There have been a few comments of it's just the same as last season, I'm not sure what they expect, we've spent more than ever before on what will be excellent quality when key members return from injury!
Certainly wasn't the worst performance since we got back in the PL; the most frustrating maybe. I thought Turner was actually the best of the back four; Garrido was poor, Whittaker (who for some reason hasn't been mentioned) gave the ball away time and again, and Russ M also had a poor game. Apart from RvW, all those who started ahead of the back four played like headless chickens. Redmond was the best of the rest until he tired. Given that Snoddy wasn't really ready, and Bennett unavailable, I don't think Hughton's selection was far off; there's no justification for saying he was too slow with his substitutions. He made the first at half-time, and the second on 70 minutes or thereabouts. I would have preferred to see R. Bennett and Turner at CB, Martin at RB and Whittaker at RM (though I don't know how comfortable Turner/Bennett are playing left CB). I also thought it was a mistake shooting from range against McGregor: he is a terrific shot stopper and you'd need a deflection or very precise placing to beat him. His save from RvW was terrific, but that's what he does. We needed the full backs to get to the by-line and cross, but I don't think they were played in once as far as I can remember. Fer started pretty well, and probably should have scored with that header, which would have given us a completely different game. People who for some strange reason expected us blow Hull away before the game, simply end up over-reacting negatively when we don't. If it hadn't been for the penalty, we'd never have lost that game. My verdict is "a missed opportunity". We'll see more experimentation in these early games until we have the short-term absentees back, and the newcomers fully fit and better integrated. Then we will start to motor. [Ooh look, no smiley]
I agree I love Rusty don't get me wrong, but he is fourth choice centre-back and shouldn't be starting there when two of Bennett, Bassong or Bennett are fit, which I assume is the case with Ryan sat on the bench. Not sure why he hasn't been playing, he was absolutely brilliant at the end of last season and I expected him to be in the first XI this year.
There were lots and lots and lots of fans at the game calling for his head. There was an awful lot of negativity towards him at the final whistle. Personally I blame the players for this one, the vast majority of them were extremely lacklustre. The lowest point for me was being stood there watching (no disrespect) Hull, with 10 men, with about 10 mins to go (when we should be throwing the kitchen sink at them), put roughly 15 passes together and their fans shouting 'OLE!'. Very frustrating.
Rusty is a very good centre back. One bad game doesn't change this. The midfield, Whittaker, and ESPECIALLY Garrido were absolutely shocking.
I'm not talking about one game, in my eyes Rusty has always been behind Bassong, Turner and Bennett in the pecking order. I'm also not saying Rusty was to blame for yesterday, but I am saying on the basis of Ryan's superb form at the end of last season that he should be starting ahead of him.
It was one game and not an especially bad performance.The Telegraph ratings for Norwich were the same as for Hull and there is universal agreement that it was two penalties or none.The RvW header was in if it was anywhere more than a foot either side.Just one of those days,move on.
