http://sports.yahoo.com/news/robert...norwich-city-midfield-fan-192900017--sow.html Just read this article by James Kent on Robert Snodgrass and I think CH has made some VERY astute signings. I would still like to see a DM and LB come in, but am happy to go with the strikers wee currently have, especially as I'm sure the midfield will provide quite a few goals and can see E Bennett, Pilkington and Snodgrass all contributing to our 'goals for' tally.
There's not a chance in hell that Snodgrass will replace Pilkington on the left wing. Pilkington was a fantastic signing - as hopefully Snodgrass will be too - and he has the potential to be in a different class to Snodgrass. I think Bennett is more at risk but hope not as although he needs to improve his shooting and goal scoring, I'm sure that will come given the experience of that season but not sure Snodgrass will even be played as a winger, he's much too slow to play in that position in the Premier League and would be a liability, creating huge challenges for Tierney. Possibly, Hoolahan is more at risk (and I think, unfortunatly, it means the end for Chris Martin) as I think it's more likely Snodgrass will be played behind Holt or Vaughan, with Howson (who obviously can and has played there) dropping back to the centre of midfield, with pace coming from the flanks in Pilkington and Bennett. Although, in a full out attack 4-3-2-1 formation, Holt (but maybe and definitely longer term, Vaughan) with Snodgrass and Howson playing behind and with Pilkington and Bennett but personally would love City to play 3-4-2-1... Snodgrass, like Howson, offers options as to where he can play, for me though, I hope it's not on the wing....
Sorry JR but IMO this is neither interesting nor deserving of being called an "article". "Insightless web waffle" would be a better description. Most of it is just rehashed stuff from elsewhere, and the statement that Snodgrass prefers to play wide left is simply untrue, as Leeds fans have told us time and again. We are far better informed, and talk more sense among ourselves, than James Kent is or ever does.
james kent + desire to be a journalist = big yawn i think he's the least insightful canary writer out there
I agree about Kent simply rehashing previous articles and getting his facts wrong because he fails to do his research. Snodgrass did play on the RW for Leeds. I think that he'll compete with Bennett in that position as well as competing with Hoolahan and Butterfield to play in the 'hole' behind the strikers. Though he lacks genuine pace, he is not slow (similar to Hoolahan in that regard). Like Butterfield, though, he uses his two-footedness to beat defenders and move the ball forward. This is critical in CH's possession oriented approach which is emerging in this pre-season. This may also favour Vaughan and Morison over Holt up front to offer pace up front if a 4-2-3-1 is played. I suspect Holty will still get his share of game time, though, especially when a 4-4-2 is played at home on occasions, which might also favour Bennett over Snodgrass. I get the impression that CH, CC and PT are more tactically astute than PL and IC, and this will be critical when the season gets under way. It makes me feel confident.
Interesting observations RER and I feel that different formations may well be employed by CH whether we're home or away. Totally agree with your 2nd last sentence and far from PL's departure having a 'negative' effect on the team - I can only see the arrival of CH and his assistants providing extra impetus in the players for the forthcoming season, something we're going to need, as I envisage a hard-fought season ahead, but like you, remain confident that we'll get the results we need!!!!
I personally feel it will be Snodgrass and Pilks that will start, possibly even Hoolahan playing behind a lone striker. I do rate Benno and I'm sure he will be rotated in and out of the side depending on fitness/performances of others etc. however, he also looked a damn good right back!
More tactically astute? Certainly more experienced. PL and IC often seemed to experiment and try things out, not always successfully. But PL's reading of a game in progress was excellent, and in return fixtures against sides we'd already played, he'd generally get it right. The two games against the Swans last season are obvious examples (where the lesson was learned the previous season in the away game in the Championship). But like you, I don't feel we are weaker with losing PL; if anything, a bit stronger.
i too don't feel we are any weaker with hughton than with lambert but i think you're underestimating lambert and culverhouse tactically. they were the best i've seen at norwich in my time supporting the club and if our new team can be anywhere close to them then we'll be onto a good thing. its not just pre-game tactics remember - its being alert and astute enough to change mid-game, often multiple times, to affect the outcome of a match - the previous incumbents were masterful at that side of it
As has been said elsewhere - the formation change at the Liberty at half time (without substituting any players), was superb and I would say definitely was the reason we won that game (whilst wearing the 'jinxed' away strip I might add!!).
I can see your point about PL and IC during games like that at Swansea. I wasn't running them down, but emphasising that CH, CC and PT have a greater collective experience. The test will come once the season starts, but I like what I have seen so far in the pre-season. The emphasis on possession football is spot on for the PL, especially for City this year. Bringing in two-footed players like Snodgrass and Butterfield reflect this and will strengthen the squad accordingly. Similarly the expereience of Turner and Whittaker will strengthen the defence and the distribution out of it into a possession oriented passing mid-field. I see it as building further on what Lambert and Culverhouse started. That is what gives me confidence.
your last sentence is spot on rick - its about building on what was left by lambert. there is absolutely no need for panic (unless you believe what the media write) because we are stable and have a decent team already in place. there is no need for major surgery - not even in our more problematic areas like defence - just careful progression and slight improvements across the board. better passing, better defending etc. if we do that then we'll be absolutely fine.
Supers - I was being a tad facetious, as others on here (and more so on 'Pinkun') claimed it was jinxed - I remember only too well the away games against Koo Pee Arr and Spurs, as I was watching them down at a local hostelry (for the Spurs game, I was sat just behind a couple of Spurs fans ). Your latest post is 'on the money' and I'm sure what the vast majority of TRUE fans believe (not the ones who phone Canary Call etc!!!). According to today's gossip, CH is still hopeful of another couple of signings and I'm hoping that includes a LB and a DM - not a GK PLEASE, as we've got enough cover in that department. Not going to the match tonight, but may watch it on line. Looking forward to the match v Borussia Moenchengladbach and then the season proper kicks off the week after!!!!
....my choice for best coach at city is dixie deehan, but spoiled his success by going on to be a crap manager.
There was a clip from an interview with Snodgrass on Radio Norfolk today. He admitted that he'd been interested in joining us last season when we made a bid but he bought into everything he was being told at Leeds, but as none of that actually came about he felt he had to go
