First game of the season for me last night (and first at CR for some time). First 75 mins were absolute dross - Marshall provided no width on the right, and even when Pinto was in acres of space the ball was moved so slowly he was closed down too easily. Took the boos in the second half for the team to wake up and start moving the ball forward. Buendia looks promising though!
I like a back three in some matches as we have the WBs to make it work. The down side is having to drop an attacking player to make the 3-4-3 or 3-5-2. Last night was the first time we had our first choice defence and it worked very well. The sideways passing was more due to Preston sitting deep with two ranks of four. For that, a 4-2-3-1 offers an extra attacking player and overlapping FBs to find a way through.
Tettey was poor last night and his goal was consolation for his performance. He has been ponderous in recent games and has contributed to the oppositions goals. His one goal every 2 years addition to the goalscoring total does not make up for the fact that he should not be playing on a regular basis. Leitner is not playing with much confidence at the moment and along with Tettey should be given a break. Leeds on Saturday will be a major test of Farke’s ability to build on the recent win at home. Pukki seems, at the moment, to be a great acquisition.
I liked Paddy Davitt's summing up on Pukki: "Three goals in five appearances for his new club should answer any doubts. Pukki may not win a style contest, yet he appears to be mightily effective. After a drilled right-footed effort across the keeper in the Stevenage cup win his opening strike against Preston was a mirror image, but on his left. That alone underlines he could prove a valuable asset. The calmness and composure lacking in others in front of goal this season does not apply to the summer signing." His other match 'pointers' are also worth reading: http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/canaries-paddy-s-pointers-preston-championship-2-0-win-1-5663451
Pukki’s consistent scoring in the opening few games is a real positive. He seems a likeable kind of player. Hard working and getting the goals.
Yes, Jamal's control of the ball and then weighted pass to Pukki for the assist was excellent and we looked more balanced and composed with him and Pinto playing in their normal positions. Pukki seems well suited to playing as the second striker in behind. His passing is also composed and well executed.
As I watched the game on Sky my first reaction during the first 80 mins was that it was dire crap and I needed to join the ' we are all doomed ' party founded by FML. Looking back I now realise that I was doing both Clubs an injustice. We ought to have known that AN would have his side well organised defensively and City found it very difficult to break through. When Pukki scored Preston had to open up and the game became more open resulting in both sides looking better than in the first 80 mins. If City had managed to score earlier then we would have seen a different spectacle. I also feel that a lot of supporters overlook the value of Tettey to the team. He is not there to spray passes about, break forward or score goals. He is there to form a defensive shield and he performs that task perfectly well. A number of times last night Preston had the chance to break quickly but the presence of Tettey prevented them pushing forward down the middle and having to go wide which slowed them up giving City time to reorganise. This is not an eye catching role or one which stands out to the crowd but is a task vital to the team and City look far more vulnerable down the middle when Tettey is not there.
My own view, and it is only my view is that we are weaker side without Tettey in it - we might have Godfrey and Thompson as heirs apparent but Godfrey is untried at this level (although should be given an opportunity as Tettey will need resting at some stage) and Thompson looks great but will his legs hold out ? Every one likes to have someone to moan at and now that Rusty is no longer in the picture step up Mr Tettey.
My view is that we are a side that is weaker with an unsuited player in Tettey's place. Last season Trybull and Vrancic were both tried there and we paid for it. But I believe both Godfrey and Thompson are well suited to it and might just bring more to it than Tettey. It is no secret that he can't play every game, after the run of poor results and plenty of poor football partly due to his generally poor distribution, I think its high time we saw if either of these lads can step up. With that said, I do rate Tettey and I'm glad we have him, but I hope it will soon become more of a support role for the other two, if he is better in training and perceived to still be playing better then of course he should stay in on merit. I appreciate a good DM, but I'm not sure Tettey's form has warrented the others being kept out and even less so that they haven't been introduced from the bench. Bah!
Fair comment OCF and I'm not alone in wanting to see Thompson given his chance, as several of the guys I meet in the pub before games say the same. He acquitted himself well in pre-season!!!!
In fairness, I don't think Tettey has become the new Martin, OK he got booed, he was having by his own admission perhaps his worst game in a city shirt. People are talking about the two bright young alternatives but I don't think we are anywhere near Tettey being chief cat to kick, albeit with Martin utterly uninvolved and Husband out the door the position is vacent. Bah!
Didn’t he score a wonder volley against Stoke a few years back in the PL? I remember distinctly the commentator saying he’ll never score a goal again like it. At the time I wondered if it were true...
I enjoyed that but tbf we've had a few wonder strikes in recent years. Off the top of my head there's Rusty, Bradders and Howson, and I'm sure there have been others
The goal Tetty scored was even better than it first looked. He took a couple of steps backwards in order to meet the ball better. Excellent thinking.
