Norwich vs Bournemouth (Home) 30th August 2014

[Watling the Gnome]

So look, on the train incident thing - I understand that if I had spent money on train tickets and match tickets, and then when en route to the game I found out I couldn't travel because somebody jumped in front of a train, I would be disappointed and, frankly, pretty pissed off.  And I understand that because I haven't done that, it's pretty easy for me to say your post was insensitive.  I am not feeling raw and annoyed like you are, I hadn't spent the money and I hadn't booked time to travel, made arrangements etc etc.  I get that you've had a sh*tty day and I am sorry about that.  It's not fair.  But somewhere there is a family of people who are having to deal with the fact that one of their own is dead, and has done it to themselves by throwing themselves in front of a train, and how desperate is that? -  and that is a dreadful situation for all of them to have to deal with.  It's ruined your day, and many other people's days, I get that, I'm sorry it has, but whoever it was really wasn't trying to p*ss you off when whatever it was in their lives made them jump in front of a train.

Hey, at least you didn't miss a 5-0 win.

 

[Din]

Thought it was a fair result in the end. With the exception of the goal, and Johnson's free-kick that was saved well by Camp I don't think we ever really threatened the Bournemouth goal. Thought we were ok in the first half, and were at least were in control of the game, but giving away the goal just before half time really set us back, and in the second half we didn't seem to have any creativity and looked out of ideas going forward. Bournemouth looked much more comfortable, despite never really having an effort on our goal.

I was actually watching out back line for Bournemouth's goal, just before the ball was given to Stanislas. Russell Martin was initially marking Wilson, but as the ball moved out to the right hand side, Martin shuffled over and told Whittaker to mark him. Whittaker though rather than stand goal-side of Wilson, went round him and stood in front of him, meaning that when the ball came in Wilson was effectively unmarked, allowing him to just tap the ball in.

I don't think Redmond should've been taken off tbh. Especially as it meant that Hoolahan was moved out to the wing. If you're not going to play Hoolahan through the middle then there's no point in playing him. He wasn't having a great game anyway, and he was even less effective when moved out to the right. Although once again Redmond wasn't as good as he was during the majority of last season, he at least offered us pace down that side, and as we saw with his delivery into Grabban, he does sometimes get it right with his balls into the box. Whereas whenever Hoolahan got the ball he would come inside rather than put the ball in the area, and towards the end he wasn't even playing on the wing. I also would've taken off Grabban rather than Lafferty, and stuck Lafferty up front. Grabban didn't really do anything with the exception of his goal, and I would've liked to have seen Lafferty given a chance up top, which he hasn't been given so far in his Norwich career. I was very impressed with Josh Murphy when he came on. Wasn't afraid to take on the defender, and just try and do the same thing all the time. He would sometimes come inside, and he would sometimes go down the line, and can use either foot, which is a great asset, and I can see him being more and more involved throughout the season.

Overall though, that's 10 points from 5 games, so an average of 2 points a game. Which if we continue that average then we'll finish on 92 points, which will easily see us promoted. When you consider as well, that we have played some of the better teams in the league then I think we can say we've started well. I think once the transfer window shuts, we will begin to see more consistency. 

 

[Killiecanary]

I was there. One thing to make clear I think - Bournemouth were the best side we've seen at. CR this season so far. They were significantly better than Watford or Blackburn at keeping the ball and they pressed very high up the pitch. So a point isn't the end of the world today, and I agree that averaging 2 points a game would see us with 92 points and likely automatic promotion so no need to panic

But we should have won. I felt that a draw was a fair result today but only because we let Bournemouth into a game they were pretty comfortably out of until we went to sleep just before half time. Once we had gone ahead with a lovely header from Grabban created from a pinpoint cross from Redmond after beating his man we looked really comfortable and played nice football.

Second half was a bit scrappy. Bournemouth got a fillip from their goal and Eddie Howe had obviously told his team to press much further up the pitch, which they did successfully. As a consequence we found it harder to create flowing moves and the game became more of a midfield battle. Tettey and Jonno were excellent, Wes in my opinion less so - too many unnecessary touches and turns for me. Bradders almost won it late on with one of his fast becoming trademark free kicks, but that would have flattered us.

Turner didn't put a foot wrong today, and Russell looked very secure beside him. Redmond did some good things, but I am getting a little worried at the extent to which he shies out of 50-50 tackles? Lafferty looked good first half, but struggled second half and tired before being subbed. Grabban scored another nice goal and it seems churlish to complain about some of the aspects of his play when he is averaging a goal a game (especially when we remember that he replaced a striker who averaged a goal a season!)

Finally, the quality of our bench for this division looks great - today we had Jerome, Murphy, Cuellar...and if we think that we have still to add Howson, Hooper, the Bennets, our two new midfielders...we look like we have a deeper squad than the likes of Nottingham Forest and Wolves for the deepest winter.

Onward and upward - I think Cardiff is a biggie, a point from there and then Brentford, Birmingham and Blackpool...20 points from 10 games will do nicely!

 

[GazzaTCC]

Just to be clear on the unfortunate train incident, I was booked on the 12.03 from Chelmsford and was due to meet a mate on the same train (the 11.30 from Liverpool Street). Travellers were advised at Liverpool Street to go via Cambridge. My mate caught a Cambridge train, but jumped off at Bishop Stortford, where I picked him up and we drove to Norwich. I'm sorry for anyone who missed the game, but it was still possible to get to Norwich, even if a bit of a pain.

 

[Gaffer]

Great reports by Din and killiecanary. Frustrating that two mix ups led to the goal. Hopefully our back four will be stronger come the Cardiff game.

 

[Fenway Frank]

I don't think we'll come up against many teams that play the same way as Bournemouth

 

[Canaryboy]

Match report by Canary on the Wire here.

Match highlights for anybody who hasn't seen them here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UrUk4GluZc