Is it me or does this feel like the Farke era again? 12 goals scored in four games and a fair few conceded. It doesn’t seem to matter how many we let in, we will score more. I hope we can continue this form if we lose Sargent.
IMO Idah should play in the cup to showcase his ability more. Barnes can play up top with Nunez/ Rowe/ Sara behind him. If Idah comes through the cup and plays well... then he gets his league start.
Very much so and I like it. As long as we score more than we concede, I'm happy with the extra entertainment
I know Idah gives some the heebie jeebies, but worth noting he’s scored two goals already, and is averaging a goal every 45 mins of championship football time on the pitch… He’s also got a lot of experience for his age, and I don’t know whether you remember that period of several matches in the Premier League where he looked fantastic… then got injured. If and it’s a big if, he can stay fit then I think a run of games due to Sargent being injured could be the making of him. Selfishly, for our season it would be better for Sargent to recover quickly. But you never know
Only just seen the highlights, not sure what the Huddersfield defence were doing for the Idah goal, left him in acres of space, but good work from Placheta. Looking forward to seeing more of Placheta on Tuesday...? Feels like this style of football suits him far more than Farkeball. Hope Sargent is alright, Idah might be able to step in short term but I don't love our other options over an extended period.
What a change a year makes eh. Really enjoying the stuff we are playing at the moment. And it feels like some players like Placheta who seemed to be a lost cause are going to have a chance to grow back into the team. Can we please win the champ and then maybe just stay in the same division next year with a wodge of cash instead?
It could be worse. Sargent wouldn't start in the cup and after that it's Rotherham away, followed by the international break. Yes it does feel like that except that Farke's Championship winning seasons both started slowly whereas Wagner's has had five matches unbeaten including the cup (12 if you include the preseason). We now sit second and are playing exciting effective football where every player fits and has a clear role to play. As with Farke though, there is a lot of movement up front to create scoring opportunities. The absence of Sargent will be a test, but we no longer rely on the striker's form for results. Rowe is on fire up front, Barnes provides other options up front and Fassnacht has brought all round effective play which at last is replacing the skills lost when Buendia left. Add to that the excellent wide play and crossing abilities of Stacey and Giannoulis and Sara's skills in midfield and we now look like potential title winners again. For me, the main difference from Farke is that the FBs pushing forward are covered by McLean dropping back into the back three as we transition forward. There is better balance and the experience of our new signings has brought a consistency of good decision making which has cut through opposition defences while being more solid at the back, with 13 goals for, 6 against, 2 of which were penalties at Southampton.
One of the key differences I noticed is Jack Stacey’s anticipation - on one particular breakaway attack by Huddersfield he was effectively defending two on one, but instead of closing down the man with the ball, he chose an excellent line which cut off the forward option and bought enough time for, I think, McLean to get back and defend the man with the ball. I think he’s been a great find
That's the difference experience makes. Wagner has spoken about how much decision making has improved since the more experienced players have come in. It was also great to see the genuinely affectionate hug between Barnes and Wagner after the game. How we've missed that emotional commitment since Holt left.
Gary Gowers on the impact of experience: "At the back, Shane Duffy and Ben Gibson were more than happy to contend with crosses aplenty and anything Danny Ward could throw at them, while at the other end, in between scoring a goal and refereeing the game, Barnes found time to grapple with and out-muscle Michal Helik and Matty Pearson in a Grant Holt-style. Better still, said physical presence is accompanied by an assured touch and a calmness on the ball, unbefitting one who was seen by many (ahem) as just a bit of a bruiser. And to top it all, all of those qualities clearly haven’t been lost on Messrs Sargent and Idah, both of whom have visibly benefitted from playing alongside Barnes." That could be huge for Idah in the coming weeks. https://norwichcity.myfootballwrite...still-to-be-learned-nothing-is-won-in-august/
