Norwich City v Aston Villa (home) Monday 28th December 2015

[KeiranShikari]

When Wes plays well - we play well. Has been like that for years.  

 

[morty]

When Wes plays well - we play well. Has been like that for years.  

And when he plays badly its like playing with ten men...

 

[morty]

It wasn't our best performance, nor was it Wes' best performance, yet he's probably the only player that could have played that ball so perfectly to Mbokani at the end like he did. 

It was a nervous, tense affair where we couldn't really get our passing game going due to a combination of giving it away and consistent petty fouling from Villa.

Also, Morty, I don't think you'll find Wes divides much opinion anymore! Pretty much every pundit and ex-footballer who's commented on NCFC mentions how important he is to us, as do the other current players, whilst noting he isn't ideal for all away games this season. Don't think anyone can really criticise him when he's now got more premier league assists for us than any other player.

There are still people who insist he should start every game....

 

[Personal Trainer]

Strangely, watching from the Lower Barclay I thought we deserved to win but thought we weren't very good yet watching the Sky one hour Match Choice I thought some of our passing was brilliant.

Howson produced some amazing touches and Mbokani worried the Villa defence all afternoon. The defence looked reasonably tight albeit against some poor attack play and Rudd's response times are so much quicker than we have been used to recently.

Watching the Mbokani goal and Wes's assist was like watching in slow motion. Immense accuracy.

 

[splutcho]

It wasn't our best performance, nor was it Wes' best performance, yet he's probably the only player that could have played that ball so perfectly to Mbokani at the end like he did. 

I love Wes, don't get me wrong, but I feel like any half capable footballer could and should have put that ball in. Clark (I think) going walkabout meant Mbokani had the freedom of Norfolk to head in. Anything played in that area would have been a goal.

 

[hogesar]

And when he plays badly its like playing with ten men...

But he played badly yesterday - yet was involved in our first and key in our second.

So reverting to your other post - I can see why others insist he starts every game. Unfortunately we're not good enough around the rest of the pitch to cater for him in every game, personally. It's a bit too much of a risk. But should he play more than he shouldn't? Without question.

 

[Killiecanary]

It's horses for courses really isn't it?

Wes is always likely to be the first one to be deemed surplus to requirements for certain games because he needs certain things to be able to play to his most effective.  I agree with Morty, when it isn't his day he is a luxury we can't really afford, but when he is on song and gets on the ball in a bit of space in the final third (and crucially has people to play with him in that final third) he is our most effective attacking threat.  If it is a game where we are likely to be starved of possession and struggle to get players around him (because even Wes can't pass the ball to himself!) then he is always going to be sacrificed for someone with more pace and power

 

[morty]

But he played badly yesterday - yet was involved in our first and key in our second.

So reverting to your other post - I can see why others insist he starts every game. Unfortunately we're not good enough around the rest of the pitch to cater for him in every game, personally. It's a bit too much of a risk. But should he play more than he shouldn't? Without question.

He played badly yesterday, but he has played a lot worse, I have seen games where you wouldn't even know he is on the pitch. So you're saying its other players faults that he doesn't start more games?

 

[Killiecanary]

It's horses for courses really isn't it?

Wes is always likely to be the first one to be deemed surplus to requirements for certain games because he needs certain things to be able to play to his most effective.  I agree with Morty, when it isn't his day he is a luxury we can't really afford, but when he is on song and gets on the ball in a bit of space in the final third (and crucially has people to play with him in that final third) he is our most effective attacking threat.  If it is a game where we are likely to be starved of possession and struggle to get players around him (because even Wes can't pass the ball to himself!) then he is always going to be sacrificed for someone with more pace and power

and those games which are unlikely to be right for Wes are very likely to be better fitted to Naismith if he does come.  That is an exciting thought!  

 

[hogesar]

He played badly yesterday, but he has played a lot worse, I have seen games where you wouldn't even know he is on the pitch. So you're saying its other players faults that he doesn't start more games?

Oh no, I'm not blaming other players. But even though Wes works hard his physicality and the fact he needs to be high up the pitch to have the desired effect means you have to be able to combat that with a strong midfield. If we had a better midfield than most of the teams in this league then Hoolahan could probably start every game.

 

[eatonparkboy]

Oh no, I'm not blaming other players. But even though Wes works hard his physicality and the fact he needs to be high up the pitch to have the desired effect means you have to be able to combat that with a strong midfield. If we had a better midfield than most of the teams in this league then Hoolahan could probably start every game.

I think that is spot on. Wes has to play in the opponents half and if he loses it there is little damage done. But he is to me a player who alters bog standard pass it for possessions sake build up. One swivel, one flick and he can cause chaos.

And of course he is the biggest luxury when not on the ball. I expect him to get shoved backwards against many sides who play possession football so you could argue, if AN is becoming more tactical, that he must not even start those types of game.

And I'm not sure that when he comes on a sub whether he has enough time to alter things. Let's face it, when Wes normally comes on it is an admission that either the manager has got his tactics wrong or that one more players is off form that game.