Norwich vs Liverpool (Away) 20th September 2015

[The Great Mass Debater]

I think the most interesting selection headache for Neil is the left flank. Olsson seems ready for a return and would surely be desired over Brady in a defensive position, especially against the big boys.

Similarly Jarvis did brilliantly last week and to drop him would be harsh, especially after scoring. But would it be any harsher than dropping Brady, who has done so well so far?

Neil could easily argue neither Olsson or Jarvis are match-fit. Arguably Brady in front of Olsson would be the most solid defensively. He'd really be going for it with Brady and Jarvis and would be a good signal of intent. An interesting dilemma for him.

He might however decide to play neither Olsson or Jarvis, keep Brady where he is and pack the midfield

 

[eatonparkboy]

No left sided player for ages and then two come along at once!

 

[Din]

It's my first day at Uni on Sunday so I'll probably be missing this one, unless I can find some Norwich fans who want to watch the game (which hopefully I do) and despite Liverpool now being Suarez-less and out of form I can't see past a home win here. I imagine we'll put up a good fight and create 1 or 2 good opportunities but ultimately be a bit outclassed. Any result we could get here though would be brilliant.

I think it'll probably be the same team but with Olsson in for Jarvis and Whittaker in for Wisdom. I thought maybe that we might drop Hoolahan and play with Dorrans, Howson and Tettey across the middle in a 4-5-1, but after Wes' blinding performance on Saturday I can't see him being dropped. Have to say I'm really not looking forward to Benteke against Russell Martin in an aerial battle. Think I'm right in saying Sturridge will be back for this as well.

Gonna say we'll lose this 2-0, but we will make a game of it, which if we do I won't be too unhappy about. If we can get a point or even 3 here then I'll be delighted.

 

[It's Character Forming]

Under Hughton, it's significant that the 1-0 wins against big teams were at home.  The 3-2 win at Man City was a one-off, while the whole on-the-beach idea is a simplification, the fact was that both teams had nothing riding on the result, their manager had been controversially sacked the week before, and our players played with a freedom which we rarely saw under Hughton.

The following season, at away games our approach became more negative and the real problem was that we were dropping so deep it was just inviting teams to pick us off.  I remember the game at Spurs relatively early in Hughton's second season, and against a team lacking confidence we just back off and let them take their time to work chances, which will almost always fail if the other side has some quality players.  They won 2-0 but to be honest they were coasting for most of the game and that was the only reason they didn't get a few more.

So for Sunday the important thing for me is to avoid that fearful sort of approach and give them a real go.  If we do that and lose by a few, I won't mind (as long as the first goal isn't down to the ref !).

 

[hogesar]

Key to me is to actually not worry about attacking in the first half but concentrate on frustrating Liverpool as much as possible. If we can stop them creating any decent chances in the first half it won't half cause some grumbles from the Liverpool faithful. Getting the fans to turn is half the battle in this game in my opinion, as it'll give us an obvious advantage with the higher pressure being put on their players.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Hughton's tactics seemed entirely focused on how to stop the opposition. Rarely did it look like our tactics included an assessment of how we would hurt them. I honestly dont really know how Hughton expected his teams to score goals. All we heard about was the oppositions quality and so it always came across as if Hughton didnt believe his players had any qualities of their own. Someone like Wes was chronically under-used. We know he is our most creative spark and on current form is undroppable. Hughton perhaps saw him as a luxury player, unable to do the defensive work, and so considered him too much of a risk in such a rigid disciplined system. No wonder he got fed up. He and other attacking creative players were not allowed to flourish.

This I feel was down to Hughton's overriding belief that the opposition were superior.

Now in that he's not wrong - we will usually be one of the weaker teams in this league full of big fish. But having an inferiority complex wont take long to filter down to the players and before long they'll be playing within themselves.

Alex Neil strikes me as the kind of manager who will focus more on what we can do to the opposition, rather than how to stop them. I believe this was Lambert's approach.

Neil strikes me as a manager who will be telling his players to have no fear, to go out there and believe in themselves, believe they deserve to be on the same pitch as the opposition and to have faith in themselves. He'll be telling Redmond to show everybody what he can do and how good a player he is and to get at them as much as he can.

They may be away, but I think he'll be lighting a fire under his players and empowering them. I would be very surprised if the team came out with 9 defenders looking pale and frightened and with instructions not to pass the halfway line for fear of leaving Ruddy unprotected.

We may get stuffed, and of course Neil will look at what we need to do defensively, but I think he'll have a gameplan as to how to hurt them, and his tactics will be focused on that.

 

[Canaryboy]

I've got a good feeling about this game, don't think we have anything to be afraid of, could easily see us bringing back a point if we play well and we've not got much to lose if we go for it and lose as we won't be expected to win. 

Pressure is all on Liverpool. 

 

[eatonparkboy]

Anyone know the best streamer or link on Kodi?

 

[Gaffer]

Disappointed Hoolahan isn't starting. He could have really bossed that midfield with Liverpool playing two strikers.

 

[eatonparkboy]

Disappointed Hoolahan isn't starting. He could have really bossed that midfield with Liverpool playing two strikers.

And their two CB's are looking vulnerable..

 

[Gaffer]

Difficult balancing act. Liverpool are dominating and seem highly likely to score and we haven't been much of a threat at all. Do we try to hold on for a 0-0 draw (which we probably won't get) or bring on Hoolahan and put more pressure on them?

 

[GJP]

Martin gave it away in a similar area in the first half and got away with it. Unsurprisingly he hasn't got away with it the second time.

 

[kirku]

That was dreadful from Martin. Got away with a similar horror show in the first half.

 

[GJP]

Made up for his error. That'll do.

 

[kirku]

Norfolk Cafu

 

[kirku]

How's he missed that?!

 

[Canaryboy]

Grabban coming on!

 

[kirku]

Much rather see Mbokani

 

[Canaryboy]

Me too in all honesty, but not surprised to see Grabban reintroduced in an away fixture. 

 

[kirku]

Good point. If he scores the winner, well lots of people have very short memories..