That was a stronger team than Saturday for the simple, and obvious, reason that we had width and pace. Surely Rene will not lapse into Jol's mistake of ignoring Dejagah - he has to be close to Sidwell for MOTM. I'd go along with all of what GS said and would just add: * How pleasing to get a clean sheet. There was a calmness at the back, so sadly lacking of late, and full marks to Dan Burn in being fearless not only in his play but also in issuing instructions. * It was good to see the young trio coming on but why so late? Bent got his goal and had a contribution in our second but he was a 'pudding' for most of the time and I'd loved to have seen Dembele at least, much earlier * Still on substitutions, I don't understand Rene pushing Kasami wide left when replacing a wide player (he did the same against Sunderland). We've debated off and on what Kasami's best position might be and left wing it is not. No room for complacency (there were a few gaps and gaffes still around) but there was a togetherness and desire about the team that was rather pleasant to watch.
It is a ploy to bring fear to the opposition. He needs to play. Looks fit and commands the defense. Great to see him next to Hangeland last night and good to see Brede back. I was looking forward to seeing more youngsters but happy with the win and return of our our Captain.
Agree with all the above points. We put in a very professional performance. Sidders was brilliant and so was kaca. We looked to offload the ball much quicker and our work rate off the ball was very impressive. Surely Rene has to look at keeping dan burn, he and Hangeland were fantastic. Good win and more importantly with Brede back we get a clean sheet. Bring on the arsenal.
3 things last night...we had pace out wide, a much more controlled CB pairing in Hangeland and Burn and finally we dropped Berbatov. Sidwell was very good last night as was Karagounis in the middle and Dejagah worked his socks off. Norwich were poor but you beat the team in front of you and we did - convincingly. Now for Arseanal, Parker must come back in, Karagounis has to make way. Drop Kaca - sorry he might have been alright last night but in the premiership he's too lightweight and cannot defend. Therefore the natural selection would be to bring in Dempsey for Kaca. Play the same back four....maybe. We're desperate for a new LB. Please snap up Ryan Bertand and quickly. Riise is done after 60 mins and is a defensive liability, Adam Johnson proved this. Richardson....doesn't convince me either defensively. Havign said this I bet Rene will bring Riise back in but i'd play Amorebiata who for me has looked his most comfortable at LB rather than CB. Stek for Stock is a given. Big question mark is about Berbatov.....Bent worked well. At the very least he closed defenders down and did run. with Berbatov you get none of that. We cannot go to Arsenal and defend for 90 mins and come to life when we're 3 down at HT. I'd leave Berbatov out however its a risk - with his attitude who knows what he'd do.
He had longer hair when I saw him play for Yeovil, so, no, he hasn't always looked like him. He looked (a bit) like Shaggy from Scooby Doo back then. I'm saying he's taken a step up in the lookalike stakes.
I disagree with a lot of that, Cottagecravens. I think it's unfair to finally bring back the pacey wingers for a game when Berbatov is rested and then claim that in anyway validates dropping Berbatov. Berbatov clearly plays better with Dejagah and Kaca than he does when we sacrifice our pace on the wings. The whole team plays better when we play the appropriate players for our best formation - quick, direct pace on the wings. Speaking of which, Dempsey for Kaca robs us of that pace immediately. Dempsey on the wing feels like playing Kasami or Ruiz there - not only does it not get the most out of them in this system, but it lowers the potential of the whole team. And Kaca too lightweight for playing Arsenal? Not buying that at all. Stek should play ahead of Stockdale. Stockdale hasn't shown that he is an improvement on Stek in anyway. Stek has the clean sheet and should retain the jersey. All that said, I could not agree more about the LB situation. We need, more than anything, a young replacement LB with some pace and some genuine competition for our wingers (not central players shoehorned in there like Ruiz, or slower players who cut in like Duff or Dempsey).
I'd agree with all that. I think that the Kasami/Dejagah combination was only 2/3 of what made the right flank so interesting. Reither combined excellently with the other two, and it was the combination of the three of them that was so impressive. Is there such a thing as a triumvirate of the match? I don't see why we can't have that combination in the Premier League. I suspect Karagounnis will need a break at the weekend, so with Scott Parker presumably returning, I see no reason not to put Sidwell and Kasami in as the rest of a midfield three. Perhaps the best thing to say about last night is that all eleven played well. There was no one who I'd want to point a finger at as a weak link. Admittedly, Norwich were much more under-strength than we were, and Arsenal will be a very different prospect on Saturday, but it's a moral boost and a cause for fresh hope.
For Saturday I will be going with Dempsey on the bench. Start with Riise, Richardson on the left and Dejagah, Riethe on the right. Sidwell, Parker, Kara (for 60 min) and Berba up front. If no Kara, Kasami. Given that is Arsenal, "lightweight" Kaca might be another option on the left. If no Berba, Taarabt...
Canary in peace here. Just a couple of things I noticed at the game: Although they didn't have a great deal to do, Hangeland and Burn were both immense for you. After you'd gone ahead, Sidwell and Karagounis absolutely killed the game off in the midfield for us - they played superbly. We just could not break you down with those two dominating the middle of the park. Congrats on a deserved victory and on getting to the fourth round, we cannot bloody well beat you!
If we were at home to a weaker team I'd go with kasami as an advanced midfielder but to arsenal away I'd go for Kara (if fit) up to about 60 mins and then Diarra or Kasami coming on depending on the score. Parker and Sidwell need to try break things up early. Front three of Berba, Kaca and Dejegah withStek, Riether, Hangeland, Burn and Amo at the back. Riise's limited stamina prevents us from having the same effectiveness on the left and although Amo is not the greatest he can at least defend the flank and offer more of an option on the left to give the others space. I don't see him working well at centre back with Hangeland because they both play the same side naturally. With Ruiz's departure announced around the same time Mule went public on Ravel I'm expecting some activity, Rene put the onus on Ali Mac so hopefully he's not being set up as the fall guy if Khan doesn't want to spend. Morrison is clearly a very talented player and even in spite of his apparent problems I wouldn't see £10m as too much of a risk.
Seriously? Given the way all of our previous £10m+ players - Marlet, AJ, Ruiz - have suffered endless criticism from some or all fans (rightly or wrongly - that's not my point here), we shouldn't be throwing that amount on money on someone with question marks over their attitude. As an attacking player who isn't an out and out striker, Morrison also plays in the position where we've got the most options anyway. If we're going to spend £10m on a single player, I'd rather spend the money on a goalscoring centre forward like Rhodes or Ings. Morrison isn't necessarily a bad signing, but he doesn't scratch our biggest itches and at that price he isn't worth what would probably be the vast majority of our budget for the window.
I'm amazed at the support for Berbatov. What's he done this year apart from his 4 goals - how many are pens - 1. Bent 2 starts 2 goals. Ok difference circumstances. i'm going with Bent.
afternoon well done last night, professional performance. probably added another nail to hughton's coffin too!
I saw on tweet 2 days ago his response to someone askign about his injury he said....will not be long, I think that in a bit for a full game to see.. Not fit surely...
He came off the bench after Richardson's hamsting went (12 minutes in) in the 3-3 draw at the Emirates last season. Scored and played brilliantly alongside Berbatov and Ruiz. PS That was the best I saw us play all of last season. Going back this Saturday in full expectation of a repeat performance (and an even better result!).
I would play a similar team, replace the oldies with the rested oldies and job done. We can't expect anything from the game so why not experiment? it would be terrific experience for the younger players. It's a game made for the exuberance of youth (good word eh?) and that fearless attitude. Such a romantic!
