Nelson has 1 goal Gayle has 13 yes it's terrific that we shared our goals around yesterday but like for like Gayle is having an amazing season .
Do you think I've really upset her? Or is she just hiding behind the sofa, like a coiled cobra, waiting to strike back at the earliest opportunity?
If that is the type of performance and result I can expect by having a weekend away from home, totally ignoring proceedings, then I really must get out more.
Pritchard had a great match to be sure and his performance will certainly put pressure on Wes for that role, but as he says the return of Jonny Howson was also at the heart of this win: “It was massive to have him back, massive,” said the City forward(Pritchard). He’s just a leader. You saw it today. He was shouting out orders. He gave me a headache on the pitch. He just kept talking but that’s what we need and that’s good. It was good to have him back.” Howson (and Pinto) being out for the last 5 weeks has certainly impacted on performances during that time. He is the leader in midfield with both his words and his passing as he drove the performance. Tettey, Dorrans and Mulumbu all have their own attributes but, IMO, Howson is the heart of the team in that crucial box-to-box role and I'd like to see him given the captaincy, with Martin moving to the more general role of Club Captain. Pinto clearly terrified his opponents with his bursts of pace, which is a dimension we lack when he isn't playing and it was no surprise that he had to be taken off for cramp before the end. Oliveira was also a completely different player with a dominant midfield with excellent movement behind him. Jacob Murphy also deserves praise for being in the right place for the first goal and then drawing the penalty which gave us the 2-0 lead and the clean sheet was a welcome performance from the defence. Long may it continue.
Absolutely spot on post Rick!! I'd love to see Howson become captain, but as Martin is one of 'teacher's pets', I'm not sure it will happen this season, but at least if he's not in the starting 11, then Howson is ideal for the role!!! Pinto has improved so much from his first few games and he was almost as big a miss as Howson. As you say, a fantastic performance and a welcome clean sheet, but our defensive frailties were very evident towards the end of the first half especially and we were fortunate to go in 2-0 up at half time, but to have 11 shots on target was exceptional and hope we do use this to consign the horrors of November to be forgotten. Edit - Highlights from Saturday - http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...rwich_city_s_5_0_win_over_brentford_1_4804167 Sorry - couldn't get the video link to work.
Agree with this, Martin has good diplomacy / media skills but there's little evidence of any leadership from him on the pitch - and, as Pritchard suggested, Howson has that in spadefulls - despite only returning to the side after a lengthy lay off .
Once they were 2-0 down Brentford had to go for it and they did, but Hogan's two misdirected headers and his volley over the top were no more threatening than Oliveira's header over and his vicious long-range volley that went just wide. He made up for that with his excellent turn and shot for the 4th goal though. I thought Bassong had a good match but Bennett still doesn't convince me. I wish we knew why Klose isn't playing, as that leaves me worried that he might be off in January.
But I thought he loved the beaches around Norfolk? They're certainly better than the ones in Switzerland!
Well that's certainly true, but he says even that hasn't been the same since he got crabs in Cromer! please log in to view this image
Yes, I wasn't aware Basil/Ja Murphy had so many attempts on goal which were saved/missed by a whisker and I'm sure you speak for all NCFC fans with your last sentence.
That was the first thing I picked up on when watching the highlights earlier today. The result became a little less of a surprise as he indeed has been sorely missed.
Does that fact that CJ did not play indicate anything? Have City been too reliant on him up front, looking to pump balls forward for him to deal with?