Match Day Thread Unofficial match thread for Norwich (ko Sat 20th 3pm)

Yes, a one goal defeat with a lot of adulation

 

Nailed it. We needed to be more vertical thru the middle during the second half. Both Romeu and Diallo can play that way but we tried to persist with the swing across the back to cross field balls which we couldnt do due to lack of time on the ball. We should have been quicker to adapt as a unit without subs but failed.

I thought some of Ralphs choices here were poor and the international break hangover seemed to be in full effect. Diallo gave the ball away far too many times - he has had some great games but this was back to his early shockers. I had a inward groan when Walcott came on which quickly turned into an outward one. Why bring on an attacking player if his first touch is never forwards and his passes are almost always backwards. Compare his first touch to KWP who was fantastic in the first half. When we need goals you need to be playing in the right direction.

Macca has had a great start to the season but that really should have been a 1-0 win, neither goal was unstoppable.

Fantastic to have Che on the scoresheet again! Let the run continue.

 

Just seen the highlights. Mccarthy definitely at fault there. Really poor goalkeeping. Oh well, Liverpool next. That'll be easy I'm sure

 

Total free hit. And we've done ok against the big hitters this season.

 

Easy to blame Macca for their first, but Salisu really should have dealt with Pukki.

Macca’s been one of our better, more consistent players this season. Surely we can’t scapegoat him after one bad game?

Elyou on the other hand. Jeez.

 

Totally right, macca has had an outstanding start to the season even though today he was pretty poor for both goals. I didnt think Ely was all that bad TBH, we were dominating that left side first half where he linked up well with KWP. Much better than Diallo with Tino on the right. Did Ely play international in the week break? I didnt check.

Walcott is the only player who should have strips torn off him post game for me. To come on at that point and play that way when we needed a game changer is diabolical. I have no idea what the long game is with Tella but after that performance there is NO justifiable reason to play Walcott over Tella again, I mean what could he do worse?

 

Gotta say that I think its time to give Livramento a break. He struggled against Villa after being bullied and today was stiffled too easily in part thanks to being partnered with Diallo. I wouldn't be surprised to see KWP back on the right for a bit and use one of our actual LBs out on that side. Might be controversial being such a fan fave but we have to remember he's a teenager and its his first season. A bit of cotton wool won't hurt.

 

I don't get Theo at all. Absolute waste of a shirt.

I'd be sticking a transfer request in if I was Tella.

 

The worst thing about yesterday is how good we made them look in that second half. They're a poor to average side at best but we just stood off them and made them look like prime Brazil ffs.

Second half really was as pathetic as anything I've seen under Ralph. Awful.

 

I thought Tino looked off his game against Villa after he was taken out early on and made a number of small errors in the second half. I too have been left wondering if Ralph is overplaying him.

 

I don’t know, it was a really well placed header from a difficult angle.

 

Noooooo, you’re not allowed to say that. Haven’t you been reading?

 

I can only ever recall Pukki scoring with one header. That was at Stoke in our previous promotion season. He generally doesn't get in those positions. Yesterday it was hard and just inside the post. I didn't think that your keeper was at fault for that.

 

I'm with you, as one of the supposed "creative" players in the team you would expect a few goals and assists from him every now and again and I only recall the one rather fortunate goal at Newcastle in the PL. I just don't see what he brings to the table TBH.

 

Yeah, there is very little justification right now - from what I can see - to not promote Tella above Theo in the pecking order. If he performs just as bad (or worse!) than Theo, then fine, ditch him again. But until/unless that happens, it's time to stop giving Theo these chances ahead of him.

That said, when Redmond and Stu are both fully fit and available, I don't see either of Theo or Tella getting much of a look in. Stu's fitness issues in particular this season have no doubt played a part in Theo getting as many minutes as he has.

 

I think that Theo gets more opportunities based on reputation and probably Ralph trying to justify the decision to sign him personally.

 

With Stu's issues this season I'd say it's become our biggest problem area, as I'm not sure any of the other options are particularly good (or at least reliaby so).

 

I really hope it's not that last part as making bad decisions to try and justify previous bad decisions rarely ends well.

 

I'm not blaming Walcott for this like everyone else seems to be. Broja did just as little as Walcott, but no one's talking about him. The game had turned before either of them came on. We were being overpowered in defence and midfield, so not sure why everyone is pointing the blame at a right-sided winger. Maybe our defenders and def-mids should be taught not to give possession away in our own half so much, when the opposition is on the front foot.

 

Who's blaming him for the defeat? Certainly not me. I just said that I dont understand what he brings and why Ralph keeps giving him game time.