One thing is certain: no midfield of McLean and Gilmour for this one since we can't play a loan player against his home club. So it will be interesting to see what Smith decides to do (my bet is McLean + PLM + Normann). The only way we can make up for yesterday's debacle is by beating Chelsea, but that seems about as likely as McLean not being on the team sheet. Having done a quick tour of Norwich websites, I get the feeling that yesterday's anger and disappointment is fading into apathy - the ultimate killer of any football club. Anyone who can put some pep into this thread is very, very welcome.
We're at the point where we're going to need to some freak wins to achieve anything this season, might as well start versus Chelsea! At least we won't have to deal with "the Gilmour debate". The side picks itself outside of the third midfielder, which will presumably be PLM. Otherwise, is there anyone outside the starting XI from the Brentford game who has got a decent case for inclusion, in any position? Perhaps Sorensen? Rupp? Rowe, although I think he's still better as an impact sub for now. Pretty damning summary of the squad building when we've got one significant injury (Idah) and otherwise there's only 11-13 players from a 26-man squad who offer anything remotely helpful at this level.
Our midfield has not only looked very mediocre individually this season, but also very shapeless as a group. So regarding Gilmour, I wonder if a second reason he has flopped, apart from the obvious one of his lack of physical presence being not what we needed, is that he requires very disciplined players around him in terms of positioning, and none of McLean, PLM or Normann is remotely disciplined in this way. I'm thinking of the role that Leitner played during the brief spell when he really was the fulcrum of our team (before he hit the problem which he sadly seems to hit everywhere he plays - some kind of psychological issue?). Everything went through Leitner and he controlled the midfield (think of the Newcastle game early in the 19-20 season). But that role of fulcrum is only possible if the other midfielders are positionally disciplined and let the fulcrum pull the strings. I think Gilmour has the ability to play a similar role as Leitner did for a while but only if the other players are willing to curb their tendency to roam all over the park. Could this be another reason Gilmour has disappointed so badly? (I'm not at all good at the tactical stuff, so I'm probably talking nonsense.)
If we cannot beat Brentford, who had not won in 8 games, what chance do we have on Thursday night against Chelsea? Think we'll get hammered, and it could even be as bad as the last time we met in the league
Yeah I think our primary target has to be not losing by a margin which makes it our highest combined defeat ever. So probably limiting to around three.
Almost no posts on the site for a couple of days with a match coming up tonight. Is this the beginning of anger/despair turning to apathy?
I think so. It would take a miracle to win tonight (though, oddly, the Abramovich stuff probably is the one thing that might help that miracle happen), but even then odds are against us to survive. I think we all agreed only a while ago was that the one thing which could not happen for us to survive is lose to any of our rivals, and we right away went and did that.
Shouldn't that be 10th March ? op doesn't even know how to write a date properly what a dunce 10 March indeed
5 at the back with both Kabak and Zimbo chosen ahead of Gibson. Aarons reinstated at RB, Bryam doesn’t make the bench but I imagine that is just managing his return to fitness. Looks like it will be Sargent and Pukki up top with PLM, McLean and Normann as a midfield 3.
Yipee, McMeh still in the starting 11......... as for Zimmerframe let's hope Chelski have left their running boots elsewhere Edit: FFS
