On the plus side, we have 12 games left in the first half of the season to reach at least 20 points by the half-way stage.
I get what you mean and I totally agree really. Just trying to improve your point of view so you have a great evening.
AN's thoughts on today's game - http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...2_2_premier_league_draw_at_west_ham_1_4249071 Mail on Sunday's player ratings - Ruddy 7.5; Whittaker 6, Martin 6, Bassong 6, Olsson 6; Howson 7, Tettey 6, Dorrans 6 (Redmond 69 7.5), Brady 7.5; Hoolahan 6.5 (O’Neil 85); Jerome 5.5 (Mbokani 64 6). Maybe it's time for Mbokani and have Jerome on the bench. Looks like not starting Redmond has had the desired effect!!!!
At the moment it's looking like of the possible Brady, Jarvis & Olsson combinations, the Brady / Jarvis is probably the best combo. Johnson going doesn't seem to have weakened us and Jarvis is looking like a good deal.
My only worry so far about this season is that we should have more points than we currently have. We couldn't do anything about the incompetent joke of a ref in the Palace game, but we should have turned pressure into more goals vs Stoke and West Ham and we should not be gifting sides so many goals against dead ball situations. I hope these things don't come back to bite us on the bum. But so far definitely so good, and except for the Southampton game, we haven't looked like relegations candidates at all.
Totally disagree on the points I would really have only expected one from our four away games and five from the three at home, possibly seven at a push. So whichever way you slice it I think we are ahead.
I'm not talking about the points I expected - I'm talking about the points I feel our play 'deserved'.
Excellent posts and I couldn't agree more. IMO, we should be on at least 13 points and whilst a point away against teams such as Loserpool and Wet Sham is good, we should have won easily yesterday and also beaten Stoke!!!!
Good game yesterday lads. I thought you were very good. I know it hurts when you concede late but on balance a draw was probably about right. I thought you would struggle this season but now I have no doubt you will be fine. Also a quick word on your manager. He clearly has a bright future and comes across really well in interviews. Good luck for the rest of the season.
Our record at Upton Park is pretty dismal, so to come within 30 seconds of overturning that was a bit of a bitch, but the game lasts until the dude in black blows up, so only ourselves to blame. Excellent game, both teams had periods of dominance, but as you say, a draw was a fair result. Good luck to your boys also.
IMO, this is a half empty, half full divide. Yes we should have more points, although we did ride our luck a bit at Liverpool. For me, that we have 9 points after 7 games (4 away) and deserve to have more shows just how solid our start to the season has been under AN. Maintain those performance levels and the points will come over the whole season. As for the game, gutting as that late goal was, a draw was a fair reflection, IMO. Payet should have scored when through on goal and both sides had a similar number of chances really. Our 56% possession was amazing for an away game against the third placed team though.
Agree that "on balance a draw was probably about right", Trick and thanks for your views. You must be well pleased with Bilic as well, and it has to be great to be sitting up there in the table. Best of luck for the rest of the season
Cheers mate. Yeah its good fun but we know it's not going to last (in terms of staying in the champions league places) so we'll enjoy it while we can. Very pleased with Bilic. An absolute breath of fresh air after Sam "respect the point" Allardyce. Nice to see a new generation of managers in the premier league.
Brilliant summary of our season so far RER and as you say to have the lion's share of possession in an away game against a team in 3rd is excellent (At one time, we had over 60% possession). If we can keep up playing as well as we have, then I see no reason why we can't be aiming to finish in the top 10. Watford seem to be doing OK, but I feel sorry for Bournemouth, as injuries seem to piling up for them and if they lose Wilson for a few weeks, that's going to be a massive loss. I have no doubt that there may well be other games similar to what we suffered at Southampton, but the way we bounced back and have performed since gives me confidence that all will be OK.
Before the game yesterday I would have taken a point. I know it is a bit of a pisser to lose out right at the death but still think it is a point gained rather than 2 lost. I agree with Singapore that the Stoke game could and should have yielded an extra 2 points for sure, but more pleasing to me is that we have shown ourselves to be competitive in all games where we have fielded 11 players for the whole game. That is a real achievement in my opinion. Next week will be a massive test though.
As a little bonus, we've gone upto 12th in the table as Watford lost, their GD is the same ours and alphabetically, they are further down than us.
