating the top team more than we did, it could be done by winning more consistent against midtable teams.

Last season if we’d won the 5 home games we lost to mid table teams, plus one away defeat (eg Fulham or Brentford), we’d have been level with Liverpool. Three of them and we’d have been second.

Would’ve wanted Liverpool to win before cos Villa are likely to be rivals to us for last CL spots. But another Liverpool loss could see them dropping enough to be rivals to us this season.

Balckburn, Villa and Leeds all had those ASICS keeper tops

imo, as I've said in the euro thread, the big next step for us is consecutive CL qualifications i.e. maintaining a CL-qualifying campaign while also in the CL. I think that kicks us on from being comparable (and perceived alongside) the likes of Villa and Tottenham to joining that next group up (Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea). We'll be more attractive and more PSR room. If we're at that level, we could even win the league relatively soon if we got lucky and things aligned (a few off-seasons). Looking at last season, the main thing that we need to do to push on is being able to breakdown decent midtable teams at home who come for a draw/sneaky win. (Practically, more players of the Sandro etc. level. I think our first xi isn't much improved on last season but our overall depth is. Would be great to improve first xi w some top top players next summer)

Got to say I didn't notice The bugle seemed to go on for a long time with everyone in silence for it to be a preamble to silence. I thought the degree of silence was quite impressive, normally you can hear some people on the concourses but I didn't. The whole thing makes me uncomfortable now that it's been co-opted and confused anyway. I will happily stand in silence and remember those that went to fight fascism in WW2 and tragically sent to die in WW1. But last night the PA said something like "we pay tribute to our armed forces", which I am not happy to do and is not the purpose of remembrance. (So I stood in silence but I did not do the big round of applause that went around when he said that). Prob don't want to turn this thread into a big discussion on this though On another note, agree w Bobby. Was also in the corner and so much better.

30% of all our LC QF appearances will have been under Eddie Howe. (4 of 13)

He has now scored for us in 8 consecutive seasons

Is the interview with him and Nick on YouTube? Can’t find it with a quick search

I refuse to give this cup back

Torres is the one that seemed biggest to me. From so good to so shit and plenty of chances to turn it around, and it just never happened. It seemed bizzare.

Can't believe Dan Burn put us ahead in the winning cup final - what a fairytale

I would imagine at least most of the several thousand who go to away games semi-regularly would like to stand and sing at home.

Would absolutely love that last Asics shirt full replica. My first.

Merits of the list aside, we've got 5 managers in there (and would have the same 5 on many such lists). That's got to be quite unusual, at least considering our lack of success over the period they were involved.

Honestly I'm normally pretty traditoinalist when it comes to football, but I'd happily sack off boxing day matches. Caused many a family argument, or at least tension, growing up -especially away ones.

Aye on pens. So we're now into 2 and a bit seasons unbeaten in normal or AET.

We've not lost a league cup match in normal time or extra time since the cup final loss to ManU.

Ha no, I sort of didn’t want to know