Defence.

[Chappaz]

Chappaz, you make some good points, but...

I got to the part when you said "mid-table side" and stopped concentrating!

Definitely the first time anyone's described us as that!

Well you're slap bang in the middle, so as far as I'm concerned you're a mid-table EPL side until the league standings say otherwise (if they ever do). I think Sunderland and Everton might get their act together and push up above Norwich, but apart from that, I can't see any of the other teams overtaking you.

 

[Superman wears Grant Holt pyjamas in bed]

we haven't started holt and morison in a single home match ALL season! this was the first time and its obvious to anyone with a shred of knowledge why. height has absolutely nothing to do with it - the players who came in aren't as good at their jobs as those who were injured and lambert knew it would be your weak link. without your injuries, we would have played morison up front on his own - everyone knows this, thats why we all keep saying it.

i'm certainly not moaning about us not getting media coverage of our injuries - i'm moaning that others use it as an excuse while we don't. we've struggled at the back all season, no clean sheets, but nobody says its cos we haven't had a settled defence? its apparently cos we have championship defenders who aren't good enough. that may be true, but we haven't had a chance to play our first choice defenders all season! every single match report basically said we won simply because newcastle had three players out injured - well, the result may well have been different had they not but it shouldn't be used as an excuse or a reason - we have exactly the same problems!

 

[Chappaz]

we haven't started holt and morison in a single home match ALL season! this was the first time and its obvious to anyone with a shred of knowledge why. height has absolutely nothing to do with it - the players who came in aren't as good at their jobs as those who were injured and lambert knew it would be your weak link. without your injuries, we would have played morison up front on his own - everyone knows this, thats why we all keep saying it.

But, it makes no sense?

Scenario A). A team has a weakened defence, so a more attacking formation is played

Scenario B). A team has a high strength defence, so a lower attacking formation is played?

It makes even less sense as we still had a strong midfield and attack, so on paper, it may have been wise to fill out the midfield to try and control the game more. Really, I think Lambert just wanted to put his two strikers up top in a home game who have shown that they're both in goalscoring form.

i'm certainly not moaning about us not getting media coverage of our injuries - i'm moaning that others use it as an excuse while we don't.

Everyone does it. Everyone. So you either go with the flow or you don't. If Lambert wants the media to pick up on the situation surrounding the clubs players, then he needs to actually tell the press. They aren't psychic.

every single match report basically said we won simply because newcastle had three players out injured - well, the result may well have been different had they not but it shouldn't be used as an excuse or a reason - we have exactly the same problems!

Like I said, it's the contrast. You guys might have still won had we been full-strength (I can't say for sure) but conceding four goals (from conceding next to none) was purely down to the injury troubles, so the media are going to pick up on it and run with it. Conceding four in one go, after conceding next to none in the other games previously (apart from against Man City and Chelsea) is unusual enough to be picked up on.

 

[Superman wears Grant Holt pyjamas in bed]

well it makes sense if you're a norwich fan! its very, very simple.

lambert knew your weakness, so therefore he went with an attacking lineup to put your new defenders under pressure. he knew that we had a good chance of three points, far more than if you were at full strength. he opted to lose a man in midfield knowing that we could play a bit more direct, bypassing the midfield with two upfront, both strikers who were capable of holding the ball up against weaker defenders.

honestly, its simple tactics... so, so basic. it certainly isn't rocket science

 

[Home on the range canary]

As before, no bleating mate, just get on with it and stop making excuses, you had players out, jesus wept who doesn't most of the time, Pardew is the fool for not buyinig another centre back. If he wants to highlight his lack of nous then he seems to have excelled.

 

[SUPERNORWICH 23]

We have a starting 11 with no previous prem experience, can we use that one still?

 

[Kenny Foggo on the Wing!!!]

i thought surman played very well on saturday. he's a good footballer but he lacks a bit of pace and sometimes needs to get stuck in a bit more, but i don't think anyone can fault his performance at the weekend. lambert got the balance just right using the diamond. its not the approach i would have used - i'd have gone for bennett and pilkington instead of surman and hoolahan but maybe that wouldn't have worked, who knows. lambert knows best of all!

Bennett and Pilks would have given us too much width for this one. It was all about attacking them where they were weakest, right down the middle.

 

[canary-dave]

In all fairness, I think this has been done to death now!

Chappaz, I have noted throughout your posts that you have stated you mean no offense, which is appreciated

I think we should all move on now, there are only so many times you can repeat yourselves before it starts to get a bit tedious!

All Newcastle fans that have visited our board on the various threads have been very kind, and gracious in defeat! We have all been overjoyed to have beaten a team that has made a very good start to the season!

Good luck for the rest of the season, Mags, but prepare for defeat when we come visiting!