GrahamTaylor5

To be fair the last comment was supposed to be a joke but it missed the mark. I was hoping this would help. I'm a bit needy like that.

That might explain why Howe is not starting him. Either that or Howe didn't actually want to sign him. I'm not sure which one.

I have not watched MOTD in a while. Was it really only 10 mins last night or is that an exaggeration? If it was 10 mins, is that about how long the actual match highlights last, for the number of games, on a usual basis?

I don't think he had a say in Bruno either. He wouldn't start him for ages last year. Only logical explanation. Either that or Isak has been injured for the majority of his time here and Howe is managing him well. I'm not sure which.

I'm really coming round to Murphy as a sub. He is not someone I would want coming on in the 80th minute to 'unlock' a defence and he is not someone I would want to see rotated in the squad as a starter but I do think he is a good enough standard for the role of a sub. He has the right work ethic, quick enough to help defend, quick enough to run at a tired defence and he seems to love playing for us.

I went to post in here this morning that I knew we had the ability to win but that I didn't think we would win. I was also going on to say the fact we got to a final is amazing but it just feels wet blanket so I didn't. I feel that given where we were 12 months ago, even when we had Bruno and Trippier, the thought that we could finish top 10 and lose a league cup final would be something I would have jumped at. However, given the way we have started this year, dropping down the league a bit and today makes it is so much harder to accept. That in itself is a brilliant thing. I just feel so lucky to have my team back. I think we did ourselves proud today. We didn't drop our heads and fair play to Karius who performed at a decent level. It feels like this was one step too far at this point of our journey but it also feels like it is a step on our wonderful journey rather than a disappointing climax to a fluky season that where we won't get a better chance again.

I never really acknowledged how bad Chelsea were until this game.

It is a hard one. Some performances were below what we have come to expect. I was a bit disappointed with Isak but he has lacked some game time. I think ASM played himself into the game as it went on. We do miss Bruno but that is going to happen as it is the way we have set up the team. We also had the early change of Willock which is not great when working to a plan. I thought that Botman and Burn were not up to their usual standards either. However, we have again got a point and we were playing away from home. We may finish 4th still. Our disappointing games end up in draws rather than our better games. There seems to be some good take aways as well. I thought Longstaff had a good game and Miggy took his goal well. I don't think he would have finished that opportunity at any point last season. Even Murphy looked alright. I feel like we are still doing a lot of things well and the other things are clunky/disappointing rather than horrendous. Cutting out some of the sloppy loss of possession and we should be good.

I sometimes think we are a bit harsh on our view of Sunderland. I also think we need to accept that when Fulham were facing NUFC, we were just another Premier League Club. What we need to realise is that when Fulham face Sunderland it is their cup final. I mean it actually isn't and there is a few more rounds to go but you wouldn't think it as Fulham will realise that they have to up their game if they are going to beat Sunderland. You have got to factor these things in.

Am I the only one who is thinking, 'shit, I really hope that is not as bad as it looks... how are Bruno and Joelinton getting home?'

Wow, when did becoming an NUFC fan become extremely exciting rather than manically depressing?

I hope he is able to get them back home tonight.

Thank you for explaining this. I didn't know what had happened haha.

I think it shows the difference between having the cover an extra 9m². Even with a lower level of opposition, everyone has a limit to capacity. Other 3 at the back were not great and a few extra runs coming through due to the drop in quality in the midfield.

I am starting to think that we should really focus on our second string. The gap is so much greater than I ever imagined. I have often wondered how well the likes of Lewis would do after seeing Joelinton and co. I wasn't against buying others though. I am sad to see us out but I don't think we can sustain an FA cup run, League Cup and League. I am gutted but I am hoping that, as a fan base, we will be happy if January is buying 3 or 4 players who do not get into the starting 11. I was hoping that we would improve starting 11 and Willock, Longstaff become subs. I am now happy to get some lower level in and have a clearer structure. This mess has been about 13 years in the making. We have sorted the starting 11 with about 3 decent subs. We need to improve it a bit more if we can.

What is Lewis doing?

I'm very disappointed to hear this. I wonder if that is why he has a different name? I also wonder if that is why his passport said Australia and not Argentina. We need to improve our scouting network if we want to get into the top four.

Credit on the start of thread. Might not have been a win but it still feels good.

It is amazing that the only love he will ever get is as a menace on the touch line haha. I'm looking forward to him getting enough yellows to miss a game.

It is a complete worry on so many levels

Although we are a point worse off. A draw against Leeds and Arsenal feels better than a win and loss

It all started when he said Isak was like a new signing. You heard it here first.

That, to me, was down to poor reffing. We couldn't get a flow going. It feels like two points lost which again is a good sign as it shows the expectations we have now. It was also good to see the players react. Not perfect by a long stretch but Chelsea at home last year is still a very vivid memory so I will not be losing too much sleep tonight.

Just to clarify, my last post was a joke. Although I think this is clear, you can never be to sure with some people. What is bizarre is that last year, I wasn't sure about Howe and 'I knew' exactly who we needed and what to do to fix the mess. I wished away Christmas then sat panicking, even after we got Trippier (even I grasped that he was a great signing but not where I would have started). This year is such a treat. We might get the next Bruno, Botman or Isak. I am loving these players arriving a few days after I have heard their name for the first time. Not only are they top players on the up, rather on the way back down but we also don't seem to spend weeks hearing about something that does not happen. The closest that happened was waiting between windows to go back in for Botman. I think what I have enjoyed the most is seeing how Howe has transformed Joelinton, Almiron and to a degree the likes of Willock and Longstaff. My first real manager for Newcastle was Bobby Robson and I never thought I would have the same level of respect or blind sense if loyalty in a manager here again. I genuinely have no feelings as to whether we are/ or should go in big or wait till the summer.