Norwich v Derby County (away) 20th December 2014

[GazzaTCC]

Here's a thing I've been wrestling with since I got back from Derby.

There's lots of comments about the three substitutions being positive. However, after they were made, the structure and composure, previously a feature of our midfield play, just disappeared. It almost became a case of throwing players forward randomly and hoping for the best.

Harsh, maybe, given the end result, but a more composed opposition would have punished us on the counter.

Anyway, that said, a point was the least we deserved and we could have easily taken all three with Jerome's late effort.

 

[morty]

Penalty looks pretty clear cut to me, as does disallowing our goal, Jerome can be considered to be interfering with play by standing right in front of the keeper. Two good goals. I do wish we still owned Chris Martin though, he's the new Grant Holt!

Certainly in the pie eating department, I'd agree!

 

[Din]

Also, just my opinion, but I really don't want to see Redmond in a free role. He's too inexperienced for it, and the main complaint with him in his time here has been his decision making. He doesn't need the choice of what to do when picking it up between the midfield and the defence, he needs to be put on the right under instruction to beat his man and cross the ball. That's his job. He's getting better at it too...

I agree, I think he's at his best on the right hand, 1 on 1 with the opposition full back. He can then use his skill to get to the byline and swing a cross in, and hope that Jerome/Hooper manage to read it and get there. He could perhaps in time adapt to the free role, just like Hoolahan did despite the fact that he was originally a winger when we bought him, but in the short term we're definitely better off as a team with him out on the right.

Plus, if Redmond is going to have to compete with Wes for the free role, then he's gonna be out of the side a lot. Hoolahan is 10 times better than any other player we have that could play in that position.

 

[crabbycanary]

There was definitely a period after the subs, where we struggled to maintain our dominance on the ball, but once we settled, we were back to our previous performance level, and against one of the strongest teams in the Division, on their patch, we looked great.

I have also advocated a free role for Redmond, but on reflection, I agree that he first needs to dominate, and master, the wing role, and wish that part of that would be, when he gets the chance, to really fly at a full back, with pace, as opposed to literally stand still, and wait for the defender to get settled. Defenders hate pace, more than anything.

 

[It's Character Forming]

True about Redders but he is getting better at receiving the ball when he's stationary and in a confined space

I know Whitts struggles against pace but most of the FBs gainst Redders this season are struggling

 

[Yellow Fever]

I also think Redmond is best on the right, especially when he cuts in to the by-line and then cuts it back, as he did for Jerome's chance. There might be a time when he's moved into the free role when we're chasing a game and his pace can be added on the break up with Jerome and Grabban.

 

[eatonparkboy]

I was working Saturday and although the game was on the big screen I could only spend 5 minutes at a time watching, so I can't offer too many comments.

What is impressing me more than anything at the moment is the way we are winning more 50-50 balls than our opponents. Just yesterday Derby gained possession but Hooper tackled back, turned Derby around and the move ended up with Jerome's goal.

It isn't always about the stunning headers or wonderful shots and slide rule passes. Sometimes its doing things off the ball and the sum of those parts leads to something.

And I agree with the ref's decisions but in Cuellar's defence, I don't think he saw Martin and was committed to putting his foot through the ball and Martin appeared in the way but a penalty nonetheless. And I don't understand how NA can say Jerome wasn't in the line of sight. He lifted his foot to let it roll under!

 

[Canaryboy]

Also, just my opinion, but I really don't want to see Redmond in a free role. He's too inexperienced for it

Agreed Splutcho. Sometimes holds on to the ball for a second too long. Hoolahan also sometimes does this but still maintains some unpredictability, plus that weighted through ball to Grabban against Huddersfield was delicious. The place for Redmond is out wide, especially now that he is creating goals out wide.

I've also always liked the understanding that Hoolahan has with Hooper, although we hardly ever used them together last season under Hughton, in the second half of the season when he was going with RVW we were crying out for Hoolahan & Hooper, they work well together.  

 

[Yellow Fever]

Having watched other team's games lately, I'm impressed with how much better our passing and general play is than that of even the top teams we're up against. A good run now could make all the difference.