Have to say I'm not too concerned about the team selection - apart from the occasional puzzling one I think it's been pretty good. For example, at the start of the season many on here were demanding Dorrans never played for us again, now he's one of the most consistent performers in the team. What I think is a concern is the game management. Several times we have lost leads, and lost points from winning positions. I'm not sure whether this is the players losing concentration or the manager failing to issue appropriate instructions, but it needs sorting out as a priority.
Totally agree with you there ILD. The 2 brief occasions on which I've seen Pritchard, I've been very impressed and whilst I'd like to see more of Basil, he's unlikely to replace Jerome.
Pritchard is that difficult decision for Neil. On the one hand defensively we are a shambles and picking a player who he seems to think is defensively light perhaps exacerbates that. On the other hand, attack is often the best form of defense. So let the opposition be worried or pinned back by our quality and better balI retention with Pritch in the side. I noticed that the Brighton fans had similar observations about their manager, get a goal ahead and bring on a defensive sub or two inviting pressure from the opposition [Hootun defensive, who'd a thunk it?]. For my part I'd at least try Pritch with Hoolahoops from the start against any opposition. Preston seemingly identified WH as our chief threat, looked to snub him out, did so and for the main eliminated our threat. With Pritch their as well, we still have a creative threat and they have a lot more to think about! There are certainly others being picked who have given a lot less to the team than Pritch in recent weeks. Bah!
I'm in total agreement General, especially re playing Hoolahan and Pritchard together and then letting the opposition have to defend more. Or defence is pretty 'porous' anyway, so surely far better to put more emphasis on attack!!!
I agree with that General, but Pritchard did play the whole 120 minutes against Leeds. He might be able to do 60 minutes or so and then Josh could come on. For me, we're going to beat other teams by scoring more, much like in the Lambert days. We have the attacking players to do that, with Pritchard and Oliveira coming on now as well. Conceding goals is annoying to be sure, but we should concentrate on our strengths. Winning is what matters, though a draw against Brighton would be OK.
He did indeed but not with wes and unlike vs Preston we did score a couple ( we needed ET to get the 2nd) but we didn't lose in the 90 or 120 and hopefully playing with Wes, Dorrans,Tettey and a Murphy we'll keep the ball better and threaten more. It worked vs Rotherham [OK they are pony] so lets try it against some better opposition too. We generally concede from silly mistakes and set piece switchoff so whats the harm? Dorrans and Tettey should provide an adequate screen for the back 4. We probably need Olsson and Pinto to just be a bit more mindful of their defensive duties and it could work. Right now I think our mind set is generally weighted toward attack at the expense of defence. Why not go the whole way. We know we'll likely concede 1 or 2 (currently ave 1.36) goals a game, lets target 3 (Currently 1.86) scored! Put our best attackers out there each time and it's possible. It feels at times we're caught betwixt and between going fully on the offensive and picking players because they are better defensively but not as good going forward or in poor form and undermining that philosophy. That said i and others would probably then castigate him as stupid and naive if it then didn't work and we started to lose 4-3 all the time! Bah!
With precious few exceptions, every substitution he makes is like for like, as in Oliveira for Jerome, Naismith for Wes, etc. A bit more inventiveness with these might give the opposing manager/team a bit more to think about and get them out of that comfort zone?
Isn't this why we sing "never mind the danger" every week! please log in to view this image Not sure I agree about the subs, Cromer. Lately he's been bringing on Oliveira and other attacking players and switching to 4-4-2 to try to win the game. I hate losing as much as anybody, but as long as we're going for it and scoring goals we have a chance.
Some excellent comments and I would like AN to take a few more risks in his team selection/subs. As has been mentioned, the majority of our goals against are from set pieces, so Pritchard's lack of defensive cover isn't really an issue!!!
If we can take any consolation from the EFL Cup defeat it's that we would have been drawn away against Liverpool in the next round. I don't think winning that game would have been an option. I am expecting more problems on Saturday as scoring will be a major concern Brighton have a tight defence. The pressure is mounting on AN
Expecting more problems?. As a Norwich fan, I expect us to win. Scoring has not exactly been our problem so far this season . Given how well Brighton have been going, I will not be disappointed with a draw, as long as we are not winning 2-0 with 10 mins to go. I suppose there is one consolation in expecting the worse CS .....you will never be disappointed.
Oh DD, you do leave yourself open. No smiley, so I presume this was a serious correction. Would HAVE. Never mind.
Actually DD, it just shows how little you know/understand, as in this context 'would if' is quite correct; but it would have (would've) made easier reading if ILD had perhaps used a comma after 'if' - ie Pritchard would, if he was given half a chance!!!
Woooooooooshhhhh. You strange dullards still don't pick up on the fact that would of should of Could of has been bugging me on here for years, that I even started a thread SPELLING it OUT as a monotonous running joke. Here's your smiley princess
