Heron

The majority of your post is reasonable I think until that last paragraph. Whilst the lack of quality of the players can be attributed to both, the lack of fitness and coordination can only be applied to one. Bruce was grossly negligent prior to his departure and we're in a whole shittier predicament than when Bruce joined. Bruce was his own enemy.

It's an online thing as a whole. Like it's one thing to say they're shite but going down the route of being properly abusive about them is just a bit radge like. I get it's probably just heat of the moment like. However, that's exactly it. Like consider the alternatives, consider the opposition. If players are goving it their best, it's not their fault they're shite.

Penalty changed the game vs Leicester, the same as our lack of one today effected the game. A good second goal from Leicester took the game away from us and Howe got it wrong by chasing it. We tried to chase it vs Liverpool to a lesser degree and did so again today, but there has been improvement since Leicester and since Howe joined. You can judge Howe and Bruce in a similar way, but they're both in very different situations. Bruce was grossly negligent this season, not like in the previous two when he had an axe to grind. He knew he eas untouchable under Ashley and his negligence has set us back 4months. What Howe needs, is a pre season primarily and then about 5 players.

A catalogue of individual errors for the first: Dubravka giving away the corner, Clark not taking responsibility, Dubravka not communicating and/or taking charge. Second goal, thoughtless from Willock, poor luck with the slip, didn't close it down quick enough, top quality finish. Not too dissimilar from the Liverpool third. Absolute stone wall penalty not given which gives us a route back into the game. Matched them first half aside from daft mistakes. Don't really blame Howe for having a slight go by bringing ASM on, don't think it effected the result negatively to be honest. May have snatched something back. Joelinton MotM again for us, for me. Overall the game was won on decision making. Poor decision making from our team, poor decision making from the referee, and almost flawless decision making from Man City. They'll win the league. Was well proud at the end seeing the Gallowgate rallying though. Exactly what's needed right now.

Was our weakest link today

Don't really get why people get so abusive about players such as Clark and Lascelles, etc. They try, they're just not good enough.

I think there needs to be some consideration here like. The team weren't even fit enough let alone anything else when Howe arrived. There have been a whole host of individual errors and to be fair some of them have been Howes too. But in this last week though we've been on the wrong side of key, contentious decisions, we've come up against the two title contenders who are light years apart from the rest, perhaps excluding Chelsea, we have little quality and we're trying to reidentify ourself as a club and team. We have every chance in every single one of our upcoming 10 games of getting something and I'm fairly convinced we will. We've improved our intensity, we've improved our attacking threat and we have individuals improving also. It'll all become even clearer in these next 10 games. At the end of the day, without signings, you cannot really judge Howe all that well until the new seson.

Aye, TBH mate I think everyone knows your Shelveys, Ritchies, etc. Have had their day but they're grafting and for me that's all I ask at present. They should cut out the stupid mistakes at that level of seniority like... Good sides force mistakes though, Shelveys pass back last night should have been hoofed in touch instead but it's easy to say in hindsight on from the TV. In reality, their intensity and high press won them that goal. I just feel we're being let down when players aren't trying.

Fair dues, but do you not think he ulis one of our stand out performers at present? Like who has been better than him in the side?

Ner you're probably right on needing players etc but I just think saying the players have let the fans and new owners down is bollocks like. They've done nowt but graft since Howe came in. If they're not good enough, that's not necessarily their fault...

That seems an incredibly stubborn view to me like and incredibly ignorant of the last say 6 games and actually all the shite coaching and strategic use of the lad in the last two years... All about opinions though...

Okay, so what do you think we should be doing with Joelinton and what do you think he should have done better? What are the alternatives?

Growing. We'll be sound with this man in charge.

Was abour 5/10 on the shit scale tonight. We got booked for anything and everything, they did as they pleased. 1st gial would have been stopped roles reversed...

Agreed. It's a learning curve. Tonight showed me we'd learned from Leicester. Howe took possibly unpopular decisions and again we learned (and almost knicked a draw).

Do you reckon he's being asked to be our target man or creative player like? He's been asked to do a job and he's doing it, despite being asked to do a number nine role and a left winger role before which evdiently were both absolutely incorrect. Joelinton is undoubtedly one of our current best performers and and for me one of the first 3/4 on the teamsheet.

A man possessed. MotM for me again. Gan on kidda.

Bad take IMO. Cannot even be arsed to be constructive with it.

Disagree. We learned an Eddie Howe can cope with strong opposition aside from a stupid mistake. We learned thhat we need to smarten up of we think champions give a fuck we have a head injury and we learned that we can give people a game if we decide to show up.

100% staying up.

The Palace draw was great for us and last nights results were too, aye. Just need a draw between Burnley and Watford and it's been nigh on perfect. The cat would truly be amongst the pigeons if we somehow shocked everyone with a win tomorrow...

Or is it...

There's a good 5/6 teams that will absolutely be down there for most of the season like and we have the most in our favour to overcome relegation. Leeds battered 7-0, showing the sheer disparity between the top 6/7 and the bottom 5/6. Same goes for us with Leicester and as will be seen in many a game across the season, none less so than our upcoming 2 games (potentially). Yet, all of the teams will be looking over their shoulder nervously at Newcastle come January. Obviously, we have cash. Howe-ever we have positivity. That will be our strongest weapon and a hope and belief that we can do it. For all I hear "Oh it's too late" "Oh it's not been done before", it just shows tonight that we're not alone. Can you imagine Norwich, Burnley et al? Their fans won't be writing us off. Not in the slightest. For that reason alone, we absolutely shouldn't be. Yet, with positivity, a bit of cash and everyone pulling together, I think safety can be a certainty, if we build a siege mentality, stick together and play our cards right.

About 30 were probably ASM... Make of that what you will too.