Yep, their performance today was very promising. Howson actually looked like the player we bought last January for a change. Honestly, if every player could play like that next year then we won't need any summer improvements! We've been calling the formation 4-2-3-1, but recently it's been more 4-1-1-3-1, with Howson given a lot more freedom in the middle of the park whilst Johnson holds deeper. It's put Howson into a more natural role and we've played better as a result. (And yes #BHW if you're looking in, I'll freely admit I stole that from you) Only person I'd really fault was Garrido, who still looked uncertain going forward and offered a lot less than the rampaging Russell Martin.
i agree our survival alone is impressive. Wasn't mean to poop on anyones party really, just something i was reflecting on in my happy pissed state. So often people say the opposition was poor rather than saying we played well. This was the first time that i've truly felt both were true. We were at our best, and west brom were at their worst. A very lucky and entertaining combination for us all!
Stop being such a party pooper...you can only beat what is in front of you! Hughton has passed an extremely challenging scenario, "You have just replaced perhaps the most successful manager that Norwich have ever had. The fan favourite and leading goalscorer over the last 3 years has handed in a transfer request. You have just £10m to improve the squad as you see fit.Your task is to survive at all costs. During the season, your strikers will suffer an extreme loss of form, your goalkeeper will be ruled out for 6 months through injury, the fans will question your ability and your nerve will be tested to the absolute limit with a barren run containing just 2 wins in 19." When you look at it that way, I'd say he has done brilliantly to keep us up.
He was immense he seemed to be totally aware of where everybody was around him, always tracking back to relieve pressure off the defence, when they wanted someone to pass to he was always there, he knew when to attack when we needed someone to control the distribution of the ball, I haven't seen any of our central midfielders do that for a long while. Garrido lost the ball a lot but made some decent challenges defensively. Martin had to get involved due to Snodgrass wanting a lot of the ball, there was a couple of stray passes on his behalf but he was solid and reliable as usual.
Didn't go to yesterday's game, as I've been disappointed with some of the performances and played golf instead. I should think the colleague who bought my season ticket off me was mightily impressed, as my seat is in the N&P lower, so he would have had a brilliant view of the 2nd half goals. Re Howson - I thought he had a good game against Villa in a more forward role and looks a promising prospect for next season and let's hope CH has seen that attack is the best form of defence. GREAT to see my hero back in goal - we've certainly missed him!!! Thanks Mark for deputising so ably after a shaky start. I don't think JR would have stayed had we been relegated.
Goes to show that no player on a team is more important than the goalkeeper. If you have a great one, it breeds confidence at the back, which encourages the team to push forward (i.e a positive feedback loop). Ruddy should be retained unless a £15m+ offer comes in
Bottom line on context is that we play every other team home and away and the table tells its own story. Yes we definietly had the rub of the green yesterday and we were helped by Foster having a very poor game but as others have said we have had our share where it has gone the other way or an individual has made an error costing us points. Good to see Ruddy back and Howson looking like the player I thought he would be for us. I'd also like to give special praise for R Martin who if I'm honest I couldn't see featuring much this year but he has and he has done extremely well for us and just never lets the club down. Top bloke. I don't think that many of us are under the illusion that we don't need to add a fair bit of quality over the Summer if we are not to have another battle for 17th or above next season but I am hugely enjoying the relief of staying up and sneakily hoping that Wigan can beat Arsenal to set up a shoot-out on the final day of the season between them, Villa and Sunderland.
Think we were quite lucky ruddy got injured to be honest, otherwise have a feeling some of the big boys might have shown significant interest this summer. As it is, I'm almost certain we'll have him for another year...
The context is we are in the PL next season, with more cash to spend and build a stronger team. CH has undoubtedly learnt a lot this season and is aware of the need to strengthen the team. All seems pretty good at carrow road at the moment. A struggle and dirty dire football at times, but foundations are in place for better things. Can't wait
Looking forward to the summer money will hopefully not be much of an issue as it has been for the past two seasons, so we might see what Hughton is actually all about.
Great result and great performance. Where did that come from! I think a big part was WBA already being on the beach and partly a much improved all round display. The pressing was better and from that I think most good things came. The passive 10 behind the ball must now be consigned to the 2012-13 dustbin and this more positive and proactive approach maintained. I always thought the players were up to it and the ultra cautious approach was counter productive. Before the game I had made no secret of my feelings being that CH was not the right man to take us forwards. And through my own weird mental approach I had sorted of reckoned that - if we lost he had to go. - if we had drawn whilst seemingly aiming for the draw he should go - if we had drawn whilst trying to win the game, I would still think he should go but could be open minded enough that up or down the penny might have dropped - if we won still playing dire antifootball seemingly aiming for the draw, he should go -we won and were going for it from the start, he should may be go unless he can convince the board that he will now try to be more positive, sorry but I am still unconvinced CH is the best man going forward. I am not fickle enough that one good result against a side already with one foot on the plane will fully change my mind. I will conceed that with staying up and the rare good showings that he will probably and may be should get a chance to prove that this showing against WBA can be the norm not the exception. Alarm bells will be ringing though if preseason has a similar lack of goals and continues in to the season. I am happy honest, I just won't be fickle and moan and moan about CH then disappear when the team comes good(Granted for only one game), nor can I or should we forget how terrible some of the football has been since December. (Or may be we should! It will all be better next season right!) Onwards and upwards, IDMWT OTBC Bah!
CH: Nice to meet you Mr McNally, What's my job for this season? DM: Chris, the goal is to survive and build the team slowly. CH: By any means? DM: Of course, survival is key, we can then keep this football club moving forward. CH: Ok, I'll do my best. END OF SEASON CHAT. DM. Well done CH, NCFC will be in the PL next season, we've got the dogs bollox joining the club in a few weeks and here is £25 million to spend on players, what are you targets; CH: Sounds great, I want to get another striker and a more creative midfielder to start with. DM: Excellent, CH: I'm moulding the team and a few more players will mean we will pass 50 points next season. DM.. Sounds good to me Chris.
The thing is; yes he kept us up, good job! Except that whilst the football club has continued to move forward with the increased revenue, in my opinion from a position of relative comfort on 25 points in December he has not actually improved the team and performances one jot! That was one serious spell of dreadful performances that he just could not arrest! It was good management initially to tactically switch and find a winning formula in the 10 game run, but when it stopped working or was found out where was the plan B? Actually enough with the negative, we are Premier league and he will most likely be our manager next season. I hope that he can prove us of a more critical persuasion wrong because I want success for NCFC and to be entertained in to the bargain. Come on CH prove us doubters wrong! OTBC Bah!
I do think that some recent matches have been 'dire' as 'entertainment', but I also accept that there won't be as much 'entertainment' in PL games as there would be in CL games. Neither do I believe that it was all entertaining under PL last year when, at this time last year we were on the end of a miserable run of 2 wins, 3 draws and 8 defeats, scoring 14 goals and conceding 27! In the equivalent 13 matches this year, we have won 3, drawn 5 and lost 5, scoring 13 goals and conceding 16. Except for the Spurs win and the draw at Arsenal last year, I didn't find that run very entertaining either, but no one was calling for PL to be sacked. IMO, life will always be tough in the PL because it is an unrelentingly tough league to play in.
In the context of my time following City, this has been an excellent season... but I won't be ordering too many 2012/13 match DVD's!
