I agree we started well and we have caused them a few problems since Pilkington and Wilbraham came on, but for me, the rest in between has been plain awful. We have not made their defence work hard enough as we've attacked at a slow pace giving them plenty of time to get into their positions. When you play teams struggling at the bottom, you need to cause them all sorts of problems and not just be one dimensional. IMO, we haven't done ourselves justice today and that rarely happens.
I think it's fair to say that we only play well when we play along the floor. Whenever we try the long ball we are always absolutely awful, as exemplified today.
I think this performance shows what an important cog Fox is, we look a bit predictable when he isn't playing. I just think there is better movement when Fox is there and we look more comfortable in possession. Howson will bomb forward when Fox is playing and I think we needed that high tempo today. Bad performance but remarkable season.
It's almost like we play at at real high pace at the start and if we don't convert any chances we start to switch off and loose faith. Then the other team just picks us off.
I think that's an over reaction that next season will be a long hard slog. Two games ago we beat Spurs, we were poor today and last week but I think we should look at bigger picture.
Yes, I'm glad I didn't go and watch what sounded like a really bad performance. I agree that we should have started with a 4-4-2 formation, but obviously, PL decided otherwise. Bring on Liverpool.
Last week, I came on here and stood up for our players because I thought they had given their all against a very good Man City side. It wasn't a bad performance, and with a bit of luck we could have got it to 2-2. This week I really think we were dire. Hoofball. Rubbish hoofball. Why? When we have stood up to Man City billionaires for 75 minutes, why did we have a match plan which seemed to be hoof it up in the air from the very first minute? I really thought we were going places, now I am very worried about next season.
On the bright side, it could still be a very good day for us yet. If QPR fail to beat Tottenham then we WILL be staying up. We are Premier League! On the Ball City.
The players have known for a long time we were safe, and as much as the players and management will deny it, they have shown this in recent times.
I think the fact we stood up to them for 75 minutes is a sign we can cut it. Today was awful but tactically Blackburn had it right, we didn't. I think once these players have refreshed in the summer with a successful Premier League season behind them, bring in some reinforcements, I think we can all be excited about next season. I don't think we will do well if all Norwich fans go into next season in a negative manner.
I agree, and I think all the tinkering lately has been more about who to keep and who to discard in the summer!
Well, for me to summarise the game as I have said the key word is reality check. I am certainly disappointed that we couldn't beat a Blackburn team in the relegation mire especially because Gael Givet, their centre-back was limping all the way through the match, but I knew it would be tough, because it is away from home and Blackburn want to try to stay in this division. I realise most posters will disagree with this but Blackburn were very good today and we were NOT awful, although one of two players were on an individual level. Ruddy - 6.5 - Dealt with high balls too close to him against a team strong in the air. He might be disappointed the first goal got past (Or maybe through?) him, but I can't really fault him for either goal nor would I want to! R Martin - 5.5 - Not great. But only two criticisms are too much hoofing and he might have done better stopping the goal from Hoilett? VERY LUCKY not to give away a penalty for handling a free-kick with his arm raised! Ward - 5.5 - I think he was he the one who lost Formica for Blackburn's opener, and to be honest alot of set pieces went to him only to be wasted. R Bennett - 6 - Assured enough in defence, but missed a few chances on set pieces too. Drury - 6 - Would have looked alot better if the rest of the team had been at their best! E Bennett - 6 - See Drury! Howson - 6.5 - Produced one of our only proper chances, although we weren't short of half chances whilst playing what is definatley not his best or preferred role - one positive too take from the performance. Hoolahan - 5 - Poor, and as I will cover in the last paragraph didn't really justify replacing Bradley Johnson whom I would have expected to start. He's been hot and cold all season, and some people may start to question what it is Lambert sees in him, and if we need him when Howson does it better. Surman - 3.5 - I hate to say it, but he was terrible. His set piece delivery was poor, and his passing was dreadful, and both those problems I have highlighted have happened more than once this season. Also tackled pretty often too. I don't think he and Hoolahan should be on the pitch at the same time, because everytime we have a disappointing away game, it usually involves him and Hoolahan giving away possesion. Holt - 6.5 - Aside from wasting one or two good heading chances, he was actually pretty good and if he had the service Blackburn had that game (Or had been on at the end) I would have fancied him to score. Vaughan - 6 - Nice to see him not injured again, and who knows what he could have done with some service? But again, his inclusions will be discussed in the last paragraph. Subs: Pilkington - 6.5 - Should have been starting on the evidence of his cameo. We certainly looked a little more like scoring with him on the pitch. Wilbraham - 7 - Made an impact for sure, it's a shame we can't have 4 strikers on the pitch at once. Morrison - 7 - People always complain about him, but he controlled the hoofball very well and created chances for others only to see them wasted. Him and Wilbraham looked a good pairing for that last 15 mins. So finally did Lambert get the tactics wrong? I was surprised to see Johnson/Pilkington our for Hoolahan and Surman, especially seeing they were so awesome against Tottenham and didn't play badly against Man City, so I couldn't see why they were dropped. In hindsight their inclusions/exclusions look to have been poor decisions, but there is no knowing what would have happened had the they started. It could have been better or worse! And I am not sure why Vaughan was included either; I did expect to see him come on as a substitute towards the end, but I don't know what Wilbraham did to deserve demotion to the bench, or why Morrison wouldn't be ahead of Vaughan considering the latter hasn't played. Vaughan didn't play badly, but we didn't look like scoring with him on the pitch. So finally, why such a negative reaction? It wasn't our best game, but we are safe for next season, and frankly what did you expect against a team away from home scrapping to stay in this league. After our Spurs game, some of you were talking about a Europa league spot, and for you this is a well deserved reality check. And for the people saying next season is going to be a struggle; get a grip. Think how good are signings this year (Pilkington, Bennett, Howson etc) have been, so give Lambert another summer shop and I'm sure we can keep improving!
Of course not, it wasn't a great performance, but we only lost courtesy of one lapse of defensive concentration and a wonder goal and now we are going to struggle next season? Should also add that Lawro's prediction was 100% correct!
Agreed Dave. I am guessing that is the only reason not to play Naughton. Lambert must be wondering whether Martin and Drury can still hack it and is assessing their every move from now until the end of the season. Hardly any point playing Naughton if he is not going to be here next season. Makes you wonder if he has either been priced out of our range or that the player himself isn't interested in being with us long term!
Sorry, I know I've over-reacted. But it was just so incredibly bad on all levels. For the first time ever, I want to criticise Lambert. Why did he think hoofball would beat Blackburn? When we had beaten Spurs on merit, and given Man City a good work out, why did we revert to kicking the ball in the air in the hope that we'd get a lucky break? And don't just blame Surman. Clearly a decision was made to hoof the ball into the opposition penalty area as often as possible. Why did we abandon the tactical nous that has served us so well for this season and the seasons before? OK, I'll shut up, I'm depressed, and we have done wonderfully well this season, and tomorrow I will see it all in better perspective.
Good man! With Wilbraham/Morrison on the pitch it was always good to be hoofball though. In hindsight I think Lambert did pick the wrong line-up a midfield with NO steel only to play hoofball... Howson/Hoolahan/Surman are all flair players and I start to wonder why we need two let alone three of them on the pitch at once!
My opinion for what it is worth is that is was not total crap today but it seemed some of the players might have been thinking about their holidays already. compared to what we are used to seeing, the energy levels and comitment were not as high as we have come to expect. all teams have off-days. As for the hoof-ball, we weren't playing that way until the game was slipping away from us and we were trying to get something out of it. again, this smacks of laziness. Belt it up there and see if something happens and with both Wilbs and Morison on the pitch I can kind of see why players who couldn't be arsed to run with it thought they could get away with doing that. For me that isnot good enough and I am hoping it was not a management instruction and that the management have words with certain individuals about what is expected of them. On the plus side, anything other than a QPR win tonight and we can celebrate mathmatical survival.
Good point VC. If you bypass the midfield and ask them to pick up scrpa from flick ons and knock downs you are asking most of our current midfield to do something quite alien to them. Play it into their feet and play pleasing intricate passing football and you will get the best out of players like Surman. I agree he didn't cover himself in glory but apart from Howson and Ryan Bennett I don't think too many others did either - Too easy to just pick on Surman today.
