Lloris did very well today, he is a proactive keeper unlike Freidel. He comes for the ball, last season Brad didn't and we dropped home points against Norwich and West Brom partly because of that. Well played Hugo, one goal conceded in 5 games - tip top keeping from a tip top keeper. Overall an excellent performance and result, for Paulinho to play that well after the air miles he's clocked out, absolutely fantastic. I said when we signed him that he'd outshine Sandro and Dembele this year, and am very happy with my prediction Great stuff all round, and this is now my traditional time to match my season prediction, and I'm going for fourth. It's much more optimistic than I thought it would be at one stage during the opening month. It's probably too optimistic, but I think we're looking better than last sason, so I kinda feel I have to be optimistic. I do however accept that 5th is bound to happen but 4th is my call. PS I'm glad Rose has replaced BAE, I had my doubts about Danny and still do, but I had even greater doubts about BAE and back AVB's call on this one 100% Oh and well done Captain Daws As for Norwich, yet another team to come to the Lane with plenty of bluster beforehand, but boring defensive anti-football when they trot out onto the pitch. Can't wait for a team to come and give us a proper game.
I know. I missed the first half hour, couldn't believe we had a game on a saturday... And yup correct on positions.
and that is why the fan base is so divided on CH. While most of us appreciate that just staying in the PL is the goal (for financial stability if nothing else), it is so frustrating every other week when the next away game comes along. Unless the home team is having an off day, a draw is as good as we are likely to get, if the home team is poor, then yes they will get the upper hand, but such days are rare.
Whilst he's clearly an upgrade on Friedel, today was far from his finest moment. He had virtually nothing to do and still dropped the ball once and then handballed it about a minute later. He's had a really bad week, with this following his nightmare for France against Belarus, so I hope he can put it behind him in the next game.
He's a new manager though, so perhaps he'll learn as things go on? He may be overcompensating after watching Spurs playing so loosely away from home for decades!
Before MoTD is on ... How was the creative CM play today (given Eriksen had a start) ?? And a quick look at the BBC shooting stats : 7 on target out of an alleged *23* is shocking. But ... 9 out of 12. One goal conceded in four. And wholesale squad personnel changes still to bed in. Can't complain, can you.
Yeah I don't mind that as long as he doesn't crowd the no10. He's got a good shot and we need goals from left and right with that formation. The time it really didn't work was when he was supposedly left and dembele supposedly no10. How was holtby when he came on?
Dominated play and virtually all of it was in the Norwich half. Created a fair number of chances and near chances (Bassong was very good), but a lot of our shots were from distance. Eriksen looked very comfortable, always had time and space, took some very nice touches and didn't look bothered by the pace. Mixed. Started on the left, then moved into the centre. Ran about a bit but the game had lost a lot of it's shape. I think Lamela did more in his cameo, to be honest.
Possibly I am not sure what the thinking is, other than trying to be hard to beat. Whatever it is, away from Fortress Carrow Road, it ain't working too well. Hopefully we will give you guys a harder time in the return match, and maybe even a scare or two
Think Andros accounted for at least 16 of those! Rose had one, Siggy had one or two. Have we got Europey this week? If so my team would be: ------------------Friedel (need to give him some game time before we get into the serious rounds of the cups) Naughton---Kaboul---Verts---*Young guy that used to be in the utd youth? -----------Sandro---Paulinho--------- Lamela----------Holtby-------Cahdli/Siggy (depending on whether Chadli is fit?) -------------Defoe------------------ Subs to come on - Erik the Viking for Holtby Dembele for Paulinho Anyone know what the deal is with Lennon atm? when is due back? Same as Capoue, it looked bad at the time but i havn't heard anything since? Also, when will Chariches get his permit?!
Nice interview there from Siggy on Final Score : Good to get the win after the NLD and the internationals. Another clean sheet. Competition there in MF for places but need a big squad to be competitive in all campaigns this season.
"Think Andros accounted for at least 16 of those!" Bang goes my claim he has matured into a team player playing the percentages.
" Also, when will Chariches get his permit?! " Well if that vermin Willian can get his playing in exile and 30 odd mins in a Brasil shirt, someone who has played 20 odd times for his country shouldn't be a problem. It could be the Home Office are trying to do the paperwork during working hours, when we know Vlad is more of a "night person" .
Andros will hopefully grow out of this tunnel vision from gaining more experience, as otherwise he is going to be more frustrating then Lennon when it comes to making the right decision.
*Tying my Iceland flag over the Stars & Stripes* I was hoping for some kind of Scandinavian connection, and sure enough... Gylfi scores, assists, works very hard and has an edge to him. He doesn't have the vision we need in the center, but once again he's creating danger on the left. I definitely prefer him to Chadli at the moment. As good as Erikson, Rose and Gylfi were, I may have been most impressed with Paulinho. Teamed with Dembele to rule midfield, got down the right to tee one up for the second, and ran rings around Norwich in the corner at one point (though he forgot to look for the pass coming back to him...) It's not just Townsend with a weakness for the ill-advised long range shot, though he was egregious today (which was too bad, as otherwise I would have said he had a very good game). Gylfi, Holtby and Dembele have the shot to try those long range bombs...Capoue, Townsend, Paulinho and Walker would be well-advised to pass to the open man. Tough week for Lloris continues...but a poor game with a clean sheet is nice. It's easy to say Norwich had a bad game, but I watched Swansea have a bad game as well. In both cases it seemed caused by the energy we pressed with in general, and Paulinho and Dembele controlling midfield in particular. Teams are not seeing a lot of the ball against us, not even Arsenal. It feels so good to have the creative player we need in the middle. Oh, we'll sell him, and use the money to pick up another 7 top four level starters, or maybe another four top two level starters
Well he is used to get the ball whenever everyone else runs out of creativity or options. With a CL winning Chelsea like formation you'd expect the team to look at him to create something.
Once again thanks for help & tips re streaming. I think the media player thing which stayed on screen all through was an ad as I already have a built in media player. When I pressed the close button all it did was remove the close button! All I saw of the match was an inch either side of the stupid ad. I followed it more on the match thread. Great to see the goals later, thanks PNP. INDA- I have a Mozzilla firefox icon on the screen - does this mean I have firefox or do I need to download a different one? I've never known what it was for, its always been there. Anyway, we WON that's the main thing...COYS.
" In both cases it seemed caused by the energy we pressed with in general, and Paulinho and Dembele controlling midfield in particular. Teams are not seeing a lot of the ball against us, not even Arsenal. " I think the opponent MF being continually beasted will be a trait of this season. It won't completely cut out the creative threat of our top 4 rivals when we play them, but it should reduce the number of chances far more.
