Will Steer or Rudd now need recalling from their loans for a game? Or is Ruddy close enough to sit on the bench for 90 mins? Or do what Lambert did on occasions last season and go without a keeper on the bench.
I wouldn't recall Rudd. He's doing very well out on loan and Steer can sit in. I think Norwich fans have confidence in him. I tell you what though. Hughton bringing Bunn and Camp in? What a move! Has he got a crystal ball!? I think Ruddy could sit on the bench but he's not trained with the first team yet. Literally a couple of weeks and he'll be ready.
It certainly does answer the question as to why the hell we signed Bunn and Camp when we had two "capable" keepers in place. The experience will make a difference over the mid-long term cover
At last, we played like we were interested. Yes lots of controversial decisions but that's how it goes. I think the most positive thing was how we played, with desire, intent and commitment. For the first time in weeks we looked like we knew what we were doing and we were interested. Lets hope it continues for the rest of the season. We several tough games ahead but if we play like this we will pick up plenty of points...............OTBC
What about City's excellent goal.another great leap by Kei to drop it on to Hoolahan's head. Loved the pair of them doing an Irish jig to celebrate. I certainly feel proud of that performance. Excellent teamwork throughout.
Whoever we sign this summer, in whatever position, I'm not going to question it. Even if we end up with 7 right backs in the squad. That man is psychic.
Could be he's psychic, or it could be he's an intelligent man, with 40 years in the game, who has seen it all.
Lambert having no senior cover at GK was a massive risk that could well have killed our season. I think it's harmed the development of Rudd as well who is only now getting first team experience.
Regarding Bunn, it's probably worth appealing to have the red rescinded as it was his chest under his arm from what I could see but........why didn't he head it? (Having said that, if unsuccessful, Camp did look OK so should be reasonable cover.) I thought Bassong's handball was unlucky but it did brush his arm. However, he was being challenged by a player coming from an offside position, who must still be interfering with play surely, even if he didn't actually touch the ball? And Holty should have had a chance to make amends from last week, shouldn't he! Nevertheless, a good point.
Surely the international break has come at the right time, ruddy might be back.... he said a couple of weeks ago he was kicking to the half way line, thats good enough for me. Shouldn't risk him though Steer is more than good enough
Chris Foy and his team were a disgrace absolutely useless! We played well today and before the game was ruined we were on Sunderlands case. The defence today battled it out like lions a heroic performance if I've seen one Bradders was absolutely brilliant too enforcing the midfield.
I didn't watch the game because I was working, but have watched the highlights a couple of times. I actually am not sure we can hammer the officials too much on the decisions. Whether it hit Bunn's arm or not I am not sure but when I watched it the first time I thought it looked a handball, I actually don't think you can complain too much with that. It's not the Ref's fault there isn't technology in the game and Graham was clean through therefore it was a red card. Secondly it was a handball by Bassong, if Bramble had done that in there box and we hadn't got a penalty I would be screaming. Although Bramble hasn't got any kind of control in his locker, even with his arms. The one which I think we can feel aggrieved about is the Rose handball, when he landed one foot was still in the box and his momentum was carrying him out of the box so that was a stupid decision and was 1000% in the box. Agree it was a good performance, from what I'd seen anyway. Any away point is good because it's our home form which will keep us up.
Personally with the benefit of a night's sleep I think that: 1. Bunn sending off - ref's call as it hit his hand and definitely stopped a goal scoring chance. If Foy thought his arm was up to block the ball then he was within his rights to send him off. Had it been the other way round I would have been annoyed had their keeper not gone so whilst I am annoyed I can understand why it happened. 2. Bassong penalty - definitely incorrect regardless of whether he handled the ball or not as Fletcher was pressuring him coming back from an offside position and had he not been there Bassong could have let the ball run past him As far as I'm concerned Bassong could have caught the ball and it still should not have been a penalty. Clear error 3. Rose non-penalty - incorrect decision but understandable. I think that Yellow's post above analyses this perfectly but I can understand that at full speed and given the lino's poisition at a right angle to the line that he would not be in a position to be certain where the connection was made. The combination of one blatently incorrect decision and getting the wrong end of two marginal calls has probably cost us two points which could prove costly but may end up saving Sunderland and putting someone else down in their place. I would think that the refereeing team may have some questions to answer and I would also like to say how well I thought that Russell Martin handled the post-match interview. Calm and dignified rather than a Rio-like piece of petulence.
What about those Sunderland corners being allowed feet outside the quadrant?? It looked as if, by the time we got to that part of the match, Sunderland players thought they could do what they liked.
Totally agree with the OP, I was definitely proud of the lads yesterday in a much improved and far more encouraging performance. Ok, Sunderland were absolutely ****, as bad a side as I've seen this season, but considering we played 60+ minutes with ten men we were certainly the better side. Another day the decisions may have gone differently, but no massive gripes from me, it's another point nearer safety