Today's game was an odd one. We came from 0 - 2 behind yet again but then again it was against a team who look like favourites to go down. But unlike the Cardiff game, were we terrible all first half, I thought it bizzare we found ourselves in that position this time. We created a fair few chances but didn't take them and Birmingham went ahead with a deflection that one would expect Ruddy to keep out. Then a moment of poor defending and suddenly we're 2 down. The referee really didn't help things either. But in the end we got a draw and had more than enough chances to win. So all in all a bit unlucky to draw. Nottingham also dropped points and right now you would say it was between them and us to win the league (granted this can change quickly). To me it looks like they are reliant on Antonio and Assombalongah (spelling?) whereas we have Grabban and Jerome who both look like they could score 15-20 this season and we haven't yet had the services of Hooper, Howson or Vadis (par a brief sub appearance). I think if they get some key players injured then they could be in trouble as far as their promotion charge is concerned whilst I feel we have quality not just in our starting team and the bench, but so many players who are good at this level they can't all make the squad. OTBC IAWT
Our main problem, I know I'll get shot down for this, is Wes, he fets an odd spell of brilliance in one game then goes missing for several more! Vadis looks good, use him!
I agree, Wes can be excellent at times but can give the ball away far too easily. I think maybe J.Murphy will get a run out now, but I'd like to see Vadis given a chance.
I do not see any reason as to why you should be shot down. I have been in two minds about him for at least 3 years, as that is Wes all over. How much simpler it would be if the gaffer knew for certain when he was going to play a blinder and when not.
I think today showed a degree or tactical naieviety from Adams. Anyone who has a clue about football could have guessed how we were going to set up. Birmingham put five across the middle, let us have the ball up to the half way line and then pressed us and broke with pace. Tettey and Johnson, or whoever was on the ball in the middle had absolutely no options as players like Hoolahan and Grabban just weren't in the game. Second half much better and we should really have won, but also could have lost. Redmond class again playing from the right. I thought he'd won it when he went on that mazy run which ended with his left foot shot just missing. One more point - Grabban has miskicked one too any shots for my liking. He just seems to fall over his own feet more than a professional footballer should. I'm now 100% convinced that if we play with two strikers it has to be Jerome and Hooper. Grabban is a decent back up but he's not good enough to start week in week out for us.
Ha someone else who agrees with me and Supers. I know, I know he's got 5 goals in 5 games, but could have had more. IMO, taking Wes off was a masterstroke and playing with 2 wingers reaped more reward. Spector was lucky to stay on the pitch and we had a stonewall penalty denied us.
Actually I've been saying that too all season. Yep he has bagged a few goals but he isn't clinical enough. I guess we get good service to our forwards, who knows, maybe I could even bag a couple if I played up front in this Norwich team?!?
I was resisting commenting on him really as any negative posts were seen as highly blasphemous. That and I wanted to give him a fair chance. So here we are after 8 games and I'm just not convinced by him as a first choice striker. There's absolutely no way he'd cut it in the Premier League. He's profligate in front of goal. I've seen all but one game this season, so I don't want people to think these comments are based on one poor performance or anything. You can accept players not really being involved in the game, to a degree, if they're clinical finishers (i.e. Rhodes). Hooper links play up and we know he can finish. Scoring any goals at all last year was a minor miracle. It might take him a while to get back up to speed, but I think that he'll allow us to be more solid defensively as the teams knows we won't need an abundance of chances to score a goal.
If Adams is going to use 4 4 2, then unfortunately there is no room for Wes, he either plays in the number 10 role or not at all IMP. As soon as we played with two out and out wingers, we cut them open. Lafferty was also quality when he came on and probably Redmond's best performance so far
Couldn't agree more Dave. I was a bit disappointed that Vadis didn't start let alone get on at all! Murphy did ok when he came on but going 442 we lost our grip in midfield a bit, I'd have just taken Hoops off for Vadis and kept the same shape? But what do I know ! It's a shame the Brom defender got injured after the second goal as the break in play seemed to totally lose our momentum.
Yeah, it's unfortunate. It allowed them to regroup. One of those things though as he was genuinely injured and had to go off.
Hardly a masterstroke JR , I guarantee there were 25000 in the ground and another several thousand listening in on the radio who, just before half time, were saying - " Get Wes off, he´s done nothing" Infuriating little player, can be brilliant or quite the opposite.
Even Tettey was 'catching the Hooalahan's' today. He span round in circles so many times looking for a pass in that first half that he must have forgotten which way he was kicking!
Certainly looking forward to seeing Mr. Ofoe, hopefully on Tuesday night, and, as you say, Howson must be pretty close.
This is it exactly. I can't think of a single game where Wes was effective playing out wide. His best game is in the hole directing play. If it is going to be a 4-4-2 (and I would rather it wasn't), wingers are needed. Josh did make a big difference when he came on, as did Lafferty, but Redmond scored an amazing 9.43 on Whoscored for his performance today. Like others, I'd have liked to see Odjidja-Ofoe given a chance to run at them, but perhaps he will in the cup.
Wes should of never started yesterday his not fit at the moment, he picked up a knock against Brentford. One of the more worrying problems for me is how sloppy and casual or team is in the first half this was a common problem under Lambert, but we didn't always concede so consistently. We need to decide on what our best back four is as I'm hearing certain players are not turning up.
