We all know we were very unlucky this game. We missed some really clear cut chances and of I don't think I even need to mention the officials performance, not just on the big calls but also lots of little ones too. We had a perfectly good goal chalked off, and a stonewall penalty not given and considering the momentum we would have had and also that we wouldn't have needed to over commit and probably wouldn't have conceded goals on the break. Anyway, I'm going to focus on the performance. Overall it was a very positive performance but in many ways a lot of old faults showed themselves. Plenty of huff and puff with lots of shots and crosses but not so many clear cut chances. Our final ball isn't quite right (and we don't seem to attack these with enough bodies) and some of our best chances we wasted. We conceded another goal from a corner kick which was dreadful from our point of view. Anyway, onto the team. I'm not going to go through every player just the ones I feel I have a strong opinion on. Everybody not mentioned, you can just assume I'd give them a 6/10. Whittaker: Got quite a slating but I honestly thought he had a decent game. Of course you can say he was in the wrong position late on when Palace were hitting us on the break but we were properly going for it by then so he is being left exposed. Brady: From both the games I've seen him in, I haven't been very impressed. Sure, it's not his natural position but for a very expensive player who is supposed to have a good final ball/dead ball delivery I am expecting to see an improvement in the future. Howson: I was really impressed by Howson today. He reminds me a bit of Ross Barkley driving forwards from midfield and he is a decent defender too. He will be very important for us this season, and let's not forget he was playing on the right wing which isn't his natural position. Johnson: A bit disappointing tbh. Gave away the ball too often. Grabban: Since pretty much his first match in a Norwich shirt I have been utterly convinced he is utter dog ****e and I saw nothing today to change my opinion. To adapt Gary Neville, he plays like he is being controlled by a 10 year old on FIFA; just sits on the shoulder of the defender and tries to get in behind but only ends up getting flagged offside. He is simply not good enough at finishing to be in the Premier League. His miss today was utterly pathetic. I don't know why I am saying this because literally every single one of you were saying the same thing: Redmond and Jerome should have started. Jerome may have had a slight injury (then why not Hooper?) but anyway, Grabban did nothing to justify his place so I'm sure we will see those in the starting XI next game. All that is left to mention is transfers: it has been pretty clear that RB, CB and a winger are all positions we could do with strengthening since well into last season and yet we STILL have not addressed this. IMO, Whittaker is going to get torn to shreds by players like Hazard and I'm sure lots of people feel he isn't good enough to be first choice. Also, the fact that we are starting Johnson and Howson on the wings (who are by no means are bad players) is an admission that desperately need more options out wide! Ultimately, besides Grabban we had no pace in the starting XI which makes us a bit easier to play against.
I think without Redmond ( Who also should have started, and i think is also a touch short of fitness) there was a fear that we wouldn't have enough pace. Johnson needs to have a good few games as there are three players to fit into the LB and LM spots once Olsson returns and currently for me he's not going to be one of them
Ironic that Whittaker, selected as RB, shows plenty of pace and guile in the opposition half, gets in great positions and delivers a mean ball. Shame he's so poor in his own half, doing what he was picked to do and DEFEND! Maybe we need Wisdom to be first choice RB and Whittaker can be used as cover on the right side of midfield, if Redmond or E Bennett are not available? {tongue-partly-in-cheek}
To be fair, against the likes of Hazard most full backs get torn to pieces. But our season will be defined by the games against the teams around us, and most don't have wingers of the quality of Zaha and Bolasie.
Ultimately I think Wisdom is the better defender. That's what we need. Whits to be fair to him was fine going forward but that's his secondary responsibility.
I was so buzzing all morning about the game. Soon as the line up got announced, I felt: Distraught, then confused, then angry. Such a negative line up and formation, at home to a side we should hope to take a point or 3 off. I thought Palace would play well, and I'd take a draw, but that was when I thought we would play our best team and go out to scare them. Alan Pardew must have been laughing when he saw our starting 11. Yes we bossed possession and created chances. But with Grabban up front, none of them were going in! He couldn't hit a barn door. And also, we had no attacking or creative players, or pace (bar Hoolahan) So whenever we had the ball, noone was in the area. Was really really annoying. We were set up not to score. Then, you'd think, such a negative formation, and such a defensive midfield with no flair, you'd think we set up to defend. Nope, Because Whittaker can't defend, he's ok going forward, but defensively he is a mess. Russell Martin is ok Filling in as a CB, but he can't, and shouldn't play there. Especially In the Premiership! Not tall enough, not strong enough, too clumsy. Brentford friendly confirmed it, then also, he was so lucky the player was offside when all he had to deal with him was bundle him for a Pen. Brady, I wasn't impressed with. His Freekicks barley beat the wall, his corners mostly hit the first man. He isn't a defender, and that showed. I felt sorry for him, as he's a winger, having to cope in a new team in a position he cant play. It's like Whittaker, attacking he'd be a threat, but defensively he is inept. They would maybe work, if we went for it, and they could overlap and whip crosses in. But what is the point when noones ever in the box!? Sometimes Grabban is, but he's mostly offside. As soon as he finally brought Redmond and Cameron on, we were a totally different side. I just can't believe he waited for 2-0 down, in our first Prem game to introduce our best 2 attackers. It has really worried me. I really hope he has learnt something from this. Coz Palace didn't play anywhere near what I expected. They were flat, and we should have won that with our best line up. The officials decisions added salt to the wound and left me livid. But it all started with the team selection and formation. I was one who was excited we had a new Lambert. Lambert wouldn't have set up like that, the first 11, formation and 1st half performance made me feel like watching Chris Hughtons sides. So negative, Crap at the back, and never looked like scoring. We did play well on the ball, and I'm not turning against Alex Neil at all, he has been fanastic in every way since joining, and he is our best signing since Lambert, but for the first time I am worried. Line up and play like that against the big teams, god know what records would be set.
It's a shame we don't seem to be considering it, as I think a 3-5-2 could make good use of our assets. -------------------------------Ruddy ----------------Martin - Bassong - Bennett Whittaker----------------------------------------Brady ---------------------Howson-----Tettey ----------------------------Redmond ---------------------Jerome----Hooper I would have thought we'd have used it in Pre-season, and be looking to sign a centre back, if it were an option.
Don't forget we had no option of either Olsson or Mulumbu, both of whom I'm sure would have been in the starting line up had they been fit. You're right in some ways, though - the need for a new CB and a new striker is paramount...no, critical imho. But we still have nearly 3 weeks to address that. Hopefully today will have alerted the gaffer, though I'm sure he's 'on it' as I type
I dunno - yes Grabban should have buried his chance and a couple of errors cost us, but I felt it was a positive performance overall and am not too demoralised this evening
I thought his conversion rate was bad last season,he certainly wasn't the striker signing he was hyped as. Pre-season he wasted chances and 1 on 1s, and carried that on today. He works hard, he runs around and tries to make things happen. Just don't think he has the timing, intelligence and finishing to be a Prem Striker. He's work better as a winger, but he'd still be always offside, and can't cross. So, Unless he Scores a goal or 2 and the confidence transforms him, He's another Wolfswinkle for me. Did well, we signed him, he went flat.
Our performance was ok, bossed possession and started well but then went flat with not much pace or invention. It only came alive for us when Redders and Cam came on and it does make you wonder why both didn't start.
Both missed some of preseason, redmond started late as he was away with the U21s and jerome was injured. I'd guess as soon as AN thinks they can play 90 they'll be in the team.
I don't think there was much wrong with the initial line up. We absolutely battered them first 20 minutes, controlling that midfield was vital and we did that. I think Whittaker is a good rightback, he shouldn't have lost Zaha on that back post but all the same Zaha is a cracking winger when he's confident. The defending on their second goal was more a cause for concern. No idea how that Soure has so much space form his deep run. I agree I would have started Jerome though, I'm not too sure what Alex Neil sees in Grabban which Jerome doesn't offer. I would be comfortable Jerome leading the line all season, such a menace for defences and I feel as though he might have a point to prove this season.
Nothing wrong with lineup or the tactics IMO. Naïveté and players switching off and lacking organisation cost us the first two goals, not skill. Ultimately, that also cost us the match, with a sprinkling of atrocious refereeing. Can't disagree with any of DM's analysis, though I think he's going a tad generous. Also Brady, while really poor defensively and positionally, really does have a wicked left peg.
Did none of you read AN's post match comments? Redmond and Jerome did not start due to a lack of fitness, don't slam the bloke for not starting with players who were unfit!
I just can't find it in me to rate grabham. It is so frustrating to find him repeatedly offside and then when we do create a decent chance it falls to him and you just know he's going to snatch at it and miss. Did it last season, did it preseason and no doubt will do it this season as well. Expecting his finishing to improve is like expecting hoops to turn up to training in skinny fit jeans or rusty to win a header.
