We look better but this referee is really stitching us up. That was a clear penalty but he was obviously looking the wrong way. He also keeps blowing up when we would prefer the advantage. And then he’s dishing out yellow cards everywhere. Unbelievable from McLean
FFS There is at least plenty to be aggrieved about and we have broadly speaking dominated against a team with millions of value (although I accept that counterattacking is their game so they are happy with us at arm’s length).
Looked like 100% offside from the two angles they showed because he was leaning forward so well in front of the ball But frankly at the point where there are those sort of counterattacking opportunities, it doesn’t matter. The game became so stilted before then
Ashley Barnes has suspected knee ligament damage, according to Wagner. Ain't that the cherry on top tonight...
Bugger. I was afraid of that happening the way Leicester were playing and yes, we do get more than our share of serious injuries. Wagner's take on it: “It looks like a knee ligament injury. How serious? He will have a scan tomorrow (Thursday) and we will know more then. It could be (a lay-off) but let’s wait until we know further. What the last games have shown is we have a certain depth in the squad. Our substitutes made an impact in this game. Przemyslaw (Placheta) was on it. Adam made an impact. Onel (Hernandez) did well and (Hwang) Ui-Jo had some good movements and one very good opportunity. We will use, and need, everyone. We said this before we started this intensive block of games leading up to the next international break. We have shown we can trust and believe in every single one of our players."
Only 2 goals scored in the last 3 matches and one from a full back. The second Leicester goal was clearly off-side.
Two striker injuries will put big pressure on the starting lineup we can put out. We can hardly start both. The good news is that Sainz is fit again, having played 45 minutes for the U21s on Tuesday. I suspect Idah will start against Plymouth so the key question is who will play behind him. My guess would be Gibbs to avoid moving Sara out of midfield, or Rowe could move into the middle with Hernandez or Placheta replacing him at WL with Sainz perhaps on the bench. Big questions for Wagner to sort out.
Decent match report: https://norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com/2023/09/21/match-report-city-0-leicester-2/ and Duffy's take on it: "They have a strong squad. We know that and everyone knows that. I felt really comfortable against them tonight. They are a good team but we're not far off them, I'm telling you. It was just individual moments and to concede on half time means that everything changes. I had a header. Kenny has hit the bar. We didn't have enough attacking threat in the first half and it felt like we were defending a lot. We gave them too much respect in a way. It's one of them - do we go after them when they have so much individual quality? We dealt with it and I didn't feel there was much in it. That's me being out there. Their bench tonight is a Premier League team let alone a Championship bench. We have a long way to go and we will regroup but we're heading in the right direction." and his thoughts on Plymouth: "The club backed the manager well. They've brought quality in so we can rotate. I thought (Liam) Gibbsy came in and put a really good graft in. We've got Ui-jo, Adam (Idah) and Forshaw - we have to rotate it now. We can't keep using the same players or the energy levels will drop. Saturday is a huge chance now to regroup and Plymouth is a tough place to go. We're excited. We spoke afterwards in the changing room and said 'forget this, go and win Saturday'. We will get straight back on it." https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwic...ty-shane-duffy-reflects-2-0-leicester-defeat/
Once Sainz is fit to start matches I would like to see him come in on the RW and shift Fassnacht into the 10 role - I think that could suit his style of play and would also help us a bit with numbers
The downside would be losing the interplay between Fassnacht and Stacey, but Rowe and Stacey had a good partnership earlier in the season. Edit: Sainz normally plays WL, as he did with the U21s on Tuesday.
Another option which I think Wagner mentioned in the presser would be to push Sara into the 10 and bring Forshaw in to midfield with Kenny
Idah is young enough to have a successful career but I would rather start the Korean chap or even both. Seems like a lack of confidence thing with Adam
