christ

I’m going to wake up in a minute.

I think it’s just spending two hours in the pub beforehand.

Feeling pretty sick about this today. This is the season for me. Win this and I think we’ll finish top 4, but lose - particularly if it’s in the manner of last week - and I think we could drop off in quite a big fashion.

I always feel like I’m talking people down from the ledge on here, so this is new for me. We’ve been our own worst enemy recently. Trying to force the issue and being sloppy in possession. A fact that’s been exacerbated by some of our defending which has been patchy as fuck. The West Ham result flattered us, we were dog shit 45 mins versus Brentford and had our pants pulled down today. We’ve had big periods in the last three matches where we’ve made life really difficult for ourselves and today we were made to pay. Could be fatigue, could be confidence, could be players chasing games because they realise what’s on the line.

I knew you weren’t hun

Original post was never meant to be a criticism of Howe in the first place either. Today was a failure in execution, not ethos. A yard off all over the pitch.

Man United aside we’ve been pretty patchy. We’ve won, but if we’re honest a result like this was coming.

I’ve read nowt of this thread, but we were diabolical today. That first 45 might be the worst I’ve seen us play under Howe. Everything they mustered up was as a result of us doing something daft. Performance hasn’t been great recently. I think we needed a kick up the arse, so I’m hoping this is the catalyst.

Could’ve fooled me We’re signing better players than him this summer. He’d be third or fourth choice at best.

What parts do you take issue with?

One good season means nothing, particularly if you’ve got the attitude he seems to have. He’s been underwhelming at PSG. He appears to have spat his dummy out because he’s behind Mbappe, Messi and Neymar, and they’re now trying to move him on before the obligation to buy has actually properly kicked in. I know PSG are a joke behind the scenes, but that should be a huge red flag. We’re not in the same position we were 12-18 months ago when we were after him. The circular debate about whether we should or shouldn’t go for him seems pointless to me - we’ve progressed to a point where if he came he’d find himself in the same situation he is at PSG that he’s so unhappy with. It’s clear he needs to get his head down elsewhere and get more than a solitary good run of form under his belt and make the most of his potential.

He’s in a huff because he can barely get a kick in a farmer’s league, but if he joins us now he’s a fringe player. We’ve moved beyond him. He needs to go somewhere and get his career back on track. Might turn into the player he threatened to be if he screws his head on.

As good as Villa’s form has been it feels like they’ve played a lot of the teams who are currently in the shit (Chelsea aside, but we know what a mess they are). That said it’s going to be tough. Wouldn’t be surprised at any result. Leaning towards a draw.

Brentford could’ve been out of sight at HT and we’d have had no complaints. Howe deserves infinite credit for the way he turned that around.

Don’t think Isak has got enough credit for this. Yes, the keeper has had a mare but that’s basically because Isak sees him, knows there’s a good chance he doesn’t connect with it cleanly and stops his run. Most other players will have carried their momentum on trying to reach the ball and won’t have the opportunity to capitalise.

In fairness four of the goals were West Ham being absolutely fucking inept

They haven’t even officially signed him yet

Too lazy to check, but was AWB injured or is EtH just thick as fuck?

Not sure who they go for. Don’t think Rafa would be the answer.

Sums up our fanbase to a tee tbf.

Not saying the treatment of Nuno wasn’t unfair, but Chelsea are a basketcase of a football club. What’s going on there is more of a reflection of the absolute shambles in the boardroom than Potter’s ability. If Potter goes I think there’ll be a mad scramble for his services. Spurs seem to have an almighty hard-on for Nagelsmann, but I think Potter would be a great appointment in all honesty. Exactly the profile of manager they should be after considering the scale of the rebuild required.

The only tweet that matters.

If it makes you feel better it’s all bollocks. They bought Man City before Keegan resigned and Ashley was trying to sell.

Who are we freeing up squad spaces for? We’re not going to go out and buy two genuine quality left backs in the summer whether Dummett stays or goes. The idea having him occupy what would be fourth choice in the pecking order is going to have any meaningful impact on our ability to bring people in is a bit daft. If the club think there’s a need to retain him it suggests they’d look to replace him if he went. Getting an equivalent in terms of ability and experience to come in and be fourth choice will cost more. There’s no comparison with bumper deals we dished out to others during Ashley’s tenure. They’re talking about a one year extension, two at the most I’d imagine. At this level you need to have players around squads who coaches can trust to follow instructions in drills etc. Until we have that cradle to grave pipeline of lads who all know how to play the NUFC way and can slot in to training sessions you’re going to need Paul Dummetts and Matt Ritchies around the squad.

There’s loads of reasons why a manager might want to keep an older pro like Dummett around the club for a while longer. No idea why people’s heads fall off when it gets mentioned. Was the same a few months ago when they were talking about Ritchie getting an extension. There’s an almost childlike understanding of how the real world works.