There could be 'fireworks' at Anfield on 9th Nov (or whenever the tie is played) when Citeh visit!!! <getscoatemoji>
I don't think you can draw any conclusions about the season from what happens in August. Teams are affected by the vagaries of pre-season, international tournaments over the summer, random injuries and the luck or otherwise of the early fixture list. Furthermore, games are usually played in lovely conditions far removed from any cold, windy and wet nights at the Britannia (I guess Turf Moor is the nearest equivalent this year). It'll be after the second international break that we really begin to see how the season is shaping up.
It is a sobering thought that this season we will be playing matches against teams who have one, or more, players earning more per year than our entire starting eleven cost.
Some people have been expressing doubts about Buendia against Chelsea, but Dave Freezer's detailed 'Player Watch' suggests otherwise. Having provided the evidence, here is his verdict: VERDICT: Key role in both goals and so nearly set up a third for City. Looked very much Premier League quality in attack and caused a top team real problems, finding those pockets of space he revelled in last season. Play like this against lesser top-flight sides and will be too hot to handle. Warming up nicely to the challenge and already becoming a marked man. RATING: 8 out of 10 https://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/norwich-chelsea-player-watch-emi-buendia-1-6234800
Both his run into the Chelsea box to set up the first, and his clever pass to set Pukki on his way for the second were CLASS. If some people think his performance was poor, I for one cannot wait for him to improve !
I agree, Robbie. Although we get glimpses in early games, it's not until at least 10 games have been played that we get any idea of how it might shape up. We have 3 top 6 teams in our first 5 games which distorts the picture. After 10 games we'll have a more balanced indication. Then the true picture develops by the halfway point when we've played all the other teams and injuries affect all teams. That's when the depth of our squad could play a key role. As for other teams with more expensive players, GE, we've played 3 of those and done well enough that we can compete in this league. For me, it isn't how much the players cost, it's how much they're worth on the pitch. Would you take £40m Joelinton over free transfer Pukki, for example?
If Pukki was in one of those money teams it makes you wonder how many he might score. His chances against Chelsea were extremely limited, yet he still scored. In our situation it's important that every chance we get results in a shot on target and I don't think that there is another player in the league who is capable of maximising the outcome of chances more than our Flying Finn.
Don't forget that "BBC FOOTBALL EXPERT" Lawrenson decreed Pukki wouldn't score 10 goals all season at this level. What a twat, he'll be there by the end of September at this rate.
In fairness to Lawrenson, and there probably is no bigger critic of him than me, he did acknowledge last week that he had probably made an error in suggesting that. On the other hand in the midst of virtual Teemumania after his hat trick, not a hat trick of scrambled goals or errors by defenders, but three absolutely first rate goals including a definite contender for at least Goal of the Month, it would have been difficult not to recant well. ( see what I did there?)
Interesting to see the current list of shortest odds for top scorer Kane Salah Sterling Aguero Aubameyang Mane Rashford Pukki Vardy Lacazette You judge people by the company they keep?
Terrific article from Matt Howman - 'A year ago this week we had suffered a 3-0 defeat to Leeds United, clocked just one win in the Championship and had a busy week ahead with a league cup fixture, followed by the first East Anglian derby of the season. Most fans, including myself, were mentally preparing ourselves for another mid-table season, albeit with slightly more improvement from the previous season… ah, how little we knew. Fast forward a year and here we are, putting ourselves to the test against the Champions League winners and the Europa League champions, coming away from both matches with an assured sense of optimism; this season is going to be exciting. Throughout the three games of our season so far, the stand out player that has really shown what a difference a year can make in football is Cantwell. Cantwell was not in the blueprint for Farke's starting XI at the tail-end of last season when we were gunning for the title, so it was surprising to see him on the team sheet as we walked out to a thunderous Anfield for the seasons curtain-raiser. However, what he has demonstrated in the first three games is nothing short of a glowing advert for Farke's coaching ability. When he first broke into the team you could argue he looked lightweight, perhaps didn't show enough quality in the final ball to keep his place in the starting lineup and needed more time to prepare for what is a demanding role in the way Farke wants us to play. For players like Cantwell, Aarons, Lewis and Godfrey they are the lucky ones that were ready for their chance when Farke has come in, who knows what other academy prospects could have made it if they were given the chance? All four have repaid their chance and more, and wherever we are as a club in a year from now you can be sure they will all be better players for the experience.' https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwi...orwich-city-column-year-a-long-time-1-6237258
Looking back at Chelsea, these are our 5 highest scoring players on WhoScored: Pukki 7.8 Buendia 7.5 Hanley 7.2 Godfrey 7.0 Cantwell 6.8 It's interesting how people's perceptions can be at odds with a detailed analysis of each player's contribution during the match. It's easy to be influenced by a few actions during the game without taking into account the total contribution of each player over 90+ minutes. Some say Buendia hasn't got going yet, while his total rating says he has, almost as much as Pukki and considerably more than Cantwell in that game. Gut feeling perceptions would often put Hanley below Godfrey, but in this game his total contributions were slightly greater. That surprised me, but I trust objective detailed analysis more than subjective gut feelings, even my own.
If you are able to attend games, as opposed to watching it on TV or on-line, you can get quite a different idea. I actually didn't think that GH was too bad and he certainly got some important blocks in. He was left TOTALLY exposed for Chelski's 3rd goal and THAT'S what a lot of people are basing their judgement on!!!
Trybull(6.0) and Leitner(6.3) were bypassed by Chelsea's wide tactics and Lewis and Aarons failed to deal with Emerson and Azpilicueta, scoring 6.2 each. Yet most people see Hanley as our defensive weak link.
What a great article. It gets to the crux of Pukki's success which is his ability to turn less than half chances unerringly into goals. That ratio of 1.28Xg into 5 goals is truly remarkable and is a harbinger of things to come. Bearing in mind that two of those came against top six clubs makes it even more amazing.
Yes, 11 shots, 9 of them on target and 5 of which were goals. Amazing. They must work on that slant pattern in training, which explains how Buendia, Cantwell and Stiepermann know exactly where to put the through ball. This says it all: "According to Webber, they analysed the data available to them on Pukki, and recognised he was hugely successful at converting from specific situations. His ability to break an offside trap and shoot across goal early has been evident since the start of the season. With someone so prolific in a certain scenario, it made sense for Norwich to take a chance on him and build a team that created a high volume of those specific chances. An experiment which transformed the fortunes of the club." The original plan seemed to be for Pukki to play behind Rhodes and run those patterns while Rhodes pulled one or more CBs out of position. Now he does it on his own.
