I wasn't really sure what to write about the game. It was a strange one. It was a bit dull yet pleasing on the eye at the same time! I feel the result yesterday was (again) harsh on us. I don't think we probably did enough to win the game but we were the better team in possession and created some good chances and a point was certainly the least we deserved. Some of our approach play was lovely and we were good to watch but our profligacy in front of goal is a concern - one issue being that our best chances seem to keep falling at the feet of the wrong people, but we are creating plenty of chances in each match so its down to the players to start taking them.
The goal probably wouldn't have happened had Bassong still been on the pitch. Turner is struggling for form and it happened shortly after he'd come on. However, Turner played very well after that so hopefully he's getting back on track. Newcastle hardly troubled us other than from range so again we looked comfortable. The penalty was a bit soft though it probably was, just about, the right decision. I don't think had it not been given that much fuss would have been made though.
I've read some ridiculous things this weekend by 'fans' of various clubs wanting managers sacked five games in cos they aren't higher up the league, but for our own fans to be suggesting such a thing is the most ludicrous of all. What exactly did they expect this season? Are these people watching our games? Do they understand the size of the task the club faces? Do they understand football at all? Since when did Norwich City become a major force in the top flight and be expected to win games comfortably?
We are definitely a better team at this stage than we were at the same stage last season and I think we are a better team than we were at the end of last season. We look far more comfortable on the ball and much more solid at the back. We look more solid in midfield, protecting the back four but also creating chances. The only area of worry is up front where its certainly not a lack of chances stopping us scoring. We still have the same personnel so we know they can deliver goals, but we just need a couple of breaks. Anyone can see that we are a developing side - Hughton is still trying to figure out our best team and what the best way to go forward is - these things can take time so we need to just get behind the lads and manager and be patient and supportive.
We still have some potentially key players to return to action - Fox, Butterfield, Bennett etc. As I say, people need to be patient. Things don't always just 'click' when a new manager comes in. Hughton is going to be in charge for a long while to come regardless of divisional status in my opinion - people need to get over their obsession with Lambert - he is not our manager anymore - that ship has sailed. The number of muppets claiming 'we would have won that game under Lambert'... how can you possibly know that?
And this notion that we should have carried on playing all out attack is disturbing and shows a lack of intelligence. Great to watch but effectively suicidal football over time. We have to have trust in the manager. And we haven't even become a defensive side despite what some would have you believe. We've just become more balanced. The days of the diamond and sticking five up front are long gone - it wasn't going to work long term. We are not far away from 'clicking', of that I am certain. If we are so defensive, how come we keep creating so many chances?
We require a little bit of luck and a bit more belief in front of goal to make it happen. One off Holty's arse... an own goal... or two or three against Doncaster on Wednesday... anything could be the catalyst. I think Hoolahan played very well yesterday. I'd be keen for him to keep his spot in the team. Something which might work is Wes behind a lone front man - Simeon Jackson. I don't think its something that has ever been tried but I think it could work. Use Holt as an impact sub for the time being, hopefully he'll recapture his form that way. Just an option but I think we should play two up front against Donny. The two players we really miss are Pilkington and Bennett - the width they offer is vital to us - the sooner they are both fit and back in the team, the better.
Finishing 17th or better is still perfectly possible. That is the aim this season and anyone who thinks otherwise needs to think carefully about what they are saying! We've had three meteoric years and eventually we would hit a wall. That may have happened but its hardly reason to be doom and gloom - we are in the Premier League and have a very realistic chance of still being there next season. People need to believe in the players and the manager, otherwise, things can go quickly wrong. I had the pleasure (?) of visiting the Portaloo on Saturday to watch them get beaten by an extremely mediocre Charlton side. Now THEY are a team with problems. Everything about them smells of relegation. We don't - on the list of 'good things' we tick most boxes - we just need to take our chances more frequently.
IHWT OTBC
The goal probably wouldn't have happened had Bassong still been on the pitch. Turner is struggling for form and it happened shortly after he'd come on. However, Turner played very well after that so hopefully he's getting back on track. Newcastle hardly troubled us other than from range so again we looked comfortable. The penalty was a bit soft though it probably was, just about, the right decision. I don't think had it not been given that much fuss would have been made though.
I've read some ridiculous things this weekend by 'fans' of various clubs wanting managers sacked five games in cos they aren't higher up the league, but for our own fans to be suggesting such a thing is the most ludicrous of all. What exactly did they expect this season? Are these people watching our games? Do they understand the size of the task the club faces? Do they understand football at all? Since when did Norwich City become a major force in the top flight and be expected to win games comfortably?
We are definitely a better team at this stage than we were at the same stage last season and I think we are a better team than we were at the end of last season. We look far more comfortable on the ball and much more solid at the back. We look more solid in midfield, protecting the back four but also creating chances. The only area of worry is up front where its certainly not a lack of chances stopping us scoring. We still have the same personnel so we know they can deliver goals, but we just need a couple of breaks. Anyone can see that we are a developing side - Hughton is still trying to figure out our best team and what the best way to go forward is - these things can take time so we need to just get behind the lads and manager and be patient and supportive.
We still have some potentially key players to return to action - Fox, Butterfield, Bennett etc. As I say, people need to be patient. Things don't always just 'click' when a new manager comes in. Hughton is going to be in charge for a long while to come regardless of divisional status in my opinion - people need to get over their obsession with Lambert - he is not our manager anymore - that ship has sailed. The number of muppets claiming 'we would have won that game under Lambert'... how can you possibly know that?
And this notion that we should have carried on playing all out attack is disturbing and shows a lack of intelligence. Great to watch but effectively suicidal football over time. We have to have trust in the manager. And we haven't even become a defensive side despite what some would have you believe. We've just become more balanced. The days of the diamond and sticking five up front are long gone - it wasn't going to work long term. We are not far away from 'clicking', of that I am certain. If we are so defensive, how come we keep creating so many chances?
We require a little bit of luck and a bit more belief in front of goal to make it happen. One off Holty's arse... an own goal... or two or three against Doncaster on Wednesday... anything could be the catalyst. I think Hoolahan played very well yesterday. I'd be keen for him to keep his spot in the team. Something which might work is Wes behind a lone front man - Simeon Jackson. I don't think its something that has ever been tried but I think it could work. Use Holt as an impact sub for the time being, hopefully he'll recapture his form that way. Just an option but I think we should play two up front against Donny. The two players we really miss are Pilkington and Bennett - the width they offer is vital to us - the sooner they are both fit and back in the team, the better.
Finishing 17th or better is still perfectly possible. That is the aim this season and anyone who thinks otherwise needs to think carefully about what they are saying! We've had three meteoric years and eventually we would hit a wall. That may have happened but its hardly reason to be doom and gloom - we are in the Premier League and have a very realistic chance of still being there next season. People need to believe in the players and the manager, otherwise, things can go quickly wrong. I had the pleasure (?) of visiting the Portaloo on Saturday to watch them get beaten by an extremely mediocre Charlton side. Now THEY are a team with problems. Everything about them smells of relegation. We don't - on the list of 'good things' we tick most boxes - we just need to take our chances more frequently.
IHWT OTBC
. How can a so called fan of this club seriously suggest such a thing 
! As you say supers we are a better more organized outfit from last season, but we aren't taking our chances which at the end of the day is completely out of hughtons hands. One thing we must do, which some obviousley won't agree with and thats whatever the outcome of the coming months we should stick with CH 
. Even as a law student I never really read the long-winded law reports available to us!