AJ9

Good post. Sums up my thoughts exactly.

It’s almost as if it was naive to think this current squad could play their way out of this. This is not a group of players that can play attacking, possession based football.

The killer is how fucking soft we are. We’ve been in positions to win games so it’s not like we can’t compete. Yes the squad is poor, but we’ve thrown away so many points and that is criminal. Everyone knows that in order to avoid relegation, you need to be drilled, keep your shape, defend for your lives when you need to. It's the unfashionable side of the game which hasn’t improved one tiny bit. We may be creating more opportunities, but we’re also not closing games out when we go ahead.

If Rafa is available, Howe should be binned, stat. I am obviously biased because I love Rafa, but he is better than Howe, despite having a shit time at Everton. Another clear benefit is that he knows exactly what it takes to win the championship, and would back him to take us straight back up again.

How many has he scored this season lads?

Absolutely nailed it

The way I look at it, both signings so far improve our XI/squad. It’s as simple as that.

Exactly my thought. We need that kind of signing tbh. Imagine it was a talented foreign kid coming in to the dressing room instead…

I have a feeling this signing is going to be a pleasant surprise. Brings a bit of physicality, shithousery to us and can score goals. Also helps that he has premier league experience, and is a threat from set pieces. I desperately want us to go for highly talented players from the European leagues, but that can wait. As sad as it is, Chris Wood improves this squad.

Maybe this isn’t the right place to post this but feels about the best place. It’s fairly clear to see that what we are seeing is the results of years of managed decline. Past it playing squad Lack of scouting network No footballing blueprint / framework No youth players ready to make the step up Little regard to science/recovery leading to tonnes of injuries Mental fragility Totally inadequate facilities/infrastructure Stressed out/anxious fans We may escape relegation but my god, this job is huge. I don’t particularly mind if we do go down to be honest. I mean it may mean the PL cook the books, or perhaps we don’t become a trophy winning success, but when I take time to reflect I think, well so what? It would be nice, but if we go down, all it means is that we’re supporting a team that plays in a different league. I’ll still support them. They may come back up, they may not, being a football fan essentially is a silly affliction, but it’s nice to just be able to follow them properly again. Cursed club that we are.

You’ve definitely got a point there. I mean I include myself in the original post as well. Sometimes I have to reflect upon my relationship with sport though, it’s totally unhealthy at times.

i think you’re spot on tbf. It’s why I don’t use it!

The anxiety around our club and of football fans in general is absolutely mad like. Since the takeover there’s been anxiety about Bruce not getting sacked Jones’ being kept on New manager New DOF Advertising PL rule changes Transfer dealings And that’s aside from all the match days too. I care about the club and all, and I’m back wanting us to win again, but we’re on a path to depression with this shit man. It’s constant, gnawing worry about stuff we cannot control. What happened to just supporting the team?

What we need from this January window is just enough to stay up. Frankly, I don’t mind taking some non-flashy players in who can be relied upon and have a bit of fight, as well as more exotic signings. We just need to stay up, we can build a squad in the summer, ideally with a DOF in place.

It’s hardly surprising that players are looking at us and taking offers elsewhere. People were turning their nose up at him this week which is laughable. This is what I meant when I said beggars can’t be choosers. Yes we have money, but we’re one of four teams likely to go down, and we hardly have the names to pull players in. Can totally understand Digne not wanting to come to us.

Every time I watch him at the moment I imagine some sort of Serbian EDM music on in the background, set to slow mos of him “humiliating” defenders, whereas in actual fact he’s doing absolutely fuck all useful.

I mean I know it’s not the same in any way, but when I play 5s or 7s with a player like him it usually makes me never want to play with that player ever again. The lad never plays a simple ball.

I kind of hate him at the moment. Ball greedy wanker who rarely makes the right decision.

I think the attitude / mentality of players is a huge part of it. How else do you explain the horrendous mistakes being made? I don’t want to go too hard on him because I’m fully aware that we have had years of neglect on the playing side which has got us here, BUT, I don’t think the things he is trying to instil in the team are particularly useful for where we are at. Can you see this squad trying to play expansive, attacking football? No. I don’t even really blame him for trying to do what he believes in, either, it’s just that given our situation I don’t think he was the right man for the job (right now). Happy to be proven wrong as I really like his energy and enthusiasm for the club.

The most damning thing about the Howe era so far is that while aspects of our play have improved, we still look soft as shite and extremely easy to beat. Nothing has really changed in that sense.

Beggars can’t be choosers lads. We have Matt fucking Ritchie at left back right now. Would have Digne in a heartbeat

Adam Pearson is yet another Twitter cunt we would be better off totally ignoring on here. Offers absolutely nothing positive to discussion around NUFC.

Here’s a novel idea lads, stop fucking posting his Twitter shite on here. In fact, maybe it would be best if we all just avoided Twitter altogether. It’s a parade of arseholes

One of those where you just wish you were at the game instead of watching it on TV. Torture.

spot on