TheBrownBottle

Every time I’ve seen him this season I’m left scratching my head. I’ve seen the goals etc but in terms of full matches, sorry all, just don’t see a top player

Nope, it was that summer. Terrible summer of recruitment. Partizan (H) remains the most disastrous result in the club's history for me - it really precipitated a quick decline.

Robson should have went at the end of that season. We were dross for most of it - 34% win ratios don't tend to get you 5th - this season it would be a bottom half win ratio. Nowt entitled about it at all - he should have went and the club's new manager would have had a summer to rebuild. Instead, we waited too long, then made a disastrous choice of manager.

Funnily enough, the away game vs Barcelona that season is probably the only disappointing Euro away day I've had. Terrible weather, shit game between two poor teams, empty stadium with neither side likely to qualify. Barcelona the second time was great though (result of course less so, but it is Barca in the Nou Camp ...)

Martin Tyler is a Woking fan I think, but he wrote a history of Arsenal. I don't think he holds anti-Arsenal views. Keown is a deeply strange man

Yeah, it is fantastic - I'd encourage anyone on here to really try and get to an away day in Europe next season if they can. Don't worry if it doesn't turn out to be the 'big one' - any European game is an adventure and will stick in the mind forever.

Likewise. I did big Champions League aways - Inter, Barcelona, Feyenoord, Juve etc - and even Intertoto (Lokeren - now there was an entertaining away day). All were fantastic.

All but a handful of my favourite NUFC matches were European ones. I love watching us play in Europe - it is incredibly special, and the rarity value of the opposition sticks in the mind. Teams you've seen only on TV or know through being football daft - from giants to relative minnows - every single one is exciting to me. Playing CSKA Sofia or Ferencvaros is still more exciting to me than Crystal Palace or Watford in the PL. I get irritated by the modern fan who sneers at these tournaments; the worst being when you hear them talking like fucking accountants 'we should just play the reserves and get knocked out, it isn't worth it financially' etc, somehow losing the point that this is the reward for their team finishing high up the table the year before. Talksport punters are good for this one. Get fucked you tiresome twats.

I don't think he's been the same player post-WC break, and unfortunately the decline in form has now arrived at a nadir; it is over half a year since he scored, for example, even though he has had plenty of shooting positions in that time. I do think he's getting caught on the ball more as teams and coaches have thought of ways to handle him during that break - as mentioned earlier, the rolling the ball with the studs to buy space is getting caught out more, as is short burst driving the ball too. This is a compliment to his talent; it is less of an issue if we have other midfielders of his undoubted skill level then it would free up space and time for him. We'll know he's injured if he runs straight off for surgery at the end of the season - but I just don't see someone like Howe playing him if he isn't fit; gegenpress doesn't work if you're carrying players, particularly in centre midfield. I just think the lad's form has dipped, and teams have some coping mechanisms to deal with him. He's still an excellent footballer, so I don't doubt he'll hit form again - but some are probably starting to see why he's an excellent midfielder rather than a world class one.

It really is worth remembering that we only need to match Liverpool’s next two results and prevent a Brighton win. A point may well be more than enough.

If Longstaff is back we win this. If that same three man midfield is named I’m far less confident.

Agreed. The ‘you all booed Lord Sir Robert Robson for finishing 5th’ needs huge amounts of context. We were terrible for large chunks of that season. Anyone who travels to away games will remember this well - we won twice away from home that season. And they were back to back games within a few days of each other in October. The squad was clearly riven with dressing room issues, and Robson was obviously struggling to manage them. The wider context is that this also wasn’t Ashley’s NUFC - this was one of the world’s richest clubs with actual stated ambitions who were falling apart at the seams. Excerpts from the always reliable NUFC.com’s review for that game: “Paying through the nose to sit (and stand) through a mind-bogglingly mediocre campaign doesn't leave one well-disposed to sympathising with the people appointed to carry your hopes and dreams, who week after week do a good impression of rubbing your face in the muck. And knowing that the rest of the league barring one team are utterly bloody ordinary just makes it worse. Seen enough: bad play, boring games, questionable tactics, unenjoyable wins, players not trying, fellow fans not getting involved, people walking out, inaccurate newspaper articles, patronising player interviews. … Ten months of slowly fermenting frustration, now mutating into sheer bloody disappointment once more. … Bobby and Co. may have cringed and griped at the booing, but they should reflect that it was typically British - in other places they would have waved handkerchiefs, (like his beloved Barca) hoyed cushions or bottles or come on the field and attacked those held to account. Bobby may wail about bleeding black and white and pin on his toon army medals, but he was many, many miles away when we suffered in near-silence the tribulations of the Dalglish and Gullit eras. It's a mite unfair, but those on the field on Sunday bore the brunt of successive failed administrations and countless regrettable signings in recent decades. Thanks for trying Bobby, but it's defeated you, like all the rest. We've cheered you, we've supported you and now we just plain don't believe you anymore. And neither do the players. We got close, we've almost failed. Again.”

It was stupid mind. I was shouting at the screen like an idiot pleading with him to stop because it was fucking obvious what he was about to do. It was one of those moments where you knew he was going to give away an unnecessary penalty before it even happened.

I wouldn’t be upset to see both upgraded in the summer. I doubt we will, though.

There’s a chance they do tbf - they won the last three games, all at home and they didn’t look at all convincing in any of them

Yep, they are generally accurate - which will no doubt up the chance created stuff - he puts in loads of crosses. But there are very few I’ve seen where I thought ‘we need to be attacking that better / we should have buried that’. None are whipped in with real venom or pace to make a defender’s life a nightmare. They all get semi-floated to the penalty spot

Yep, if we match Liverpool‘s next two results it’s over mathematically. I think we will tbh - Brighton and Leicester won’t be pushovers (both will be difficult games I think) but I think those travelling to Stamford Bridge will be going down to see if we finish 3rd or 4th

Got you makes sense

At present our GD is +7 better off. If we take 5 points in the remaining three games it can only improve by a minimum of +1. I don’t see Liverpool thrashing Villa. They could thrash Southampton. I think Leicester will put up a fight. I still think they’ll draw to either Villa or Leicester at a minimum. I’m pretty convinced four more points is likely to wrap this up.

I’ve read that a few times and I’m still not sure what you mean?

Because they’re Leeds. A right cuddly bunch.

While I think Trippier’s balls in haven’t been the greatest, he does usually at least get it ‘in the mixer’ - he rarely hits first man. I honestly don’t know why we put up Burn, Botman and Schar - we always look more likely to concede from a counter attack than score ourselves.

All of them are terrible in the air - certainly attacking-wise, and I usually find there are a lot of heart-in-mouth moments defensively. A mate texted me saying that’s one clean sheet in 17 games. Can’t be arsed to check, but that abysmal for any side in any division if true. The entire back line looks wobbly to me - Burn takes most of the flak from what I’ve seen (Trippier’s performances have also started to be criticised), but Botman and Schar haven’t exactly looked great for some time either.

Always the way with all clubs, BG - we’re no different. Robson shouldn’t have remained in position the following season after his retirement was announced as a lame duck manager.

9 for me still. I think we take four points minimum next three games. I do think Liverpool will have a slip in one of their games.