I missed the part where I suggested you should toe the line and call for our only goal threat to sit out a few games? My recollection is that the "excuse making" was merely a recognition that where wider factors in RvW's poor goal return than simply the player himself. Which is in no way excusing him for some of the glaring misses, but is recognising the catalogue of injuries and the poor form of the team generally as well as the difficulties all of our strikers had, not just him.
I think it's the fear of the window Rob it's very stressful, everyone has different views of the same players and I probably made a big deal about the criticism of our new forward .
I have now read through this thread from beginning to end and I am more than a little amazed. I'll start with Supers, who I have a lot of time for because he likes to talk about football. But ever since Adams was appointed, Supers has been bemoaning the fact that he has very little management experience and therefore our future is at risk. The answer to this is obviously this messageboard, which can provide all the solutions Adams has been missing so far. Ten points from five games is clearly not good enough. If only he listens to those posters on here who have played the game at the highest level, including winning a league championship medal, then City will be able to improve on that. Make suggestions by all means, but don't pretend that you know more than those who have been involved with the game at the highest levels. A little humility would go a long way. IMO.
I think 23's point, as I had already made, was that RvW scored one goal in 30-odd and it was everybody's fault but his; Grabban scores five times as many in six times less and he's not good enough, apparently. Makes no sense. If he's scoring, he starts. That's how Adams sees it, that's how Adams should see it, and that's how I see it.
Rick, for whatever reason you seem upset with me. You also seem to have a blind spot with regards Adams who appears to do no wrong. For goodness sake, I have stated countless times that I am pleased with his start. He's made some great signings and it's much more enjoyable to go to games again. But it doesn't mean we can't improve. It's not as though it's just me with this concern about the front three - it's most of the fans who are going to games. There's a good reason for that - it's not really working effectively. Why wouldn't you want to work that issue out?
The way some on here have reacted to you Supers, you'd think you had suggested sticking Grabban in the reserves and getting Bassong up front. Grabban is on great goal scoring form but this is a team game and we can't rely on him getting a goal every game. I think Lafs and Grabban would score plenty if the former was down the middle as Grabban's ability to get in the right positions to score means he could assist Lafs when balls are going in the box. Also, I think Wes would thrive more having the big man to play off. He can buzz in and around Lafs and pick up balls then thread them through to the likes of Grabban, Redmond, Murphy who you would hope would be making runs in behind.
One of things which has concerned me since last season, is what are the definite roles of the wide players like Redmond & Lafferty? Are they supposed to be wingers or are they supposed to wide attacking mids/forwards? Sometimes when the ball is committed forward the numbers are just not there or the wide players are positioned further back and along the side line, if Redmond was positioned a little bit more inwards and a bit further up the pitch he'd cause no ends of trouble.
Once we've got players back to full fitness we're going to have a fascinating dilemma up front. I'd quite like to see something like: Lafferty-Hooper-Grabban Howson-Tettey-VOO In a 4-3-3, which was the kind of setup I was expecting this season based on our summer signings. Clearly that formation requires great awareness from all 6 players, as whilst going forwards it encourages a lot of fluidity, it could leave us exposed defensively if players don't defend the flank they end up on. It neglects Redmond, Murphy and Hoolahan, but having that combination of pace and creativity on the bench would be very handy. If we're under the cosh a fresh winger creates no end of problems, and counter-attacking opportunities. Wes would be an excellent option against stubborn defences. Going to be interesting to see how Neil tackles the problem, but I do hope at the least we see some tweaking.
I was concerned when Adams was appointed, but Holt and Robson joined him as assistants the situation looked much better. I was impressed with the hard work done in the pre-season, and the performances in pre-season matches. The season has started well, but you and others insist on putting this down to luck. After two years of constant complaining about Hughton (and you weren't the worst offender in this regard, Supers) it just gets wearing. I suppose I could stop coming on here and that would solve my problem. I can see raising these points from a football point-of-view, but it's the "we know better than Adams" way in which the are expressed that constantly irritates me. He and Holt and Robson know they players and work with them in practice every day, while others watch games and make judgments, often based on supposition like Lafferty looks unhappy with his position. It just seems arrogant to me.
I think everyone has been impressed so far - I can't find anyone who isn't pleased with the way we've set about things under Adams both in the way we're playing on the front foot or in the transfer market. However, there are still problems which I and others are pointing out with the way we are setting up. I'm not sure how spotting that can be deemed arrogance. You seem to think the world is against Adams and were all sticking the boot in - that's not the case - we want improvement, that's all.
The current atmosphere on here is fairly positive at the moment even with the impending terror associated with deadline day. There is nothing wrong with constructive criticism about how we can improve in certain areas, it shows as fans that we're observant I'd much rather fans spoke about how things are done rather then paper over the cracks. Adam's has a lot more experience in the industry then all of us put together but we still reserve a right to have an opinion about how things are run at the club, if he read this forum he'll probably thinks what a bunch of absolute jokers we are, however we don't see what go's on behind the scenes in training or speak to the players on a daily basis.
We all like to be armchair managers and forums like these are designed for us to debate tactics and players I think Rick's beef is the condescending tone from some posters ,their views are written as if they are fact rather than their opinions . Adams has got us winning and scoring goals ,yes some fine tuning may be needed but we are a new team and only 5 games into a season so i trust the paid up manager to pick the side and the tactics . The bottom line is we are a weaker side than last term with the players we have sold and we don't have World class alternatives on the bench, Lafferty is a N Ireland international ffs Redmond is a young kid bought from Brum for a couple of mil and Grabban is more used to playing for sides like Millwall and cost 3 mil we are doing bloody well considering in my humble opinion.
That's fair enough, I suppose. But it just sounds to me like constant criticism, but perhaps I'm being over sensitive. Perhaps I'll have another glass of wine and mellow out a bit.
RER - I think most of us who were 'underwhelmed' by NA's appointment are now very pleasantly surprised by our lofty league position and are having to eat 'humble pie' - and yes, I'm full up now. Let's all just bask in where we are and I'm fairly confident that we can certainly stay in the top 10 as long as we don't suffer injuries to key players.
Rick, I see where you're coming from, one thing you have to realise with Supers is, because he was part of the backroom at CR a few years ago, he has a better knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes, so he sounds like he knows what he's talking about because he actually does know what he's talking about!
We most definitely are a weaker side, but it's worth having some ambition and a bit of fight even if it can be a tad unrealistic. We're hopefully going to keep the nucleus of the team together we've made some good buys so let's just see if that works. The way I see it over two thirds of this squad have played against some of the worlds best players so there is absolutely no reason why we can't launch a campaign. Adams has done very well so far, his won consecutive games in a row, we're unbeaten at home and he finally broke the away curse, If we can start picking up more points on the road and keep a very strong home record then his done superbly, it's still early days at the moment though.
In your opinion Dave , so if Supers views turn out to be wrong like the rest of us is he above criticism ? Most of his predictions around Hughton and RVW were very much off the mark , this season his judgement regarding Adams and Grabban are not shared by myself, yes Supers knows his stuff about all things Carrow Road through his backroom work apparently but it doesn't make his views correct. We can all just log on and agree with him but that is not what this forum was made for. Make bold predictions and take it on the chin if you turn out to be full of **** that's my motto.
Of course he's not above criticism, he takes it very well, much better than most of us. I don't always agree with him, but his judgement of players is excellent!
Some think they know it all, while it´s a fact That most of us know nowt at all, But our opinions don´t need to be backed By fact, or talent with the ball, Every opinion should bear equal weight And be respected by the board, That is what makes for a healthy debate Even if we´re not in one accord.
