Geordie Ahmed

Same I'm strangely calm but it could be the calm before the storm I guess I just really trust Howe to get it right across the 2 legs

Just watched it back and I was right to think this was a nonsensical take His pass was perfectly fine to Botman, wasn't heavy at all and Botman actually controlled it, he then decided to play a risky pass into Joelinton even though he was crowded and that's what caused the chance for the Pope save

Minor correction, he's 23 but aye it's scary how good he is

People are definitely going over the top, I it's quite simplistic to just look at us scoring 1 in 4 games and thinking there is an issue If you breakdown the stats of those games Vs Leeds = xG 2.18 Vs 0.36, 7 big chances Vs 0 big chances, 16 shots Vs 8 shots Vs Arsenal = xG 1.06 Vs 1.12, 2 big chances Vs 0 big chances, 8 shots Vs 17 shots Vs Fulham = xG 2.36 Vs 1.11 (Mitro pen bulk of this), 2 big chances Vs 1 big chance, 20 shots Vs 5 shots, Vs Palace = xG 1.25 Vs 0.30, 2 big chances Vs 0 big chances, 16 shots Vs 6 shots That's a minimum of 2 big chances in each game, overall 13 big chances Vs 1 for the opposition (which was the Mitro penalty) We are creating chances, very good ones, a lot of them are just falling to the likes of Longstaff and Joelinton. This shows Howe has got the balance right, just being let down by some poor finishing or poor passing in the final 3rd. As Shearer often says, the time to be concerned is when you aren't creating chances.

I mean, I might need to watch it again but from my recollection of it this is a bit of a nonsensical take Botman had time to decide what to do and he played a dangerous pass, blaming ASM for it is a stretch

Going to be interesting to see how we approach this game Do we just play it safe and think let's keep it level and make it a one off tie at home or do we just go for it and try to get a comprehensive result in the first leg? I suspect Howe will go for it and then adjust accordingly if we did go behind

Not surprised some people overreact, sadly some people are not patient and they fail to see the bigger picture. At full time it did feel like 2 points dropped because we were the better team, created more chances and other results went our way so this was an opportunity to increase the gap. However the feeling after that initial disappointment is one of absolute pride as to how far we have come. That's 6 clean sheets in a row and 15 games unbeaten. We are now 5 points clear of 5th (let's assume the worst and Brighton win their game in hand) and we are 7 points clear of 7th (again, let's assume the worst with the game in hand), all with a superior goal difference too. It's a bloody amazing season, we can't win every game and I'm confident the owners will back Howe with some additional reinforcements. I'm just delighted to see teams treat us like a big side, just over a year ago they bullied us from start to finish. That alone shows how far we have come. Now we have two massive matches coming up, just need to get through to the final.

That save was ridiculous, ensured we at least got a point, which considering the other results isn't a bad one.

Save

Make a change please, this lot aren't scoring

Wilson should do better with that chance

Why are we stopping? It's not a head injury

Howay, let's ramp up the intensity at the start of this half If that doesn't work then let's break glass for ASM/Isak

It is a shame he can't seem to strike the ball cleanly, often snatches at it

We've been the better side and carved out a couple of decent chances Just need to up the intensity a touch Always have ASM/Isak to call off the bench if we haven't scored by 60/65 mins

That's a corner

Never a pen

Ah man, so close again

Longstaff started poorly, giving it away

Howay, fast start please

I do think he's decent though has been underwhelming this season People saying he's overvalued, we don't know how much we'd be paying for him, I'm sure it's something the recruitment team and Howe are looking at And ultimately I'd trust Howe on this one, if he thinks he can turn him into a top player then I'm confident he will

I'm not so sure I think employing Bruce was a genius move, allow them to hit rock bottom with unfit players, get someone in that's half competent and you fly up the table

If he has any sense he'd pick us White and Tomiyasu are still young Trippier is getting on so he's more likely to become a first teamer quicker with us

I'm confident we'll do some business, not sure looking at other clubs and being envious is an healthy approach The owners/manager have hardly put a foot wrong so far so I'll trust them to continue getting it right

Was confident he wouldn't be out too long as having done that injury when younger the recovery was quick but this is even quicker than I thought.