Excellent post RM2. I'd only disagree with your comment about the goalkeeper, as according to the EDP report, McGovern couldn't do much about any of the goals.
Cannot ship that many goals and still expect to be in contention end of season! Starting Whittaker? If you were an opposition manager you would grin like a jackass on hearing that particular team selection when you know others are available!
One of those '5 things we learned' pieces which annoyingly comprises a slideshow (WHY TF do they insist on doing that ) Needless to say Whittaker, Naismith and Brady (operating as a makeshift full back) all get a mention - and none of them come out of it in a good light! I could have written the script on all three of them, but I'd be deemed "negative" by some on here? Whittaker should never, ever play for us again, imho. http://readnorwich.com/2016/08/28/five-things-learnt-norwich-thrashed-birmingham/?
Agreed Cromer and I'm at a loss to understand WHY he was given a 1 year contract extension????? If AN doesn't start selecting players who actually WANT to play instead of selecting his favourites, then in the words of Fraser - "WE'RE DOOMED!!!"
Surprised you didn't make a move for Daryl Murphy.............would suit the style of play that your aiming for...and knows this division.
There is a seeming adoration of all things Scottish, which is beginning to concern me. Whittaker, normally Martin and inevitably 'king Naismith there or thereabouts every week - why? When we have players in the squad, perhaps not as experienced, but Jesus Christ, they'd offer a whole lot more than the 3 Scottish musketeers. Without the absenteeism during games and fewer mistakes
Don't forget Dorrans! Neither Bennett nor Klose have been spectacular so maybe Martinn should be playing? Certainly he should be right back in the absence of Pinto as I do agree that Whittaker is a liability. The problem with Naismith is that in his current form, he doesn't offer us anything which Wes/Maddison don't yet he always starts in Wes' best position. Naismith has been unspectacular and deserves a spell on the bench, whereas Whittaker, well I don't like to say this but I honestly believe he offers so little to us that we made the wrong decision to extend his contract. Occasionally bright going forward but so wanting defensively. A right back is a defender, not an attacker. I'm certain that opposing teams anticipate his inclusion and target our right hand side when attacking.
This article in today's EDP REALLY sums up what is wrong with NCFC - “Forget Blackburn. That was a mirage, a false dawn on the opening weekend when one of the Championship’s lesser lights compliantly rolled over and afforded City time and space that has eluded them subsequently. The Championship is Ipswich Town away, with all that extra derby spice, or Birmingham City at a rain-sodden, ramshackle St Andrew’s. Or a Sheffield Wednesday, who came to Carrow Road and obdurately challenged City to break them down. It is about second balls, energy, desire and work-rate. Norwich have to earn the right to play a style of football which at its best will sweep away most of their rivals in this less refined tier. In their last two away games they have short-changed themselves and their supporters, losing the physical collision and in phases seemingly shocked then overwhelmed by the force and urgency of inferior opponents. Yes, they could have still prevailed at Ipswich if Steven Whittaker’s shot had clipped the inside of a post but few would have argued they really merited the victory. At Birmingham they got exactly what they deserved. From back to front there was a collective abdication to match a more limited Blues outfit for application and attitude. Perhaps for the first time on Neil’s watch you got the distinct impression some in yellow at St Andrew’s felt those dirty, hard yards were beneath them. That is an unforgivable charge to level at any professional footballer. Much more damning that failing to track a runner at the far post, or sliding into a clumsy challenge to concede a penalty or a wayward back pass to seal the rout. Neil prowled his technical area with a look that veered from disgust to bemusement, fuelled by frustration at a gameplan that unravelled graphically and a selection policy that provoked intense argument. This was neither a one-off, nor a wake-up call but a crushing realisation Neil must refine his methods and adapt to the new, cold-edged brutality of Norwich’s straightened surroundings. Time moves on swiftly but this is still a Championship both he and many of his players conquered in 2015 on a wave of committed, cohesive football. Injuries have taken a debilitating toll in the first month, albeit the Scot, as is always his way, refused to offer those as mitigation, but serious questions now persist whether he has the tools at his disposal to stand and trade at places like Birmingham or Barnsley or Burton. Once the pain and the anger recede, once the unsettling distraction of the summer transfer circus ends on Wednesday, the rest of this international break must act as a watershed. A first defeat of the season is not a cause for prolonged introspection but the manner of City’s reverse carries possibly far greater ramifications.” Full article here - http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...bullying_must_stop_for_norwich_city_1_4675307
Don't always agree with Vital Norwich but I have to say this piece is absolutely bang on the money And there was I thinking I was the only person who couldn't see the sun potentially shining out of Naismith's ass - though, sadly, it seems as though AN can, does, will continue to http://www.norwich.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=458830
The only reason for not starting Lafferty that would have some merit is that he hasn't played much recently and he wasn't up to playing on Saturday having played on Tuesday.
I think it's a slap in the face from AN. I don't think he likes his attitude, things he has said while on International duty. He has a reputation of being a ladies man, and his recent gambling trouble bringing a spotlight onto the club. I think he just wants rid, and bit his nose off to spite his face.
None of those things are desperately important if AN learned to put the best interests of the team and club before his stupid, pro-Scottish, anti-Lafferty personal bias
You see it from managers all the time. They get an idea in their heads of players they take a dislike to and try and move them out of the club. Jose with Mata at Chelsea, Pep with Hart at City. Sometimes you are scratching your head, but I think it's a kind of "stamping your authority on the club" type thing.
I think it's "cut his nose off to spite his face" it's physically impossible to bite your own nose off.
I've just forced myself to finally watch the highlights. It could have been far worse than 3 by the looks of it. I've liked Donaldson a lot the past few seasons. He reminds me a lot of Jerome, and he ripped us apart. I thought he was slow, but he tapped it past one of our players, ran onto it and crossed it into the box straight to a Brummy. I wouldn't be against us signing him for this seasons Promotion push.
