Confirmation at the AGM that Pilks is out until the news year and shoddy will miss a few weeks too, wolfie penciled in for a return for the swansea game. http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/anthony_pilkington_out_until_the_new_year_as_chris_hughton_reveals_extent_of_norwich_city_injury_list_1_3041691 What will our line up look like come 2pm saturday then?
Might as well stick it to Palace. Ruddy Whittaker, R Bennett, Turner, Olsson Howson, Fer, Johnson Hoolahan Elmander, Hooper A bit like how we played against Arsenal in the 3-3 game with the full backs given a lot of freedom. I personally think the biggest area of weakness in the palace team is their centre backs so lets get right at them, if they score two we'll score 3. Get the we don't care if you score we're going straight back at you full throttle spirit back we had in games like the 4-2 against newcastle when we threw everything at them as thats all we had available down the middle with Holt and morison. In fact we got away with a lack of width then as Naughton and Tierney pushed up so much. Keep redmond and Murphy as our trump cards adapting as and when we need to, we can also switch to being more solid very quickly with this formation if we're comfortable and just need to retain possession. I do see Hughton playing Olsson on the left side of midfield though...
How about time for 3 at the back Ruddy Bennett - Bassong - Turner Whitaker ------------------------ Olsson Howson ----- Fer Hoolahan Elmander - Hooper
WEll this is where our squad will need to be fully stretched Also Wolfie and tetteys return dates have slipped, Wolfie by a game or two We need a slice of luck, no more injuries!
I like it I must admit, although might be tempted to play Martin as a CB to cover wider areas when Whittaker undoubtedly gets caught out of position, despite Martin's poor form of late. Sadly, I think we're more likely to see a 4-3-3/4-5-1 attempt with Redmond and Olsson as wingers.
"We are far to porous at the back, we must not lose so I'd go with a return to last seasons fomation of: Ruddy Martin - Bennett - Bassong - Turner - Whitaker - Howson - Johnson-- Fer - Olsson - Hooper" Said Mr Calderwood! Bah!
Interesting? Painful probably. Not necessarily because I think we're going to lose, but unless we are lucky enough to have a West Brom type game and be leading 3-0 by half-time, it's going to be incredibly tense. I probably won't be able to watch it here unless I can find a dodgy stream, and maybe I'm lucky.
I like Bath's line-up as well, but think a 4-3-3 is more likely, with the FBs overlapping: Ruddy Martin Bennett Turner Olsson Howson Johnson Fer Elmander Hooper Hoolahan
I thought we went diamond(ish) when Hoolahan came on against Newcastle (though admittedly it was very difficult to tell) and we know that is his best position (as should Hughton after our 10 match run), as well as pushing Elmander out wide being a bit odd. I think it makes more sense to keep Hoolahan central and just sacrifice width.
Ever since Fer, Howson and Tettey formed that strong middle trio that attacking midfield/second forward role has become forgotten which obviously effects Hoolahan, I think Hughton has got it terribly wrong at times by ignoring his creativity especially in regards to substitutions.
Or 2. What the team and the manager REALLY need is for the WHOLE crowd to get behind the team and silence any 'Boo Boys!!!!'
it's got that potential. palace have scored once in their last four games (which happened to be the winner last week in their first away points all season), and 3 in their six away games this season mind you we have scored 4 in our last 2 games
