ChrisJbarnes
Member-
Posts
2,230 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Whilst the season was clearly a disappointment overall, I think some need to gain some perspective. We had a pretty positive campaign in the CL, matching Barcelona over 3 of the 4 halfs of the 2 leg tie and doing very well in the group stage. I didn't expect anything other than a loss over 2 legs. We lost to Man city in the semi final of the CC and again in the 5th round. No upsets, we were beaten by far stronger teams. The disappointment clearly comes from performances in a league campaign where we failed to inspire, lacked an obvious identity, conceded too many late goals, and never really looked like seriously mounting a charge for a CL spot. It was very competitive in the middle of the table and ultimately despite how poor we appeared overall, we were only 5 points off a Europa league spot. I'm giving it 5/10 overall given the CL results. This has been a tough season on and off for me. Mistakes made from start to finish from the Isak fiasco to the backroom staff. Then we've never really looked like the new players have got going. Given where we were a few years ago, and how fast our rise to the CL twice has been with Howe, this year feels like a huge set back but I think we should be accepting a few setbacks. I find it difficult to apportion blame between players, Howe and the ownership. The key now will to be to ensure we have a coherent transfer strategy, a good overhaul and we should expect a team next season to be qualifying for the Europa as a minimum and giving both the cups a good go. Seriously hoping to see Howe take us forward and is backed in the summer. But he will know he needs to get up and running fast next season and this league campaign needs to be a blip.
-
It's worth pointing out that there are quite a few fixtures where the teams above play each other as well. Will need to hope for quite a few draws!
-
Forest (A) after their semi final and fatigue etc, West Ham (H) and Fulham (A) being a competitor for Europe are all winnable games, if we turn up which is by no means a given. We could move up the table meaningfully with 7 or 9 points, but I reckon someone will pip us to it. And I feel we don't deserve the conference league spot based on this season's showings.
-
Sorry if I've missed something but isn't 7th a potential Europa league spot depending on FA cup winners? We've got a chance of getting Europa League by 1) winning the FA cup- unlikely but possible we could beat city at home and get some kind draws. 2) overhauling a 5 point gap (and goal difference) against Brentford and other contenders. Difficult but not impossible if we happen to be eliminated from the CL and FA cup in the next round which is a possibility. Wed then have sole focus on the league and the team might start stitching together results. After this tough run ending with Barcelona, Arsenal are the only top team we have left, although the West Ham and Forest games will not be easy
-
Big celebrations from the Arsenal fans, I thought the League cup was a Mickey mouse cup that no big club wanted to win?
-
[FAC3R] Newcastle United vs. Bournemouth: 10/1/26 @ 15:00 (No UK TV)
ChrisJbarnes replied to HaydnNUFC's topic in Football
With our fixtures, Semenyo being sold means he cant play for us. But at the same time, he might not be thrown straight in at man city who we play next in the CC -
What a difference an away win plus Man U and Chelsea dropping points at home makes. We are now 4 points plus GD off 5th. I still think its too much to ask but a run of wins in these next winnable fixtures, positive momentum and Wissa back and firing them in gives us a platform to really put pressure on for the Euro spots on once eventually knocked out the CL
-
Brentford vs. Newcastle United: 9/11/25 @ 14:00 (Sky Sports)
ChrisJbarnes replied to HaydnNUFC's topic in Football
I'll make one last plea in vain in case anyone has a spare and is now unable to go! Please message me. Thanks 👍 -
Brentford vs. Newcastle United: 9/11/25 @ 14:00 (Sky Sports)
ChrisJbarnes replied to HaydnNUFC's topic in Football
I live nearby and would love a last minute spare ticket if anyone happens to drop out! -
League Cup 4th Round Draw: Tottenham Hotspur (H) (29/10/25 @ 8pm)
ChrisJbarnes replied to 54's topic in Football
Not the worst, I mean spurs will have the same fixture congestion as us and probably rest players for this. They will play Everton away on the Sunday before this whereas we play Fulham at home on the Saturday. Then they are away to Chelsea. Get through this and quite a few PL teams will have been eliminated -
You'd take a point at a tough away fixture at a CL rival. Disappointed we couldn't capitalise but not surprising given the summer negativity as no strikers on the pitch. Was prepared for a loss, so in that context if we aim/ expect to finish 5th or so it needs to be seen as a good point
-
Elliot Anderson (now playing for Nottingham Forest)
ChrisJbarnes replied to joeyt's topic in Football
Cabaye -
Like us going into the CC final on some rocky form, we put in a decent grafting performance against West Ham before rather than rest players for the final. We needed to get the momentum before the final and I hope Spurs can do that against Villa and grab at least a point. I think the man united game against Villa after the final will be a dead rubber and villa win it if they need to.
-
Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United: 19/04/25 @ 17:30 (Sky Sports)
ChrisJbarnes replied to HaydnNUFC's topic in Football
or "Stab city" as it was known whilst I was at uni there... -
Brentford, Palace, Ipswich, Man United and Everton are all in principle winnable home games. Likewise Leicester away. Chelsea home will be a tough game which will be key to win Brighton, Aston Villa- tough away games. A point would be a great result. Arsenal will have lost the league by the time we play them. But probably hate us As someone else said, we have come through a very tricky period of fixtures and ended up scrapping a good result tonight. Focus on the final and hopefully win this weekend. If we don't, still put ourselves in a good position to aim for 5th and CL qualification with other teams with extra competitions to distract them.