I thought the first half was very good, other than the 'average' final third penetration. We pressed them, and totally out-played them with far improved passing. I will agree the 2nd half was nowhere near as enjoyable but Stoke were always likely to get a rocket up their arse from Mark Hughes, and they came out more fired up than us, but even as the 2nd half progressed, Norwich started to get back in to it and push forward again (alas, once again with the crucial pass missing). As away games go, it was far more enjoyable (and far better display (for 45 minutes)) than the Spurs game was, and indeed many away games from last season
I'm not saying it was hugely entertaining but what do you expect away at Stoke. I predicted 0-0 because Norwich at the Brittania is usually a recipe for terrible, dull football. However, that first 45 minutes was brilliant from Norwich and deserving of another goal. You don't have to change your opinions, but why, after a good win away from home at a ground that we have never won at, does this guy feel the need to still ring in and bang on about how terrible Hughton is and how he should be sacked. We now have the same number of points as Man U, can't be all that bad!
I don't think it was the sort of game RVW was going to have much effect, thought Elmander was better when he came on. RVW worked hard don't get me wrong but he had to come deep regularly through the game which just doesn't suit him. I don't think we've adapted out style to facilitate RVW into our team YET, he works his bollocks off and he has great movement as we can all see but unless we make a couple of tweaks he won't pull up many trees this season. Good win though, thought Fer, Howson and Tettey were all massive for us today. Wasn't a great game but 3 points is the important thing, I do think we played some nice football at times. Thought Olsson was great as well, one occasion his bomb forward nearly caught us out but other than that he was very solid defensively.
It amazes me how much stick RVW has been getting recently from some sections of our support, his missed a sitter a couple of games ago but so have the likes of Grant Holt, as a forward he get's into space find positions but the service his got has been well and truly woeful. If people want to whinge about a player then they should perhaps be looking at Snodgrass, who seems to be exempt from any blame, if it was Hoolahan losing the ball as much as he was people would be crying their eyes out about it.
Even Jake Humphrey giving him stick, I hate the guy anyway. We're only 6 games in, it's a whole new league RVW has to get used to, he probably just needs time to adjust.
Until the service to RvW improves, he's going to find it VERY difficult to score and I've seen far more expensive players than him miss absolute sitters!!! MASSIVE 3 points today though.
I don't understand what people expect from RvW. He's not a hold-up player, so yes he's going to lose a lot of aerial duels when we're pumping 50/50 (at best) balls towards him. What he is good at is moving and finishing, and if he gets the chances I'm sure he'll take them. I can't remember us carving out a single decent chance today for him. As Carrabuh said not so long ago, a nice start would be our wingers getting to the byline and cutting the ball back. He's got the movement and finishing ability to find the half a yard he needs, and I think he'd thrive on it.
I remember us doing that once today, except the cut back went straight to a Stoke player BUT what I did notice from another camera angle was...................there was no Norwich player in the box where a pass to create a clear cut chance was actually possible. But yes, they do need to get in to these positions more often and not just lump the pigs bladder in to the air all the time.
off topic, but I wonder how the Sunderland supporters are feeling six games in and only got 1 point? not too good I imagine.
Yeah, Pilks cut it back towards Elmander on the edge of the six yard box, but someone arriving around the penalty spot would have been better.
Don't get where all this hate for Jake has come from. One of the best sport presenters around and a big Norwich fans!
