Norwich City vs Birmingham City (Away) Saturday 22nd November

[morty]

The beginning of a new era! Hopefully a more successful one, after 4 days training with the squad I don't think it is unreasonable to expect a resounding win Bought a ticket for this earlier in the week, kinda glad I did now. Trains were a pain in the arse, so braving club cabbage!

I shouldn't imagine the team will look much different, though not sure if a few are on the way back from injury?

Kenny Mclean not available (Hangover)

 

[morty]

No real injury news from the presser.

 

[Fenway Frank]

I've still got feeling we'll get beat, but I think there will be a better performance

 

[Fenway Frank]

I also think there may be a surprise in the team, Elliott Myles ?

 

[GJP]

Lol.

 

[Fenway Frank]

We're in trouble, Tuesday night is massive

 

[morty]

Well. That was shit.

 

[morty]

Go on, treat yourself.

 

[Fimbo]

PC has a lot of work to do. Brum looked good but we won't stop goals if we can't be first to the ball more often. Goal 1 I think it is Darling who is too slow off the mark to intercept the cross. Goal 3 I got the impression Duffy made a half hearted attempt to grab the player, and then just couldn't get himself moving. In both cases poor awareness and speed of thought cost us. Having Oxford at home could be what we need

 

[morty]

I'm not really sure where we go from here. But with two (theoretically) winnable home games this week, if we aren't sitting on 15 points by this time next Sunday then I think we really are right in the shit. I refuse to believe that we can be this bad all season, especially with a transfer window included.

Injuries are playing their part again, I think we have about one fit full back? Lets face it, that is the only reason we are playing 3 CB's, if we had a fit left back then you don't see Duffy on the pitch. Put Wright at DM and Kenny at LB? What has happened to Wright anyway?

Yesterday we were just second best, especially in midfield, you can see that their heads have absolutely gone, as soon as we go behind, we're done.

I opted for a second pint at half time yesterday and didn't even get back out till about 65. I was already back in the concourse, heading out, when the final whistle went.

 

[GJP]

Put Wright at DM and Kenny at LB? What has happened to Wright anyway?

Yes, bit of a strange one that. I don't think he was playing that well before he got sent off/lost his place. But he also wasn't playing badly enough to be left out like he has been.

He does also put a good ball into the box and when you've got limited attacking options it's surprising he hasn't been used more for his deliveries.

But... let Phil get into it a bit more. He'll suss out what the best way forward is. And hopefully he will have an idea of some additions we can make in January.

 

[Fenway Frank]

Clement would have had the players in this morning for some "feedback" , wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of changes Tuesday

 

[Fenway Frank]

Just to try and make everyone feel a bit better, Sky went to the reporter at Portman road yesterday and she said she'd had stomach bugs more entertaining than the game she was watching

 

[ManofNorfolk1805]

I'm not really sure where we go from here. But with two (theoretically) winnable home games this week, if we aren't sitting on 15 points by this time next Sunday then I think we really are right in the shit. I refuse to believe that we can be this bad all season, especially with a transfer window included.

Injuries are playing their part again, I think we have about one fit full back? Lets face it, that is the only reason we are playing 3 CB's, if we had a fit left back then you don't see Duffy on the pitch. Put Wright at DM and Kenny at LB? What has happened to Wright anyway?

Yesterday we were just second best, especially in midfield, you can see that their heads have absolutely gone, as soon as we go behind, we're done.

I opted for a second pint at half time yesterday and didn't even get back out till about 65. I was already back in the concourse, heading out, when the final whistle went.

Excuse me? Last week wasn't it criticism of playing 4-4-2? It might be a good idea if any full backs we might have are told that defending and preventing the opposition getting crosses into our box as often as they do is their main priority.The reason we have been playing 3 centre backs is because it was Manning's idee fixe (for that read obsession) that he could make it work. He was wrong and in that league it will always be wrong with the personnel we have.

 

[morty]

Excuse me? Last week wasn't it criticism of playing 4-4-2? It might be a good idea if any full backs we might have are told that defending and preventing the opposition getting crosses into our box as often as they do is their main priority.The reason we have been playing 3 centre backs is because it was Manning's idee fixe (for that read obsession) that he could make it work. He was wrong and in that league it will always be wrong with the personnel we have.

It was a general point about some people's football knowledge and outdated ideas. 4 at the back does not equate to 4-4-2. We have played a variation of 4-5-1 that switches to 4-3-3 in attack for many years.

I stand with my point that Manning played 3 CB's mainly because of injuries to full backs.

 

[Sonyc]

I think we will win tomorrow but looking at all our fixtures my best estimate gives us another 32 or 33 points so about 42 points at the end of the season. If we assume Sheff Wed are gone would 42 be enough (two worse teams)? Just my realistic and honest assesment. I might be being pessimistic.

January looks a very difficult set of games (where I just couldn't see us getting a point) and perhaps if Clement can get the team firing and we managed some results in that month then it will be a different story.

I guess we will see in the next month what is likely to happen. We definitely have to win the next two home games (which I had factored in my 33 points).

 

[morty]

I think we will win tomorrow but looking at all our fixtures my best estimate gives us another 32 or 33 points so about 42 points at the end of the season. If we assume Sheff Wed are gone would 42 be enough (two worse teams)? Just my realistic and honest assesment. I might be being pessimistic.

January looks a very difficult set of games (where I just couldn't see us getting a point) and perhaps if Clement can get the team firing and we managed some results in that month then it will be a different story.

I guess we will see in the next month what is likely to happen. We definitely have to win the next two home games (which I had factored in my 33 points).

I'm hoping that a bit of spending in January will help matters.

We aren't this bad, and I think a win or two could sort things right out.

 

[ManofNorfolk1805]

It was a general point about some people's football knowledge and outdated ideas. 4 at the back does not equate to 4-4-2. We have played a variation of 4-5-1 that switches to 4-3-3 in attack for many years.

I stand with my point that Manning played 3 CB's mainly because of injuries to full backs.

I don't care how you visualise what is in front of a back four, and competent fluidity will obviously always be an advantage in keeping opponents guessing,
( I was a huge fan of the 1970s Dutch national team) BUT the patent weakness since the start of the season has been how easily the opposition has been able to get in behind our wing backs and get crosses into our box. The advantage of four in midfield should be that the wide players block off in front of the full backs.

 

[Fenway Frank]

Just to try and make everyone feel a bit better, Sky went to the reporter at Portman road yesterday and she said she'd had stomach bugs more entertaining than the game she was watching

Forgot to say, she also described Duffy as "running in treacle"

 

[morty]

Forgot to say, she also described Duffy as "running in treacle"

But he has leadership qualities Frank