Obviously we're all getting distracted with the more important goings on at our club... But before it slips under the radar I thought people might be interested in this. http://www.norwich.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=383366 He's up against players from the "three Bs" - Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Andy Lonergan (Bolton) and Darryl Murphy (Binmen) Arter or Murphy will probably win it, but Johnson definitely deserves his nomination with his goals streak! I also think that he's been our best player for the season so far and it's no surprise for me that our bad run October-November coincided with his dip in form. I have to say I would be comfortable with the new manager making Johnson captain as he seems a better fit for the role than Martin and has made himself practically undroppable at the moment. I would not have said that over the summer...
Good shout Rob I don't like Rusty as Captain when things go tits up he's as quiet as a mouse plus in Bradders position he can actively influence games at both ends. He was captain in the Preston flop but you can't really blame him they were all ****e by the sounds of it. He won't win POM though.
He's had a pretty decent season. Must be his best ever in terms of goal return! I do think this is more his level though.
He's one of those weird players who looks superb in the Championship, but something not quite right about him in the Premier League. I actually think that at times in the Prem he looked superb - some of the games he bossed from in front of the back four against teams like Stoke. But others he was awful. I think it's all about time on the ball - because his passing isn't fantastic, but his vision is good (otherwise known as he tries hard...), when he's given a fraction more time to think and get it right he's excellent.
slightly overstating his abilities in my view- I have only been to about 10 games this season, and I have yet to think he has done more than be a solid basic midfielder, (yep a few goals which is great and he has been important this season, which I think highlights our underperformance
Fair enough. I disagree, but I can see exactly why people don't rate him much especially as his shortcomings are so obvious For me, time and again last season and this he has been the only player to try the penultimate ball, through balls or lofting it behind the defence or starting counter-attacks, etc (his misfortune, as alluded to above, is his ability to execute what he is trying). IMO when he's on form he also bosses the opposition with defensive cover and acts as a reasonable pivot in the centre when we have the ball (though he remains a bit slow on the ball, he can't be perfect). And he has a miraculous ability to avoid being yellow carded given the number of petty fouls he commits. I am also of the mantra that our midfield should have a "mix" - we don't have good enough players to all do tiki-taka or all do something else. Johnno offers the hard man work horse, etc. And he does look a class above most other Championship midfielders. I have also seen improvement season on season from him. Under Lambert his shooting, passing, etc were atrocious but the defence was good. Under Hughton he was up and down but parts of both improved. Now he appears to be gathering more together (albeit in an easier league). I hope he will continue because if his passing improves he would be a very good midfielder IMO. And captain material too I feel. The other advantage of him being slightly average in a number of ways is that he is more likely to stay with us...
He's definitely a better player now than he was when we signed him. Whether he's Premier League class is up for debate
I appreciate that I have never thought much of him, (had high expectations when he arrived and he seemed to be v average) and that may colour my view- he has improved, and does perform well at this level- I'd rate him as a good squad player, but my heart tends to sink whenever I see the BJ and AT in the centre as the creativity is unlikely to be hihg
And I don't think you're wrong on that one at all. The BJ/AT combo has always looked like overkill to me. We just need one of them for balance.
I wouldn't call Ipswich a crappy long ball team. I think you're being quite harsh on them. They're doing quite well at the moment. I'd say they're a decent long ball team. And I think us Norwich fans would be the first to say that notwithstanding the rivalry between us and Ipswich, their form is very impressive and testament to teamwork and organisation which means they are greater than the sum of their parts. And in particular, that shows with this "freebie donkey" (as you so aptly put it), who thoroughly deserves the award.
Strange Rob, I could have sworn at the end of August you were calling us a long ball team that relies on set pieces and that your reserves would beat us! then again, It would be unlike you to tell an untruth and not admit that you was wrong. unlike me obviously!
Now Guru, you're right that I implicitly believe that all you say is honest and true, but you're going to have to provide evidence for me that I said our reserves could beat you. I just simply don't remember saying it. I'm sure I did. And I'm sure that you're not mistaking me for another poster, but if you'd be so kind as to highlight that I would be very grateful. I'd also be enormously grateful if you could explain how your post contradicts in any way what I have written above. I still call you a long ball team that relies on set pieces. I was just disputing your analysis that Ipswich are crappy. They're not. They're doing rather well, notwithstanding their players. I would have thought that, being the upstanding chap I know you are, you would have had the good grace to accept my pleasantries in the post above, but no doubt I am just misreading your post.
of course I do Rob, but please would you stop keep jumping in my net, I need the room for the bigger fish!
Come on Guru, it's usually JWM pretends he's won once he gets owned, I thought you were better than that!
I posted abouts murphs winning, Rob replies! I think in anybodys world, we all know who reacted to who! gone fishing!
Rob's been owning you on at least two threads for the past few days! Is this really the best you can come up with? You're right, we can all see that YOU are the one wriggling on the hook!
