GreenAndWhiteArmy

Sorry, but you don't know what a proper "Cunt" is until you've had Mourinho managing you - the "Cunt's Cunt", in fact.

Genuine question, ,but what do you mean by "toxic"? (I'm not looking for an argument) And before you answer, just remember we had Jose Mourinho not so long before Conte, so I think we know a little of the full meaning of the term!

Maybe Howe was "audtioning" his players for next season, but I think he'd have been better trying out alternative tactics (Plan B, if you like), for 2022/23. For even with a few big attacking signings in the summer, and further refinement of Howe's Plan A, if NUFC are really going to make a mark in the PL, you have to be versatile enough to have more than one game plan (if only eg to see out the last half hour of a game where you're already a goal or two ahead). I guess as Spurs are currently finding out post-Pochettino, it really does take time as well as money to build a genuinely top class team like Liverpool's or Man City's. And while Spurs may be a step or three ahead of NUFC right now, both teams have still got a helluva way to go. Thank Christ we've got Conte, though if we lose him in the summer ("Give him some serious money, Levy!"), then we'll be right back to Square One again ourselves. Oh well, at least we're neither of us bloody Chelsea fans!

Hi, Spurs fan, was at the game. From my position high up in the stand, I was actually reasonably impressed by the way your team started. It seemed to me that for the first half, you looked organised, putting in a shift individually and working hard collectively towards a clear, tactical plan by Howe. The problem was that it was exactly the same tactical plan/formation as Spurs were trying and (no disrespect) we were simply better at it.. In particular, trying to maintain a high defensive line and compress the play made you vulnerable to our preferred counter-attacking style, all the more so when you went 2-1 down and so had to chase the game. By contrast, the clubs who've caused us problems this season, incl under Conte, have been those which have defended deep and in numbers, forcing us to try to work our way through a sea of bodies in/around the penalty area and making us vulnerable on the break ourselves. I'm not sure why Howe hadn't spotted that from analysing our recent performances, both good and bad. I'd agree with that analysis, but I've also been to a few Brentford games this season (live within walking distance of the new ground), so have seen a few of the teams beneath you. I think you'll be safe enough, if only because you've got that cushion from that good run you had and I can't see any 3 of the bottom 4 putting in a good enough run to make it up. In particular, the Everton team who lost 5-0 at the Lane a month back were really crap, FAR worse than NUFC appeared today, believe it or not!