Chris Hughton

[tipsycanary]

I think with the remaining games we should "go for it", it will surprise opposition because they know at the minute we can't create chances and see how we do defensively. Maybe not so much Swansea because they could rip us apart depending on how the midfield battles pans out and it also could be a valuable point, but why not against Arsenal and Reading? Arsenal isn't a game which will depend on us staying up and the chances of us shutting them out again I think are slim, and Reading's defence has been pretty poor all season.

I think our way of playing is actually a good way to play against the "bigger" teams and I include Arsenal. You expect them to have lots of possession so you just minimise the space they have in your half. However I agree against the likes of Reading a more attacking performance would be nice.

 

[Canary Rob]

Also @CanaryRob, he played well at Peterborough which has to be the last time we actually played well. I think he's been treated pretty unfairly this season and wouldn't be surprised if he just wants to leave after just getting frozen out for no apparent reason. I think that there were times this year when we have been screaming for Fox to be on the pitch, I am not sure whether Hughton understands how well he can dictate a game. I no it's not guaranteed we would have more points if Fox was involved more in the right games, but I would put every penny I have on it. People that say he doesn't do enough defensively, personally I think it's bollocks. Nothing like someone to put their foot on the ball and dictate the tempo of the game, and as well as that offer an option deep when you're under the cosh. You can't concede when you're in possession (unless Paul Robinson is in goal), and we've been ****e at keeping possession all season.

Thank god that there are some fans who can engage with what's written.

I'll be totally honest, I didn't see all of that one. I actually completely agree with you, which is why I'm getting so frustrated above because I feel I've been misinterpreted (my fault or otherwise)... I think you hit the nail on the head - Hughton doesn't know how to change the game. He seems to have no ability whatsoever in this department. I must admit, I don't think Fox is great defensively and I think this the only substantial reason he has not featured that I can think of. We may see him before the end of the season if performances don't pick up though.

This doesn't make him a totally bad manager, it just means he's flawed. Perhaps beyond repair. Currently, the string of faith I am clutching is that when he brings in a player he trusts, Hughton will start to be more flexible in. Both starting line-ups and substitutions.

 

[Tony_Munky_Canary]

I've usually found you to be quite reasonable, but for some reason you've not bothered to carefully read a single one of my posts and it gets frustrating. You are being juvenile: "knickers in a twist", attacking me not my comments, "medication", slapheads after every comment as if I'm the on being thick.

I've explained what can and can't be hyperbolic, I've also explained what were, admittedly, my not very well explained initial comments. Now I'd be grateful if you would either work through what I've explained and actually tell me where you disagree, which is fine, rather than tell me I'm wrong for no reason, slapping your head. Either that, or let's just let it lie.

Actually Rob, I have read all your posts on here and find it ridiculous and patronising of you to suggest that I haven't. I highlighted a couple of blatant parts I disagreed with and commented as such, and for some reason you started getting all arsey because I didn't agree with you and didn't provide you with War & Peace by means of a response. I didn't have time to go into chapter and verse, and ILD had summed up my thoughts very well so I just said that I agreed with him, which for some reason started your assault on me.

This after you even moved the goalposts yourself after I had directly answered the point about David Fox. You said Hootun had signed better technical players in the equivalent POSITION from last year, citing Tettey as one of these. I then quite clearly stated (in twenty words or less) that I disagreed and gave Fox as an example as it is an undeniable fact that Fox played in the central midfield POSITION alongside Bradley Johnson that Tettey has been occupying this season. Whether or not you think Tettey is technically better than Fox (which you do (and he isn't)), they played in the same POSITION which was what I assumed you were talking about as that was what you had typed. At the time I made my comment no mention was made of the formation or manner of play. It's still there in black and white if you want to check

I don't know why you then jumped down my throat and accused me of "picking one player who plays in a totally different manner", and then started ripping into me, I really don't. It was totally uncalled for, as were the uses of words such as "obnoxious" "pathetic" "utterly juvenile" "stupid little man" (that one had me in stitches ) and "thick as pigshit", so for you to say that it is I who is being juvenile and attacking you is quite frankly laughable.
Yeah, you got my goat so I got out the slapheads, big deal. I'd rather that than being called a "**** fan" and then told to "**** off" as you went on to do. Jeez man, and you wonder why I genuinely asked if you were on medication? Ok you didn't like the fact I disagreed with your point, and also because I highlighted the ridiculous hyperbole of phrases that don't actually mean anything or have any substance about them at all such as "Lambert's unique ability to work out how to change a game with a substitution" or this talk of a "system that would only work for [Lambert]" .

What rubbish, I'm sorry but it is.

Lambert didn't have "a system", he picked and chose the team and formation and system based on the opposition, who was fit/on form and what he and his coaching team thought would work for any particular game. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, but it's unarguable that for the most part it was successful. But it wasn't a particular "system", and it certainly wasn't anything "unique". That my friend is hyberbole where I come from
And for you to suggest SAF, the most successful manager in history wouldn't have been able to "maintain it". What??? All of these were stated as facts by you Rob, not said as merely your opinion which you later suggest, and the fact you further underlined it by saying "I'd have thought that was obvious" just comfirmed it for me. Sorry. Like I said before, it's all there in black n white.

Not really sure what your problem with me is, but I'm not having you talk to me like that when it's so totally uncalled for and then playing the victim. I'll debate with you all day until the cows come home, and if I'm wrong then I'll tell you that I am. I ain't wrong on this though, so I bid you adieu with a final one of these which I don't give out to just anybody, but you my friend most certainly deserve one purely for your performance on here tonight

Thanks and goodnight, hope you've chilled out in the morning

TMC (who for the record agrees it is ridiculous to even consider sacking Hootun now, as critical as I have been in recent months of our style of play at this point of the season would be absolutely bonkers)

 

[JM Fan]

All this 'harder to beat' and 'resilience' counts for boogie all if it doesn't earn you goals/points. So we now play with two defensive mids and no guile in front of them - regardless of who we face.

Lambert = no fear. Hughton = total fear

Sums it up for me!!!!

 

[Home on the range canary]

I've told you boys a million times to play nicely!!

 

[Tony_Munky_Canary]

I've told you boys a million times to play nicely!!

...and I've told you a billion times DO NOT EXAGERATE!!!!

 

[THURNBY CANARY]

Hughton was the fans general choice to replace Lambert and we got our wish. We currently lie in 14th and although far from safe, we are not in dire straits either. We have a budget that is possibly among the lowest three in the league and lower than some championship clubs.I know there are complaints about the style of play but you have to make the most of what you have got and as we are not scoring anywhere near enough (Holt is certainly off form this year no question) we cannot go ging ho like we did last season. It is a dilemma and one that I hope is sorted in the Summer where we have a chance to regroup. This season is a case of knuckling down and getting over the line. If things are no better by say end of October then we can reassess but the managerial roundabout is not the answer and patience is a virtue.

 

[K E M P]

Patience is a virtue huh?

You have to be really patient watching our games these days. It's like a form of sleep therapy.

I would love to see a goal from open play, being fussy one that's not headed either and played through the middle. I would love to see any goal at all to be honest though beggars cant be choosers I guess. Watching the Newcastle and Fulham home games have been enough to keep me away from CR for a while. I do not have the same enthusiasm to go these days even when I do get time.

It makes me laugh when I see people writing "according to our form we are........blah blah blah".

I use a different form of performance analysis, it's called my eyes and they work rather well.

Watching us at the moment is like painting a wall really carefully and then not being sure about the color choice. No one really enjoys doing it but once it's done your relieved that its over and then try to convince yourself that you like it.

 

[JM Fan]

Patience is a virtue huh?

You have to be really patient watching our games these days. It's like a form of sleep therapy.

I would love to see a goal from open play, being fussy one that's not headed either and played through the middle. I would love to see any goal at all to be honest though beggars cant be choosers I guess. Watching the Newcastle and Fulham home games have been enough to keep me away from CR for a while. I do not have the same enthusiasm to go these days even when I do get time.

I use a different form of performance analysis, it's called my eyes and they work rather well.

I know exactly what you mean and though I have paid for my season ticket, the incidental costs - travel/time/beer etc are beginning to take their toll. The only home games I plan on going to between now and the end of the season are Swansea and Villa - nor do I bother going down the pub to watch away games any more and like you, would dearly LOVE to see a repeat of the Whittaker goal against Swansea (or something even remotely similar!!!)

 

[ilovedelia]

Rob, calm down please, this is a debating forum, not a I'm right and you're wrong forum. I disagreed with with what you wrote, I'm entitled to do that so is Munky, we don't agree with it, but no one is challenging your right to your opinions.
I don't know if you went to the Wigan game? If you did then you could surely see that our team hasn't changed in it's attitude all season. Another dire negative performance, no attacking intent, hence no shots on target, mass defending against a team that played 3 at the back.
In my opinion as a life long supporter of the club, it is not the way forward (excuse the pun) nor the way I want to see Norwich City play football. Someone has asked if it's preferable to get relegated playing an attacking style or stay up playing like this!!!!! If the future of our club is to continue to play in this negative way, then I would rather be in a different division playing a different style!

 

[gruffnuts]

My issues with CH have remained from that first press conference he gave - the guy didn't/doesn't believe in the team he inherited. I doubt he knew very much about them, being schooled in prem football rather than the lower leagues - hence he spent the summer watching videos of us.

Even our win over everton - he hadnt considered going for the three point when we leveled at 1-1. That was the players that went for it - sensing we could get the win as they were shaking.

As much as i hate to say it and hope it turns around - i'd be quietly pleased to see a summer parting of ways.

I can't remember the last time I watched match of the day.

 

[Bath-Canary]

In the Telegraph last week Holty said that Hughton like to play to a format (link for those who missed it - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/norwich-city/9961813/Norwich-striker-Grant-Holt-believes-he-should-have-been-given-a-chance-to-play-for-England.html) and this is clear. the problem has been that we don't have the right sort of players to fit this format and so parts of the attack feel a bit makeshift. Holt is not a lone striker, he works best with someone to play off and who is there to benefit from his hold up play, however he is also the best striker we have and the club and Hughton want to play 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1.
These "formats" do work for some very good attacking clubs and aren't in themselves overly negative. I imagine the intention is to bring in players who fit the roles of this system better for example RVW does play well as a lone striker and so should fit the system. I would expect several more signings like this that fall into the system and hopefully will make us look far more balanced.
One this Lambert did last year was use the element of surprise to beat teams tactically, and he did it very well, we were hard to line up against because you wouldn't know what team was going to be put out and how we would play.
I'm willing to give Hughton the summer and I expect a very different offence next season, and so long as we stay up, which I think we will, it could be a genuinely good team. If we still look like this next season then yes questions really need to be asked about how much longer CH remains at the club.

 

[DHCanary]

Great post B-C, I agree with a lot of it. I think Hughton has pretty much got his defence sorted, and this summer will be about attacking options. Hughton seems to trust Snodgrass to attack and help out defensively, but doesn't have the same faith in Bennett, and Pilks has been injured or out of form for a while. I think we'll see a left winger brought in to mirror Snodgrass, and hopefully stop our attack looking so one sided. On top of that, Hoolahan will no doubt have genuine competition next season, and ideally a new DM will push Tettey, Johnson and Howson (who shouldn't really be playing there anyway!).

I think Hughton's preference for a settled starting XI has been obvious this season, but I'm hoping that was partly due to a lack of options he 'trusts' (that seems to be the term that's being used). Next season once he's further put his own stamp on our side, I'm hopeful we'll see more rotation based on form and the opposition.

 

[Norfolkbhoy]

I tend to agree with Bath. I think that as long as we stay up we will be looking at quite a few new faces in the summer as CH acquires some round pegs to fit in round holes and fills the squad with "his" players rather than PL's.

I do think that the criticism of CH tactically is valid - we do not ever seem to have a plan B and we hardly ever see a tactical substitution even when it is pretty apparent that things are not going to plan. This, I am sure, really frustrates the average punter (which I class myself - I like to think I know a bit about the game but have no managerial experience or tactical coaching badges etc).

CH clearly has players he rates and players he doesn't trust. This is understandable as the latter group he inherited but this does cause us problems with the team being very fixed in terms of personnel and tactics. The players CH rates are playing a lot of football and I don't think that it is healthy that regardless of how tired they seem or, more worryingly, how out of form they are there is no pressure from the non-playing squad members on them to take their place on the pitch.

I have to question how poor our squad players must be in training not to get a look in when the team is on such a poor run. Either CH is playing the best, fittest and most in-form XI in which case we may as well clear out half of the squad come the summer or he is under the impression that the team is doing well and does not need freshening up in which case I would respectfully question his judgement.

 

[johnnywarksmoustache]

Guru and myself did try and warn you about what type of football you would be getting when Whotun was appointed and we got shot down in flames at the time. He is a negative manager and a total opposite to Lambert who likes his teams to attack.

I hate to say I told you so!

 

[canary-dave]

Guru and myself did try and warn you what type of football you would be getting when Whotun was appointed and we got shot down in flames at the time. He is a negative manager and a total opposite to Lambert who likes his teams to attack.

I hate to say I told you so!

Well don't bother because you were both wrong! When CH had the players he wanted he took NUFC to a record points and goals finish!

When he was at Birmingham he inherited a depleted squad and a transfer embargo and still worked miracles with them in the league and in Europe!

 

[johnnywarksmoustache]

Well don't bother because you were both wrong! When CH had the players he wanted he took NUFC to a record points and goals finish!

When he was at Birmingham he inherited a depleted squad and a transfer embargo and still worked miracles with them in the league and in Europe!

Only 1 win in 14 games proves that I am right!

 

[canary-dave]

Only 1 win in 14 games proves that I am right!

If you really believe that, it proves you know Sweet Fanny Adams!

 

[KIO]

Only 1 win in 14 games proves that I am right!

'People in glass houses' warky, Town are only 3 points off the drop zone and your next four games look extremely tough if you ask me

 

[Guru of Ipswich]

As Warky said, we told you so. Last season Birmingham had one tactic, defend in depth and use Zigic to win free-kicks, to bung in the set piece again to Zigic and hope for the second ball, thats all they had!

and, if i'm totally honest i can't see it changing next season whoever you bring in, whats the point in spending 8 million on a striker if his team mates aren't allowed within 40 yards of him? however many millions you get next year can't buy a manager a new mindset!