Here is Eddie Howe’s press conference for our fourth league game of the season at Brighton tomorrow afternoon: we really need a win with a win and two defeats so far in the league this season.
And yesterday we were drawn in the same group as Borussia Dortmund, PSG, and AC Milan in the Champions League – every game will be very difficult.
But it does give us a chance to measure how close we are to the top teams in Europe at the moment.
Some great Eurpean nights ahead for our fans.
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3,804 comments so far
CLINT FLICK
Sep 1, 2023 at 11:31 AM
Comment #1Boom!
CLINT FLICK
Sep 1, 2023 at 11:31 AM
Comment #2GoD!
CLINT FLICK
Sep 1, 2023 at 11:32 AM
Comment #3Group of ‘F’!
CLINT FLICK
Sep 1, 2023 at 11:32 AM
Comment #4Toon Toon!
snowdone
Sep 1, 2023 at 11:38 AM
Comment #5Eddie’s bingo will be interesting. Botman not likely to be risked and a question mark over Joelinton. Burn will probably move across and Targett will play left back. I would rest Joelinton and play Longstaff.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 1, 2023 at 11:43 AM
Comment #6Dubai
1 – we have to play 19 teams home and away and got to play Liverpool before their new midfield had bedded in.
2 – we’ve had some really easy cup draws over the last few years and have lost to some much worse teams. Maybe the opposite will be true this year?
3 – as a pot 4 team, we were almost certain to get a tough draw. I’m certain fans of PSG, Dortmund, and Milan will not be happy we’re in their group.
Dubai Micky
Sep 1, 2023 at 11:50 AM
Comment #7Oh come on TDS, jump on the conspiracy theory bus!
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Comment #8Dubai – 😆 definitely not my kinda bus I’m afraid! 🙂
I’m sure you’ll find a few willing to pay the fare though…
Zhongguo Geordie
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:03 PM
Comment #9I’ve got no opinion on whether the draw was a fix, I doubt it. But I remember talking about VAR and I said they’d definitely have unconscious bias as they’re human and that’s what we do. And this week a VAR guy came out and said he made a decision because it was his mate out there and he knew he’d get a lot of grief. So it seems it wasn’t even unconscious bias. But all humans do that, identify with a pack (in this case refs), then make it into an us (refs) v them (non refs). But that was dismissed as paranoia or being biased towards your own team (same thing as I suspected the refs/ VAR were doing)
cyprus
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:08 PM
Comment #10Clint my good man,
“Why would anyone want to ‘win’ anything by luckily drawing the crapest/easiest teams?
I’d accept it, if it happened, but… where’s the fun in that?”
It will be a right laugh if we lose them all, won’t it? 😉
Me, I’d rather have some easy games leading up to the (any) final and then winning it. Rather than be the I’m all smiles dude because I’ve no chance I’m basically a gate crasher so enjoy.
Anyway, maybe we’re good enough and we will do well after all 🙂
No more comments on this. It is what it is.
Bring on Brighton! Let’s thrash em, boost our collective confidence!*
* said with a well hidden but still slightly nervous tone.
Ronway
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:13 PM
Comment #11The Taco Taker – Aug 31, 2023 at 6:30 PM
To join Fantasy Champions League Just setup a team here:
https://gaming.uefa.com/en/uclfantasy/
Then join Eds league with this code:
84VMUGYS03
Please use your blog name as your team name.
There is no H2H so it is league format only.
Ronway
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:22 PM
Comment #12We’ve played all the teams in the Premier League over the last season and finished in 4th place.
We’ve so far, this season, played Aston Villa, Manchester City (Champions of Europe) and Liverpool and, while not playing our best, have given them all a game!
I don’t think we have anything to fear in our Champions League group; we deserve to be there and will give them all something to think about for the future, if not for this season!
HWTL
CLINT FLICK
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:26 PM
Comment #13Cyprus
Ok mate, each to their (pack mentality/bought and paid for stance) own.
So…in the end, na!
I like to face what’s put in front of me…focus on what is, not what might have or could have been.
It’s a zen thing!
😉
Manc in the league cup
Ibizatoon
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:27 PM
Comment #14Another big game is upon us. We got a point at the Amex last season. So far we’ve matched our points from last seasons fixtures, will be interesting to see how we got on tomorrow. Both teams are very capable, let’s hope we turn up and give a performance (and come away with a result too).
Should be a good one.
Been thinking a lot about what a successful season would look like for us, for me, I think if we can maintain last seasons PL results (within reason), whilst also juggling CL (with no expectations of how far we will go) then that will be seen as a decent season. Establish ourselves as a CL qualification challenging team is probably more important to our overall progress, rather than cup runs (although I really want those too – but trying to think logically, rather than emotionally).
CLINT FLICK
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:29 PM
Comment #15…ooops!
Psg
Dortmund
Milan
In the CL.
Is what it is!
HTL
Ibizatoon
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:29 PM
Comment #16No point fearing anyone, in any of the competitions. We’re well ahead of schedule already and have shown we can give the established big clubs a run for the money – even when we’ve not been playing our best.
HWTL!
Davas
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:29 PM
Comment #17I wonder if the players are thinking “ahhh it’s the group of death” or ” wow, this is what i play football for, to play in the big conpetitions, against the big teams in the biggest stadiums around europe”
Hopefully it’ll be the latter 😀
Adamn_92
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:31 PM
Comment #18Some very strange transfers happening that i’ve only just seen.
Cole Palmer to Chelsea for £40m. Why on earth are Man City letting him go? He’s a great talent, young and counts as homegrown. Very surprising.
Also, Man City signing Matheus Nunes from Wolves for £53m. I haven’t seen Nunes do anything for Wolves other than show bad temperament in challenges? Also makes it seem like Man City sold Palmer to fund the move for Nunes.
I’m sure Pep knows what he’s doing but seems like very weird deals to me.
Ibizatoon
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:32 PM
Comment #19Davas…I imagine, a bit like with the fans, it’s probably a bit of both. Not an easy task, but excited at the prospect.
CLINT FLICK
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:34 PM
Comment #20Ibiza
Aye…just go for it in every game, regardless of whether it’s home or away, league or cup!
Exciting football, not shit scared of losing!
Ibizatoon
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:39 PM
Comment #21Clint…Reasonable expectation will come eventually, right now though, totally agree. Go have fun and show ’em what we can do.
Too much pressure is no good for this team at present imo, nor is it really needed. The club have no expectations of silverware this season (that I can tell).
I don’t want to say free pass, but the sentiment is in that ballpark for me. I’m ready to be entertained.
Davas
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:40 PM
Comment #22Ibiza
Yeah I can imagine that. Possibly a bit of a shock to start with but then the anticipation and excitement will build.
lesh
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:53 PM
Comment #23Yup, Group F’s a tough one but isn’t it the case that the clubs that don’t progress and finish third in their group, drop into the Europa League?
If that’s the case, and we end up third……. then why the gloom
Transfer Sage
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:56 PM
Comment #24As our style evolved over last season, we lost some control for the benefit of attacking. I don’t think we’re as good as the Liverpool team from 2019 (mainly because as much as I like Gordon and Miggy, they have nowhere near the same output as Mane and Salah) but we certainly have the intensity and style to match, and that has proven relatively successful in European football.
None of the games will be easy but we should be competitive in them all, with a decent chance of winning them.
PSG – are they playing as a team for once or will we be able to press them well as they are a set of individuals where we can force errors (also they could have moments of brilliance against us)
Dortmund – another team who play in transition a lot, we can match them for intensity and without some of the bigger players from recent years, we are definitely a match for them.
Milan – started the season well but again, a team in transition, doubted in Italy as they’ve brought a lot of players in from outside Serie A, so again, will they cope with our intensity?
So many questions to ask and can’t wait to see how it pans out.
CLINT FLICK
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:59 PM
Comment #25The players will be stoked & rught up for it!
The stalwarts will be loving the prospect of top teams to play…the kids get marinated in Euro ball!
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 1, 2023 at 12:59 PM
Comment #26I wish they’d sort the audio on the press conference, you can hardly hear the questions.
bettyswallocks
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:00 PM
Comment #27EH was categorical in stating , ” no more incomings unfortunately ” , so we get on with it now until January……
I have to say I love Eddie Howe and all he stands for and the professionalism he has brought to the club…..
However he could have shown a teeny weeny bit of emotion when asked if he would feel a tingle when the Champions League Anthem was played….
Despite Bruno and others saying they would feel the emotion and probably shed a tear during the anthem wor Eddie said he wouldn’t hear the music or be aware of it as he would be focusing on the team …… A bit stiff / robotic for me…
CLINT FLICK
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:01 PM
Comment #28We know what we’re up against…they don’t!
😀
We only have to come second!
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:01 PM
Comment #29Can’t see why Ashworth and Eales would be gutted it’s a fantastic draw.
!st, 2nd or 4th in the group would do me, rather we gave the Europa cup a miss.
Raj of Hailsley
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:02 PM
Comment #30I’d have thought our fan base would have learned from the SBR disgrace, the folly of suggesting a manager is not the right man after two negative results, I think anyone who even suggested he might be or should be replaced is a disgrace to our fan base and the club.
CLINT FLICK
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:03 PM
Comment #31Betty
Na mate!
Stone cold killer mentality!
😉
Bollox to anthems!
😀
Davas
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:05 PM
Comment #32Raj
Yeah, I agree about the audio. Very difficult to catch the questions in these things. I usually put the captions on but it comes up with some weird stuff sometimes 🙂
I went to a conference years ago and when an audience member asked a question a guy on the stage with a mic would repeat it so everyone could hear. Worked a treat.
Transfer Sage
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:08 PM
Comment #33Raj
I find it odd people have those doubts about Howe.
I understand the point that he will need to keep improving, as is the case with anyone, but from everything we’ve seen of him here and based on his previous work, he’s constantly evolving and changing things.
For all the joy he’s brought in the first 18 months of his time here, I’d be willing to let him take the odd step back to move forward. He’s earned that right with the brilliance of what we’ve achieved so far (by the way, not saying we have taken a step back, just I’d not quibble if we did).
magicmac54
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:08 PM
Comment #34Afternoon Folks
Haven`t been on here from that smash-and-grab freak result last week, with a fair wind and any semblance of luck we could easily have won that game by 3 or 4 goals!!! I knew the usual suspects would be throwing their toys out of the pram or trying to undermine Eddie Howe at every opportunity, and to think a small minority on this blog accuse Man Utd of having self entitled arrogant plastic fans, hypocrisy wouldn`t even come close HWTL.
lesh
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:09 PM
Comment #35NUFC get a tough group
Man Citeh get a reasonably easy one
And in the Europa Conference…
Brighton drawn in group with Ajax, Marseille and AEK Athens
And
Liverpool deawn with LASK, Union St-Gilloise and Toulouse
Which of Brighton and Liverpool have the tougher group and is it coincidence or favouritism.
lesh
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:16 PM
Comment #36Jail, Sage
Let’s just hope that fans give Eddie Howe to carry on developing. He’s no Pep but ffs, he’s only been managing a big club for a couple of seasons. He’s proved he has the potential to grow with the club and with support will do it and bring more success to NUFC.
As some fans seem to have the need to scapegoat certain players, let’s hope they leave Eddie Howe to get on with things without adding more pressure to that which he’s under already.
DrGloom
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:17 PM
Comment #37No reason to think we can’t win our home games and get a draw away from home – Dortmund and Milan are no better than ManU / Liverpool /Spurs in my opinion and PSG usually bottle ECL – could just as well get 1st or 2nd as 3rd or 4th – it’s all we wanted ..HOPE
DrGloom
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:17 PM
Comment #38Well said Magic
magicmac54
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:18 PM
Comment #39Lads anyone have a link for Eddie`s latest Bingo? But after watching Eddies presser i`m still none the wiser 😀 you really will have to be on your metal to hit the jackpot this week, that`s for sure HWTL.
CLINT FLICK
Sep 1, 2023 at 1:27 PM
Comment #40The only pressure Eddie feels is the pressure he puts on himself!
He’s said it, it’s obvious…
…and it’s the only way!
Get outta the kitchen, if ya can’t handle the heat!
😉