After a game like Newcastle, where players got carried away committing too much to the attack, you want to see the manager sort things out. The West Brom performance was much better, but they got their goal and shut down the game. For me, performances tell the tale and the last 3 performances have been excellent. Keep playing and developing as we are and the results will come. This is life in the PL, so let's get real. Villa and Newcastle lost by 4 and 3 goals respectively to smaller teams than Chelsea. This has nothing at all to do with 'Little Norwich'.
For me the improved defence is down to Ryan Bennett. He's looked good and getting better would be a disgrace is Martin comes straight back in.
I like Martin but I agree, I think we've looked much better with Wisdom and Bennett and if either of those two lose their place then I would be very disappointed.
I agree that Bennett had a good game, but he and Bassong were responsible for the lapse of concentration that led to the goal. Wisdom I thought had his best game for us yet and fully deserves to keep his place next week.
It went well. Performance was good but we lost. Lots of positives though such as Ryan in defence and we held our own. I am happy tonight as we fought hard and the boys did us proud.
There's no shame in going to Stamford bridge and losing 1-0. We had a decent penalty shout as well from what I could see but my view was obscured. Good, gutsy performance. Will take that.
Of course we wouldn't have got a penalty against a Premier League side, especially one of the top half!
Yes, it was my first thought. But you never know, also I ref games and it's bloody difficult with the speed these days.
Is Redmond our best set-piece taker?! I love the lad, he's easily one of our star players (despite being left on the bench with Hoolahan a lot for some reason). Has he really got a good delivery? He's taken corners and some free-kicks for a couple of years now. I'd love to know how often he doesn't beat the first man, and how often we actually win the ball from one of his takes. I'm guessing contacts about 20%, chances.......2%?
No, I don't think Redmond does beat the first defender very often and not sure who is better at taking corners - I'll come back to it. It's certainly a massive change since the early days this season, though I feel if we start winning a few games, that could all change!!!
Gary O'Neil started taking corners and free kicks in his first couple of matches with NCFC. Top class deliveries, I recall. Difficult to know why Redmond still gets the nod when they're both on the pitch at the same time - which is rare? Edit: can only assume GO is considered more of a threat when he's in the box for set piece deliveries, moreso than Redders?
Thanks for the update Cromer and yes, GO's deliveries actually posed a threat, though they were usually cleared by the opposition, but they were at least getting to the right area.
IMO, the last 3 performances have shown a huge progression in both AN and the players. AN has been very professional in over-riding his natural instincts to change our tactical approach and get the players to buy into it and deliver three solid performances against quality opposition. I'd have found it hard to believe that we'd come away from two away matches against ManCity and Chelsea with only 2 goals lost from our goal difference. It wasn't 'parking the bus' either as we managed to create decent attacking play ourselves. Arsenal at home is our next test and that may give an indication of how this new approach is working. Watford and Everton after that should provide a further opportunity for points and Villa at home becomes a must win really.
Bennett did manage to get back into position and nearly made a tackle. Bennett has needed a run in the team for w while now everytime he gets a few games together he starts to look good then gets injured and has to work himself back again
I wasn't being overcritical of RyBen, Bath, because he has done very well once he got his chance. It's more that his very good performance against Chelsea was rather spoiled by that lapse.
