We needed that

[GBruno]

Very disappointing result yesterday but i think it will do us good.

It helps to stop fans, players, owners and Howe from getting complacent. It helps manage expectations. It helps identify weak areas in the squad.

Manu or Liverpool played poorly and won their games. We didn't.

Its obvious that Wood is not good enough, nor is Longstaff. Nor is Joelinton as a winger or Burn as a left back.

Bruno had his least effective game for us. He needs more freedom which means we need a holding mid. For me thats a job for Joelinton right now. Maxi on the left.

Our subs aren't good enough either.

It will be interesting to see if the owners want to go for it this season and strengthen this month, or settle for top 6, which i think we'll get.

Howe has worked miracles, but he got a reminder of where we are at yesterday. As did the owners.

Yesterday feels worse because we are used to winning. For perspective, City drew also.

Happy new year!

[TANYA_]

Very disappointing result yesterday but i think it will do us good.

It helps to stop fans, players, owners and Howe from getting complacent. It helps manage expectations. It helps identify weak areas in the squad.

Manu or Liverpool played poorly and won their games. We didn't.

Its obvious that Wood is not good enough, nor is Longstaff. Nor is Joelinton as a winger or Burn as a left back.

Bruno had his least effective game for us. He needs more freedom which means we need a holding mid. For me thats a job for Joelinton right now. Maxi on the left.

Our subs aren't good enough either.

It will be interesting to see if the owners want to go for it this season and strengthen this month, or settle for top 6, which i think we'll get.

Howe has worked miracles, but he got a reminder of where we are at yesterday. As did the owners.

Yesterday feels worse because we are used to winning. For perspective, City drew also.

Happy new year!

i completely agree mate, we have been riding a crest of a winning wave for many months, we went into yesterday expecting to win and dropped points, brings us back down to earth and makes us realise we are still very short in a lot of areas.

Hopefully it reinforces the facts to the owners

[toptoon]

I think most of us and the owners were well aware of this before yesterday’s match. Over the last half dozen matches, all of our players have been playing out of their skins - yesterday most didn’t.
As our only recognized finisher, Wilson has to start (I’m not sure if he was 100% fit yesterday?) because Wood, we all know about, Joelinton, brilliant as he is is not a natural finisher and that leaves Miggy who is a winger, not a striker.
Having said this, I think it’s always wrong to criticize players over one performance, especially after a 6 game winning run and if you judge Longstaff over the whole season so far, no-one would drop him.

[alfienoakes]

A reality check maybe. None of us expected to be where we are right now. We will probably lose to Arsenal and maybe slip a couple of places but maybe that’s no bad thing either. This squad is in transition and needs a clear out - but that will take two or three seasons at least. Early days and it’s important not to be impatient. We will be much stronger in a couple of seasons.

[toptoon]

Spurs 0-2 Villa after 74 mins.
Reality check for Spurs too?

[Zippity]

Must have missed all your posts about how well we were doing when we were winning...

[alfienoakes]

Spurs losing is fantastic.

[Zippity]

Spurs losing is fantastic.

They were dreadful in every position. Conte won't last much longer if there's much more of this. No doubt we'll hear him in the media in the next few days moaning about needing signings but I think he needs to look at himself.

[toptoon]

I think Conte got done by Emery today. Must be frustrating as hell to be a Spurs fan - constant underachievers…. my heart bleeds….😄

[Ragatino]

They were dreadful in every position. Conte won't last much longer if there's much more of this. No doubt we'll hear him in the media in the next few days moaning about needing signings but I think he needs to look at himself.

Indeed. On all points I agree.

The general consensus is that we would steam roller everyone from here until the end of the season. When we finished 5th every game we won was a surprise. When we had Ba then Cisse slamming in goal after goal I had the feeling going into each match that if Cabaye, Tiote, Ba, Ben Arfa & Cisse were fit we had a good chance to win.

However with the way Howe has turned us around. The way we have battered some teams, the Arsenal win last season & Spurs this season, the 3-3 with City are all awesome result and inflated the perception of our squads ability.

At every opportunity Howe has made it clear we are no where near where we need to be in the reality of squad depth and quality.

Us lot, who pop in for a pint and a bit of banter to our favourite digital NUFC supports pub "Dan's Domain" generally keep our feet on the ground. However the hype surrounding the team has lead to a lot of folks thinking our advanced position in the league is a good mark of where we are in terms of progression.

Whilst I agree that we are 3rd because we deserve to be, we've collected the points by beating teams which has enabled us to achieve what we have this season. We have had some fortune but unlike Pardew or other managers Howe doesn't leave anything to luck or chance. We grind and work hard for our results.

Howe is getting the credit for the work he and his team have done to get a tune out of a squad that was destined for the Championship 14 months ago. Howe-ever (couldn't resist) all realistic NUFC fans are clear in their understanding that we are punching above our weight.

Leeds fought hard and matched us in the Sh!tHousery stakes. The Ref was not the best but we had several chances to win the match. We didn't take them.

It's clear to all we are a work in progress. Last season we would have lost to Leeds but we took a point. It was a decent result when we factor in the weather and the fact that our squad is still indeed of better quality additions.

Isn't it nice to be grumbling over a draw rather than after taking yet another 4 or 5 nil mauling from Leeds.

My point after all the rambling above.

We deserve to be where we are, our squad is punching above it's weight, we don't have European football which is a benefit and will assist us, we absolutely need to bring in 2-3 top quality players to ensure we maintain our top 4 position and finish the job.

16/17 games in we have shown the league what we are capable. We have 21 games to go to achieve our goal.

Keep the faith, in Howe & the board we trust!