Norwich vs Wigan (Away) 6th December 2014

[GazzaTCC]

Suggestions from Adams that Bennett, Wes and VOO aren't too far away smacks of desperation, especially when followed up with the comment about ideally giving them a couple more weeks. This is the much vaunted "best squad in the league", so let's use it and properly!

I'm still thinking that we need to try something different, so I'd be tempted to go 3-5-2 as follows.

Ruddy

Martin, Turner, Garrido;

Redmond, Howson, Tettey, O'Neil, Olsson;

Jerome, Hooper.

OTBC

 

[GJP]

Grabban can and will score goals. I've no doubt about that.

I think he's better suited playing upfront on his own. And I don't think Hooper plays that role particularly well usually.

 

[ZLF]

My choice would be is either 3412

                       Ruddy

         Cuellar  Hooiveld  Garrido 

Redmond  O'Neil   Tettey   Lafferty

                       Howson

              Hooper    Jerome 

or

4231

Ruddy

Martin  Turner  Hooiveld  Garrido

              O'Neil  Tettey

   Redmond  Howson Lafferty

               Jerome

I cant have Olsson in midfield - he passing is poor and his crossing the worst at the club this season - both worse than lafferty and the only alternative is bj - who I expect to come straight back into  the side,  either at the expense of lafferty or oneill.  

 

[GazzaTCC]

I like the look of ZLF's 3-4-1-2 formation and suggested players. It has a much better balanced look to it than my 3-5-2 suggestion above.

OTBC

 

[Yellow Fever]

I'm not sure this is the time for experimentation, so I'd go with ZLF's 4-2-3-1 but with Hooper up front and Jerome on the left (where he has played before).

 

[ZLF]

I am with GJP;  hoops does not do the lone striker well,  he was poor at it last season and only scored with a strike partner - grabban would be my pick for the lone role if not for the fact that his form has not been great

 

[Surgeryman]

Sorry but Grabban is awful.

You cannot drop a striker coming into form ( 2 goals in two games) for an out of form one! What message does that send!

In any case Adams style is to play players who are scoring goals hence persisting with Grabban and Jerome earlier in the season.

4411 it has to be. Indeed with Lafferty and Hooper just behind.

 

[GazzaTCC]

I certainly wouldn't go with Grabban as a lone striker in his current form. I also would like to see the Jarome / Hooper combination given more game time. We simply can't keep tinkering with the formation / selected players from week to week.

 

[morty]

I would have thought Hooper would be pretty certain to be in the starting line up. And even though he's not everyones cup of tea, I will be glad to see Bradley back.

 

[GJP]

Grabban won't rediscover his goal scoring form stuck on the bench. I appreciate he's had some off games (he's not the only one) but I do find it quite disappointing how many fans have turned their back on him so quickly after he made such a great start to his NCFC career - which included a winning goal at Portman Road.

 

[Din]

My choice would be is either 3412

Ruddy

Cuellar Hooiveld Garrido

Redmond O'Neil Tettey Lafferty

Howson

Hooper Jerome

or

4231

Ruddy

Martin Turner Hooiveld Garrido

O'Neil Tettey

Redmond Howson Lafferty

Jerome

I cant have Olsson in midfield - he passing is poor and his crossing the worst at the club this season - both worse than lafferty and the only alternative is bj - who I expect to come straight back into the side, either at the expense of lafferty or oneill.

I'm sorry, but for a 3 at the back to work effectively it is vital that you have pace in defence. That back 3 that you have chosen have about as much pace as the people that receive Birthday cards from the Queen. Garrido also doesn't have the physicallity or aerial ability to play centre back.

I also don't really know how you can say that Olsson is one of the worst crossers at the club. Although his delivery isn't always perfect, more often than not I would say his crossing is quite good. There's also not much evidence to suggest that his passing is particularly bad either.

 

[Surgeryman]

Grabban won't rediscover his goal scoring form stuck on the bench. I appreciate he's had some off games (he's not the only one) but I do find it quite disappointing how many fans have turned their back on him so quickly after he made such a great start to his NCFC career - which included a winning goal at Portman Road.

No he won't but you don't drop an inform striker to accommodate it. Grabban need so come off the bench and put in a shift, hopefully score and then he becomes more of a consideration for selection.

 

[GJP]

He does put a shift in when he comes off the bench tbf.

For me there's just not much between any of our strikers. But I think Grabban is better suited playing upfront on his own.

Think it's got to the stage where he is underrated while Hooper and Jerome are overrated.

 

[ZLF]

olsson doesnt have the discipline to be in a three at the back;   his passing is shocking and for how much time he gets forward a return of one goal and one assist since he joined for all "exciting pace" (fewer goals and assists than the rightly maligned right backs martin and whittaker)  Putting in a great shaped cross to no one in particular after a burst of pace is useless - no matter how thrilling it feels!    He has been very poor this season.

Garridos passing and delivery is better.   Defending isnt always about pace - which is why olsson struggles - it sometimes get him out of trouble others are not in because they defend by thinking and positioning - not hoping pace gets them out of trouble. 

It may not be the right three at the back - but the premise should work;  but not with Olsson in it;  and he is not good enough to be a midfielder

 

[ZLF]

GJP - I think grabban is as good as the other two - but whether form or confidence currently his performances are not to his ability - happens to all players.  

I do think he is our best lone striker - but he needs to rebuild confidence from sub appearances.   But if we go a l one striker currently (last weeks woeful effort aside) my order of preference is Jerome,  then Grabban,   then hoops - who has repeatedly shown he can not be a lone striker 

 

[morty]

For me today :-

                   Ruddy

Martin Turner Hooiveld Olsson

Redmond Tettey Howson Johnson Lafferty

                  Hooper

 

[ZLF]

I would have thought Hooper would be pretty certain to be in the starting line up. And even though he's not everyones cup of tea, I will be glad to see Bradley back.

Cant agree with BJ coming back - he has reverted to the enthusiastic dog chasing the ball with ill discipline around the pitch;  occasionally having a brilliant game,   too often poor,  his passing and tackling a weak point interspersed with an occasional stunner - he is not consistent or good enough.   He is too much like I would be - bursting a gut to do well but not having the quality ability to do what the club needs to deserve to be a constant first choice starter.   Great club cover - absolutely no more. 

Who would I bring him back for?  Howson, Tettey,  O'Neil, Lafferty, Redmond,  Wes?   Behind every single one of them - being a quality footballer is not about running around the pitch enthusiatically - and the others to a man offer us much more than BJ.

 

[Yellow Wall]

Cant agree with BJ coming back - he has reverted to the enthusiastic dog chasing the ball with ill discipline around the pitch;  occasionally having a brilliant game,   too often poor,  his passing and tackling a weak point interspersed with an occasional stunner - he is not consistent or good enough.   He is too much like I would be - bursting a gut to do well but not having the quality ability to do what the club needs to deserve to be a constant first choice starter.   Great club cover - absolutely no more. 

Who would I bring him back for?  Howson, Tettey,  O'Neil, Lafferty, Redmond,  Wes?   Behind every single one of them - being a quality footballer is not about running around the pitch enthusiatically - and the others to a man offer us much more than BJ.

Bring him back for Howson, who looks good but doesn't actually do much. Last week I watched carefully but I cannot remember Howson winning one tackle all afternoon or winning one aerial battle. You have to have the ball before you can do something with it!

 

[GJP]

Replacing Howson for Johnson is anti football.

 

[GJP]

Or the other way round.