A match low on quality, especially in the first half, but would of happily taken 4 points from Arsenal and Villa. Still giving the ball away too much and some of the crossing today was shocking with far too many wasted chances. That being said, not that disappointed with today and happy with what Hughton has done so far. Lambert's decision to leave us however is looking more and more bizarre by the day...
It's a shame Fox isn't great in the tackle, I really felt he was needed today. I called it at the time, but with hindsight it really would have been better for E Bennett to have gone right back, and brought Snoddy on at half time. We barely needed a RB for most of the second half, and when R Bennett did pop up in the oppositions half, his crossing was poor and if that chance at the end had fallen to anyone else I think they'd have at least hit the target. Can't blame Hughton for not predicting the future though. Equally I'm not criticising R Bennett's contribution, I don't expect a CB to be able to cross or hit a crashing volley, but having E Bennett there would have been a real help. Him and Snoddy doubling up down the right would have been interesting. Still, an away point isn't to be sniffed out, even if we all felt 3 points were there to be taken.
You don't get many chances in the Prem to pick up 3 points away. Today was one of those days,and we blew it!! We gave away a very poor goal-Turner at fault. We missed 3 or 4 good chances-Wes,Holty,Snods and R Bennett. Agree with others that Snods was poor,and we were crying out for Fox. Tettey and Johnson dominated midfield,but there 2nd balls are often poor. Why is Jackson not getting a run out? Better option than Morro who did nothing when he came on. Ruddy never really tested. MOM Wes followed by Bassong. Definitely 2 points dropped.
The most important thing in 6-pointers like this is not to lose - we didn't! Besides that, as someone else said, it's much, much, much better to dominate games you draw than be extremely lucky to come away with a point, in the long run at least. I know who I'd much rather be supporting after what I've heard about the game today! For me it's definitely a point gained - besides what I've just said, I was led to believe that we'd lost, so when I turned on the computer and saw the score I was naturally delighted - and nothing will change that! We beat Stoke on Saturday and that's 7 points from 3 games! Not saying we will, but we've got a great chance of getting that kind of return now. In Hughton We Trust.
He said it was his 'dream team', two managers that the Binners have previously sacked ! Dear me, poor old Sir Bobby must be turning in his grave
We made things really difficult for ourselves today, I don't think we played awfully it was a scrappy game though! In my opinion we could of been a lot sharper and put the game to bed but in fairness Villa defended exceptionally well. Our passing let us down in this game, Garrido and Martin didn't have a great time, I also thought Tettey and Johnson were well deep trying hollywood passes at times but in fairness to Tettey there was a spell in the second half when he was the best player on the pitch. Hoolahan stole the show for me. Looking at the hype placed on this game I thought we played well and I know Lambert wanted to win this one.
I have to say I though Turner was really good today other than the goal we conceded. Looked solid again defensively, just one lapse in concentration which cost us a bit. One other observation was I wish Snodgrass used his right foot more at times, especially when a chance fell to him in the box he shortened his odds of scoring because he didn't want to hit it with his right foot. We've seen he has a right foot in his locker, that's what puzzles me. Other than that, I think loads of positives from today, we bossed the game and were very unlucky not to have won it. A striker is priority in January but I don't think it's going to be repeat of the Worthy season as it might be too late. I think we'll have 20 points by January, which is on course. Agree about the point about Fox at the top, wasn't even on the bench today, and we were crying out for him at times. Strange to see Butterfield not being given a chance yet either.
I know hindsight is magnificent, but I'd have brought on Howson for Johnson (or Tettey - neither were overly effective today, compared to last week) after the sending off, as he's more creative going forward. Plus Jackson rather than Morison, to use his undisputed pace to worry the makeshift Villa back line. The two yellow cards were very naive of Joe Bennett - Lambert will be fuming, but we didn't fully use our numerical advantage when we had the extra player - for around 40 minutes Sadly, I see today as 2 points squandered and we're not the calibre of team who can afford to do that too often and expect to survive in this division.
Just got back from the weekend in Winchester but watched the match in a pub there along with some other Canaries and a few villains. It felt like being at an away game sitting there. I won't read through all the other posts as I don't have the time but I would imagine many will say the same things. Impression of the game overall is that you don't get too many away games where you are handed the game and the initiative too often so it wa s a result we would have taken before the game but after 90+ minutes it has to seen as two points lost through poor finishing. Villa are poor no doubt about it, probably the worst team I have seen us play all season. They had Benteke and nothing else. Ruddy: Can't say too much as he really didn't have too much to do. Martin: His crossing stops him from being a top Prem full back. Bennet: Don't suppose he expected to be playing right midfield for 45 minutes. Turner: Bloody awful the way he gave them their goal then moaned at Bassong. Lost every challenge with Benteke. Nice goal but thats not what he gets his cheque for. He cocks up and its a goal, Wes cocks up and its a miss. Bassong: Agbonlahor's pace worried him but nothing else. Garrido: Nothing to do as a full back but as Martin, his crossing from the bye line was poor. Pilkington: I like that he always tries to beat his man and set something up. Johnson: Ran the 1st half but as in most games, 2nd he starts to give it away too much Tettey: Just what we needed again and prepared to shoot. Bennet: I don't know what he has to do to stay on the pitch. Hoolahan: I love him most of the time then slam my pint on the bar when he does too much. Glaring misses during the game Holt: A bad miss but he did champion work on his own at times Subs: Morison: Some good knock downs and sometimes his sloppy lay offs ruins moves. Snodgrass: Why Bennet made way for him is beyond me. Virtually every cross, apart from one, went out of play on the far side. Not an inspiring game but we did dominate even when they had 11 and at least we pounded their goal when we had the extra man. But our crossing/final ball needs to be better if we are to create enough chances to cover the ones that Holt/Hoolahan are missing. But you can't moan when you have taken an away point of your rivals. And I couldn't give two hoots what their fans think of Lambert, he isn't anything to do with us.
Totally agree on both points - especially Jackson, as he has a far better first touch than Morison and would really have worried thte Villains defence.
