Firstly, it's no great secret I'm not a great fan of NUFC, particularly after living up here for 16 years.
But they are currently achieving everything we hoped for after we seemingly peaked in 2020. Pushing on from top 7, challenging the "big six" (we'd already semi-regularly beaten the lot bar Liverpool)
Appreciate on paper they've got squillions to spend but Almiron and Joelinton looked to be a laughable legacy from the Ashley years and are now integral to that side. Willock the same, went quiet after being signed permanently under Ashley but doing well again now.
Of the Saudi era signings, Pope was an astute choice, Guimarães looks a great buy. Wilson injured frequently and the megabucks buy Isak hasn't featured much due to injury.
On paper, Howe didn't look a particularly inspiring appointment (though I guess anything is better than Steve Bruce or Rafa Benitez). Yet their form from the tail end of last season to the present day can't be written off as a fluke or luck. I don't care for their timewasting either but that's come back to bite them on the backside and they're still flying high.
Whereas in the same time, we've lost two managers, and seemingly lost our way. I don't know if there's a true "sliding doors" moment we can look back on yet but considering both teams finished in similar league table places since 2020, it hurts to see how well they're doing at challenging the status quo this season.
But they are currently achieving everything we hoped for after we seemingly peaked in 2020. Pushing on from top 7, challenging the "big six" (we'd already semi-regularly beaten the lot bar Liverpool)
Appreciate on paper they've got squillions to spend but Almiron and Joelinton looked to be a laughable legacy from the Ashley years and are now integral to that side. Willock the same, went quiet after being signed permanently under Ashley but doing well again now.
Of the Saudi era signings, Pope was an astute choice, Guimarães looks a great buy. Wilson injured frequently and the megabucks buy Isak hasn't featured much due to injury.
On paper, Howe didn't look a particularly inspiring appointment (though I guess anything is better than Steve Bruce or Rafa Benitez). Yet their form from the tail end of last season to the present day can't be written off as a fluke or luck. I don't care for their timewasting either but that's come back to bite them on the backside and they're still flying high.
Whereas in the same time, we've lost two managers, and seemingly lost our way. I don't know if there's a true "sliding doors" moment we can look back on yet but considering both teams finished in similar league table places since 2020, it hurts to see how well they're doing at challenging the status quo this season.
