Monumental defensive performance today. We didn't look great but we made Watford look average aswell, that's what Mick teams seem to do bring everyone down to our level!! On the ball I thought we were generally poor and very frustrating again, lots off hoofing and far to often when players get in good positions there was a lack of support around them meaning they had a lack of options to actually pass to. I thought Varney actually look half decent on the right, reminds me a little of Walters when he used to be out there but though Wood was poor. We look far to one dimensional and static with Wood and Murphy upfront and despite their physical presence the number of headers we won in the opposition box was minimal despite lots of crosses and long balls going in. Wood looked a little rusty but by the same token it seemed like he expected our players to run onto his passes and we had very few willing runners. Thought we looked like a different team when Sears came on, just his positional play and playing style changes the dimensions of how we play, he creates spaces and means we have more options on the ball. I thought Skuse had a hot and cold game, some great and not so great defensive challenges but also some great and not so great passes. In summary, a great win, great defensive performance but as ever definitely need work on the ball. Thought we looked far better with Sears and Chaplow on the pitch, they just add that extra bit of quality on the ball.
Just back from the game, agree with a lot of what you said itfcptc.Just think if we'd shown this sort of endeavour in three or four other games we would be nailed on for a play off place.Thundering challenge from Chambers in the first half to stop a certain goal.Sears made all the difference when he came on,can't see how Murphy and Woods together is going to work. Great atmosphere from the Town fans.
Norwich fan in peace! Well done today. I really hope you are in the hunt at the end of the season - all the best!
Ptc, pretty much my view also, as i stated earlier in this thread, hard working/battling performance but poor quality on the ball, still dont get the outswinging corners all the time!!
Yes Spanish that is infuriating, I thought we used to be half decent at corners but what is this with the outswingers? It seems our players rarely get on the end of them and if they do it's a pretty poor attempt because they have to generate so much power on the header. It does confuse me. We haven't looked great at set pieces actually recently which considering how big a team we are is strange.
" Varney starting and Sears on the bench? " Varney was our best player until subbed, superb. GET IN!!!!!! Scenes when that goal went in were mental!
Totally agree, and at one stage we had notched up 6 corners to none for them! I do hope MM starts with Freddie, Murph and Chaplow against Bmth, with McG and S. Hunt on as subs! I am really delighted and just amazed we are still up there! A typical backs to the wall, resolute defense determined MM type of performance. Was there any creativity??! Skuse seems to be coming on.
Varney was much better than Wood, thought Tabb was poor but we sll know he is not a bloody winger!! Mings was ok but he does worry me, has a long way to go to become an acconplished player but he is still young!! I still think the right side of our defence is dodgy, even though we have now kept two clean sheets. Thought Bru played well and worked his bollicks off and Skuse was ok in patches. Best thing for me.......spine tingling celebrations when we scored, great crowd scenes!!
Varney did put in a good performance and Chaplow also delivered at the right moment. I know we're on a budget but I was skeptical about the quality of those two players when Mick brought them in. While one performance doesn't make a good player, hopefully Varney can build on yesterday's positive display and Chaplow can keep up his good form. I stand by my Sears comment though. We looked more threatening when he came on.
said it before,but amazes you lot are still up there. must admit you have proved me wrong,i thought you would struggle this season. that was a great three points yesterday for you(and us).how would you feel about meeting us in the play offs? getting to be a distinct possability!
I'll be honest, I'm dreading getting Norwich in the play-offs. We're a side that seems to lack psychological strength in big matches, so hopefully the Watford result is an indication of our changing mental strength. I think Norwich have a well-assembled, strong squad, which is a given considering your recent years in the Premier League. You're on a good run of form, which would obviously have to be maintained to finish in the top six. You've got a good record against us recently, doing the double, although both of those games were, admittedly, lacking quality. Not to mention in Alex Neil, you have a promising, progressive manager. However, like any side in the Championship, you are guilty of throwing away 'easy' points, and the capitulation against Wigan should be worrying. I think you'll probably squeeze top two if you carry on this form though. Now, while I think we'd come undone against you over two legs, anything could happen in a Play-Off Final at Wembley. So if we were to meet you, I'd prefer it to be in a one-off match rather than over two legs. Yes, it would make victory that much sweeter and defeat more depressing, but it's clear we're a well-organised side punching above its weight. We evidently have a good team spirit and a couple of quality players. We're lucky to be in the play-off race, considering our patchy form this year, but a good result at home to Bournemouth, and this just might be our year.
a fair assesment. you are right about throwing away easy points(think wigan),but i do think we can finish in the top two. however,would not want to be going to fulham(very much our bogey team)on the last day needing to win. dont know if the good folk of east anglia could stand a city/ipswich play off final.supurb to win....but to loose?...unimaginable. still the met police would be pleased,think of all that overtime!
