Norwich City vs Burton Albion (home) Tuesday 12th September.

[morty]

I'm trying to be patient, and usually am more patient than most, but we should be better than what was dished up last night. The biggest thing I really didnt like, was the apparent lack "of passion, I didnt see much energy when closing down or effort made to get bodies in the box when we attacked.......and omg what is all that "from me to you, back to you, back to me" sideways fannying about our defence keeps doing?   

You could temper that with "The opposition can't score if they don't have the ball" though.

And re passion, I think we are trying to develop a more controlled game, where rather than gung ho (though there is a place for it) we set the tempo. Of course it has to be effective though.

Farke needs to learn that sometimes you have to go route one, if its what is needed to win the game.

 

[hogesar]

The 'passion' stuff isn't an issue.

What was a major issue was our tempo last night. We were never going to create much playing slow, sideways passes and each player taking 3 or 4 touches before releasing it.

Was actually painful to watch. Don't think I've been that bored watching a football match since, well, Newcastle at home under Hughton, I think.

 

[morty]

The 'passion' stuff isn't an issue.

What was a major issue was our tempo last night. We were never going to create much playing slow, sideways passes and each player taking 3 or 4 touches before releasing it.

Was actually painful to watch. Don't think I've been that bored watching a football match since, well, Newcastle at home under Hughton, I think.

Hopefully Farke is learning that this league is maybe more complex than he first considered, and that just one style of play isn't going to cut it. I didn't see the game, but it sounds like we lacked a real cutting edge going forward, and that the game needed changing before he actually did.

 

[Fenway Frank]

That's pretty much spot on Morty, we moved the ball too slowly for large parts of the game. Farke was getting on to the players but one of the problems was Burton slowing the game down at every opportunity. We needed to be far better in the final third. Having said that I thought Steipermann in the second half was probably as good as I've seen him although I still can't work out what position he's playing ?

 

[hogesar]

Hopefully Farke is learning that this league is maybe more complex than he first considered, and that just one style of play isn't going to cut it. I didn't see the game, but it sounds like we lacked a real cutting edge going forward, and that the game needed changing before he actually did.

Yeah, I mean Farke's preferred style would probably work against teams that come at us (not that it has so far this season, but at least the logic is there). But Burton probably couldn't believe their luck when 10 minutes in the two players who'd had most of the ball was Klose and Zimmerman

 

[morty]

Yeah, I mean Farke's preferred style would probably work against teams that come at us (not that it has so far this season, but at least the logic is there). But Burton probably couldn't believe their luck when 10 minutes in the two players who'd had most of the ball was Klose and Zimmerman

Its a strange one, its patently obvious that after their rinsing the other day, they would come here and park the bus. I would have thought the obvious thing, without disrespecting them too much would be to go at them, and move the ball with pace and intent. Obviously its easy on reflection but perhaps Jerome to bully them a little too?

 

[Dubai Mark]

Somebody please convince me that what we have seen so far is better than what AN dished up?

 

[GJP]

Somebody please convince me that what we have seen so far is better than what AN dished up?

Nope.

This time last year I didn't think we were going anywhere under AN and I don't see us being anywhere near top 6 under Farke.

The only difference is that it's early days for Farke and he can show he has learnt from mistakes. I also find Farke more likeable, AN was a bit of a c*nt, imo.

 

[Din]

Yeah poor performance to be honest. Haven't got much to add that hasn't been said but considering who our opposition were we didn't move the ball with anything like enough intent, particularly first half. I don't mind the defence knocking it around between them as long as eventually we do try and move the ball into dangerous positions, but when we did look to go forwards we just seemed completely devoid of ideas. Part of that I think is because we started with 2 holding midfield players. Easy to say in hindsight but I think we'd have been better off doing what we did earlier in the season, where we have Reed sitting deeper and then 4 midfield players in front of him. 

At half-time I was actually thinking how we could do with a Howson or Dorrans. Someone who would be prepared to pick the ball up from deep and drive at Burton's midfield. Thing is though, in Maddison we do have a player who is willing to do that, so I was disappointed we didn't get him on a lot earlier. Farke in general left his substitutions far too late. 

Whilst we didn't really play well enough to actually merit a win, against what has to be said a very poor Burton side, we actually got in some good positions a few times. But our quality in the final 3rd was as bad as I've ever seen it. Josh really should've buried the one on one he had, and in general his decision-making all game was poor, although not just singling him out most of our attacking players were the same. Only real positive from this game was Steipermann, who was excellent at left-back. Obviously can't get too excited about one game against a pretty poor side, but if he can continue to improve then he may well have answered our left back problems. 

We have a really difficult run of games now between now and Halloween. Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Reading, and the scum away, and Bristol City, Hull, Derby and Wolves at home. As it stands, whilst I'm still very much prepared to be patient and still back Farke 100%, it's hard to see us picking up many points from that run seeing how we've played in the last four games. 

 

[Fenway Frank]

Someone behind me gave it the old "get it forward" line last night. I looked at the scoreboard and we'd been playing for two minutes ! 

 

[Canaryboy]

I really hope there is more to come from Mario Vrancic because he's looking bang average at the minute. 

 

[GJP]

Only real positive from this game was Steipermann, who was excellent at left-back. Obviously can't get too excited about one game against a pretty poor side, but if he can continue to improve then he may well have answered our left back problems. 

He was excellent. It's a long way back for Husband.

But the way Stiepermann played you can tell he's got a lot to offer. Left-back may not do him justice.

 

[Fenway Frank]

I really hope there is more to come from Mario Vrancic because he's looking bang average at the minute. 

yeah, you can't help but expect a bit more from him, the game seems to pass him by a fair bit. His passing is good but that's not enough in the championship 

 

[hogesar]

Yep, agree that Stiepermann looks a good player. Very good technically but has the physical presence to go alongside too. 

As for us? This season we look as obvious midtable as possible. Under AN at the start of last season we were getting wins but it always felt there was another gear (which never really came). I wouldnt say this squad looks like it has another gear.

However i do think Farke has shown a willingness to adapt and unless we are in risk of relegation id like him to stay.

 

[Din]

He was excellent. It's a long way back for Husband.

But the way Stiepermann played you can tell he's got a lot to offer. Left-back may not do him justice.

Yeah that's a good point. We were crying out for someone in defensive midfield who could drive with the ball and try and force the ball into an attacking position, he looks as if he could've done that. He did do it well yesterday but there's only so much he could do from left back.

 

[Canaryboy]

Left wing back until Jamal Lewis comes back, then move inside perhaps? 

 

[morty]

Left wing back until Jamal Lewis comes back, then move inside perhaps? 

It must be so frustrating for Farke, I watched Jamal in the pre season games and he was fantastic, so good getting forward, like a left sided Ivo Pinto. Farke likely had it in his head for a back three with Jamal and Ivo as wing backs, and his plan has been ruined.

 

[ZLF]

It was an odd game.  We were in control but didnt look like scoring but looked even less likely to lose.    Being sat next to the away dug out even when Burton were attacking and near our pen box they were more concerned at not losing possession and defending,  which summed up their approach.    Even though he bored us to death, ultimately, & inspite of some woeful attacking performances,  we dominated the game,  didnt look like conceding and failed to take our chances to get the win.

 
Wes Vrancic Murphy and Nelson were shocking in the first half.   All I can say about nelson is if Cameron had performed like that...   Anyway - we were better second half in an attacking sense,  but far from good.  We had the chances to win and made some openings which were wasted by selfish rather than team play.  Wes improved a lot, vrancic created a couple of openings &  murphy became more direct and finally we started using the decent steipermann,  who was in the same acres of space he had in the second half but not passed too.    

But it wasnt the fluent attacking play we were served last year.  We did only need to start with 1 of tettey or trybull (tettey by far the more impresssive of the two) and either reed or maddision should  have started deep.   Likewise that change was obvious after about 15 mins,  let alone 60.    

However I think that is the rub.   This squad has persistent neglected its defensive duties from midfield forward,  to the extent we probably DO need 2 CDM for now.   The attacking midfielders on sat crunched and won 21 tackles on sat.  Just the 1,  from Wes,  on Tuesday.  Where was that gumption??  I know possession was different but even so - that is a stark difference in attitude.

Steipermann was a positive - but so was the whole back 4/6.    Personally I do think a wing back system would work best for us;  play three from Klose, Hanley, Zimmermann and Franke (all bar Hanley are already familar with a back three) with Steipermann (then lewis) and Pinto as wingbacks is probably our future.   But that needs time to ingrain,  time the current fan expectations wont allow.  If we can get some defensive stability ingrained then I would hope to see a more thrustful attacking approach - no longer conceding 4 each away day was the door that needed closing;  

A solid defensive performance on Sat at a highly confident Sheff Utd rather than the result a measure of progress more than anything else.  

 

[morty]

It makes me wonder if Wes would even be getting a game if Pritchard was fit, what could have been, eh?

I'm not afraid to be critical of Wes, an amazing talent on his day, but all too often excused when he has an average game. But it does make me wonder if he is one of the old guard who isn't too interested in buying into what Farke is trying to do here. Wes is at his most comfortable when he is at the centre of things, and the whole team is there to support him.

 

[Canaryboy]

Not trying to be pedantic, but I can remember two good tackles from Wes in the second half and a couple more times where he'd intercepted passes by closing players down. 

But he doesn't really have the stamina to constantly press the opposition or chase lost causes, he's got to preserve his energy. 

I actually think that this will be his last season here to be honest and if it is then we should probably tell him that early on because he'll want to go out with a bang and it will give him a rocking testimonial if it doubles up as a goodbye game.

It is probably the right time, and feels inevitable due to his likely wages.