Firstly this is in no way a smug thread opened which I've targeted at people who said they thought Wes' time is up at Carrow Road. In fact I agreed when one poster said it. But how we were wrong? I think this may be the best I've seen Wes at the moment. Since Alex Neil has taken over, we've seen Wes at his absolute best. The Wes that was so integral in our back to back promotions, perhaps he's been better than that. When Wes is on form, like he is at the moment, he is such a joy to watch and after all the commotion about his potential move to Villa isn't it fantastic that such a talented player is well and truly back and being appreciated rather than lambasted as some sort of traitor. I don't think Hughton and Adams really knew how to play him and fit him into their systems. Lambert did and it would appear Alex Neil really knows how to fit him in. I for one am absolutely bricking it if he was to get injured during international duty, because I honestly think he could be the difference between top 2 or play-offs.
I'm full up of 'humble pie'!!!! He has been fantastic lately and laid on a perfect pass for Hooper against Derby and Grant did well to save the shot from GH.
Certainly seems to be instrumental in a lot of the play at the moment, and it's great to see. Absolutely agree that he could well be the difference - keep him wrapped in cotton wool. It's a little concerning that we still don't seem to have found anyone else who can add that little bit of subtlety and creativity.
I wonder if Hoolahan wasn't playing so well if we would see more of Andreu, or even Vadis getting involved. I know both have been bit-part for us up to now, but Vadis in particular has something really exciting about him. I can't wait to see him get some kind of run of games eventually. The fact that we have him and Hooper sitting it out today is another reminder of our depth. Nice luxury to have - just in case. I saw a couple of the Bournemouth players came off late in their game. If they were to lose a couple of their form players going into the last five games...
That ball he played for Howson's opener - breathtaking. He can either spot or anticipate the runs and movement of others as well as anybody currently playing the game. If, say Ramsey or Wilshere had played that diagonal ball to Giroud, Jeff Stelling and studio guests would all have had a corporate hard-on. Yes, he does sometimes take too many touches and loses possession, but largely because nobody has the agility of foot - or mind, perhaps, to get themselves into the optimum position. And to think Hughton tried to accommodate him by playing him wide on the left Arise, Sir Wesley
I'll be smug. Defended him here and elsewhere since hughton dropped him after the '10 game run' and wondered why we weren't playing well, 3 years of people doubting him has astonished me. Yes he isn't going to be David silva every week but I'd rather we had him in our team than against us. When we've had midfields dereft of craft and passing ability and heads dropped but wes wasn't near the team was when I knew hughton wasn't for me. If hughton had played him more last season we'd have stayed up. He's an absolute legend in my eyes, worth paying the extortionate ticket prices to see play alone. And those who don't enjoy watching him play I struggle to see what you enjoy about football.
Completely agree Billy, Wes had long been one of my favourite players and felt he was never shown full appreciation by fans. The type of player he is, he will have games where it doesn't work and he will lose the ball but when on song by far our most talented player. If he had pace I have no doubt he would have had an absolute cracking career (not that he's had a bad one). I did feel when the Villa saga had happened that he we had perhaps seen his best in a Norwich shirt and the time was right to probably move on. I was wrong
He's an incredibly tenacious player. He comes back at you when he does lose the ball. I do think we play our best football with him in the team. Any good striker in this league with Wes behind him will score goals. He sees the spaces no one else does.
Got to hold my hand up as well. When he didn't celebrate his goal against villa I would have paid for his taxi. But Neil has obviously found the formula and at this level wes is bit special and we would still be mid table without his current run of form.
wes was different class yesterday. he is our eden hazzard. he ripped forest apart.and they had no answer to him. i have always been a big fan,and wss delighted when he stayed,he is playing as well now as i have ever seen him play. he is one of our true premier level players we must retain.bradley johnston is another. we have no one else who can do what he can so effectively,we missed him yesterday when he went off,and hopefully he will be playing again soon...we need him
I'm beginning to see Wes in a new light and AN is certainly getting the best out of him. His pass for Howson's goal was sublime and sometimes they don't come off, but when they do ....... I sometimes wish he'd shoot more often and other players may get lucky with a rebound.
I still don't think he gets the appreciation he deserves, in comparison to players like Holt and Russell Martin. If Wes has a bad game some people get on his case, Ruddy is treated like that too.
Me too, also said we were a **** club to Sky TV! Even the happiest married couples have their spats.... but he's surely one of the greatest players we've ever had. Is it really 7 years since he arrived?
I can understand his frustration under Hughton and I imagine a bruised ego after being the go to man for the previous seasons. I'm fairly willing to forgive so long as he performson the pitch. He seems far happier now too.
Always has been one of my favourite players, just wish he was sometimes a lot more selfish, and since Neil has taken over he´s not drifting out of games so much, which was the one big criticism of him earlier - bit like me, getting better with age
I was one of those saying that we should have moved Hoolahan on and I'm still of that view. We would have got some decent money for him and even though he has played well recently, who's to say that whoever we would have brought in to replace him or one of our other players would have done just as well if not better. If we get promoted we will need to replace him, as he is not premiership quality and due to his age is unlikely to get better. Not sure how long he has on his contract, but I'm guessing we won't get as much for him now. I also said that Martin should play at RB not CB and agian I'm still of this view. Yes he's had some good games at CB since Neil arrived and a few weeks ago the collective view seemed to be that Martin / Bassong pairing were our saviours, although I notice recently other posters have started questioning some of Martin's performance. Again I don't think Martin is a premiership quality CB, although I think he would be good enough at RB. I think players performances need to be judged over a whole season not just on a snap shot. Neil is doing a cracking job with the players he inherited, but although its an unpopular view I think he we will need to make some significant changes if we go up and want to stay up. This will mean some of our players that are popular with the fans and were significant in us going up will have to be moved on or have their wings clipped. I await the normal response to my post being negative, because I don't jump on the bandwagon and express a different view to the majority.
I found that sentence unnecessary, and even a little antagonistic. I just don't get it. Back to the actual post, I'm really glad Wes stayed, he's been immense this season, and IF we go up, he'll have played a big part. Would he then be a starter in the Prem.? Possibly not, but I think the manager has the backing of the fans, and they will go with his selection. There are sure to be a few comings and goings, we'll have to wait and see.
I guess it was because it appears that every time I post other than in the prediction threads, I always seem to get a response from some posters that I'm just being negative. I won't bother going into the history, but it all goes back to a post shortly after Neil arrived where I said I was starting to lose hope of us making the play offs. The sentence wasn't aimed at all posters and maybe I should have worded it slightly differently.
