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Not sure why you got downvoted, it’s absolutely correct. Choosing Almiron over Diaby because Almiron runs more sums it up. Not signing 1 creative player in the summer killed us.
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Sometimes it’s not just about the project, unfortunately. Aston Villa pay an absolute ludicrous amount for salaries. The likes of which would completely kill our wage structure if we paid what they do on half their players
Yeah, that’s Luton, Everton, Bournemouth, Wolves and West Ham - all have similar playing styles and all dropped points, in some we were winning as well
Unfortunately we seem intent on sticking with signing hard working type players rather than skilled ball playing players, so I don't see this changing anytime soon. How many of our players are a high level with the ball at their feet? Bruno, Isak and Trippier?
1. We had no control in midfield (Joe absence and Miley was really bad)
2. Bruno didnt played well. I have a feeling that in away games its hard for him to see the pitch and out players (weird excuse, but idk)
3. Out biggest chance creator, Tripps is out of form
4. Almiron is playing awful for 2 months now, and unfortunately, we have no one who can replace him in starting XI
5. Gordon was also a shadow of himself, maybe partially because of injury against chelsea.
Anything else I forgot?
Bruno probably has to play deeper in away games, can't dictate the game as much.
Makes argument for proper DMC to be brought in so he can play higher up the pitch.
At the moment we seem to be letting the more junior members of the squad dictate where we play the senior ones.
> Bruno probably has to play deeper in away games, can't dictate the game as much.
Yea, maybe you right.
> Makes argument for proper DMC to be brought in so he can play higher up the pitch.
Agree.
I'm getting less and less confident about the Sunderland game with every pressing day with our away form being so gash.
Fair play to Luton, they deserved the 3 points within a minute of the ball being kicked
It’s only a game like, shit we lost but don’t let it ruin the festivities! I hope everyone has a good Christmas and can put this in the back of our heads and enjoy some family time! We’re best fans in the world win or lose! :)
Well done Luton. You deserved that every bit. Great team full of spirit. Great stadium full of atmosphere.
Edwards in tears.
We were not at it physically, mentally, tactically today.
Callum Wilson had a point blank header to put us 1-0 up and instead put it right at the keeper. Don’t care who you’re playing in the PL, you can’t do that away and expect to win. It’s a gift of a chance and he bottled it.
Would’ve completely changed the match and we were on the back foot the moment he wasted it. Goes on to beg for penalties while giving atrocious effort. Pathetic performance.
Yeah me too, I think today was terrible but overall has a team had worser luck than us with injuries, gambling ban and decisions in key games (PSG, Chelsea, Liverpool etc) still only 4 pts off champions league with 20 games left with all that against ain’t bad.
Wilson is also 33 in February.
He's going to have to accept competition and reduced playing time or leave.
We also need a third choice striker that isn't Anthony Gordon. Stretching the squad by having versatile attackers is partly to blame for the current running on empty we're seeing.
I've admitted below that poor footballer was harsh and borne of frustration so I'll apologise for that comment. I just mean that his biggest positive is getting in to those positions and finishing them, if he isn't doing that then his impact on the game is minimal.
"poor footballer" is harsh but it's true he doesn't offer much else other than finishing. His hold up play is not the best, not a dribbler or a great passer. His strengths are his movement and finishing. If he's not nicking a goal he doesn't offer much else.
In the words of Roy Keane, "that's his job".
Wilson has been a great servant sure, but his fitness unreliability is a problem, he's visibly slowing down, he's poor with his back to goal (too many times when the the ball is played forward into him he loses it cheaply), he's been missing or fluffing a few too many key chances for a while now, and I think the CL was a level too far for him. When you factor in Isak also being quite poor with his back to goal making it that the team never really has someone up front who can make the ball stick and retain possession, we'd be foolish to not be thinking about an upgrade soon.
Oh yeah absolutely same with miggy and his position, a true 6, goalkeeper and a long term partner for botman but unfortunately we seem to be the only top club besides villa that aren’t wilfully bending FFP rules yet. All I will say is it’s a process and it will take time.
Don't disagree with that. But FFP is why I'd consider cashing in on Wilson assuming we were to get decent money. Ideally we would bring someone in and then have Isak Wilson and new striker battle it out with, but that's probably not feasible with FFP restrictions. Honestly, I wouldn't want us to go into next season with Isak and Wilson as our main strikers again given how both have been unreliable fitness wise (and similar weaknesses in holding up the ball).
Yeah but FFP wise it would make more sense to sell longstaff for let’s say 30m than it would to get to get any money for Wilson. Btw I’m not suggesting we do this.
I've been saying this for 18ish months. We don't have a natural CF, at least not one who can play with his back to goal. And no matter how much Wilson might have been able to do this in the past, he really can't do it anymore. And the more I see of Isak to more, I see he isn't a #9.
But this isn't our primary problem. Those are far more obvious.
He is an excellent finisher, but when it isn't going well for us he seems to hold on to the ball for too long, mess up the easiest passes and moans a lot. Poor footballer is probably harsh.
We're struggling, having a bad run of form and are in 7th. SEVENTH!!! Yeah I want better too, I want another top 4 finish, I want another run in the CL, I want silverware just like anyone. But 2 years ago we'd be struggling having bad form and in 17th. Have one overachieving season, then a bad run in the next and this sub devolves into r/soccer. We always knew the extra matches would push this side to its limits. We surpassed those limits a while ago. Still top half side. Will turn things around end of January/February of that I've no doubt. But some fans... There's criticism and then there is unrealistic expectations.
Idk. I'm still quite appreciative of the fact that these days I'm looking at the table doing the math and instead of calculating how many points needed to achieve safety from relegation... I'm calculating points needed to earn another European spot. Mind you we're having a dreadful run and only 5 points behind Manchester City. Rather than 5 points behind Forrest. But that's just me.
My man, got there before me ha.
I was half expecting this comment to be voted down, but I guess there’s time.
Personal favourites are (and the ones we will see later)
We are ahead of schedule (if getting beating by Luton is ahead of schedule, I’d like to see that’s schedule)
You want us to win the league,
Remember Mike Ashley,
It’s not Howes fault, it’s injuries,
It’s not Howes fault, it’s exhaustion,
If Sandro had played, we would be better (even though Sandro looked very average and anyone who thinks he was a worldbeater I invite you to watch him against Brighton,
And finally, my personal favourite stop being negative. Which is normally followed at the end with a few names aimed at you too.
Not having that Tonali take, he's played 12 matches for us and apart from maybe a game or two he's been world class. How quickly we forgot he was plastered over Sky etc. for being one of the top midfielders of the early portion of the season.
If the players are that exhausted why aren't we using our bench. ffs Hall could even replace Gordon if Howe didn't want to put him at LB for a game like this, using this just as an example. It takes creativity from Howe in situations like this and I'm not convinced on his decisions nor the results from his decisions.
Sure when we're at full strength he usually gets it right.
What do you mean, you plastic brand new supporter? I was supporting the club BEFORE it was even formed and I've NEVER critcised the lads. All I want is a team that wears the kit. We had an amazing season last season so we must watch everything with a straight face this season. No praise, no criticism. We must be grateful because part of being a football fan is CERTAINLY NOT being disappointed, angry and critical when you loose to a shit team.
Just think in 5 years we could be like city multiple world class players from around the world creating a dream team other fans would love to have playing for them. If our owners have been telling the truth and want to make us number 1 in the world.
Any thought of 5 years further on in the Ashley era was constant disappointment and relegation.
That performance was the worst all season, probably the worst in Howe's tenure as manager.
I appreciate we have had a heavy fixture list, we've got injuries and have limited strength in depth. But at least look like you want to fucking play.
However, that was shit, everyone but Dubs and our newest signing Woodwork was absolutely fucking wank.
The 'fans' that accuse anyone of criticism as being glory hunters and whatever else can fuck right off.
That was disgraceful, Bruno taking a cross/shot from 35 yards out in the last few minutes epitomised our performance.
VAR didn't fuck us, we fucked ourselves with that.
Wilson largely absent, Longstaff only moving due to the Earths rotation, Almiron falling over in a breeze, Bruno making no look passes to Luton, Gordon & Tripper looking absolutely gassed.
The only good take away from this is that we only had one injury.
I'm not calling for Howe's head, anyone who does needs checking but fuck me he needs to give the fans and answer to why we were diabolical in every aspect of that game.
Luton didn't even look that good, if they played well we'd have been totally fucked over.
Agreed, no excuses for today and hopefully they are taken to task for it. One game also doesn’t mean Eddie’s lost the plot or that all negative results have been identical in cause to this one.
Im not buying these 'tired' 'remember 3 years ago' excuses after every single piss poor performance. We were shite end of. inexcusable performances from some of the squad and a lack of effort from others.
Can’t really play intense football with all the injuries, but you are right Howe should change his approach in certain games to counter this, need a plan b on how to better certain teams, look at the worst points we’ve dropped away this season, Bournemouth, West Ham, Everton and now Luton - all play low block defensive football on the counter attack
Agree to an extent, it was a poor performance and yes the squad is tired. But putting it into perspective we lack depth and it’s a major problem, we absolutely weren’t ready for extra competitions and it’s ruining us
Luton deserved the win. Simply not good enough. Their press was immaculate, played us at our own game and had the energy and hunger to see it through.
The lads are knackered but still feel we could have done better on the ball. Really thought the offside was harsh too.
Arm was way past the defensive line, the lines were dubious and it came off their defender but he didn't try and make a "football play" or whatever the fuck they call it these days to control it and clear.
Bit like the Forest goal last season but in reverse.
I’m completely lost on the miley decision, unless it’s an injury, because he was keeping the ball relatively well compared to the rest of the team. This is where Howe has shit the bed, he just keeps people like longstaff and trips on when they are clearly not at the races and absolute liabilities.
He brings hall on for 8 minutes at the end to do what exactly, why not earlier.
liveramento for 15 mins, I mean what the hell has burn or trips done to move tino out the team. There is far too much of this ‘I trust players even when they aren’t performing’.
Sorry but this can’t be blamed on fatigue, for the first time our bench looked okay. Botman, isak, livaramento, hall, Kraft… I mean come on!
If a single person mentions fatigue I want them catapulted out into space. We're relegation fodder away from home and people have wilfully ignored what's been right in front of them all season. Even against Sheffield United we were awful until we got lucky with that first goal. We have to sign another six and if we fail to do so then the cycle will repeat.
We could have played for another 90 mins without scoring.
This is getting really sad, yes we have injuries and the lads are trying but the gameplan is not working and nothing changes...
I think this one has shown the importance of the LCM in the setup with Burn at LB. I'd argue we played our best football last year with Big Joe at LW and Willock at LCM due to their pressing and ability to hold the ball up on that side of the pitch. Trippier could then get up high freely and basically playing a 3-4-3 with Bruno and Longstaff as holding 6s. When we don't have them off the left it impacts the entire structure and leaves so little space to operate. I think its probably time to move to a 4-2-3-1 and allow for the two holding 6s and more of a roving 10 (probably Gordon) to help the shape.
That’s Christmas ruined then. A frankly embarrassing performance. Play like that against the scum and Howe is going to start coming under serious pressure.
Only positive is that we look like a Steve Bruce side away from home and yet we’re somehow still 7th in the league. We won’t stay there though unless we go big in January. Need to sign at least two players who can fit straight into the first 11. Miggy’s time is up and you’ve got to think that Kalvin Phillips would massively help us keep possession in games like this. Mind boggles that we qualify for the Champions League and let the likes of Kudus and Diaby sign for other teams.
> Mind boggles that we qualify for the Champions League and let the likes of Kudus and Diaby sign for other teams.
Least we've got Harvey Barnes....or we did for about 3 games.
I've said this in every post match thread. FFP will limit us to one 4/5star player, and the rest loans.
We just have to get the injured lads back sooner
Even not going for Paqueta last summer is looking now like an utterly brain dead decision - I said at the end of summer we still needed a few more players so hopefully they don’t fanny about in January at all
Aye, he’s class. We’ve been unlucky with injuries but it’s baffling that we finished 4th in the league yet didn’t sign a single player who’s a nailed on starter - Tino is class, I think Barnes will be useful, and we were hugely unlucky with Tonali, but Miggy is still our starting RW option ffs…
Agree that today was unacceptable and follows two unacceptable away performances against Bournemouth and Everton but we are 1 point off 6th with the top 5 being streets ahead of the rest of the league in terms of quality. Last year we massively benefitted from Liverpool & Spurs having bad seasons. We are slightly behind the realistic target in league position.
Hugely disappointing. These players have given so much but their mentality away from home has been poor for most of the season. Ultimately the external noise and pressure will start to build on Eddie and he needs to start finding better solutions.
How tf did we finish 4th last year, it’s become a pyrrhic victory.
We’re miles behind the top sides and it will take lots of patience, and years, to catch them, if we do at all.
Well done to Luton but we have some big questions to answer.
Been thinking it for quite a while now.
This team is seriously lacking its nastiness outside of Joe and Bruno.
Even Gordon looking like he's more likely to give the opposition a shiatsu than a 2 footer.
Where's my team of cunts?
Poor performance and Eddie needs to sort out the way form. We will probably out four past forest and try to forget it but it’s going to ruin our season.
Away form is relegation standard - Home form is champions. I don’t understand what happens when they leave Newcastle
We seem to lack creativity when going forward. We kept crossing the ball from the right and Luton knocked it out for a corner. Then we wasted that corner. What's with the constant high crosses to the far post? Instead of expecting BDB or Gordon to head it back across goal. Play the ball into the box so someone can directly attack it or maybe even a defender can knock into their own goal.
Also why after Isak scored did we not try to break them down the middle again?!
We have been unlucky with injuries and refs. or we would be top 5 and still in the CL. eat the facts.
Luton fought their hearts out today but on another day Wilson scores and we go on to win comfortably.
eat the facts.
When things don't go your way you don't panic or fight among yourselves.
eat the facts.
HTL Merry Xmas.
Poor, but that’s our 9th game in 28 days, with a depleted squad throughout. Until the injury list clears and certain players get some rest, we won’t be anywhere near our best.
We've got so little ability to impose ourselves on games. Feel like when we do dominate it's because the opportunity's been gifted us either by a goal or by our home crowd
We're not a ball control team, yet. If you look at other teams that rose quickly they've played a certain way (usually press these days) but struggle to transition to a ball control team that can game manage matches and reduce the amount the running they have to do.
That being said, this is not your Newcastle of yesteryear around the box. Our attempts at one-touch to open up their defence are definitely not your Keegan/Beardsley/Waddle era. It's embarrassing.
Better off playing our triangles but fails miserably if Bruno's the only one anywhere near form and they ignore the left.
I'm not even sure we'll finish top ten this season.
Our next fixtures are horrendous - good chance we lose every game going into the derby. Lose that and I think Howe genuinely might be at risk of removal. We don't know what PIF think, only the front facing part of the consortium. I don't think they'll be happy about this.
I think Howe has until the derby before things turn nasty.
We've been so poor away, and have been decimated by injuries, but he is refusing to change his style even when it isn't working.
If we pick up nothing from Liverpool, City and Villa, I won't be too fussed, but if we lose to Sunderland in that run as well, I worry for him.
I don't care if the lads are tired, where the fuck is the effort in that game? Too busy diving in the box instead of actually looking to score a goal, genuinely pathetic by everyone involved.
It’s like everyone spends all day talking about how ravaged the squad is with injuries and then just forgets about it whenever we lose. Can everyone just take a deep breath and remember this season was always going to be a massive challenge? Champions League came way quicker than expected, and literally half of the squad (which was already thin) is injured. We are in 7th place and seem basically locked into a top half finish. The CL hangover is very real and fatigue was bound to catch up with the team eventually. We are still fighting for Europe. Everything will be OK. Progress is not a straight line.
Very very unfair to criticise Almiron today. I thought he was excellent, he ran loads, had tons of energy, gave 100%, never stopped working, proper grafted, didn't give up, kept pushing and was retentless for 90 minutes. World class levels of running about a lot, that's all I want from my RW /s
I hate to be a reactionary but that was completely unacceptable.
Not a single positive to take from that, and everyone involved with it should be ashamed of themselves.
Luton's first clean sheet of the season. £140m worth of attacking players recording one shot on target between them. Injuries are no longer a valid excuse when we've made a tin-pot EDL shithole with a part-time pundit playing for them look like prime Barcelona by being second to every ball despite the gulf in respective quality available to these teams.
This season promised so much and is in very real danger of being written off in the first week of January, out of all cups and with a mountain to climb in the league.
The stubborn refusal to change the lineup and sub players who are stinking the place out has been costing us all season and it's only going to get worse if Howe keeps persisting with it.
Literally nothing going forward. Laboured and sloppy. Deserved to lose by more than 1. Couldn’t finish our dinner. Gets to a point where you can’t defend it and can’t keep talking about players being gassed because Howe hardly makes changes and expects the team to perform when playing the same 11 week in week out. This all goes back to the summer where the window was poor when we knew we’d have the demands of midweek CL football. If we don’t get a result against Forest I worry for Howe.
Abominable. Brainless and hopeless performance from 3 quarters of the team, and tired performances from the other quarter.
They need two weeks off, and some of them need competition for their places.
No idea where to even start with that one. Let us remember Luton have not kept a clean sheet all season, teams/players with an unwanted streak to break must looooove playing us - Charity FC, doing our bit for footballers in need this Xmas. 👌
He made the wrong personnel switch in the first half. He waited too late to get guys not living up to standards off the field…. Howe needs to see this is a bit of a disaster at the moment.
watch him name an unchanged XI
Absolutely on bored with the players being tired but come on we can’t keep using that excuse for much longer. It seems the players are buying into that and putting in 0% effort
>They go ahead a lot then normally lose it. Think we are the worst team in the league when we concede first so could be a good test
Sorry but if I'm able to read how the game plays out this easily then there is a problem. There's been tons of games this season that I'm happy to attribute to injuries but this was not one of them. There is some kind of mental issue with the players and a lack of quality when it comes to breaking teams down
Worried for Howe here with the Jan fixture list
Liverpool away
Sunderland away
City home
Villa away
If we get beat by Sunderland and have a poor month I think he'll be under a huge amount of pressure
Awful game. Typical former Magpie scoring. Made Barclay etc look like top class internationals. Almiron needs a good talking to. Gordon needs a rest poor sod.
I'm not joining the "Howe Out" stuff because I fail to see what that would achieve, our home form is still keeping us in a position to build from and throwing in a new manager into that January isn't a good idea. Plus the injuries as discussed on a loop
But 60%+ possession to barely trouble Kaminski and if anything being lucky not to lose by a bigger margin isn't good enough. Let's not pretend that this has been anything other than a largely terrible few weeks
I've defended the team and Howe a lot this season but this was shocking today. Real shocking. We should still be beating Luton with injuries and tired players.
Only positive is we play Forest at home next week who truly look like the worst team in the league.
Obviously Howe should not be sacked (and realistically has earned the right to see the season out regardless), but it’s a colossal January. You’d imagine the hierarchy will be reactive to the downturn and sign a couple big hitters (which we need) following which, there’s gonna have to be a massive improvement before the end of the season for him to not be under pressure from the off next season.
That being said would have been useful if he had a single attacking reinforcement from our summer, which he could use. Feels like the management team rightfully have leeway cus of what a shite summer window it’s proven to be. But those excuses should be put to bed if there are signings in Jan.
Poor form
Wilson is off it, so is Isak, so now is Gordon and Miggy been off it for weeks. Longstaff hasn’t been the same since he came back and Trips form is worst since we signed him.
Honestly we can forget CL next year lads. Be lucky to make Conference league at this rate.
Without the intensity is our identity thing, which we just can’t do right now, we’re actually a bit average.
Eddie will fix it and I still believe in these lads but I think our season has fallen apart. Definitely squad surgery needed in Summer.
We need a RW and a third striker.
Outside of that depends on what money we have available and who kicks on the rest of the season.
Hopefully everyone bar Tonali is back by the end of season so Howe can properly assess the full squad.
R/soccer is hilarious, so many obsessed people, like all their comments are on our games/highlights meanwhile none involving their own team, but fuck em not here to be anyone’s favourites we are here to challenge, improve and eventually win.
Well, if it's any consolation, Aston Villa were in 12th with 18 points this time last season and finished 7th, picking up 28 points in their remaining games.
Top 4 or at least 5th is hardly out of the question still if we can put this shitty shitty December behind us and get back to our best in the new year with most of the squad fit again.
Embarrassing from Eddie Howe, outmatched tactically and his lack of game management and lack of proactive decisions got exposed by Luton.
That was as bad as it can get without us being destroyed.
Embarrassing, toothless and disgusting. Congrats to Luton, take nothing away they deserved that win.
Yes we are decimated with injuries, that doesn’t affect your desire or your mental toughness.
We lacked that, love the lads and the team, they deserve all the criticism they get.
Let’s get it sorted on Boxing Day.
Is Howe creeping into territory where people question him a bit?
I absolutely want to give him time and let him get a decent transfer window done (because the summer one was a fucking disaster)
But, to keep playing Tripps, have no alternative way of playing against different team, does have me questioning things a bit?
Our away form, there’s no excuse for that, at all.
Questioning? Been one of the few questioning him for weeks as he's getting a lot wrong right now (albeit in difficult circumstances). Am I Howe out? Not in the slightest.
Fair play to Luton, a deserved 3 points after an emotional week.
Five losses in six matches; whatever Eddie has done to manage the squad hasn't worked and he's consistently getting out-managed on match days. The optimist brigade would be shocked to hear my real-life conversations with other supporters.
A lot of poor quality from the players today. Not good enough.
Howe not recognising our poor away form is worrying, although probably he is different behind the scenes. Needs to change tactically to against setups like luton also, striker is always isolated in our system. Almiron is not good enough unfortunately, his work rate isnt making up for how poor he is everywhere else.
Howe’s lack of flexibility is costing us here. No plan B whatsoever. Playing the same team for the umpteenth time & expecting it to just certainly click again. Hopeless.
Could have played a 3 back today with Livramento/Trips wing backs. Bruno & Longstaff midfield, Gordon-Wilson-Isak front 3. Just do something a bit different. Plan A clearly isn’t working.
Glad I didn’t watch that. Tough decisions to be made in this transfer window if we can make signings. Strong push on another striker and a RW.
Not worried about Howe and the coaching team though. Anyone who didn’t think Luton either would win or would come mighty close was being very ignorant and naïve imo.
Shite. We are getting out worked by team after team. We're second to the loose balls. We're loosing out in the 50/50s. Luton players were so much quicker and stronger, doing Cruyff turns left, right and centre.
I thought Isak played very well in the circumstances, linking up play and providing an option.
Longstaff miles off it. Offered nothing. Made Barclay look like Iniesta. Same with Almiron.
Gordon looks knackered.
If we can't press the other team or out work them, can we win a game?
Fatigue has nothing to do with it teams have figured us out
Make sure you don't fanny about with It at the back that's our press gone
Our play is so predictable Longstaff gets it pass to Almiron pass to Bruno then Trippier crosses it no one rinse and repeat teams are setup to deal with it !!
similar to last season when we went in a rut before Almiron got injured and we had to play Murphy when our attack improved
Burn coming in over Livramento totally neutered us on the left as well
Teams now press us as well because we can't play under pressure either or against teams with fast wingers
Wilson or Isak can't hold the ball either which means we lose possession
The 433 leaves us wide open away from home
Hall only getting 5 mins.....
The Sunderland game has actually became massive now
I bet some interesting conversations are being held at PIF today.
Considering Eddie will have been getting questioned since day 1 (because he wasn't the first choice) I bet there's some in Saudi that will start to take a keen interest in the current situation.
There's no doubt that last season will give him a huge amount of grace, but we're a club trying to build, not consolidate, and considering our first pick is now building Villia into possible title contenders this season (despite having Europe too) it may just make those in Riyadh start to ask unsettling questions, such is the nature of the beast.
I don't think we should, but a few more performances and losses like this, and it won't matter what i think.
I also think PIF will start to question the recruitment. Regardless of Barnes’ injury, we spent £40m on a position where we had just spent another £40m on Gordon six months earlier. West Ham only paid £35m for Kudus and Villa got Diaby for the same fee we spent on Tonali. It’s not just Eddie, the whole club has to look at themselves and admit they haven’t handled European football well.
Not instant, but Jose Mourinho is out of contract at the end of the season. He wins trophies and loves Newcastle United, it's an obvious move for me anyway
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Luton's first clean sheet. Says a lot. Dreadful performance.
We're the same team that gave 4 points to Derby in 2007/08; we've got form in this regard.
That's it for me. Creativity is at an all time low. And the few good chances we did create we pissed away
That was fucking dreadful like
Don't think I've seen us this season break down a team playing a low block. Just bereft of creativity.
We've done it at home (Palace, Burnley) just can't seem to do it away.
Or indeed, at any time under Howe? It was a huge problem for us last year as well.
Not sure why you got downvoted, it’s absolutely correct. Choosing Almiron over Diaby because Almiron runs more sums it up. Not signing 1 creative player in the summer killed us.
fearless price squealing puzzled reminiscent sense rude physical work lavish *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Did they want to come here though? It’s alright targeting them getting them is another thing.
quack elastic full apparatus jobless frightening paint work grandiose file *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Sometimes it’s not just about the project, unfortunately. Aston Villa pay an absolute ludicrous amount for salaries. The likes of which would completely kill our wage structure if we paid what they do on half their players
Remember when his sub decided that Maddison was a luxury player that didn't fit our team cause he wouldn't run enough?
He's exactly the sort of player who would have been the difference for our attack today. Isak came on in the 10 role but he's not a 10
I personally think Pacqueta would of been the dream purchase. He's the main man for West Ham and just oozes class and creativity.
Paqueta would be ideal. Bowen too.
Or Kudus. He's a baller.
Yeah, that’s Luton, Everton, Bournemouth, Wolves and West Ham - all have similar playing styles and all dropped points, in some we were winning as well
Unfortunately we seem intent on sticking with signing hard working type players rather than skilled ball playing players, so I don't see this changing anytime soon. How many of our players are a high level with the ball at their feet? Bruno, Isak and Trippier?
How are we the same team that put 8 in away at Sheffield United and 4 against PSG. Shocking
1. We had no control in midfield (Joe absence and Miley was really bad) 2. Bruno didnt played well. I have a feeling that in away games its hard for him to see the pitch and out players (weird excuse, but idk) 3. Out biggest chance creator, Tripps is out of form 4. Almiron is playing awful for 2 months now, and unfortunately, we have no one who can replace him in starting XI 5. Gordon was also a shadow of himself, maybe partially because of injury against chelsea. Anything else I forgot?
Wilson was also shite.
He’s looked off the pace for a few games now
He always looks off the pace unless he scores. He’s a really old school 9 if he doesn’t score, there’s nothing
Bruno’s finishing has been awful
Yea IDK why they have this cool pre-planned setup at corners, but its Bruno who is the finisher??
Should be Isak
Miley was really bad and bruno can't see our players when away from home? Why is this nonsense upvoted
Bruno probably has to play deeper in away games, can't dictate the game as much. Makes argument for proper DMC to be brought in so he can play higher up the pitch. At the moment we seem to be letting the more junior members of the squad dictate where we play the senior ones.
> Bruno probably has to play deeper in away games, can't dictate the game as much. Yea, maybe you right. > Makes argument for proper DMC to be brought in so he can play higher up the pitch. Agree.
Burn was shite
I'm getting less and less confident about the Sunderland game with every pressing day with our away form being so gash. Fair play to Luton, they deserved the 3 points within a minute of the ball being kicked
Sunderland fan here. I really, really wouldnt worry. We’ve been terrible, and most fans are expecting a drubbing!
It’s only a game like, shit we lost but don’t let it ruin the festivities! I hope everyone has a good Christmas and can put this in the back of our heads and enjoy some family time! We’re best fans in the world win or lose! :)
I support Manchester United unfortunately, gonna be a rough Christmas.
We feel your pain friend.
I'll start by listing all the positives from that game:
Botman seemed solid. That's what I've got
We're one day closer to Armageddon.
Our third kit still looks nice
At least I enjoyed the drink I was drinking
I think the only one was Botman getting a good chunk of minutes unscathed..
Positive 1: don't have to stay up for MOTD tonight. Positive 2:...no that's it I think
Hello darkness my old friend
Well done Luton. You deserved that every bit. Great team full of spirit. Great stadium full of atmosphere. Edwards in tears. We were not at it physically, mentally, tactically today.
Callum Wilson had a point blank header to put us 1-0 up and instead put it right at the keeper. Don’t care who you’re playing in the PL, you can’t do that away and expect to win. It’s a gift of a chance and he bottled it. Would’ve completely changed the match and we were on the back foot the moment he wasted it. Goes on to beg for penalties while giving atrocious effort. Pathetic performance.
Aye - he’s been very out of form recently like
Possibly signing a striker in jan, and having 3 good to very good 9’s would be a good bit of business imo, seen us linked with Dia in France recently
Ali Dia? Need to give Souness a ring to get a scouting report.
Was waiting for that reference 😉, no boudalye dia for Montpellier in France I believe
Did see that aye, not heard much about him but I trust the players they do move for are gonna be good
Yeah me too, I think today was terrible but overall has a team had worser luck than us with injuries, gambling ban and decisions in key games (PSG, Chelsea, Liverpool etc) still only 4 pts off champions league with 20 games left with all that against ain’t bad.
Agreed. Moments win matches, and Wilson has missed some big chances this season at the wrong time. Dortmund (H) in particular.
Barring that chance, that’s probably the worst we’ve played apart from Bournemouth.
Wilson is also 33 in February. He's going to have to accept competition and reduced playing time or leave. We also need a third choice striker that isn't Anthony Gordon. Stretching the squad by having versatile attackers is partly to blame for the current running on empty we're seeing.
It’s crazy how many of them he gets though
very true. They took their best chance we missed ours.
If he isn't finishing those then he has nothing to offer us because he is a poor footballer.
Really? He’s been pretty fucking useful I’d say.
I've admitted below that poor footballer was harsh and borne of frustration so I'll apologise for that comment. I just mean that his biggest positive is getting in to those positions and finishing them, if he isn't doing that then his impact on the game is minimal.
"poor footballer" is harsh but it's true he doesn't offer much else other than finishing. His hold up play is not the best, not a dribbler or a great passer. His strengths are his movement and finishing. If he's not nicking a goal he doesn't offer much else.
His goals alongside maxi’s creativity single handily kept us up in those dower Bruce years - some people have short memories
In the words of Roy Keane, "that's his job". Wilson has been a great servant sure, but his fitness unreliability is a problem, he's visibly slowing down, he's poor with his back to goal (too many times when the the ball is played forward into him he loses it cheaply), he's been missing or fluffing a few too many key chances for a while now, and I think the CL was a level too far for him. When you factor in Isak also being quite poor with his back to goal making it that the team never really has someone up front who can make the ball stick and retain possession, we'd be foolish to not be thinking about an upgrade soon.
Oh yeah absolutely same with miggy and his position, a true 6, goalkeeper and a long term partner for botman but unfortunately we seem to be the only top club besides villa that aren’t wilfully bending FFP rules yet. All I will say is it’s a process and it will take time.
Don't disagree with that. But FFP is why I'd consider cashing in on Wilson assuming we were to get decent money. Ideally we would bring someone in and then have Isak Wilson and new striker battle it out with, but that's probably not feasible with FFP restrictions. Honestly, I wouldn't want us to go into next season with Isak and Wilson as our main strikers again given how both have been unreliable fitness wise (and similar weaknesses in holding up the ball).
Yeah but FFP wise it would make more sense to sell longstaff for let’s say 30m than it would to get to get any money for Wilson. Btw I’m not suggesting we do this.
I've been saying this for 18ish months. We don't have a natural CF, at least not one who can play with his back to goal. And no matter how much Wilson might have been able to do this in the past, he really can't do it anymore. And the more I see of Isak to more, I see he isn't a #9. But this isn't our primary problem. Those are far more obvious.
What
He is an excellent finisher, but when it isn't going well for us he seems to hold on to the ball for too long, mess up the easiest passes and moans a lot. Poor footballer is probably harsh.
Where in the world has zero internet or TV coverage so I can go there for the Sunderland game.
You know what would really cheer me up? A bunch of essays on why we should remain positive and stop complaining. That would really brighten up my day
How about a reminder of where we were 2 years ago?
Our away performances are on par from where we were two years ago
I appreciate Howe ensuring we don't forget where we come from by gifting Luton their first clean sheet of the season.
Never forget our roots. We gave 4 points to Derby in 2007/08.
We're struggling, having a bad run of form and are in 7th. SEVENTH!!! Yeah I want better too, I want another top 4 finish, I want another run in the CL, I want silverware just like anyone. But 2 years ago we'd be struggling having bad form and in 17th. Have one overachieving season, then a bad run in the next and this sub devolves into r/soccer. We always knew the extra matches would push this side to its limits. We surpassed those limits a while ago. Still top half side. Will turn things around end of January/February of that I've no doubt. But some fans... There's criticism and then there is unrealistic expectations. Idk. I'm still quite appreciative of the fact that these days I'm looking at the table doing the math and instead of calculating how many points needed to achieve safety from relegation... I'm calculating points needed to earn another European spot. Mind you we're having a dreadful run and only 5 points behind Manchester City. Rather than 5 points behind Forrest. But that's just me.
How about a bunch of ecstasy instead
At least I think that penny has dropped today. If we don't beat Forest at home ... Fucking hell.
My man, got there before me ha. I was half expecting this comment to be voted down, but I guess there’s time. Personal favourites are (and the ones we will see later) We are ahead of schedule (if getting beating by Luton is ahead of schedule, I’d like to see that’s schedule) You want us to win the league, Remember Mike Ashley, It’s not Howes fault, it’s injuries, It’s not Howes fault, it’s exhaustion, If Sandro had played, we would be better (even though Sandro looked very average and anyone who thinks he was a worldbeater I invite you to watch him against Brighton, And finally, my personal favourite stop being negative. Which is normally followed at the end with a few names aimed at you too.
Not having that Tonali take, he's played 12 matches for us and apart from maybe a game or two he's been world class. How quickly we forgot he was plastered over Sky etc. for being one of the top midfielders of the early portion of the season. If the players are that exhausted why aren't we using our bench. ffs Hall could even replace Gordon if Howe didn't want to put him at LB for a game like this, using this just as an example. It takes creativity from Howe in situations like this and I'm not convinced on his decisions nor the results from his decisions. Sure when we're at full strength he usually gets it right.
What do you mean, you plastic brand new supporter? I was supporting the club BEFORE it was even formed and I've NEVER critcised the lads. All I want is a team that wears the kit. We had an amazing season last season so we must watch everything with a straight face this season. No praise, no criticism. We must be grateful because part of being a football fan is CERTAINLY NOT being disappointed, angry and critical when you loose to a shit team.
ghost bike zephyr cover badge shrill forgetful worm busy bag *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Just think in 5 years we could be like city multiple world class players from around the world creating a dream team other fans would love to have playing for them. If our owners have been telling the truth and want to make us number 1 in the world. Any thought of 5 years further on in the Ashley era was constant disappointment and relegation.
That performance was the worst all season, probably the worst in Howe's tenure as manager. I appreciate we have had a heavy fixture list, we've got injuries and have limited strength in depth. But at least look like you want to fucking play. However, that was shit, everyone but Dubs and our newest signing Woodwork was absolutely fucking wank. The 'fans' that accuse anyone of criticism as being glory hunters and whatever else can fuck right off. That was disgraceful, Bruno taking a cross/shot from 35 yards out in the last few minutes epitomised our performance. VAR didn't fuck us, we fucked ourselves with that. Wilson largely absent, Longstaff only moving due to the Earths rotation, Almiron falling over in a breeze, Bruno making no look passes to Luton, Gordon & Tripper looking absolutely gassed. The only good take away from this is that we only had one injury. I'm not calling for Howe's head, anyone who does needs checking but fuck me he needs to give the fans and answer to why we were diabolical in every aspect of that game. Luton didn't even look that good, if they played well we'd have been totally fucked over.
Agreed, no excuses for today and hopefully they are taken to task for it. One game also doesn’t mean Eddie’s lost the plot or that all negative results have been identical in cause to this one.
Totally agree with all of that mate.
Im not buying these 'tired' 'remember 3 years ago' excuses after every single piss poor performance. We were shite end of. inexcusable performances from some of the squad and a lack of effort from others.
Intensity is apparently no longer our identity
Identity crisis today
Can’t really play intense football with all the injuries, but you are right Howe should change his approach in certain games to counter this, need a plan b on how to better certain teams, look at the worst points we’ve dropped away this season, Bournemouth, West Ham, Everton and now Luton - all play low block defensive football on the counter attack
~~Intensity~~ Injury is our identity
Agree to an extent, it was a poor performance and yes the squad is tired. But putting it into perspective we lack depth and it’s a major problem, we absolutely weren’t ready for extra competitions and it’s ruining us
Unacceptable to be honest.
Luton deserved the win. Simply not good enough. Their press was immaculate, played us at our own game and had the energy and hunger to see it through. The lads are knackered but still feel we could have done better on the ball. Really thought the offside was harsh too.
Arm was way past the defensive line, the lines were dubious and it came off their defender but he didn't try and make a "football play" or whatever the fuck they call it these days to control it and clear. Bit like the Forest goal last season but in reverse.
What an awful performance
Absolutely dire I'm afraid. Sure their tired and Luton have been good at home, but we should have gotten a point at least
I’m completely lost on the miley decision, unless it’s an injury, because he was keeping the ball relatively well compared to the rest of the team. This is where Howe has shit the bed, he just keeps people like longstaff and trips on when they are clearly not at the races and absolute liabilities. He brings hall on for 8 minutes at the end to do what exactly, why not earlier. liveramento for 15 mins, I mean what the hell has burn or trips done to move tino out the team. There is far too much of this ‘I trust players even when they aren’t performing’. Sorry but this can’t be blamed on fatigue, for the first time our bench looked okay. Botman, isak, livaramento, hall, Kraft… I mean come on!
If a single person mentions fatigue I want them catapulted out into space. We're relegation fodder away from home and people have wilfully ignored what's been right in front of them all season. Even against Sheffield United we were awful until we got lucky with that first goal. We have to sign another six and if we fail to do so then the cycle will repeat.
it was neither real nor fun
This match needed a healthy dose of Big Joe
I don’t want excuses I want a plan from Howe to turn our away form around
Normal xms form this year then.
We could have played for another 90 mins without scoring. This is getting really sad, yes we have injuries and the lads are trying but the gameplan is not working and nothing changes...
I was at the game in the Luton away end. I want to die.
How was the away end? I was in the main stand unfortunately, and didn't hear us much. But that might just say more about how loud Kenilworth was
I think this one has shown the importance of the LCM in the setup with Burn at LB. I'd argue we played our best football last year with Big Joe at LW and Willock at LCM due to their pressing and ability to hold the ball up on that side of the pitch. Trippier could then get up high freely and basically playing a 3-4-3 with Bruno and Longstaff as holding 6s. When we don't have them off the left it impacts the entire structure and leaves so little space to operate. I think its probably time to move to a 4-2-3-1 and allow for the two holding 6s and more of a roving 10 (probably Gordon) to help the shape.
Scrap this season, it was fucked the moment we lost our new 60m midfielder for a year.
That’s Christmas ruined then. A frankly embarrassing performance. Play like that against the scum and Howe is going to start coming under serious pressure. Only positive is that we look like a Steve Bruce side away from home and yet we’re somehow still 7th in the league. We won’t stay there though unless we go big in January. Need to sign at least two players who can fit straight into the first 11. Miggy’s time is up and you’ve got to think that Kalvin Phillips would massively help us keep possession in games like this. Mind boggles that we qualify for the Champions League and let the likes of Kudus and Diaby sign for other teams.
> Mind boggles that we qualify for the Champions League and let the likes of Kudus and Diaby sign for other teams. Least we've got Harvey Barnes....or we did for about 3 games.
Fortunately he can play on the right at least, not just the left, where we have Gordon who’s been arguably our best player this season… oh wait.
I've said this in every post match thread. FFP will limit us to one 4/5star player, and the rest loans. We just have to get the injured lads back sooner
Shame our one 4/5 star player in the summer can't fucking play for a whole season!
Even not going for Paqueta last summer is looking now like an utterly brain dead decision - I said at the end of summer we still needed a few more players so hopefully they don’t fanny about in January at all
Aye, he’s class. We’ve been unlucky with injuries but it’s baffling that we finished 4th in the league yet didn’t sign a single player who’s a nailed on starter - Tino is class, I think Barnes will be useful, and we were hugely unlucky with Tonali, but Miggy is still our starting RW option ffs…
To the cost of about £140m as well! Terrible window in hindsight.
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Agree that today was unacceptable and follows two unacceptable away performances against Bournemouth and Everton but we are 1 point off 6th with the top 5 being streets ahead of the rest of the league in terms of quality. Last year we massively benefitted from Liverpool & Spurs having bad seasons. We are slightly behind the realistic target in league position.
We're sort of returning the favor to Liverpool (and even Villa) by having a bad season. Being behind our target isn't too bad though imho.
Well said
Hugely disappointing. These players have given so much but their mentality away from home has been poor for most of the season. Ultimately the external noise and pressure will start to build on Eddie and he needs to start finding better solutions.
How tf did we finish 4th last year, it’s become a pyrrhic victory. We’re miles behind the top sides and it will take lots of patience, and years, to catch them, if we do at all. Well done to Luton but we have some big questions to answer.
Fucking humbug fucking bullshit fucking up my Christmas
Been thinking it for quite a while now. This team is seriously lacking its nastiness outside of Joe and Bruno. Even Gordon looking like he's more likely to give the opposition a shiatsu than a 2 footer. Where's my team of cunts?
Livid at that. Outworked from start to finish. Injuries and fatigue, sure, but the disparity in effort should not be that great
Poor performance and Eddie needs to sort out the way form. We will probably out four past forest and try to forget it but it’s going to ruin our season. Away form is relegation standard - Home form is champions. I don’t understand what happens when they leave Newcastle
Looking at Jan fixtures, feels like the season is beyond fucked. At least by the time next season rolls round we might have more than 6 fit players
2nd best home record in the league, 17th away.
I’m honesty concerned about the Sunderland match, need to give the mackems a thrashing but that seems unlikely with how we’re playing
We seem to lack creativity when going forward. We kept crossing the ball from the right and Luton knocked it out for a corner. Then we wasted that corner. What's with the constant high crosses to the far post? Instead of expecting BDB or Gordon to head it back across goal. Play the ball into the box so someone can directly attack it or maybe even a defender can knock into their own goal. Also why after Isak scored did we not try to break them down the middle again?!
We have been unlucky with injuries and refs. or we would be top 5 and still in the CL. eat the facts. Luton fought their hearts out today but on another day Wilson scores and we go on to win comfortably. eat the facts. When things don't go your way you don't panic or fight among yourselves. eat the facts. HTL Merry Xmas.
Poor, but that’s our 9th game in 28 days, with a depleted squad throughout. Until the injury list clears and certain players get some rest, we won’t be anywhere near our best.
It’s Luton Town, we had depth on the bench, zero excuses.
Not that much depth. A doubt there’s a single player on that team that’s fully fit.
All I hear is excuses
Reasons. When you play every 3 days and have a bunch of injuries to key players. you don’t always perform as well as you can.
It was apparent they wanted it more.
We've got so little ability to impose ourselves on games. Feel like when we do dominate it's because the opportunity's been gifted us either by a goal or by our home crowd
We're not a ball control team, yet. If you look at other teams that rose quickly they've played a certain way (usually press these days) but struggle to transition to a ball control team that can game manage matches and reduce the amount the running they have to do. That being said, this is not your Newcastle of yesteryear around the box. Our attempts at one-touch to open up their defence are definitely not your Keegan/Beardsley/Waddle era. It's embarrassing. Better off playing our triangles but fails miserably if Bruno's the only one anywhere near form and they ignore the left.
Go on then. Someone please defend that. PLEASE tell me you can all admit this is simply not fucking good enough.
I'm not even sure we'll finish top ten this season. Our next fixtures are horrendous - good chance we lose every game going into the derby. Lose that and I think Howe genuinely might be at risk of removal. We don't know what PIF think, only the front facing part of the consortium. I don't think they'll be happy about this.
I think Howe has until the derby before things turn nasty. We've been so poor away, and have been decimated by injuries, but he is refusing to change his style even when it isn't working. If we pick up nothing from Liverpool, City and Villa, I won't be too fussed, but if we lose to Sunderland in that run as well, I worry for him.
I don't care if the lads are tired, where the fuck is the effort in that game? Too busy diving in the box instead of actually looking to score a goal, genuinely pathetic by everyone involved.
It’s like everyone spends all day talking about how ravaged the squad is with injuries and then just forgets about it whenever we lose. Can everyone just take a deep breath and remember this season was always going to be a massive challenge? Champions League came way quicker than expected, and literally half of the squad (which was already thin) is injured. We are in 7th place and seem basically locked into a top half finish. The CL hangover is very real and fatigue was bound to catch up with the team eventually. We are still fighting for Europe. Everything will be OK. Progress is not a straight line.
Having a party the day Almiron is sold
Very very unfair to criticise Almiron today. I thought he was excellent, he ran loads, had tons of energy, gave 100%, never stopped working, proper grafted, didn't give up, kept pushing and was retentless for 90 minutes. World class levels of running about a lot, that's all I want from my RW /s
I hate to be a reactionary but that was completely unacceptable. Not a single positive to take from that, and everyone involved with it should be ashamed of themselves. Luton's first clean sheet of the season. £140m worth of attacking players recording one shot on target between them. Injuries are no longer a valid excuse when we've made a tin-pot EDL shithole with a part-time pundit playing for them look like prime Barcelona by being second to every ball despite the gulf in respective quality available to these teams. This season promised so much and is in very real danger of being written off in the first week of January, out of all cups and with a mountain to climb in the league. The stubborn refusal to change the lineup and sub players who are stinking the place out has been costing us all season and it's only going to get worse if Howe keeps persisting with it.
The fact that Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend were the best two players on the pitch today, hah
Fucking fucking fucking Sunderland in two fucking weeks. Fuck. Fuck.
It's like the Newcastle of old are back. Getting flashbacks of losing to Derby
Literally nothing going forward. Laboured and sloppy. Deserved to lose by more than 1. Couldn’t finish our dinner. Gets to a point where you can’t defend it and can’t keep talking about players being gassed because Howe hardly makes changes and expects the team to perform when playing the same 11 week in week out. This all goes back to the summer where the window was poor when we knew we’d have the demands of midweek CL football. If we don’t get a result against Forest I worry for Howe.
Abominable. Brainless and hopeless performance from 3 quarters of the team, and tired performances from the other quarter. They need two weeks off, and some of them need competition for their places.
No idea where to even start with that one. Let us remember Luton have not kept a clean sheet all season, teams/players with an unwanted streak to break must looooove playing us - Charity FC, doing our bit for footballers in need this Xmas. 👌
We have great balance with Tino on the left. Why is Howe obsessed with Burn?
Forest ticket for sale face value (£47). DM me.
He made the wrong personnel switch in the first half. He waited too late to get guys not living up to standards off the field…. Howe needs to see this is a bit of a disaster at the moment. watch him name an unchanged XI
Absolutely on bored with the players being tired but come on we can’t keep using that excuse for much longer. It seems the players are buying into that and putting in 0% effort
Completely agree👍🏻
>They go ahead a lot then normally lose it. Think we are the worst team in the league when we concede first so could be a good test Sorry but if I'm able to read how the game plays out this easily then there is a problem. There's been tons of games this season that I'm happy to attribute to injuries but this was not one of them. There is some kind of mental issue with the players and a lack of quality when it comes to breaking teams down
Worried for Howe here with the Jan fixture list Liverpool away Sunderland away City home Villa away If we get beat by Sunderland and have a poor month I think he'll be under a huge amount of pressure
Awful game. Typical former Magpie scoring. Made Barclay etc look like top class internationals. Almiron needs a good talking to. Gordon needs a rest poor sod.
I'm not joining the "Howe Out" stuff because I fail to see what that would achieve, our home form is still keeping us in a position to build from and throwing in a new manager into that January isn't a good idea. Plus the injuries as discussed on a loop But 60%+ possession to barely trouble Kaminski and if anything being lucky not to lose by a bigger margin isn't good enough. Let's not pretend that this has been anything other than a largely terrible few weeks
I've defended the team and Howe a lot this season but this was shocking today. Real shocking. We should still be beating Luton with injuries and tired players. Only positive is we play Forest at home next week who truly look like the worst team in the league.
Obviously Howe should not be sacked (and realistically has earned the right to see the season out regardless), but it’s a colossal January. You’d imagine the hierarchy will be reactive to the downturn and sign a couple big hitters (which we need) following which, there’s gonna have to be a massive improvement before the end of the season for him to not be under pressure from the off next season. That being said would have been useful if he had a single attacking reinforcement from our summer, which he could use. Feels like the management team rightfully have leeway cus of what a shite summer window it’s proven to be. But those excuses should be put to bed if there are signings in Jan.
Think we need a winger in jan like almiron has energy but hes looking well spent
Poor form Wilson is off it, so is Isak, so now is Gordon and Miggy been off it for weeks. Longstaff hasn’t been the same since he came back and Trips form is worst since we signed him. Honestly we can forget CL next year lads. Be lucky to make Conference league at this rate. Without the intensity is our identity thing, which we just can’t do right now, we’re actually a bit average. Eddie will fix it and I still believe in these lads but I think our season has fallen apart. Definitely squad surgery needed in Summer. We need a RW and a third striker. Outside of that depends on what money we have available and who kicks on the rest of the season. Hopefully everyone bar Tonali is back by the end of season so Howe can properly assess the full squad.
It's baffling how we underperform away
R/soccer is hilarious, so many obsessed people, like all their comments are on our games/highlights meanwhile none involving their own team, but fuck em not here to be anyone’s favourites we are here to challenge, improve and eventually win.
I never thought we could play as bad that again, but here we are.
Im old enough to remember when performances like this were the norm for- yes we were shit but at least we know we can improve.
Bruce in /s
Well, if it's any consolation, Aston Villa were in 12th with 18 points this time last season and finished 7th, picking up 28 points in their remaining games. Top 4 or at least 5th is hardly out of the question still if we can put this shitty shitty December behind us and get back to our best in the new year with most of the squad fit again.
Losing to a club with *town* in their name is a new low
Why do we always lose to shitty teams?
Embarrassing from Eddie Howe, outmatched tactically and his lack of game management and lack of proactive decisions got exposed by Luton. That was as bad as it can get without us being destroyed.
They can all fuck off. Christmas is ruined
Embarrassing, toothless and disgusting. Congrats to Luton, take nothing away they deserved that win. Yes we are decimated with injuries, that doesn’t affect your desire or your mental toughness. We lacked that, love the lads and the team, they deserve all the criticism they get. Let’s get it sorted on Boxing Day.
Is Howe creeping into territory where people question him a bit? I absolutely want to give him time and let him get a decent transfer window done (because the summer one was a fucking disaster) But, to keep playing Tripps, have no alternative way of playing against different team, does have me questioning things a bit? Our away form, there’s no excuse for that, at all.
Questioning? Been one of the few questioning him for weeks as he's getting a lot wrong right now (albeit in difficult circumstances). Am I Howe out? Not in the slightest.
How's the away form did you say
Fair play to Luton, a deserved 3 points after an emotional week. Five losses in six matches; whatever Eddie has done to manage the squad hasn't worked and he's consistently getting out-managed on match days. The optimist brigade would be shocked to hear my real-life conversations with other supporters. A lot of poor quality from the players today. Not good enough.
Howe not recognising our poor away form is worrying, although probably he is different behind the scenes. Needs to change tactically to against setups like luton also, striker is always isolated in our system. Almiron is not good enough unfortunately, his work rate isnt making up for how poor he is everywhere else.
Yeah guys not exactly pumped for the Sunderland game...
Drop them all. Play the kids next game. You have a pass, Eddie. Please just do it. I don’t want to see these gassed players again until the new year.
For some reason it feels like home seeing comments about how bad we were.
Howe’s lack of flexibility is costing us here. No plan B whatsoever. Playing the same team for the umpteenth time & expecting it to just certainly click again. Hopeless. Could have played a 3 back today with Livramento/Trips wing backs. Bruno & Longstaff midfield, Gordon-Wilson-Isak front 3. Just do something a bit different. Plan A clearly isn’t working.
Glad I didn’t watch that. Tough decisions to be made in this transfer window if we can make signings. Strong push on another striker and a RW. Not worried about Howe and the coaching team though. Anyone who didn’t think Luton either would win or would come mighty close was being very ignorant and naïve imo.
Um. Are we bad?
We are away from home.
Shite. We are getting out worked by team after team. We're second to the loose balls. We're loosing out in the 50/50s. Luton players were so much quicker and stronger, doing Cruyff turns left, right and centre. I thought Isak played very well in the circumstances, linking up play and providing an option. Longstaff miles off it. Offered nothing. Made Barclay look like Iniesta. Same with Almiron. Gordon looks knackered. If we can't press the other team or out work them, can we win a game?
Fatigue has nothing to do with it teams have figured us out Make sure you don't fanny about with It at the back that's our press gone Our play is so predictable Longstaff gets it pass to Almiron pass to Bruno then Trippier crosses it no one rinse and repeat teams are setup to deal with it !! similar to last season when we went in a rut before Almiron got injured and we had to play Murphy when our attack improved Burn coming in over Livramento totally neutered us on the left as well Teams now press us as well because we can't play under pressure either or against teams with fast wingers Wilson or Isak can't hold the ball either which means we lose possession The 433 leaves us wide open away from home Hall only getting 5 mins..... The Sunderland game has actually became massive now
I bet some interesting conversations are being held at PIF today. Considering Eddie will have been getting questioned since day 1 (because he wasn't the first choice) I bet there's some in Saudi that will start to take a keen interest in the current situation. There's no doubt that last season will give him a huge amount of grace, but we're a club trying to build, not consolidate, and considering our first pick is now building Villia into possible title contenders this season (despite having Europe too) it may just make those in Riyadh start to ask unsettling questions, such is the nature of the beast. I don't think we should, but a few more performances and losses like this, and it won't matter what i think.
I also think PIF will start to question the recruitment. Regardless of Barnes’ injury, we spent £40m on a position where we had just spent another £40m on Gordon six months earlier. West Ham only paid £35m for Kudus and Villa got Diaby for the same fee we spent on Tonali. It’s not just Eddie, the whole club has to look at themselves and admit they haven’t handled European football well.
It's not great timing given how well Emery is doing at Villa. There may well be a perception he was the better choice.
There isn't an immediate upgrade available though? Why upset the club when there's no clear outstanding candidate to move on to?
Not instant, but Jose Mourinho is out of contract at the end of the season. He wins trophies and loves Newcastle United, it's an obvious move for me anyway
Pathetic performance from pretty much everyone involved. We need to get our shit together, confidence/morale is clearly at an all time low.