Mattoon

I've said since the draw that Atletico will win the tie. But aye it'll be entertaining watching lego heed flapping.

Tomorrow is going to be absolutely diabolical after watching that. What a game of football we've just witnessed, how the game should be played, and absolutely nothing like the absolute dirge witnessed in the PL every week.

What a game!

2-0 big Wolte and Burn

Deffo a bacon tramp stamp

This is just a conjecture filled argument fueled by prejudice. Relentlessly negative.

The quote suggests nothing other than the fact he knows this season hasn't been good enough and big improvements are needed, he didn't suggest at all that we'd be in a relegation battle, what a ridiculous take.

This is definitely not being discussed in the Eddie Howe thread enough, no one player should make a team and a manager should be able to find a way to win with any personnel at his disposal, but it is rather telling in the 12 games Bruno missed we slipped to 3 wins in 12, I don't think it's a coincidence that our poor form coincided with Bruno's injury. He brings so much more than his own ability to the team, he brings leadership, confidence and on field instruction, he drives the team forward and expects more from his team mates, we've missed that as much as his ability on the ball. I also wouldn't be surprised to see us improve over the last 4 games and finish much stronger with him leading the team.

Its not surprising that until this season we had never won a game of football without him, we've struggled massively this season too. The lynchpin of the entire team on and off the pitch and the personification of NUFC, irreplaceable, it will be a sad, sad day when he leaves. May that be another 10 years or when I die, whichever happens last.

Its all getting a bit aggy which is ridiculous really, I know it can be frustrating when someone doesn't see the situation from the same angle as you do but ultimately we all just want what is best for NUFC we just don't agree with what that is. Both sides have legitimate and well thought out reasons and evidence to support their stance and both are just as right or wrong as each other. No one could truly know what is for the best without the benefit of hindsight, whether Howe stays and succeeds or is spent or if he goes and we take off under another manager or continue to freefall, none of it is guaranteed. No one is stupid, ignorant or ill informed because they don't agree with you.

Relentlessly negative you mate, having Bruce's name in the same paragraph as Howe, he deserves more respect than that. The bit in bold highlighted again for hyperbole, remind me again where we were in the table when Bruce was sacked and where Howe got us to by the end of the season?

Its stuff like the bit in bold I find hyperbolic, Burn was brought into the side to combat a team that relies predominantly on set plays, taking out the smallest defender. The only thing I might have done differently is play Hall in place of Ramsey.

I don't get how the way of playing is a stick to beat Howe with, every manager has a way they want to play, they just tweak it depending on the opposition and very rarely differ from it. Howe is no different, and he has shown he can mix it up against the best which was proven in the cup wins against Arsenal (home and away btw) and Liverpool last season.

I think this has been done to death, get a DOF worth his salt in and maybe out of all the transfers we missed out on we might get someone like Pedro or Ekitike as we offload Isak early, or Mitchell doesn't get to burn bridges with Isak over his contract and he stays, or we get someone like Trafford and the season looks completely different. As far as the summer transfer did go we had Thiaw, Ramsey, Elanga, Wissa and Woltemade, Thiaw had some question marks about him but has proven to be an astute signing, Ramsey was brought in to be a squad player for rotation and after a difficult start has proven to be just that, no one batted an eyelid about Elanga or Wissa, just balked at the prices, both have turned out to be atrocious unfortunately, but the idea on paper looked sound. My only real gripe is Woltemade, promising young striker with bags of skill and courted by one of the best teams in Europe and we just haven't figured out a way to use him. And as others have alluded to, the team looks that shot, no one really knows where to start with it. Yes Howe could try something different, but he's trying what he knows best with a team rock bottom with confidence, its obviously a weakness of his, too scared to change it, desperate for a result, can't see the wood for the trees etc... It all boils down to whether you think he can reproduce his magic with another summer with the right support network and fresh faces. And as I have already said although I think he can, I understand why others have their doubts. I just think there's a wider picture than Howe has gone as far as he can and he's finished here.

I don't disagree that the form we're in is unacceptable, its where you see the problem that denotes how you feel about the situation, as I have repeatedly said, I don't think Howe is innocent in all of this but I do believe the cards were stacked against him this season and I also believe that a decent summer will change our fortunes, but I also understand that some people might see that differently. I have been expecting to see green shoots several times this season but I just don't think this team has had it in them to turn things around for a multitude of reasons and perhaps Howe is on a hiding to nowhere. Time will tell who is right, but for me, Howe deserves to put it right and I have faith that he will, again, I understand that others might not. The hyperbolic comment is in reference to the whole season being horrific/a write off, when in fact the cup runs have been very good at times and I feel they're being played down to feed a narrative.

Hit the nail on the head here, its just a tumultuous season with a lot going wrong or just not working out for him, that doesn't mean its game over, it means he needs to be able to rectify whats wrong and try again, there's been some good in what has been a largely bad season. There's a lot of recency bias charged in this hyperbole, understandably at times, I feel the frustration too, no one wants to lose 6 on the bounce and 9 in the last 12, but this season has taken its toll and we're completely out of steam. But looking at the whole season rather than picking bits out, it hasn't all been doom and gloom.

He's staying and he'll turn ut round next season, everything else is just a bunch of noise from spoiled brats

This season is his Bournemouth relegation season, the bubble has burst, Bournemouth never gave him the chance to turn it around so we'll never know if he could have, I still believe he can here.

Relentlessly negative in here, quelle surprise. I thought we looked in it the whole game, people moaning about us barely having a shot on goal in the second half, its almost as if Arsenal have the best defensive record in the league or something, can't possibly be that they've only conceded 26 in 34 because they know how to snuff out attacks and protect their goal? They're ugly, they win ugly, they're horrific to watch and not a very good side, but they don't concede goals, thats what got them to the top of the league. But blame Howe for not putting it in the back of the net against the best defensive side in the league because it keeps the narrative alive for another week.

Imagine calling yourself the "gooners" in this day and age

I will wait until I see how they perform in game, I cant count how many times I've seen people kicking off about the starting line up and get proven wrong. Yeah on paper it looks grim, but I've felt that before and been wrong.

Back to Fleetwood vs York next season @Yorkie you chuffed? They deserved it, I'm happy for you

What a game!!

Fail to win today and it'll be 203 points in 2 seasons without automatic promotion, thats crazy. I've got it down as a 2-1 York win, just don't fo an Arsenal.

Huge game today @Yorkie I'm looking forward to it