Norwich City vs Middlesbrough (Away) Saturday 12th September

[morty]

Not really much between us in the form table, they have had a slightly erratic start to the season much the same as us, they have drawn a few games more.

A tough test obviously but we should take heart from the Sheff U game, also I doubt Boro will set out with a low block at home. I think I would like to see Kvistgaarden up front again, he works hard, and plays the lone striker role well. But Toure scores goals for fun and Makama can rough up a defence (though probably not fit enough for a start yet) Thats quite the dilemma!

Lets all take time to remember this classic moment.

 

[morty]

Touré, Musaba, Slimane and Fisher back in

 

[morty]

Well, what do you make of that?

 

[morty]

Okay, I'll answer my own question

Firstly, let me say, from the get go, that I have never scapegoated Kenny Mclean. Every time he has been dropped from the team we have, without fail, looked worse.

But...

The midfield just isn't working, and I can't say for certain why. There are various theories I can throw out, but I do not have the technical football analysis skills to tell you which is correct. Mattsson has not looked his best in some games, is too much being asked of him because Kenny is off the pace, possibly because he plays every single minute of every single game? He gave the ball away a lot today. Are the wide players contributing enough when play breaks down? Is the gap between the midfield pair and the number 10 too big, are we too stretched? There is a reason our defence has racked up so many yellow cards and that is that they are being overloaded way too easily. Kenny plays at his best when he is almost a sweeper, playing a quarterback role, screening the defence, then raking passes out wide, he doesn't seem to be doing that any more.

I don't think we can blitzkrieg this league in the same way we did under Farke, the game has moved on since then and just outscoring teams is not an option.

Is big Phil tinkering too much?

Regarding todays game, I thought Vlad had a stinker, and oddly so did McConville, but is that a symptom of our slightly dysfunctional midfield. I thought Makama was excellent when he came on, and I really like the look of Wright at number 10.

Big Phil has some work to do, and I think his first job should be to find a way of putting a team out without Kenny.

 

[Sonyc]

Okay, I'll answer my own question

Firstly, let me say, from the get go, that I have never scapegoated Kenny Mclean. Every time he has been dropped from the team we have, without fail, looked worse.

But...

The midfield just isn't working, and I can't say for certain why. There are various theories I can throw out, but I do not have the technical football analysis skills to tell you which is correct. Mattsson has not looked his best in some games, is too much being asked of him because Kenny is off the pace, possibly because he plays every single minute of every single game? He gave the ball away a lot today. Are the wide players contributing enough when play breaks down? Is the gap between the midfield pair and the number 10 too big, are we too stretched? There is a reason our defence has racked up so many yellow cards and that is that they are being overloaded way too easily. Kenny plays at his best when he is almost a sweeper, playing a quarterback role, screening the defence, then raking passes out wide, he doesn't seem to be doing that any more.

I don't think we can blitzkrieg this league in the same way we did under Farke, the game has moved on since then and just outscoring teams is not an option.

Is big Phil tinkering too much?

Regarding todays game, I thought Vlad had a stinker, and oddly so did McConville, but is that a symptom of our slightly dysfunctional midfield. I thought Makama was excellent when he came on, and I really like the look of Wright at number 10.

Big Phil has some work to do, and I think his first job should be to find a way of putting a team out without Kenny.

I don't know what to make of it being honest and I've said before that I've no idea whether we will win a match or lose beforehand. We seem to play ok and lose, play averagely and win. Some players have decent games only for them to play badly the next.

I agree with Clement that we should have more points. Today, easily the one. I don't see a relegation team at all but not a top 6 team. All very middling, inconsistent.

Probably too much tinkering with starting line ups. I much prefer a solid 11 from 13 always starting. I understand his point about managing time and acknowledge his expertise and the data enough to accept it. But I don't like it and I don't think it helps the team.

We clearly have talent in the squad....

I like McLean, he often makes things happen. Yet, he wouldn't have been first in my team sheet even last season (and he won POTS). I prefer different kinds of midfielders and I find his play is 6/10 most times and not the 8+ I think you need in a team. I think Knapper hasn't bought well enough in that area. Field was fine as a fill-in last year but we needed better.

In attack we look to have real depth. I don't mind our defenders and see the current pairing positively. Yet young players especially will have their off days.

We will score goals I think this season but I now wonder whether we will ever control a match. Because I don't think we have the players. Mattsson is struggling and hasn't reached his form from last year.

We have talent in Maghoma, Brooks and Musaba and Diallo. But again that central area looks light. Vlad had a poor game today also. I like his character but for me the jury is still out. Yet, he remains in credit (just).

Overall, I am reserving judgement til the end of October but at the minute we look a 10th to 16th kind of side. And that's where we are. Perhaps we will click soon.

Thoroughly depressing result in the circumstances and I am annoyed it's ruined my Saturday really. But then I think it really isn't worth the misery...no point getting angry about it and maybe we will go on and put it right against Bolton. Sheff Utd and Birmingham were relative highs and Boro today was disappointing at the end. Not the end of the world eh?

 

[morty]

Go on, treat yourself...