At least he won't be a liability like Fer, shame that it's taken so long for CH to see what a good player he is!
Good. At the very least it should show Hughton that he's good enough as a last-ditch option on the bench, and he's got a second chance in the replay (hopefully alongside another genuine CM) to show if he can be more than that. We need more creativity in the middle of the pitch, if he can be that man, great. If not, it at least raises his sale price, hopefully creates some interest, and reinforces the need for a new midfielder.
Shame that CH didn't pick up on the need for a CAM in the summer transfer window, we would probably be a few places higher than we are now, shows a lack of judgement on his part.
Bit unfair on him that. As I understand it the club worked hard to bring in a CAM but to no avail. May well see one in Jan but more likely the summer now.
I didn't see the game because I couldn't find a stream, so I can't say if I feel he deserved it. The general opinion on the Pink Un messageboard is that he played very well, although some people felt Snodgrass should have gotten it. Be interesting to see if CH is willing to try Snodgrass in that new role in a league game or whether he'll go back to his old formation. I'm guessing the latter.
Or that other areas were a priority Or that our targets chose to go elsewhere Or he thought Fer would play that role Or that we weren't prepared to pay a rip-off price quoted Or he felt there was enough creativity from Howson, Fer and Snodgrass to not need a dedicated playmaker Or we didn't have the budget for a genuinely better player Or that he thought we didn't need another player similar to Wes Or....perhaps not everything that happens at a club is solely down to the manager making a mistake?
I just wish Hughton could be more flexible. For me, it's the big thing missing from his management, and if he could somehow find it he would actually be a good Prem-level manager. Compare Johnson and Fox. They both play in the same area of the park but they couldn't be more different. Johnson is a destroyer; Fox is a creator. They are both not very good at the opposite side of the game. Why can't we utilise the whole squad and have two different ways of playing? CH has gone out of his way to play and develop Johnson, even when he has put in poor performances. In contrast, Fox was given 7 games last season, apparently (not sure how many of those were as a starter). Why can't we use both of them as needed? This isn't an attack on Johnson, nor is it meant to build Fox into the Messiah. I think Johnson is as good at what he does as Fox is in his skill set. It's not even an attack on Hughton. More a lament that he doesn't seem able to juggle more balls in the air at the same time. I recognise the advantages of a stable system which everyone is familiar with. But players can be adaptable if they are encouraged and trained to be.
Shame that CH didn't pick up on the need for a CAM in the summer transfer window, we would probably be a few places higher than we are now, shows a lack of judgement on his part. You mean he didn't pick up on the need for a multi-million pound bid and many months contract negotiation with a player like Toivenen???
With regards to Fox (and Surman) these types of players were never replaced with better versions, whilst Fer is a competent passer of the ball like Fox, he is plays nothing like him. Fox, Surman, Hoolahan, RVW are cut from a different cloth to Redmond, Snodgrass, Fer and Tettey. There was a thread about entertainment and intelligence, which group do you think had to rely on there intelligence more?
The thing I have found most irritating in the Fox debate is a fair handful of Norwich fans think he shouldn't be in there because his performance against Luton. Funny when the same people probably call anyone against Hughton fickle. I seen someone comment on here how badly some players have been treated in this new management. Fox, Becchio and Wes haven't had a chance at all, and it's not as if everyone is doing brilliantly this season which warrants some players to start every game.
As others have said on here, at every club there are players who don't fit the manager's requirements and therefore get treated 'badly'. In that sense, footballers are like actors. Their career can hit the buffers through no fault of their own. The best they can do is move on as quickly as possible and, sad though I'd be to see it, I think this is what Fox should do. On the other hand, it does seem inconsistent that people have been so quick to judge Fox largely on the evidence of one game (Luton) while Hughton is given 18 months (and approximately 60 games).
The title of the thread is just a single word, only those with an agenda will turn it into something else! Have a look at all the threads on the front page, apart from the prediction threads, they ALL descend into anti-CH propaganda! It is just not necessary, yet the same posters complain about red-top's lazy journalism!
So what's the situation with Fox? He played well after being left in the cold for 18 months. That's the biggest talking point about him isn't it? I agree some threads unnecessarily turn into that debate but I don't think this is one of them Dave.
If you think this was CH's fault, you are not up to speed with what is happening at Carrow Road! 18 months ago he was struck down with glandular fever, an illness that can sometimes take years to recover from. When he had shaken off the illness he was loaned out to Barnsley to get him back to match fitness, he returned from that loan last week and was almost immediately chosen by CH. I'd love you to point out what CH did wrong!
And pro-CH propaganda, too, Dave. The pros can dish it out just as readily as us. But it is very hard to stay off the topic, I admit.
Fox played well - his creativity was there for all to see and he put in a couple of decent tackles too which is not his normal game. Considering the hot-potch team we put together we deserved a win - we conceded a poor goal (highlighting the need for me to bolster central defence - if Anthea is out for a while we could struggle here) and we created a number of good chances - many of them stemming from Fox's initial delivery. I certainly think he'd do well alongside Fer or Tettey in certain games. What was interesting for me was with the "pressure" off by not having to get Premier League points we played a more open and expansive game and Fox contributed to that significantly.
