GOTONEW

We need to have those fans with arrows on paper.

Good bit of play, there. Touch of luck with each pass...but positive! I'll have more of that, please.

So easy for them. We look super-passive and our passing is, once more, loose as fuck.

Zero to get excited about until that moment. But, that luck is a good striker's luck. Added here as I thought the pre-match thread was the game thread.

Zero to get excited about until that moment. But, and I know it's cliched to fuck, but that luck is a striker's luck.

Glad I had no skin in that.

All the talk about X Y and Z needing leeway because we won a cup...well Harvey Barnes was our left winger that day. And he was fantastic. Unfair it's often forgotten. And his place was because Gordon fucked up in the Brighton game. Harvey Barnes is more a legend than Gordon can ever be. And he gets dropped even during good form. Pretty disgusting, really.

I think the one thing, as a footballer, you have real control of is your own effort and focus. And that wasn't evident in too many of our players. Not all, but enough to ruin the day. The fact they couldn't get up for this game (and focus) speaks volumes.

I think this is a very realistic view of the situation.

Eddie's biggest challenge now is himself. He's stagnated and needs to address that. I think he'll fix it, and we'll have that seasonal winning run, but it needs to happen soon. We are without a doubt the most predictable team in the league. Even how our games unfold has become predicable. This is the stagnation of Howe. And he has to fix it. And to think he's untouchable is unrealistic. He's had a massive amount of money, and successful businesses don't dwell on the past. Even an exceptional one. Best manager in my time. But he's not bullet proof.

His good form was a purple patch. His bad form is the norm. It's been for too long to be a temporary blip. A two-trick pony. Tap, tap, tap, knock on to run down the wing. Get's fouled/dives or over-kicks it. Tap, tap, tap, cuts inside and loses it, or fires it to the moon. He's just not interested in the NUFC thing anymore. Move him on and see what's next.

However you paint it...our position in the league, after so much money spent, is not acceptable. And there's fuck all entitled about that. Prices are up to reflect our new era. The cost of support is up to reflect our new era. So a certain level is expected. "bUt wE'Re iN ThE Cl aNd aLl tHe cUpS". So what? The PL is our bread and butter. We have lost our fire and direction. Howe has his work cut out. But he'll know this better than anyone. He needs to feel the pressure, because even he has stagnated. BUT this season is faaaaaaar from over. Howe defo has the ability to turn this around and get us on a run that fires us up the table. Annoyed, but not defeated.

Howe is the one who picked our out-of-form wingers to start this game. Pissed at that. But Nick's mind-blowing OG is what won it for them.

Wazzock

We're due a heart-breaking equaliser to be in our favour.

There's an equaliser in this. COME ON, LADS!

Starting with our 2 most under-preforming wingers and ignoring our 2 most in-form wingers was a massive error. Both Murphy and Barnes have been so much more positive, since coming on.

We are playing MUCH better.

Murphy's crosses will always, at worst, be a danger.

Oooooh. We're getting closer. Obvious subs has brought obvious changes.

Barnes getting crosses in. Positive.

Their fake Paquetá just waved for a card.

You came at halftime just to criticise forum members. Go lie down. The game is obviously getting to you more than most.

Deep breath, lads! Calm the game down.

It's all good, lads. Good defending gets points in this league