HaydnNUFC

After getting those barely deserved wins/points early season we've regressed to the mean and our league position is a reflection of what we've served up so far. This squad is far better than what it's showing this season. That can be put down to them instead of the manager of course, but when it's 18 months of away games and 11 games in total this season of quite poor showings on a regular basis, I don't think it can be. We don't have any identity in playstyle anymore. It's almost November.

I think it's quite a big concern as I don't see things improving barring just hoping "I hope we're not shit this time" when the next game comes around. Can just agree to disagree in that regard. I'm at all 3 of the next few games and will do as always whenever setting foot into a stadium where we're playing and supporting us and him. But I just can't see how we improve under him now. I don't know what we're trying to do with the ball these days anymore.

Speaking for just myself, it's not just about today. It's 18 months of away showings. Loyalty and awarding of contracts to players that aren't going to get you into Europe regularly. Lack of a discernible strategy behind some signings from summer 2023. The performances throughout this season. Regression and lack of any real identity in possession this season. Dreadful set pieces. Weird subs. All combine to me losing a lot of faith in him. I don't want him sacked, I'm desperate for him to turn it around. He's given me my favourite ever days following us. But what we've been watching this season just isn't all there. A lot of which will be down to him.

As is thinking that he could do something he's never done and play with one, though. He could do now and he isn't. But it means playing one of our CMs out of position because we haven't signed one.

But it's far more likely that he won't than he will. He's wedded to this 4-3-3 with a flat midfield and Bournemouth fans have said how stubborn he can be in this regard. Its one of our and his shortfalls.

It would, but Howe doesn't play one. Never has.

I don't think Howe having his nephew on the scouting department is a positive either. Reeks of nepotism. Howe was holding the England job over the club's head in the summer coming out with Benitez-esque comments in Germany. But imo Staveley et al allowed him quasi free rein in the transfer market. Ashworth presumably part of that. That's now gone, Howe wasn't happy about it and the following friction resulted in that mess of a summer. Away from that for a sec, on the pitch we're consistently regressing with no clear way out. It's so stale, and I think the players know that too.

We were trying to pay almost £70m for Marc Guehi and bidding £50m for Anthony Elanga in the summer, like. And the signings made summer 2023 haven't particularly improved us either. We're consistently substituting the two big signings from that window, rightly or wrongly.

Just have zero faith that he's going to turn this around. There's no straws to clutch to or green shoots I can see like I could in Jan 2022. We are worse than last season and much worse than we were in 2022-23. Zero identifiable patterns of play with the ball and we're almost in November.

Isak chance aside, poor in possession. Again. As we always seem to be. We just look a poorly coached team. Don't see it getting any better as things are.

Never a pen that.

Longstaff Geordieing his Geordieness with that attempted pass to Murphy there.

You're having a laugh.

Fuck off. Awful that.

Set pieces still poor. Annoying. We've grown into it tbf. But that CB stepping up and Bruno filling in has got to stop. Moronic. Allows them into the final third with ease.

This CB stepping up has got to stop. Lifting.

Get in. Nice football, that.

Show highlights of 95-96 to get the mood improved. Piss off.

Joelinton and Burn should they get booked today miss a game.

No Gordon?

James Horncastle would disagree with you on that. Juve have been a bit of a mess since the Ronaldo experiment (who Allegri didn't want) and all their board resigning. Still was able to win a trophy throughout it. Before that under him they were incredibly stable and great to watch. Whether he'd manage outside of Italy is another thing, though.

Brentford winner

Bournemouth equaliser

Gol di Villa.

Fuck it. We're doing these on Sunday. Howay.