Norwich City vs Sheffield Utd(home) Saturday 20th January.

[Andy]

First half our game plan seemed to be lump it to Oliveira who looked ill at ease at anything coming his way. Pretty much lost every aerial battle. Big improvement when Wes and Vrancic came on & I thought we were good for a point. Unfortunately too many of our key players not at their best, it happens.

Looking forward to Brentford and our new striker(s)?

 

[Andy]

Daryl Sutch on the commentary tried to say it was 50/50 between Tettey and Gunn because Gunn should have been higher up the pitch. Ludicrous comment from him I think, because although he may well have been too close to his goal line... he certainly shouldn't have been in the f'in right back position which is where the ball was played.

Tettey not the only one guilty of some terrible passes today though, there were a couple from him but also a bad one from Zimmermann and a bad one from Murphy. Hoolahan also held on to the ball far too long a couple of times, but he did have a good go at trying to make something happen so can't be too hard on him.

As for the team performance as a whole... think we'd look like a completely different team if we had a dangerous striker with good movement, we've resorted to getting Lewis or Klose in the six yard box as a potential goal source... just because Oliviera is so out of form at the minute.

Could really do with the type of striker who just tries to get on the end of everything, like a 28 year old Grant Holt.

At the time I thought Angus could have done a lot better but I suppose if he’d come charging out there was a danger of getting sent off. Tough call to make in a split second.

 

[Din]

To be fair I've just seen the highlights and I actually don't think there's any way Gunn could've got to the ball even if his starting position was better. I thought at the time Tettey just sold him short but the pass isn't actually even really in Gunn's direction. So yeah I think that's Tettey's fault that.

 

[morty]

To be fair I've just seen the highlights and I actually don't think there's any way Gunn could've got to the ball even if his starting position was better. I thought at the time Tettey just sold him short but the pass isn't actually even really in Gunn's direction. So yeah I think that's Tettey's fault that.

Haha just watched the highlights too, and couldn't agree more! I was struggling to understand how anyone could have apportioned any blame at all to Angus.

 

[morty]

First half our game plan seemed to be lump it to Oliveira who looked ill at ease at anything coming his way. Pretty much lost every aerial battle. Big improvement when Wes and Vrancic came on & I thought we were good for a point. Unfortunately too many of our key players not at their best, it happens.

Looking forward to Brentford and our new striker(s)?

Yeah me too, managed to get tickets on the terrace before they sold out. I'm expecting a lot better at Brentford, because we are better than we were today, and may have a few more bodies too, please God let one be a striker, we really need another option.

 

[Fenway Frank]

What did we make of Ivo today ? Without wanting to pick on one player I can’t help but feel we’ve conceded a lot of goals recently down his side, it’s like opposing teams see him as a weak link. Going forward he’s great but defensively he isn’t is he? He can be left quite exposed but I think the gap between him and Hanley is too big at times.

 

[morty]

What did we make of Ivo today ? Without wanting to pick on one player I can’t help but feel we’ve conceded a lot of goals recently down his side, it’s like opposing teams see him as a weak link. Going forward he’s great but defensively he isn’t is he? He can be left quite exposed but I think the gap between him and Hanley is too big at times.

I thought he looked very lacklustre, Farke mentioned in the presser about how much he had played but was ready for the game. I think he lied.

 

[GJP]

I don't think Ivo has been playing that great for a while. But he's got a huge job on that right side and the guy has put his all in to it.

 

[hogesar]

Maddison had a poor game.

Oliviera was awful again. I know some love to defend him but he won his first header on around 55 minutes. Others have noticed as that got a sarcastic applause.

I get he isnt in form at the moment but the amount of times he just stood on the end of their box - jesus he made it so easy for the Sheffield defence. Doesnt even do the basic things at the moment.

To be fair to him its not his fault he is our only option - its pretty unacceptable for a club in the Championship to only have one senior striker in the squad. Is any other championship team in that situation? I doubt it.

We looked considerably better with Wes and Vrancic on the pitch but movement was limited from others.

 

[hogesar]

I don't think Ivo has been playing that great for a while. But he's got a huge job on that right side and the guy has put his all in to it.

Again, we have one senior right back and not even really anyone who can 'do a job' on that side. And he does put the miles in - reality is he needs a rest and we cant offer that at the moment.

 

[Din]

Yeah Ivo could really just do with a bit of a break. He'd played every minute of every game from the 4-0 defeat at Millwall up until when he was forced off against Chelsea on Wednesday. That's 26 consecutive games of 90+ minutes including mid-week games, cup games, in a position that demands a lot of hard work, not to mention the fact that for most of that time we've been playing without a natural right winger meaning he's had far more load than even an average right back in the Championship. He really needs 2 or 3 games off just to recoup his energy.

To be fair the arrival of a natural right winger will help as it means he'll have someone to take half his load, but if we had a capable back-up I imagine he would've been thrown in at some point in the last few games. A shame that highly rated right back from Den Haag (won't attempt to spell his name without looking it up) looks like he's on his way to Benfica when it looked at one point like he was in the bag for us. The priority this window has to be attacking players but we do also really need a back-up right back even if it's just someone who can do a job on loan or something. If Pinto gets injured then suddenly that is our main problem area.

 

[Canaryboy]

Again, we have one senior right back and not even really anyone who can 'do a job' on that side. And he does put the miles in - reality is he needs a rest and we cant offer that at the moment.

Yep, some players being run into the ground this season. To have any chance next season we need 2 players in every position.

Same happened with Jerome, played every 90+ minutes in every game for ages including 5 games in 11 days and then took a bashing from fans for not being effective... plus intensive training every day.

Its one thing training every day, but another thing entirely not being able to give some players a rest when they need one. Right back and striker do seem to be the problem positions, but also arguably the flanks too now that we've let Wildschut go.... could do with a wide player.

 

[GJP]

Maddison had a poor game.

Oliviera was awful again. I know some love to defend him but he won his first header on around 55 minutes. Others have noticed as that got a sarcastic applause.

I get he isnt in form at the moment but the amount of times he just stood on the end of their box - jesus he made it so easy for the Sheffield defence. Doesnt even do the basic things at the moment.

To be fair to him its not his fault he is our only option - its pretty unacceptable for a club in the Championship to only have one senior striker in the squad. Is any other championship team in that situation? I doubt it.

We looked considerably better with Wes and Vrancic on the pitch but movement was limited from others.

I think Oliveira won a flick on in the first half tbf but that's only a minor thing.

Yes, Wes introduced some much needed urgency. And Vrancic gives you creativity from deeper midfield which is very much lacking when you have any two of Reed/Tettey/Trybull.

 

[hogesar]

You have to take into account Farke wants a close knit squad so I'm not expecting to see 3 or 4 players who could play at right back. But you need SOME sort of cover regardless.

 

[Din]

Maddison had a poor game.

Oliviera was awful again. I know some love to defend him but he won his first header on around 55 minutes. Others have noticed as that got a sarcastic applause.

I get he isnt in form at the moment but the amount of times he just stood on the end of their box - jesus he made it so easy for the Sheffield defence. Doesnt even do the basic things at the moment.

To be fair to him its not his fault he is our only option - its pretty unacceptable for a club in the Championship to only have one senior striker in the squad. Is any other championship team in that situation? I doubt it.

We looked considerably better with Wes and Vrancic on the pitch but movement was limited from others.

To be fair Oliveira had very poor service and was clearly tired after playing 2 hours in the week, but I agree he wasn't good enough today. You can forgive him for not winning headers against their centre backs because he's not a Grant Holt type striker who's going to bully defenders in the air, but as you say he didn't even make it hard for them. Half the time he jumped far too early so was already on his way back down when the ball went his way. Might be reading too much into it but he just looked like was jumping because as a striker he sort of has to.

It's a shame because remember at the start of the season when Farke wasn't playing him and fans were chanting his name all game to try and get him on. He was a bit of a cult hero at that point and when given the chance he delivered. I don't know whether it's because of the injury he had or if he had his head turned in the summer but it's at the point now where I'd love for a club like Wolves or Derby to come in with a decent offer so we can sell and get someone in who's not only more suited to the style but actually wants to be here and will put some effort in.

 

[GJP]

What bugs me is that after going 1-0 down Sheff Utd get a corner and we have every single man back defending, leaving nothing forward. Yet when we get a corner we leave 3 men back to mark 1 of theirs. That is just not right. And it's why I have worries about this "philosophy" going forward.

 

[Andy]

Yep, some players being run into the ground this season. To have any chance next season we need 2 players in every position.

Same happened with Jerome, played every 90+ minutes in every game for ages including 5 games in 11 days and then took a bashing from fans for not being effective... plus intensive training every day.

Its one thing training every day, but another thing entirely not being able to give some players a rest when they need one. Right back and striker do seem to be the problem positions, but also arguably the flanks too now that we've let Wildschut go.... could do with a wide player.

Not sure I agree. The “two in each position” approach seems logical but can cause grief with those not involved on regular basis. We are definitely light up front though.

 

[hogesar]

I think Oliveira won a flick on in the first half tbf but that's only a minor thing.

Yes, Wes introduced some much needed urgency. And Vrancic gives you creativity from deeper midfield which is very much lacking when you have any two of Reed/Tettey/Trybull.

I actually had Oliviera dowm t

I think Oliveira won a flick on in the first half tbf but that's only a minor thing.

Yes, Wes introduced some much needed urgency. And Vrancic gives you creativity from deeper midfield which is very much lacking when you have any two of Reed/Tettey/Trybull.

To be fair, believe it or not I had money on Oliviera to score today. After 10 minutes I knew that wasnt going to happen.

He isnt helping himself IMO but usually if youre performing that badly as a striker (and not scoring or assisting either) then someone else takes your place. Like I said, fans around me started to notice more than usual and if results dont go well hes going to start getting a lot of flack. He has had a bit of a status before which has saved him but Jerome putting in those performance levels would have people frothing at the mouth.

I dont think hes particularly good in the air anyway but hes doing a very poor job at keeping a hold of balls played into him along the deck. His passes arent great and that includes unnecessary short ones going stray which is a lack of concentration. Also on the occasions Murphy beats his full back he is never busting a gut to get in the area.

 

[GJP]

I wouldn't say I feel sorry for him but I can see why he's f*cked off. He wanted to go and the club turned down good money for him. Yet they've sold other people. So he obviously feels hard done by.

I mean clearly there are worse problems in life but it's also what man management is all about. Oliveira is clearly a talented player and he has shown it for us but we now find ourselves in a position where we can't get the best out of him.

 

[hogesar]

Thats fair GJP, although id wonder what his 6 odd loan clubs would say.