Norwich v Augsburg

[Dubai Mark]

So, if we are nowhere near EPL standard, what does that make our opposition today?...........a team that finished I think fifth in the Bundesliga last season. 

At the end of the day, all clubs, unless its a mini tournament with some pride at stake, will treat these pre season matches as a a practice session and if they win then its a bonus.

This was clearly an excellent run out and against quality opposition, so job done and with a bonus of a win too.

 

[Din]

I didn't think Bassong looked that unfit really, he looked like Bassong. As Beaus mentioned he has his couple of farts as par but looked okay to me. Should have scored from his through ball too.

I agree, I thought it was typical Seb. Certainly disagree that he's clumsy on the ball too.

He was better in the 2nd half, but on the whole he looked pretty unfit to me, and certainly more careless on the ball. I think he's an excellent centre back, but he's risky in possession at the best of times, but he was even more so today. Gave it away cheaply a fair few times, and nearly gifted them a goal when he went to pass it back to Russell Martin and ended up lobbing Martin and nearly sending the Augsburg lad through on goal. 

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

How on earth does Ruddy get beaten from that distance? It was hardly Roberto Carlos

Good little moment from Toffolo 2:56

BJ looks like he needs to shift some extra timber. Though my other half says horizontal stripes make you look fat!

Good goal from Mulumbu - good movement, touch and awareness. Great work from Wes as well for the assist. Their post goal embrace showed that they're exactly the same height though which surprised me

Good move for the winner, though think in the league the keeper would have saved that.

Wes looked lively from the highlights and Toffolo looks like he's earning the right to fill in for Olsson. Maybe the decision to release Garrido was made because the club felt Toffolo was ready

 

[GJP]

How easily is BJ beaten on about 50 secs?

For all his good work that still happens a lot with him.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

How easily is BJ beaten on about 50 secs?

For all his good work that still happens a lot with him.

Hard to tell from a highlights reel but he looks overweight and sluggish - and yes, far too easily beaten

 

[KeiranShikari]

Bradley Johnson has never exactly been a fluid footballer.   

 

[eatonparkboy]

It was a pre season friendly for goodness sake. Nothing to risk a pulled hamstring for. From 14+ minutes of highlights it appeard to me that everyone from both teams was getting beaten quite easily at times. No one will risk it.

Obviously the Bradley doubters are still eager to moan.

 

[Yellow Fever]

And still vote him POTS nevertheless! 

 

[Indy_Bones]

Obviously the Bradley doubters are still eager to moan.

I've often been very critical of Johnson (and rightly so at times I feel), yet I don't see how ANYONE can criticise his form and performances last season and he was an integral part of our succesful promotion.

He works MUCH better on the left instead of a more centralised role, and if he were to continue his form from last season into this, then I doubt that Brady (or any other left sided player we might sign) will be able to oust him from his starting XI position.

Let's face it, if we could get a version of Johnson with better overall passing, technique and quality - he wouldn't be playing for us, he'd be at the likes of Man Utd or Chelsea...

 

[KeiranShikari]

We kind of got one in Mulumbu.

 

[Yellow Fever]

We kind of got one in Mulumbu.

I think Mulumbu could be a huge player for us this season. He and Dorrans have certainly strenthened the midfield.

 

[Wiz]

Perhaps the 3rd strip will confuse the opposition.............it sure as hell does me! :wacko:

 

[eatonparkboy]

AN says he was pleased with Mulumbu and particularly his partnership with Tettey, and he says "There may be games when we have to potentially play the two of them together". So one of them may not be a starter. And we are no clearer on starting line ups.

 

[Din]

Let's face it, if we could get a version of Johnson with better overall passing, technique and quality - he wouldn't be playing for us, he'd be at the likes of Man Utd or Chelsea...

We kind of got one in Mulumbu.

To be fair whilst the technical side of Mulumbu's game, such as his passing and ball control is better than Johnson's, there's no way Mulumbu will be smashing the ball into the top corner from 30 yards out, and he's also not going to be troubling opposition centre backs in the air. Both are things that Johnson does very well, and was practically the whole reason he was so successful last season. Johnson only scored 2 less goals last season than Mulumbu has scored in his whole decade long career. They're 2 completely different players really.

It's yet to be seen as to whether Johnson can score goals at this level as he did last season, however it's practically guaranteed that he'll get a fair few more than Mulumbu.

 

[KeiranShikari]

I guess Mulumbu is our ''like Johnson, but better'' from any time before last season. 

Will be interesting to see what Johnson can do this season.