It's more than small mercies for me. Yes it's another 'swallow' situation, but this was an absolutely vital game. Derby were unbeaten in 10 before this and if we had lost, our chances would be slim. Yes the red card made it easier, but we should have finished off Derby well before that. Overall, our shots/OT were 24/12 to Derby's 6/3 and corners were 10 to 4. It has to carry on from here, but two clean sheets and 4 points give us a chance to climb the table. After the cup, our next 5 matches are Rotherham (a), Wolves (h), Birmingham (h), then Wigan and Cardiff away. AN has some breathing room, but we really need to start picking up points in those matches if we are to get back into it. We are 5 points behind 6th place Sheffield Weds. now, with the same goal difference. The win today helps big time, especially with some surprising results going our way, but we need to keep it going now.
This whole winning thing seems a little alien, I'm not sure what to do. Its a really good result off of a good performance. So happy overall, but can it be repeated? At long last we beat someone top half and in form. Neil has to produce more of this and win pretty much all of the rest of the games in January for me to start to believe in him again. That and between him and the board not make a complete dogs dinner of the transfer window. Bah!
Thing is. Are we just playing Klose now, because AN had nothing more to lose, so might as well make the change, play him and push his value up for January for when he moves him on? We need him if we are going to stay up!
Just watched the Butterfield challenge on Wes, talk about a horror tackle! https://d1wst0behutosd.cloudfront.n...gFfxifSvVw__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJJ6WELAPEP47UKWQ
The question really is why has he not been playing. Only AN knows. How many points have we lost doe to AN's stubborness in not playing him, unfortunately we'll never know.
I've also wondered about this, cannario, but Klose did go through a bad patch of form including the 5-0 drubbing by Brighton. At the same time, Bennett improved his game and Bassong took his chance well (I was even surprised when he was left out against Brentford). In any case, I'm glad to see Klose back and I hope he stays.
Great summary ocf and totally agree. Klose was definitely back to his best and I think Brady being missing meant he had to reshuffle the team somewhat. If only we could have played with that drive and passion against Huddersfield ......... This was a TEAM performance and had AN not been so arrogant/stubborn/stupid (or a mix of all 3!!!), we could have witnessed more performances such as we saw today.
Everyone played badly at Brighton, why was Klose punished when others weren't, particular when prior to the Brighton game he had been one of our better performers. It isn't like Bassong & Bennett have been great since they got a chance. It's like I said
We now have a run of 6 winnable games IMO - Sat 14 Jan 17 Rotherham A Sat 21 Jan 17 Wolves H Sat 28 Jan 17 Birmingham H Tue 31 Jan 17 Wigan A Sat 04 Feb 17 Cardiff A Sat 11 Feb 17 Forest H Tue 14 Feb 17 Newcastle H Our next really tough test will be on Valentine's night when the Magpies turn up and if we take fewer than 12 points from those games, then I think AN's 'goose is well and truly cooked!!!' PS - I can just see tomorrow's headline - 'Rams battered by Canaries'
Spot on, buddy. One poor game at Brighton and he's banished for weeks - but how many of our players have had disasters repeatedly and still been selected for the next game? #TeachersPets
I really do feel that this is a make or break series of games for our chances this season. For me, it's whether the players realise the gravity of the situation and make it happen, as they certainly have the ability to do. I agree that 12 points should be the minimum expected from those first 6 games but there is the potential for more than that. None of those teams are as tough a test as Derby was today or Newcastle will be on Valentines day, but if we are to truly get back into the mix, now is the time. After we play Newcastle, we'll have played 16 games at home and 16 away, so we should know what our chances are. Much will depend on whether Oliveira can continue his fine run of form (7 goals in 7 starts and 7 sub appearances) but hopefully he will and, at 25, will push on from there.
Fantastic response when Oliveira was subbed right at the end. Proper ovation. That's how it works, if the team put on a display the fans love, the accolades are there. But surely it's not all down to the fans to lift the (very well paid) players on the frequent occasions it all goes / has gone pear-shaped, or they've just given up this season?
Let's hope that most of the 11 who started today also start for the Rotherham game and that AN doesn't feel the need to bring Brady back (assuming his red card is rescinded/he hasn't been sold), though I'd quite like to see Pritchard start ahead of Naismith, as he missed several chances when he should at least have tested Carson. I accept what AN says as regards the difference between Basil and Jerome, but he seriously can't start with Jerome playing in the central striker role in future if both are on the pitch!!!!! http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/arti...rwich-city-derby-county-reaction-3497303.aspx
Most of those games are against poor teams in the lower half of the league, I expect us to pick up some points and people will get carried away only for hopes to be crushed as we re start the cycle of playing stronger teams who are competing for promotion.
Had a few drinkies, hmm very nice. Anyway, Happy New Year everybody! Good win today, great start to 2017, long may it continue. Here's the thing - I've never been happy with Neil. I'd never heard of him. I'd never seen Hamilton play, and no doubt he was the cheap option. It's the Norwich way. If we go on another bad run and he's fired, I won't fret for him, but if this is the start of a long winning run and he stays, that's fine by me too. What will never happen is for me to hope my team loses for whatever reason. That will never, and I mean NEVER happen. What kind of mentality is that? It's a sign of the times, and one reason why it's increasingly difficult to care about football any more. The modern fan, it's a rum beast.
It is too gandy, fickle doesn´t even begin to describe it, in my (our) young days, supporters either supported a team, players AND manager, through thick and especially thin, or didn´t bother at all, none of this, up in the clouds one week, then stab him in the back, the next. Very strange, and very symptomatic of today´s ´use once and throw away´ society. At least Mr. Neil can have a quiet smile to himself today - don´t see why he shouldn´t get the credit for yesterday, he certainly gets the blame for anything going cock-up.
I think this post typifies the no questions happy clapping of someone who doesn't care if the club is promoted or even winning. I would contend that most have been worn down by months of poor form, not some kneejerk reaction to a couple of losses and no one is getting caried away with this one isolated win either. (For the record, I am sat in an office right now with a Derby fan so I am somewhat basking in the afterglow of the win!) I loved that we won and was not wishing defeat on us, nor would I. Others certainly seem like they actually would like it to happen, but I don't think that is really true, they like I, could have seen the benefit of defeat (i.e. it is our belief that AN is no longer the right man for the job and it would expedite his departure.) I still have serious doubts that this won't be another isolated result and just prelong the inevitable need to sack him and move on. That said with the run of games approaching he has a good chance of picking up enough points/momentum to paper over the cracks. But it will be from Newcastle onwards against top half teams that he must really prove that he is actually capable against anyone but the weakest. I'm sure Neil will have a smile today, after finally getting a decent performance out of the team he should, but whilst credit does go to him for finally getting it right, he is still in debted to the board for their patience and has to get several more results in the next month or two to start to repay that. Win 5 of the next 6 with improved performances and kick on from there with results against top half teams and who knows I may make it back onto the fence about him, win the playoffs and I might even clime down on his side. That said, even if we were to win promotion with him, would I want him at the helm next season in the PL? Hell no Bah!
