Okay, so now we have to do it the hard way.

I was very encouraged by that performance, despite the result, and I reckon it'll stand us in very good stead between now and the end of January.

I never had any impression that we were going to fold.

Booby now has to emphasise the good points of th performance, and if he does the job properly, he must stress that we need not be scared of anybody, even away from SJP.

Roll on the arse.

-- Anonymous, December 12, 2001

Answers

Booby ?

Bliddy hell.

Maybe not such a sensible head, Freudian slip, guys, honest. Must be the beer talkin'.

'Magnificent in defeat' does not console me one iotum.

-- Anonymous, December 12, 2001

On reflection - with my sensible head on - the game could have gone either way. The result seemed grossly unfair on us, but principally because the goal was scored in ET, and at a time when we had been dominating. In truth, they missed several chances in the 1st half.

What can we take from it? We competed effectively, were always in with a shout, created a few decent chances, and were the stronger team in the 2nd half.

Being critical now, why didn't we win it?

* I never felt we really got control in m/f - in fact neither side did, which was why it was so open. This is rather worrying as at the weekend the mackems central m/f dominated against the same team.

* I felt we gave the ball away too easily - something that I feel is a general flaw in our make-up, and one that needs to be improved if we are to become a successful team.

* I still feel our defensive marking is less than adequate, and we gave the Chelsea front men too much room last night. Fortunately they didn't do too much with the space - until extra time! As they did last night, our defenders can play well individually, but still don't function entirely effectively as a unit - they tend to go to sleep at times.

* we missed two excellent chances to kill the game - Bellamy in the 1st half, and O'Brien in the 2nd.

* Chelsea's defence played really well.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2001

It didn't have to be that sensible a head Clarky. :-))

I think maybe part of the reason we keep giving the ball away is that we haven't properly got to grips yet with the ball-from-man-to-man-at- 100mph a la Keegan, but I think I prefer that to the hoofing and hoping style that loses us the ball 90% of the time.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2001

Well after nearly 50 years of supporting NUFC except for a couple of abberations in 1955 and 1969, it has been false dawns and disappoinments nearly all the way. I've had enough; it's detrimental to my health and I can't take any more. I'm giving it all up. Had enough stress caused by the team. That's the finish. Well certainly until tomorrow when I put in my team pick selection!

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2001

Agreed PB, and we were actually trying to retain possession last night which is a step in the right direction.

Another point I could have made is that we still haven't got the confidence to ping our passes to each other at pace, a la KK's teams. I think this is really important in creating that little extra time for the man receiving possession, and is a feature of the very best teams.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2001

What also would go a long way towards getting the corners of my gob to turn up a bit more would be that guy who can spot the gaps in the melee that puts somebody in wide open space.

Trouble is, we'd also need people who can sense when a move will prompt that telling pass.

I supppose what I'm trying to get across is that the players need to understand each other's style more, and hopefully that will come when we can put the opposition under more pressure than they're putting us.

That's not asking for much, is it ?

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2001

For me, the big positive was that we pretty much matched Chelsea who are considered much more realistic bets for a CL spot. We have a long way to go and may even miss out on a spot in Europe but we are making good progress and should really start making an impact our coming seasons.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2001

Aye, it's always next season, next season, we're getting there. I'm fed up with "valiant in defeat" and would like to try "ungracious in victory" for a change. Instead of "getting there" what's wrong with arriving?

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2001

Because now progress is perceptible. We got thrashed by Chelsea away last season. We got knocked out of the Worthington Cup by Birmingham City last season.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2001

Surely actually winning something is better than perceiving that we are closer to winning something or is it all in the foreplay? Don't fret, I'm always like this after a defeat, especially one in the last minute.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2001

You must have the same script writer I have Cliff. About the same time served, and like you, it never gets any easier.

If anything it's harder to bear, because you get more and more aware of your own mortality, which begs the question 'In my lifetime ? I should be so lucky'.

But let's not get morbid so close to the brilliant performance coming up on Saturday. :-))

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2001

...... because we've got no choice, Cliff. We either rationalise yet another painful defeat, and take comfort in the fact that we seem to be moving forward again, or we go support Man U or Liverpool.

Free choice.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2001

Thanks for the comfort guys. I should be well used to grinning and bearing it by now. Like Clarky says "we have no choice" Its wor team and there's no escape from it. Deep Sigh!

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2001

Yes, but have we talked you down Cliff ?

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2001

Guess so. I'll always support them no matter how much the pain at times. It's my destiny, but like you say, at my age time is running out. Never mind a good tonking of Blackburn tomorrow and I'll be right as rain.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2001