Gordon Nails The Problem

What should have been a great win against Leverkusen was turned into a good, but ultimately disappointing, draw as yet again a late goal was conceded.

It's now 9 goals conceded in the last 10 minutes of all competitions.

Another galling fact is that we have been in front in all of our last five away games and only won one. This late goal issue is turning into a pandemic more costly than Covid.

I know it's ifs and buts - but even if half of those late goals could have been avoided we would have been in the top4 of the Prem and in a guaranteed play off CL place.

As it is we are 12th in the Prem and now need a win or two draws from our last two CL games to at least make the play offs. We are giving ourselves mountains to climb.

For all the fact that we are yet to hit consistent top form - we were so poor in the first half against Leverkusen - these late cave in's have turned what could have been a great season so far into one of hand wringing frustration and at times despair.

Consistency is the word repeatedly used by Anthony Gordon

Gordon justified Eddie's decision to play him in his favourite LW position and he had an outstanding second half scoring again from the spot and providing Miley's assist.

One thing we know from Gordon's interviews is that he is an intelligent and highly ambitious guy. What he had to say after last night's game nailed it...

"It all comes back to mentality," Gordon told TNT Sports. "We have to hold out in these games because that is what top teams do."

"We're not doing it well enough," Gordon said. "Again it comes back to mentality. We need to be stronger, we need to be better.

"Ultimately, it's consistency. We need to be a consistent team in every phase of the game."

Mentality and consistency combined with quality is the key to success in work and life.

Gordon is dead right that the top teams 'consistently' achieve all three standards.

This season, worryingly, our most consistent achievement is conceding late goals.

Eddie Howe faces his biggest challenge as NUFC manager

The higher you climb the harder it gets - and Eddie has taken us from relegation fodder to a first domestic cup win in 70 years and two CL qualifications.

But football is a ruthless business and he now has the hard yards to climb - can he prove to PIF that he has the skills and qualities to take us to the next level .

PIF will want consistent top 4 and CL qualification and for NUFC to be genuine challengers for the title and trophies. They didn't buy us for any other reason.

Repeatedly making the same mistakes is not acceptable and you can bet that PIF are as aware of the late goal issue as we fans are. They will be wanting it solved, and quick.

I'm not saying Eddie Howe's job is under immediate threat, or that I don't think he is the man to take us to the next level... but for the first time he has something big to prove.

By the end of January when we play PSG we need to be in the race for a CL place in the Prem and into at least this seasons play offs. If not, it could start to get hot for Eddie.

What do you think?

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