For me, it was our slow start which allowed them to dominate and then the two goals directed the momentum to them from there on. As JMF said, "their GK was fairly lucky in getting a boot to stop Pukki adding another goal to his total - had that gone in ........" The first goal is crucial, especially in the PL. In away matches, even more so. We are fortunate to have such good attacking players, but they need service from the midfielders and FBs. I don't think we need to park the bus, but we do need to make it difficult for the opposition. With Tettey out, I'd like to see Amadou moved up to DM to form a defensive triangle with Godfrey and Handley and the two FBs staying deeper in case the ball is lost. Leitner could be given a freer role to move forward as a pivot when we're attacking and then dropping back with the FBs and the wide players to form a low block of 8 players until we get the ball back.
I wasn't advocating 'parking the bus' Cromer, as we don't have the players capable of doing that - I'd just like to see us concentrate more on stopping the opposition from scoring for the first 20-30 minutes in away games.
Clearly the step up to the PL was always going to be a challenge for a team that welcomed very few additions to the side that was likely to strengthen it. As Aston Villa have demonstrated, spending £multimillions does not always bring success, so SW decision not to spend heavily might be seen as the correct option. The DF system of playing attacking football which brings plenty of goals but sacrifices the defence worked very well in the Championship, but would appear to be stalling in the PL. Once teams keep our attack under control then our defence is exposed. We have let in 16 goals in 7 matches with only Watford leaking more with 20 and that includes being hammered by Man. City. Having arguably two of our better CB injured certainly does not help the cause, but was the defence ever going to cope even at full strength? Some fans have stated that our season could already be over, but to me (and others) the following matches up to the end of 2019 are crucial to our survival in PL: 5th October v Aston Villa home 2nd Nov. v Brighton away 9th Nov. v Watford home 7th Dec. v Sheffield Utd. home 21st Dec. v Wolves home 26th Dec. v Aston Villa away
Great post cs. I'm sure MOST fans totally agree with your post and I felt we were always going to struggle. I was talking to a Stoke fan last night and he was saying that it was a pretty dubious penalty. We regroup on Saturday and even if we lose, it's not the end of the season!!
I really don't think there was anything dubious about the penalty. McArthur had already touched the ball ahead of him when Amadou made contact, and had every chance of getting the next touch on it had Amadou not impeded him. He might then have been tackled by someone else before he could get a shot or pass away, but that's irrelevant. Also. I don't think a reporter of Paddy Davitt's experience should be calling out Amadou's "naivety". The guy has been thrust into the front line at CB before even being blooded in his midfield role. He's a hero in my book.
Well seven games in and we are not in the relegation spots. Under any consideration that is a plus, but has anyone noticed the positions of the teams we have played? 1,2,4,7,9,10. The only team that we have come up against in the bottom half of the table we have seen off comprehensively. I am certainly not dissatisfied.
Yes 6 points from 7 games is ok points wise, but that we haven't come close to a point away fro home is a bit worrying. The injuries are certainly the worst I've seen in 47 years of following City, but there wasn't much wrong with the line-up against Palace and there were times when we played well. Is it time for a few tweaks though, as Gary Gower's suggests: "Given that Ibrahim Amadou, after that storming debut against Man City, is starting to look like a defensive-midfielder filling in at centre-back, perhaps now is the time for him to be used in his more familiar role and provide some ballast to that midfield alongside either Mo Leitner or Kenny McLean. Equally, with the Villa attack being spearheaded by Wesley – a Brazilian in the big ol’ lump category – then I’d have no hesitation in bringing back the unfairly-maligned Grant Hanley." Also given that Cantwell had his lowest rating by far on WhoScored, perhaps it's time for Roberts to have his chance?
I'd certainly play Hoadley, I mean Hanley, on Saturday and push Amadou into DM. I'd like to see what Roberts can do so perhaps it is time to start him.
Don't understand what everyone's worried about, after 7 games we're not in the relegation zone and we've had a pretty tough start. If its the same at the end of the season then that's success as far as I'm concerned. Trouble is our performances particularly in the first 5 games (When Hanley was playing / captain) & in the Man City game gave some fans false expectations.
Villa are worried because they have 4 players with minor injuries! https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sp...ws/aston-villa-injury-latest-norwich-14251861
At the last count, we have 7 players with SERIOUS injuries; some of whom MAY be fit to play again in time for the trip to Bournemouth and a few others MIGHT be playing again by the time we visit Villa Park. Klose probably won't play again this season!!!?
Interesting article from Matt Howman - https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwi...h-city-column-forget-soft-touch-tag-1-6297608 'Our record away from home in the Premier League has been nothing short of dismal. In the 13/14 season we won just two games away all season, eventually relegated with an away goal difference of minus 33. Similarly in the 15/16 season we won just three games, with an away goal difference of minus 24. Performances at Carrow Road has left us in no doubt that the players have the drive and desire to disprove the doubts and questions around the quality of our squad, but in order to secure safety this season it is imperative we become harder to beat on the road. The key difference that I see in this season compared with previous gone by is our ability to control longer spells in the game. Farke has instilled a sense of calm in possession we rarely saw under Alex Neil, never under Chris Hughton. The ability to maintain that away from home will bring us chances to win games and with Pukki on the pitch we have a proper finisher that could make all the difference. It is still early in the season and although each fixture is worth the same amount of points the position Norwich is in is no different to our "comparatives". A fully fit squad is going to give Farke more options in how he sets his team up away from home, he entered the season with a massive challenge, he is now being tasked with working miracles. The league table is now beginning to take shape and the club must now start putting in the groundwork to bring in defensive reinforcements in January. Early days or not the first seven games have outlined what we already knew heading into the season that we needed a centre-back with Premier League experience. The club maintain the finances haven't been there to make any big money moves so it will likely be a case of taking a chance on a player who is out of favour. Our transfer successes in the past two seasons have been calculated rolls of the dice from lower European leagues but this time there is no time to bring a player up to speed, a return for Ryan Bennett from Wolves perhaps?' Edit – I’m not sure that I share Matt’s pessimistic view, as against both Burnley and Palar53, had Pukki’s target been better aligned, he was close to adding to his impressive goal tally. With the score at 0-0 at Turf Moor, Pope just got a foot to Pukki’s shot to keep it out and against Palar53, he blazed over the bar from inside the penalty area and TC dallied when he had a chance to score.
I agree, JMF. The difference in quality in the PL means that away games will be even more difficult to win. We were underdogs in all four away games so far, but we came closer to at least a point against Palace. Results will come, but we need to win our home games even more. For once, we'll be favourites against Villa and we must show that Saturday. As for replacements, I can see getting another CB in on loan if Klose is out for the season and a LB if Jamal is as well, but that's about it unless we can do a reasonable loan deal for Rhodes as insurance in case of injury to Pukki.
My team for Sat. Krull or ? Byram,Hanley,Gregory,Arrons Amadoue,McClean,Cantwell, Buendia Stiepelmann Pukki
I would like to see Roberts have a run out on Saturday, but the subs bench could look very light outside of the strikers. I don't like to wallow in bad luck comments but on the injury front we have been very unfortunate to say the least
