Norwich City v West Brom (Home) Saturday 24th October.

[eatonparkboy]

How much does he owe a player who he didn't sign and who has hardly featured for him?

Don't the players who have already delivered for him deserve a chance to redeem themselves?

He did give them redemption. After the Southampton game. But out of nine games, there have been two absolute stinkers and against Leicester we were all at seas at times.

Maybe owe was the wrong word. But surely squad players are told to stick with it and they will get their chance. And Bennett might have been first choice but for injury last season. And just because he didn't sign him is not a reason not to pick him.

 

[GJP]

I didn't say it was a reason not to pick him. I was just making the point that he doesn't "owe" him.

Had Bennett been first choice last season and been alongside Russell Martin at CB we'd probably still be in the Champs.

 

[dj161]

I think they'll be less changes than people expect, and I wouldn't be surprised if the entire back 5 retain their places, altough at the same time I think Wisdom will get a game here today

Ruddy

Wisdom Martin Bassong Olsson

Tettey Howson

Redmond Hoolahan Brady

Mbokani

thats my guess, although I could see Jarvis starting in place of either Olsson or Brady

 

[Yellow Fever]

That'd be my line-up as well dj. 

 

[Canaryboy]

I have a sneaky feeling Howson will be dropped for O'Neil or Vadis today, his performances recently have been sub-par. 

 

[GJP]

I am getting like a broken record on this but Howson's position/role keeps getting chopped and changed so, while he hasn't been at his best, he hasn't been played in his best position.

 

[Canaryboy]

I am getting like a broken record on this but Howson's position/role keeps getting chopped and changed so, while he hasn't been at his best, he hasn't been played in his best position.

I'd agree that being moved around from right to centre etc probably doesn't help him find his form, but he and was one of the crapper players last weekend, I think he needs to be rotated out for a game or two, and if we don't see what VOO can do now that he's fit and ready then we never will.

That's a Belgian international who could be like a new signing if he can come in and make some sort of impact. 

Howson has played every league game this season, no harm in him sitting one or two out, I rate him but just think he's not anywhere near his best at the moment. 

 

[dj161]

so looks like Martin at RB, Bennett in the center, and Brady at LB, with Jarvis on the left wing, what do I know, more changes than I expeceted, still think Wisdom deserves a chance at some point, but I guess Neil sees Martin as undroppable for some reason

bench looks strong though

SUBS: Rudd (GK),Whittaker, Grabban, Jerome, Dorrans, Olsson, O'Neil

 

[GJP]

Doesn't say much for Andre Wisdom.

 

[Canaryboy]

I'm wrong about Howson then.

Looking forward to seeing if Martin can still do the business at right back.

I think it would be in all of our best interests if he is still a marginally better right back than Whittaker and can consider postponing his centre back dream for a while, freeing up a nice space for a quality centre back in January whilst avoiding the issue of having to drop the team captain in mid-season.

 

[Canaryboy]

0-1 

I hope Alex Neil doesn't panic and make rash changes again. 

 

[GJP]

Looking forward to seeing if Martin can still do the business at right back.

He was absolutely terrible.

 

[Baggie192]

Listening to your Phone-in. I've got to say  people are being a little knee jerk. I Dislike Pulis's management style it's soul destroying. We hoped for the palace style and got stoke's. You'll be ok 10 games 9pts continue like that and you're safe. Credit to Neil, people are worried that you haven't played the "Big Sides" Who says you can't get a result?   

 

[gerryinromania]

So Whittaker was the scape-goat. Well impressed with Martin in his position,not. had a superb game, with the other undroppable, Howson. also impressed with Redmond and Hoolahan...I know that I wasn't at the game, but surely my tv was not completely wrong. Some very poor performances

 

[ZLF]

I do think that whittaker martin bassong Brady is probably the best back 4 we have.  It just that outside Brady none are good enough in the prem.  As such whichever 4 appear between now and Jan is going to struggle

Martin was diabolical on the right,  with Bennett causing us more problems than their strikers in the first half,  he improved a little in the second but not noticeably better than martin in that role. And without the latter's understanding with seb. 

Howson just looked tired and should have been taken off.  He needs a rest, which with Mulumbu back he may get.

The biggest mystery for me  is where the high energy high pressing game has gone.   All our success came with that.   Suddenly we are lethargic when we don't have the ball and ponderous with it.   To change that I would replace mbokani with Jerome,  who put their defence under more pressure ttoday, and return to defending from the front.  

 

[GJP]

The biggest mystery for me  is where the high energy high pressing game has gone.   

Too many changes and now they've lost their confidence and rhythm.

 

[Din]

Pathetic again really. First 20 minutes or so wasn't bad but we after that we just looked so lacklustre throughout. Only real positive is that Ryan Bennett looked relatively comfortable today, and if him and Bassong can form a good partnership then hopefully in a few games time we'll begin to see the benefits of that.

I get that Neil wants to keep his captain in the side, however he just isn't a good enough defender for this level either at centre back, or at right back. I don't understand why Wisdom was bought if there's 2 players ahead of him in the pecking order. He surely will get a chance sooner rather than later as he can't be much worse than our other 2 right back options. Apart from Ryan Bennett I thought the others that had a good game were Jarvis, who looked dangerous throughout, and Tettey, who was rightfully man of the match.

We just lacked a player today who was able to pick a dangerous pass, which would usually be Dorrans role. I can't remember any of our midfielders playing a ball in behind the West Brom defence. I thought after a while Dorrans should've been bought on for Howson, who was plain poor again, and neither Hoolahan or Redmond were really on it. 

West Brom did as expected really, and did it well. Soaked up the pressure, nicked a goal, and just shut it down once they did. Typical Pulis team really. Not nice to watch but well organised and got their rewards for it. Rondon looks a very good player as well.

Manchester City away next week as well, oh how wonderful.

 

[GJP]

Third game (and defeat) running where AN hasn't known how to change things. 

We all knew how WBA would play and yet we had no answer to it.

Also doesn't sit right with me the way Whitts was dropped and Martin moved to right back. Had Martin played RB at Newcastle last week and we'd lost 6-2 would he have been dropped today? Can't see it.

 

[dj161]

Also doesn't sit right with me the way Whitts was dropped and Martin moved to right back. Had Martin played RB at Newcastle last week and we'd lost 6-2 would he have been dropped today? Can't see it.

I agree completely with this, the fact that both full backs were dropped, but both center backs remained in the side just seems wrong to me, its not like Whitts and Olsson were the only poor players in defence last weekend, I know that we're pretty short for numbers at the back, and some changes needed to be made, but just seemed like Martin has gotten a free pass for being captain, I've always rated him more as a full back than a center half, but he looked poor out there today, whether thats just because he hasnt really played there in over a year I dont know, but surely Wisdom needs to be given a go now, problem is it will likely be away to man city where he gets his go, and I cant see any of our defenders coming out of that game smelling of roses

one more thing, can someone please explain to me how our fans chanting 'how *bleep* must you be, you've only scored one' is meant to motivate our players?

 

[GJP]

There was absolutely nothing from today to suggest Martin is a better right back than Whittaker. Allowed WBA to get crosses in as they pleased, lost 2 or 3 headers and was slow to come back after going forward.

People say Whittaker struggles with pace but it should have been quite clear today that Whittaker gets up and down that wing better than Martin can.

Poor decision from the manager. He's done wrong by Whittaker.