Eddie Howe

[Kid Icarus]

Losing Schär for 3 games because he nuzzled someone (yet still winning the match) doesn't strike me as good luck mind, it's completely fucked us up.

[jonny1403]

17 minutes ago, Geogaddi said:

We were playing a Forest team that made 10 changes tonight , I wouldn't class that as a hard away game really .

They weren’t 10 reserves. We also made a number of changes and Forest away is always tricky. 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Awoniyi is their best striker for a start.

[Wandy]

Just now, LionOfGosforth said:

 

I don't personally think the 3 games so far are easy to quantify as "garbage". A tricky home game, reduced to 10 men, battled through it and rarely looked like losing. Then two difficult away games where we have started brightly then faded but could have easily won both. I think we can only play better and Tonali coming back fit and ready is massive for us. Take the positives mate, you'll feel better.

The positives are that we are getting results whilst playing poorly, and yeah, as the saying goes, that’s what good teams do. But we are only 3 games in and the players look weirdly lethargic/passive IMO and that is a key difference.

[toon25]

Really really really hope he can get it all clicking again, like.

[nufcjmc]

8 minutes ago, Shays Given Tim Flowers said:

Can people really not remember some of our worst performances under Bruce, Carver, Pardew etc. I can readily accept the team isnt firing right and the balance often seems off. It feels like people massively underestimate other teams. 

We are holding "this team" to a much higher standard though with 400m+ invested its harsh at times but if you want to be a consistent  top 6 side your gonna have to show up and play more often than not. 

 

League is very competitive and we were away which was an issue last year we haven't had a standout half yet never mind game. Even Howe goes on about building that momentum which comes from winning games and playing well. 

 Although saying all that it's very early days. 

 

 

Edited August 28, 2024 by nufcjmc

[LionOfGosforth]

1 minute ago, Yorkie said:

 

It's beyond over-the-top. I think even the happiest of clappers would concede that the club's transition at the more corporate/strategic level has had a potentially destabilising effect: PSR chicanery, manager having to seek clarity on his role, lack of slickness re transfers, players uncertain about their future... however, we appear to be navigating it pretty well. Especially on the pitch, which is a credit to this cracking bunch of players. 

 

Fully agree, there has been a lot going on behind the scenes as you mention, PSR annoyances, executive changes, slow window probably partly due to the Euros but maybe we're just exercising caution? I'd love us to make a signing or two, not arguing it would freshen things up. One thing that's a constant is a cracking spirit within (most of) the players and a togetherness. The rust will shake off and things will improve surely.

[Shays Given Tim Flowers]

3 games into the season. 

[LionOfGosforth]

3 minutes ago, Wandy said:

The positives are that we are getting results whilst playing poorly, and yeah, as the saying goes, that’s what good teams do. But we are only 3 games in and the players look weirdly lethargic/passive IMO and that is a key difference.

 

Fully agree that everything is not perfect. I think there was a feeling amongst most of us that we would just pick up and go ballistic from minute 1, no Europe to hinder us after all. That hasn't happened but we can't play any worse, it'll get better and a signing by the weekend would certainly help.

[Shak]

We've largely been fairly shite IMO but four points and through in the cup is a really good return.

 

If we can somehow snake a win on Sunday and go into the break with that it will be incredible, even a point would be very solid.

 

Do feel we need a signing or two though, if we're truly working off Howe's targets and Mitchell doesn't get anything done then I do feel it doesn't bode well for their future working relationship.

[Pata]

I'm not saying that everything is perfect but to call today's performance 'absolute garbage' or even fortunate is bed-wetting at its best, like leaving the atmosphere grade.

 

We'll look much better when we are starting Schär-Burn or hopefully Schär-Guehi/someone else soon with zero disrespect to Burn and Krafth.

 

 

Edited August 28, 2024 by Pata

[TheBrownBottle]

I don’t think we’re close to panic stations - we just look a bit rusty and ‘off’.  We’ve also had pretty much all our key players look out of form - which happens at pretty much every club - and we’re playing with two not-so-technical centre backs which isn’t helping.

 

If we’re lower mid table at Xmas, then I’m comfortable with asking more searching questions.  

[BonesJones]

Bet Howe is still pissed about the pre season he was forced into.

 

Could've been done in a smarter way that would benefit the players not just the clubs pockets.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

12 minutes ago, toon25 said:

Really really really hope he can get it all clicking again, like.

Why wouldn’t he? 

[Pilko]

Was definitely better than Bournemouth that performance, albeit still with issues to resolve.

 

We need to take the positive that we've got 4/6 points and negotiated an away cup tie to another PL side without putting together a fully cohesive performance yet. It'll evolve and improve as fitness does and with the addition of Tonali and hopefully some late business in the form of Guehi or someone else who can pass the ball from the centre at the back.

 

We need to be stronger with set plays both attacking and defending, and need to find a way to get Isak into the action properly. Other than the build up to the goal I didn't think we did him many favours although I did also think he himself was poor on the night.

 

If we can get Guehi or a good alternative in tomorrow it'll feel much better all round.

 

 

Edited August 28, 2024 by Pilko

[Yorkie]

3 minutes ago, Pata said:

I'm not saying that everything is perfect but to call today's performance 'absolute garbage' or even fortunate is bed-wetting at its best, like leaving the atmosphere grade.

 

We'll look much better when we are starting Schär-Burn or hopefully Schär-Guehi/someone else soon with zero disrespect to Burn and Krafth.

 

Picking up away wins with two full-backs at centre-back is very good going tbf.

 

Jokes aside, fucking fair play to Krafthy. What a dependable lad; don't think he's really put a foot wrong in the last couple games. 

[LionOfGosforth]

2 minutes ago, Pilko said:

Was definitely better than Bournemouth that performance, albeit still with issues to resolve.

 

We need to take the positive that we've got 4/6 points and negotiated an away cup tie to another PL side without putting together a fully cohesive performance yet. It'll evolve and improve as fitness does and with the addition of Tonali and hopefully some late business in the form of Guehi or someone else who can pass the ball from the centre at the back.

 

We need to be stronger with set plays both attacking and defending, and need to find a way to get Isak into the action properly. Other than the build up to the goal I didn't think we did him many favours although I did also think he himself was poor on the night.

 

If we can get Guehi or a good alternative in tomorrow it'll feel much better all round.

 

 

 

 

The Isak thing has been bugging me for a while. He's brilliant no doubt, elite even. Worth easily twice what we paid for him and then the rest. Yet we don't seem to consistently get the best out of him and he has far too many games where he's chasing down blind alleys and looking out of sorts and a bit frustrated. It's something we need to improve upon and like everything else, i'm sure it'll click soon. 

[Abacus]

3 minutes ago, LionOfGosforth said:

 

Fully agree that everything is not perfect. I think there was a feeling amongst most of us that we would just pick up and go ballistic from minute 1, no Europe to hinder us after all. That hasn't happened but we can't play any worse, it'll get better and a signing by the weekend would certainly help.

 

Just re the no Europe thing, that surely only kicks in a couple of months into the season when other teams need to juggle their squad through tiredness or injuries, whereas you get a chance to train and plan between games, imo.

[Stifler]

4 minutes ago, BonesJones said:

Bet Howe is still pissed about the pre season he was forced into.

 

Could've been done in a smarter way that would benefit the players not just the clubs pockets.

Was he forced into it though?

Didn’t we reject an tournament somewhere in favour of doing what we wanted?

[LionOfGosforth]

Just now, Abacus said:

 

Just re the no Europe thing, that surely only kicks in a couple of months into the season when other teams need to juggle their squad through tiredness or injuries, whereas you get a chance to train and plan between games, imo.

 

Yeah I think there's some logic there. We're not at it 100% yet, maybe the fractured summer with too many key players being away has affected the synergy on the pitch a bit. I have to believe it will get better as Summer turns to Autumn, seen it too many times in the past. They're a great group of players who play for each other.

[KaKa]

5 minutes ago, BonesJones said:

Bet Howe is still pissed about the pre season he was forced into.

 

Could've been done in a smarter way that would benefit the players not just the clubs pockets.

 

Think this certainly has something to do with things.

 

However, it's another way we can increase our commercial income and so the club is going to have to figure out how to navigate it all better, so the players are still well prepared for the season.

[huss9]

1 hour ago, Dokko said:

Unbeaten in 3, but hasn't deserved to win any of them. Poor start and needs to sort it out or face the consequences.

 

 

 

[The Prophet]

1 hour ago, Dokko said:

Unbeaten in 3, but hasn't deserved to win any of them. Poor start and needs to sort it out or face the consequences.

 

 

 

 

Sounds very sinister.

[cubaricho]

29 minutes ago, Wandy said:

I’m aware that stuff going on behind the scenes has obviously unsettled everyone at the club

 

There is literally zero evidence of this come on man.  

[huss9]

31 minutes ago, Wandy said:

All I have seen so far is us having a mountain of good fortune in all three games. I’m aware that stuff going on behind the scenes has obviously unsettled everyone at the club, but this luck will run out soon if things don’t improve.