Norwich vs Southampton (Away) 30th August 2015

[Moosheep]

Poor game. On that performance I think that we would have lost even if Whitaker hadn't been sent off. Let's hope it is just a team having a bad day.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

The most upsetting thing about this shambles of a game is not the dropped points, not the end of Alex Neil's unbeaten away record, but having to wonder whether we've got any transfer targets watching who may now decide that they won't touch us with a barge-pole. Especially when a couple of our apparent targets are linked with Southampton.

But many of us know full well that if we continue with this Whitaker-Martin partnership we are going to have days when one of them is a liability. Not that the rest of our back five have been much better today. I'm wondering with Declan Rudd deserves his shot now too, it not just his shaky moments and sometimes questionable positioning, but also a slight loss of passion I think..... I'm sure he used to be better at organising his defence. If only we could put Mark Bunn's heart into John Ruddy's big frame. 

Ruddy did ultimately have a good game. But there was a point during the game where I thought 'I dont think John Ruddy is as good as we think he is'

 

[KeiranShikari]

If Whittaker wasn't sent off we'd have still had Hoolahan on. It wouldn't have been as one dimensional going forward. Can't really play 441 hoofball.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

If Whittaker wasn't sent off we'd have still had Hoolahan on. It wouldn't have been as one dimensional going forward. Can't really play 441 hoofball.

Going down to 10 men often feels like double punishment doesnt it, as its often a defender who goes, meaning you end up losing two of your first eleven to compensate

 

[GJP]

Bad day at the office. 

But also further underlines the need for reinforcements. Bit worrying that we haven't got in another good CB and at least one more striker - though that appears to be on the cards.

 

[Canaryboy]

Ruddy did ultimately have a good game. But there was a point during the game where I thought 'I dont think John Ruddy is as good as we think he is'

It has been a long time since he looked like an England international, 

 

[splutcho]

That wasn't pretty. Hope we get a couple in before Tuesday, to give them a kick up the arse as much as anything.

 

[Din]

To be honest I thought Wisdom looked decent when he came on. Should've been marking Tadic more tightly for their second, but on the whole I didn't think he was too bad at all. Ruddy and Bassong were our 2 best players, Redmond was pretty ineffective, although to be fair Southampton clearly identified him as the main threat and had him tightly marked throughout. Hoolahan also wasn't involved for the half an hour he was on. Jerome worked hard but was feeding off scraps for most of the game.

Whittaker's stupidity cost us, but even before that we clearly lacked quality. Good thing we have transfer deadline day coming up, should re-shift the focus off of what a bad day at the office this was.

 

[GJP]

The start of this season has reminded me of the start of last in that we've got one central defender carrying the other.

Last season it was Turner doing the carrying. Now it's Bassong. 

 

[derehamyella]

I can remember people saying a very little while ago we had enough in our squad, if we didn't buy.  I could not agree then, nothing has changed.  Only a few games in and we looked far from the side of a couple of games ago.   We never seem to have one player having an off day it seems to be the whole darn lot of them.   Time for some hard work in this break, well for those that are staying here.  even if the new striker signs on loan he will be on international duty.

I have a feeling fingers toes and a lot more things will be crossed for no injuries 

 

[ZLF]

Ruddy played well and kept us in it before we went down to 10 and bassong highlighted the difference between a prem cb and a champs one compared to martin.    Wisdom did look solid and will be good to see him against bournemouth;   him playing well enough to keep his place once whittakers suspension is finished is the problem we want neil to have.

Whittaker was poor today;  as always struggled against pace and was rightly sent off.   However it was not representative of his performance levels generally so will get another chance.

The rest of the team played without energy;  howson hitting the 55th minute completing just 38% of passes was indicative of a team that looked like it had over slept and simply wasnt ready.   I wouldnt want to be in their shoes with AN today - but we wont collectively play that poorly again.

Can only agree that the game only reinforced what we already knew,  we need more options up front (jeromes header & natural finisher hoopers woeful efforts magnified this) and a true partner for bassong from a out of position,  playing onside,  ball watching russ martin.   He is looking like BJ did a couple of seasons ago,  like the dog in the park watching the football move around him. 

 

[Canaryboy]

I can remember people saying a very little while ago we had enough in our squad, if we didn't buy.  I could not agree then, nothing has changed.  

Most people haven't been saying that though. I've been saying all summer that I think centre back and left wing were our priority positions. Brady will become that left winger, but centre back is an area that we've needed to address for several years now. We failed to sign one under Hughton, signed three last season who weren't good enough, and it is still the major weak point in our squad. 

I did say that I thought we could make do with what we have up front, but the Grabban situation changes that somewhat, if he isn't 100% committed then he isn't going to do a good enough job. Shame though because when we went down to 10 men it was crying out for a motivated Grabban, who is by far the most mobile of our strikers when he gets going.

 

[GJP]

I was a bit disappointed none of our lads thought to give Tadic a kick. He needed it.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

That wasn't pretty. Hope we get a couple in before Tuesday, to give them a kick up the arse as much as anything.

The sad thing is there werent many signs o Southampton doing that before the sending off. Whittaker made it easy for them at a time when theyre finding things difficult. We'll never know what might have been but it was a fairly even game until then.

Once again we're left discussing individuals (Palace - Simon Hooper, Stoke - Jack Butland, Southampton - Steven Whittaker). Frustrating

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

like the dog in the park watching the football move around him. 

:lol:

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Most people haven't been saying that though. I've been saying all summer that I think centre back and left wing were our priority positions. Brady will become that left winger, but centre back is an area that we've needed to address for several years now. We failed to sign one under Hughton, signed three last season who weren't good enough, and it is still the major weak point in our squad. 

I did say that I thought we could make do with what we have up front, but the Grabban situation changes that somewhat, if he isn't 100% committed then he isn't going to do a good enough job. Shame though because when we went down to 10 men it was crying out for a motivated Grabban, who is by far the most mobile of our strikers when he gets going.

With a bit of luck with Olsson coming back for the U21s this week and now a 2 week break we will see Olsson at left back and Brady left wing before too long. Only concern there is that in the absence of Brady on the left wing we've been playing Dorrans and Howson in the middle and largely its been solid. Dorrans has done well so far this season, his contribution has been more under the radar but he's been the glue a lot of the time. If Brady, Wes and Redmond are all going to play together, and we still want Tettey being the anchor man this raises serious questions about the centre of midfield, especially with Mulumbu coming back at some point

 

[derehamyella]

sorry lads but read posts with that in, not saying on here.   but did read it ...

 

[Boyerboy]

sorry lads but read posts with that in, not saying on here.   but did read it ...

Quite right.  Indeed you did. Me for one and I'm not alone.

What  I said was that I wanted to strengthen the squad but if we did not then we have enough to survive. I still believe that. 

There has been an incredible amount of catastrophising about yesterday's performance. Things went wrong but this is not the earth shaking disaster some have portrayed   To read Twitter you'd think we were relegated already and God knows what is happening on the Nest of Vipers. I haven't looked. 

This is is the same squad which gave Palace and Stoke a hard game.  We never do well at Southampton and they were always going to give someone a slap soon.  This is a setback but not terminal.

going with what we've got is not an option because the Club will buy but if we did, I think we will be ok.

 

[Wiz]

What shocked me was there seemed to be no plan B after the sending off.

 

[derehamyella]

I wasn't referring to anyone, personally on here or mentioned other forums .. but thanks for  that...   now with tongue in cheek and big grin   apologies accepted