Heron

Fair but I reckon we had just as many clear cut opportunities as them over the two ties only they took some of theirs and we took one of ours.

We are but them scoring those opportunities changes tonight's game. We had to go and get goals and we didn't. We tactically took that risk and it wasn't that tactically that didn't pay off it was that individuals didn't provide the outcomes expected from the situations they were in.

We're not a mess game after game though that's the thing. We're decent in one and bad in the next, in general, or actually more accurately in one half and not in the next.

Sorry to single this out mate but just using it as an unfortunate example (for you) just this sort of thing that I find frustrating tbh. I'm appreciative of the fact that we all have different opinions but when we say things like our form has plummeted it all just seems over the top to me. I'm sure I heard the other day that we were like 6 or 8 points behind last season. Okay that may be 9 or 11 now. Is 3 or 4 more losses (to wins) really plummeting when the fixtures alternate each season and aren't fixed in terms of difficulty at specific stages or sequences of the season? Admittedly, I'm a really optimist. I'll be frank - I don't really get the pessimists at all (not saying this to you). I tend to find in life that the optimists know they're optimistic but the pessimists just think they're being real. Just my perception. But I think that's the issue the optimists generally have (albeit not sure we needed a thread on it - no offence whoever created it ). Like every time something goes wrong it's a barrage of Howe out and everything and everyone isn't good enough. I think it's the nature of modern (social media) society. Everything is so binary. Is x good or is x bad? Are you a 1 or a 0? As has been said, I think by @HaydnNUFC the reality is this season is the grey matter that is in between. So when folk use sensationalist language or are being irrationally negative before a ball is even kicked it just (again in my eyes) seems rather forgetful of the great job this squad and coaching staff have done here. In life (again) if folk achieve, or do you proud, you normally return them with faith and (again) for me Eddie Howe deserves far more faith than folk seemingly show him and so do virtually all the squad. This is probably our lowest moment under Howe on the basis of capability vs performance, but it's nothing catastrophic, and to @Slims point (or at least I am going to use it for my own agenda ) now is the time to rally behind the club and everyone at it ahead of strong and important fixtures and not in-fight.

We didn't draw the tie also because Gordon, Willock, Wissa, Elanga, Wissa again all missed massive goalscoring opportunities. That's before mentioning the home game.

That's fairer, but I do expect Howe to fix all this if the backroom staff don't continue to shaft him and he's given time and backing as has been the case before.

Speaks volumes of his professionalism and expectations. Remain keen to hear the alternatives from folk...

We could have easily drawn this tie on the basis of chances not taken. It hasn't been fuckloads of tactical mistakes. It's been shit or bust. We've bust because they bring on Haaland, Cherki and Rodri for shirs and giggles and we go with strikers who were about our 6th choice at the time of purchase.

<3

Here we go....brace yourself Howe loyalists...

Disagree. Gordon should score first half as should Willock. All of a sudden, we're in a game. They've took their chances, we've wasted virtually all of ours. What folk are essentially saying is if we're shit one half it's unacceptable, if they're shit one half that's fine. It's the absolute obvious in my eyes but seemingly not for others...we got rid of a world class striker and didn't replace him - now we struggle to score goals.

Outstanding save

Suppose you're gonna add Gordon to this list to then (who is the worst culprit)? Wouldn't surprise me if there's nowt wrong with him tbh.

Our fans have been an absolute testament to the club tonight. This tie could easily be 5-5 if we had strikers who could finish.

That was my thoughts too. "Offside"

Whilst I agree, other folk would be complaining if we didn't rotate...

They do if folk need something to whinge about.

Whinging we're playing some of our best players before a balls even kicked...give owa man

Eddie Howes Black and White Army!

fair dues!

On another note...funny how this was "the cup none of the big clubs wanted" isn't it...

Either way - Howe is gonna get shit off folk unless we win the next two (not saying you). Our route to Europe isn't any less easy winning two Cup games than doing it via the league as far as I'm concerned. It's basically a sprint versus a marathon.

Mind I find this in my footy WhatsApp chats nowadays too. Starting to wonder if I've been on the whacky backy

Folk said that when we defeated teams from the PLs top 5 at almost every stage of the cup last year...