We should have blown them away in the first 15 minutes. Our failure to do so was our downfall. Against Wigan we only got 4 shots on target, one goal. Today 12 shots on target, same result, one goal.
Worrying sta t I noticed. We only won 28.6% of tackles. And an even more worrying fact, we are only one place above the binners.
On the plus side at least players other than Pukki are chipping in with goals. Part of me thinks we just need a bit of luck. The positive side of me thinks we have a very decent squad for the championship and Pukki and the rest just need a bit of confidence that will come with a couple of wins & we'll take off.
I think that’s absolutely right, but the question we have to ask ourselves is whether Smith is the manager who can build that confidence and get those desperately needed wins.
MFW take on matters:- I’m not sure how this (DS's tenure) ends (although I know how the Twitter majority wants it to) but S&S are skating on very thin ice. That no player within the group has shown any sign of improvement since their arrival is quite something but, for me, equally damning is the downbeat look and feel to this group – one devoid of freshness and zip, even with the addition of some new faces. https://norwichcity.myfootballwrite...am-thats-forgotten-how-to-win-ss-on-thin-ice/
That’s exactly it. I think Smith is a decent manager, but he’s clearly bereft of ideas for motivating the players when they are down. The moment something goes against us, heads sink, there’s no attempt to win second balls or hassle in the middle of the park, players slow down on and off the ball. It’s lacking energy, spirit and desire. I know there’s little value in comparing with Farke, but for all the lows and truly abysmal performances, he always seemed to find a way to get a fresh performance and energy when it was unexpected. Smith doesn’t seem able to do that.
This from Gary is even more at the heart of it all: "This is a football club that’s forgotten how to win. A team that labours, and plays without freedom; one laden with doubt and fear. So fragile is the confidence, the merest of setbacks can visibly impact the belief in the group and conceding a goal, especially one that puts the opposition ahead, feels like an almost-terminal hammer blow." And this: "So obsessed have we become with the technical side of the game, the part that relies on effort, adrenalin and oomph has been forgotten – far from ideal in a division that demands it. And for that, I’m afraid we do need to look at the head coach and his coaching team. In addition to filling the heads of the players with technical information and a long list of dos and don’ts, they should also be reminded that hard work, effort and balls are needed to win games of football. As the Championship has demonstrated thousands of times, a team with plenty of the latter usually triumphs over a team that relies solely on the former. There’s no room in this division for Big Time Charlies." I'd like us to give more time to the new players and those coming back from loan like Sinani and Hugill, who both have that tough side as well as the necessary skills. Sinani scored 7 goals for Huddersfield - what midfielder will come close to that this season? I think a better comparison would be the the squad culture created by McNally and Lambert: What we lack in technical skills we'll make up for with hard graft and competitiveness. A bit of that wouldn't go amiss now.
It was noticeable to me that two of the new faces - Núñez and Ramsey - were the ones with by far the most energy. I know Ramsey missed the sitter, but he turned up in the right place at the right time on two occasions and seemed full of zip. The 'old hands' seem dejected, deflated, lacking in energy or belief.
I had a look on the Hull board and they are pretty much all in agreement that they would have thrashed us further if it wasn't for a biased referee . Most of the chatter is about the Norwich fan in black . Strange bunch
Even the Hull manager said we should have had 2 goals before they scored. I get a sense of deja vu, sooner or later someone is going to get hammered by us, I just hope it's sooner.
Which board are you reading? Complete bollocks. If it was ever said at all, it would have been to take the piss out of your wife. BTW, I don't know if it still holds true, as we get a lot more foreign students now, but for several years it had the best retention rate for students and lecturers staying in the area of any Uni in the Country.
A bit of context. In earlier games, the team sat back for at least a full half and invited teams on, and they couldn't break our defense down. Those teams went on to put a few past their next opponents. Point being, perhaps you need to be a bit more fair with your players and manager, as the defence does tend to be rock solid so far, unless the opposition see sense and give us the ball so we attack, and then hit us on the break. I mentioned this up thread.
You can't account for injuries to the same position every game that is beyond unlucky all 3 natural left backs and a 4th in Sorensen. Smith can't be faulted with suicidal passes that put opposition players 1 on 1 against the keeper which Gibson Aarons and Sinani have all done in the first 4 games . Pukki needs a rest the spark and magic has been drained by a long run of defeats and he's forgotten how to score. McLean is Mr average barely noticeable for most of the game , Sargent is also anonymous. Rashica was brought in with Sargent to bring some attacking flair and chip in with goals but 1 solitary goal so far and looking like a waste of money . Nunez hasn't had his spirit crushed yet and plays with a smile the same with Gibbs and Ramsey both fearless kids running on adrenaline. Dowell looks woefully out of form and confidence. Max spends most of the time roaring up the pitch but usually stops and loses momentum by passing backwards but for me the best player so far despite the cock up yesterday. Cantwell hasn't done much wrong he's desperate to impress but he just does little fancy turns and passes sideways. Hernandez always plays well but he's similar to Max getting into a crossing position with nobody to aim for . Attacking headers has never been Pukki's game and he rarely gets service to his feet . Krul even can't buy a clean sheet anymore , it was a given he would let one in last season but Wigan Cardiff and Hull are not exactly Man City or Liverpool. As mentioned earlier we have become accustomed to losing , it doesn't seem to hurt them . Most of them drive home in their £100k cars to their huge houses and seem to just shrug their shoulders . Smith needs to stop being one of the lads and explain some home truths , which means Pukki can't start every game on reputation, Kenny needs to fight his way back in , Tod has been given a chance and not taken it . Sinani Gibbs and Ramsey need to start and Hugill would have been perfect against Hull wasn't even on the bench. Krul should even be reminded that Gunny is breathing down his neck . We are rewarding mediocrity and that shows by the way , most of them seem to accept defeat after conceding, any setback shatters the confidence and morale. The club seems more concerned with fans calling Tod a **** on Twitter and at the Wigan game we were warned that Rowdy boozy behaviour or swearing would result in sanctions. Targeting your loyal customers with corporate intersectionality training is extremely insulting. Many go to watch football to let off steam not to grass each other up for being not adhering to Delias political correctness orders . Extremely patronising and pointless . Chants of You don't know what you're doing replaced the referee's a ****er. As someone sitting next to me commented , Carrow Road used to be an intimidating Fortress and now it's a bouncy castle . If they never play in the new My Little Pony strip ever again it will be too soon . Sounds clichéd but get back to basics , take the shackles off and let them play with more freedom Smithball is dull and predictable and doesn't suit us.
If Hull's master plan was to give us 70% possession let us hit 18 shots , 12 on target knowing your defence is so good none of them will sneak in . Then moan about the number of fouls conceded by defending for most of the game . Then your manager is a genius. You even argue that the freak clown goal we gifted you was due to brilliant pressing rather than a Norwich **** up . Aarons punted the ball off the centre back and it ricocheted at the Hull players feet for a tap in . No sour grapes from me but I would suggest Hull were quite lucky yesterday and the referee had very little impact on the result Pukki was dragged back by the last man which could have been a red card with V.A.R and I didn't see any Norwich fans blaming the referee or calling him a Hull fan .
OK I was responding to the previous few pages of moaning about the ref , and you didn't accept that Norwich gifted you a stupid goal .
I don't accept that Oscar's goal was gifted, no. If you watch the clip, it's a consequence of the hard work and pressure he put your defence under. He still had a lot to do after the fortunate rebound. If your player hadn't managed to sky the ball, when all he had to do was to get in the way to score, it could have been a different outcome. I guess that was a gift turned down too.
