Match Day Thread Norwich City v Southampton 19:45 Tuesday 26th August

If he carries on like that I'll just call him master key - can unlock any defence.



(Sorry)

 

My overriding thought from tonight.

I saw Sesay said Still saw Sesay say. When Still still saw Sesay, Still said Sesay shone.

Easy enough for me to say, I know.

 

McCarthy had a good game

 

Made about half a dozen saves, I think.

 

That was some hit by Matsuki! Does this mean midfielders are allowed to have a go like the good old days, or is he going to get dropped until he remembers to pass it backwards?

 

I still think all round he's better than Bazunu but Gav has his place and will rightly keep it for the time being.

 

Mo Sesay
That was such an easy game to play
Now we all go to Watford away
Oh I believe, in Mo Sesay

 

I knew what you meant SN7, my reply had nothing to do with football and I apologise for being flippant. My joke was that with September only having 30 days it is not huge but actually one of the smaller months. I just felt that after a 3-0 away win, I could be a bit frivolous.

 

Our MoM

 

Back in had cup of tea now to bed after a long drive there and back.
Thought we grew into the game and confidence grew. Thought Shea Charles was a rolls Royce, Downes out of sorts still, Edward’s falling down CB pecking order as Woods was excellent again. Mads at RB looks a very good signing,Fraser good again and McCarthy very good, and was great to score a few goals.
Get a bit of pace in this team and a play maker in the middle and we’ll be in with a chance.
Night All and fingers crossed for a few incoming links today.

 

Yes and No.

Some full on ****ing shenanigans from Highways England meant that I have only just got in. It's like they thought to themselves "Old Lincs is in a fairly good mood let's see which ways we can **** him in the arse to ruin it" Then plotting my route home and closing every road on it. There is no way that was not deliberately done just to piss me off. Shutting the M25 after I had already been detoured from the M11 was particularly class. An extra 2 hrs on my journey and I didn't see a single **** with a spade.

The game itself had some great goals although the atmosphere from both sets of fans was quite poor. After putting some in on Quarshie in the last game, it's only fair I hold my hands up and admit he played well tonight. Mccarthy was solid and Matsu Matsek The Japanese lad, deserves a start.

Goals 8/10
Game 6/10
Away day as a whole 3/10

 

So that's two awful performance from Downes in a row then? (I didn't watch this game, just going off highlights and the comments of others). I don't think it can purely be that he can only play RM-ball. We know he struggled with the transition to the PL, and then threw his toys out the pram trying to push for a sideways move to Ipswich after Martin got the sack. But then towards the end of the PL season when we (our managers) finally realised that playing a double pivot of Downes and Ugo was a good idea, he started playing well and showing that maybe he could potentially become a lower half PL player.
I wonder if he still has it in his head that he wants to move to Ipswich. Or maybe we just need to simplify his role in the team until he plays himself into some form, just get him to sit in front of the defence and keep it simple. Break up attacks, win second balls, close down that chasm of space that has been between our defence and midfield, and just recycle the ball. Either that or just give him a break from the team as we don't need to be playing him and Charles in most Championship games anyway and Charles has started the season much much better (albeit he was also poor against Stoke).

 

Great effort by you and all our away supporters tonight!

Disagree about Edwards. One very obvious mistake but otherwise he was solid. First half all three CBs made mistakes and all three improved second half. Edwards to me looks a much better footballer than the other two though. He’s a cleaner tackler as well. The other two give away needless fouls too often.

Downes also got better as it went on. Charles was largely fantastic, though he still gets caught on the ball a bit too easily. Just feels like the two of them don’t work well together. No understanding between them.

 

A good win with McCarthy and Quarshie doing much to answer their critics, good goals from Archie and Fraz, screamer from Matsuperman. Still (unintended pun) a lot of work to do, too many misplaced passes and players caught in possession. McCarthy's saves and a poor Norwich performance gave us the much needed victory. Better in the second half finishing strongly, more of the same at Watford please.

 

Three goals, a clean sheet and a win. You're up for the Watford thread now Jabbo!

 

Saturday 30th August 2025
Watford v Southampton (15:00)

Referee:- FARAI HALLAM

Assistants:- Robert Hyde and Bhupinder Singh Gill

Fourth Official : Declan Bourne

 

I am indeed, now busy with researching what came first Watford or the Gap. Answers in the match thread when posted.

 

I thought McCarthy was excellent last night and it’s great for him and the team that he has kept two clean sheets.
I know it was only against Eastleigh, during the preseason games, but I thought then that Matsuki’s off the ball movement was something we haven't seen in a Saints midfielder since the Berkovic days.
I saw that same movement last night and I also noticed how he always seemed to be in space and calling for the ball.
After his goal, we had a move down the right where the ball was crossed for Downs to try and get his head on the ball, but I was calling out for the cross to be pulled back to the edge of the box where Matsuki was again in space for a free shot on goal.
I hope he can progress from here.

 

Agreed, Macca is a much better shot stopper but basic footwork, Baz struggles with the basic goalkeeping but is very good with his feet