Player Ratings vs Blackburn

[BarclayBoy88]

We played a back 3 for most fo the second half, Martin played right back for 15 mins in second half???

Agree with Murphy looked excellent and hungry when he came on

At half time most of the people around me would have taken Tettey off and bought on O'Neill.  He was much better second half.

The first 10 minutes it was the whole team that hadn't woken up.  After that they created nothing 

We played a back three? I must have missed that as I saw Whittaker at LB, Turner and Bennett at CB and Martin at RB. Looked pretty orthodox to me and no-one around me thought we switched to a back three.

 

[splutcho]

Just throwing it out there, again, wasn't there, but I'm pretty sure at least somewhere would have reported it if we played a back three. 

In reality, Whittaker went to LB, Bennett and Turner CBs and Martin at RB.

 

[Canaryboy]

I love Martin, but he's a right-back.

^ This

 

[Paul Handscombe]

When Garido went off, we had a back 3 of Bennett Turner and Martin with Whittaker and Redmond more wing back

 

[BarclayBoy88]

When Garido went off, we had a back 3 of Bennett Turner and Martin with Whittaker and Redmond more wing back

I don't think so Paul. Whittaker was right in front of me and he was as deep as Turner Martin and Bennett and Redmond and Lafferty were still playing the same wide role they were playing in the first half.

 

[The Ghost of Michael Theo]

When Garido went off, we had a back 3 of Bennett Turner and Martin with Whittaker and Redmond more wing back

Sorry, but I don't think we did.

What I think happened was that Martin played Right-Back, but he sat back more, allowing Whittaker to play a more attacking role, and overlap down the left more. But defending, there was clearly a back 4.

I also think this worked really well. I think Whittaker has had two of his best games for Norwich the last 2 games.

 

[Paul Handscombe]

I sit at the top of the N&P and see the shape of the game and the way the team set out perfectly and I'm sorry but we did play a back 3 for  the last half hour.

 

[splutcho]

Well you are the only person that saw that. Including all of the Norwich based journo's and every other fan on both here and the pinkun.

 

[Surgeryman]

We played a back four second half as said above .

Tettey was superb last night and deserved MOM . He was all over the park and wanted the ball all the time. Absolutely fascinating how people see games so differently .

I thought Russell Martin was OK last night but he is much better at RB and got forward well second half. Not sure anyone is making him a scapegoat , just commenting on the fact he is not primarily a CB although he can cover there if needed.

I can understand the debate around Redmond but he has pace, trickery and worries defences. The end product is often lacking but with work and patience he will come good.

 

[The Ghost of Michael Theo]

I sit at the top of the N&P and see the shape of the game and the way the team set out perfectly and I'm sorry but we did play a back 3 for  the last half hour.

Sorry to call you out Paul, but you've kind of contradicted yourself here. This whole 'back 3' argument started when I disagreed with you on your opinion of Martin's performance.

All you Martin haters, he was immense didn't give Rhodes a sniff all night and he was taken off with 20 mins to go and had to be pulled out of Martins back pocket.

Odd observation, seeing as though Martin spent the 2nd half at right-back, and for the first 15mins, the Blackburn line was terrorizing Martin when we couldn't get out foot on the ball. I love Martin, but he's a right-back.

You then claimed that we played a back-3, and Martin was playing centre-back. But now, you're saying he played centre-back just for the last 30 mins of the 2nd half.

But Rhodes was substituted for the last 30mins. On 64 mins to be exact according to the match report.

Sorry mate, I'm just not seeing what you're seeing. Maybe you're a tactical master at reading positions in the Upper N&P (which ironically, is where I also sit),but I saw the way we played as completely different.

 

[Keckers]

Did everyone really think that Tettey was that good. His passing was awful as were his shots. His break up play and hustle was good but compared to Saturday he was awful.

Redmond is still useless and a crap decision maker, really would not be sad to see him go.

Ryan Bennett gives us something different from corners was a constant threat in second half and hit the bar with a great header.

All you Martin haters, he was immense didn't give Rhodes a sniff all night and he was taken off with 20 mins to go and had to be pulled out of Martins back pocket.

Johnson was great again as was Wes, he pulled the strings. Lafferty is a beast and becoming a cult hero already.

Grabban, yes he got two goals both were streaky as he needed two goes, made some good chances for himself but for me needs to stay central rather than pulling wide and needs to work just a little harder.

Take out the first 15 minutes and we pretty much dominated the rest of the game.

I got in at 1am just caught the last train from West Ham so not much work gonna get done today lol.

Now bring on the scum!!

Yes. Tettey was that good. Composed and solid. Good going forward. Linked well with everyone. The only poor passes were two over zealous ones. One to Whits that was far too hard and high. Other than that, he did everything right. Apart from one really wayward shot, he came close to scoring at least one other time.
Martin is not a CB. He was out of position numerous times last night and Turner had to step in and cover him. He is weak in the air and frankly, looks a little lost in that position. However, even if he was as good as you think, the reality is that we should be playing bigger, stronger, more solid CBs in this league. Ones who pose an aerial threat at corners and are not going to be beaten in the air in their own box.

Redmond worked hard all night. Had a rough deal from the lino from where I was sitting. Decisions not bad but crossing in the second half could have been better at times.

Grabban and the rest if the front players switched positions frequently and all worked hard for each other.

The thing I liked the most though was the very clear team spirit that was evident during he warm up. Good banter and lots of laughing with each other while working hard. Reminded me of the last Championship campaign's togetherness.

 

[Josh]

Did everyone really think that Tettey was that good.  His passing was awful as were his shots.  His break up play and hustle was good but compared to Saturday he was awful.

We played a back 3 for most fo the second half, Martin played right back for 15 mins in second half???

Try sitting facing the pitch, I find it helps.

 

[Robert Brompton]

I too would not have chosen Tettey as MOTM but did think that he had an excellent game.  Personally I would have chosen Wes but all that really matters is that the whole team played well after the first 15 minutes.

I think that the contrasting of Martin's performances in the first and second halves rather misses the point that the whole team was slow out of the blocks in the early stages and so Martin was put under enormous pressure. I was interested to see that it was Martin who often came up against Gestede who is an absolute beast in the air. In the second part of the first half as the balance shifted firmly towards us I thought Martin did very well.  In the second half the whole team was significantly on top and so Martin was put under far less pressure defensively but was very effective going forward.  Having said all that I do prefer Martin at full-back as I think that Ryan Bennett offers a lot to the team and needs to be accommodated.

 

[kirku]

Well that was awkward.