Don't get me wrong, I'm not a "happy clapper" as some are being accused of on other threads. I'm really not happy with how we are playing or our results. However, whatever happens, please don't boo as I can see is being advised. This is the last thing we need. We have to accept that our players are technically inferior, on average, to just about every team in the division bar maybe Reading and Stoke. Possibly include Villa. Therefore they need every ounce of "12th man". Hughton's remit for the season was to stay up. So far, we are still on track. Let's not jeapordise this more. There are a fair few moaners on here, some of whom are making valid points, but let's not work ourselves up into a big frenzy. Those that are, go to the pink'un. I'm interested in people having critical opinions of our players, the manager and the team's performance. I'm really interested in the opinions for where we should go from here. I'm not interested in someone not behind the team, though. You might as well not be a supporter, frankly. There are positives(!) to be taken, believe it or not: 1. Our defence is sound, Camp aside. He was deeply unfortunate to have just the one save and he mucked it up. Fortunately, Ruddy is back imminently and I see this having a profound impact on the defence and Hughton's mindset of how we play. That is obvious from when were playing before. 2. We've got a substantially easier run-in and we tend to be more relaxed at home. I'm still hoping for a case of "when it rains, it pours". With several key players back from injury, I can see Becchio scoring a goal and then setting off on a run. I also think Hughton has a terrible case of lack of faith in Lambert's players, which means that we play exceptionally defensively against any team where he perceives a huge technical gulf, so I am still maintaining hope for the Reading, Villa and Stoke games. 3. On the presumption of safety, we are in for a busy summer. Our players are not great, on average. I think we should accept that. What can't be taken away from Hughton is his ability in the transfer window (should he be an assistant/scout? Maybe...) but let's at least revel in this. I completely disagree with the "leopard can't change his spots" faction on the board at the moment. A team with Snodgrass, RvW, Tettey (when playing well), Bassong and Hoolahan alongside any of the players we are currently linked with can't fail to play decent football. It may still be defensive, but at least it will be technically good and, when in good form, I'm still hopeful that we can expect to see some brilliant football. Hughton from day one (and not very sensibly in my view) made it clear he doesn't think much of the technical ability of our players and this is something he is looking to improve. I accept that this might not happen, but I'm going to hold fire until the next season. 4. Believe it or not, we actually played better than Wigan for 70 odd minutes. Wigan were cagey and defensive, I think that got lost in the aftermath. If we had nicked a win, I still don't think we would have been happy with the performance as such, but Wigan fans would have been furious. Hoolahan was the most lively player on the pitch for the most part. It is difficult to play exciting, expansive football away from home, let alone when (a) our manager sets us up not to play that way and (b) the home team plan on being defensive too. I think I won't be watching any away games from now on for my sanity... 5. Injuries meant we had several players out of position. Snodgrass on the left is clearly not his best place and Kamara has never really been a lone striker. I appreciate the latter is the manager's fault, but I don't think it will be done again as it clearly doesn't work. Snodgrass back on the right, Kamara or Pilkington on the left, two up front and Tettey back in midfield will make for a more aggressive match (certainly a good team to play Swansea with). It might still not be pretty football, but I expect it to be a sight more interesting to watch than v Wigan. 6. If we go down, which I accept would be a complete disaster given our position in the league, Hughton remains the form manager for taking us back up.
Fair point. I don't boo our team during the match for the reason that I feel it is counter-productive but I reserve the right to boo at the end of a match where I feel that we have not done everything we could to win. I do think that a lot of the players are doing as well as they can and I do not blame them for not being as good as some of our opponents players. I also feel that a lot of our players are knackered as we do not use our squad anywhere near as much as other teams and CH has something against making tacftical substitutions with more than 10 minutes to play. I really hope that with a relatively easy run-in and Ruddy/Tetty coming back we will have enough to stay up as it would be a massive blow to have done all the hard work in 2012 only to throw it all away now and I dso think that if we stay up there could be some exciting new players as well as the Wolf coming into FCR over the Summer. Three points against the Swans would be a good start!
I was wondering about that too, he brings far more to the team than a long punt up field. And even forcing him to occasionally take it short and build more from the back wouldn't be a bad thing.
I still think the main factor affecting performance is confidence, particularly in the final third, and I think booing will only have the opposite effect. Like Rob, I'd like to see Snods move back to the RW and Kamara given a chance on the left with Holt up front. I'd be inclined to play Wes in the hole and then bring on Becchio in the second half if more firepower is needed. A fresh Tettey could make a big difference as well, but regardless, there needs to be more emphasis on attacking.
Great post Rob I'll be there on Saturday with my son, it's his first trip to carrow road, I really hope for his sake there is no booing (and somehow we get a half decent game)
I certainly will never boo our players, or manager, during a game and I will shout nothing but support for 90 minutes on Saturday. However if we get turned over by the Swans and put out yet another abject, lifeless performance then I can't guarantee that I won't make my feelings known after the final whistle has blown. But let's hope it doesn't come to that eh?
Likewise, Munky But I saw a thread today saying there are still casual matchday tickets left for Swansea - and loads left for Reading. Can you imagine that being the case last year - any year, for that matter, even when we played Hartlepool 4 years ago? Glass full, glass empty, I don't care which side of the fence people wish to adopt, but it's all getting nervy, desperately poor and extremely concerning at the fortress. And lots of people - many of whom don't post on here, are getting right jarred orf with ut, Neull !!
That's not good news at all. A real shame because it is one of the things RvW specifically mentioned as encouraging him to come. It also won't help the board make the decision to increase capacity. Here's hoping the football improves for that reason too.
I can't agree with much of the post at the top of the thread. It seems to buy completely into the idea that our players are individually inferior to almost every other club in the league. And we all seem to agree that this is certainly Hughton's opinion and that he completely lacks faith in most of our players. I was under the impression that it was the manager's job to make his players feel good about themselves, not sit and sulk because he hasn't got Messi in his squad. I know we're not supposed to compare Lambert and Hughton, but in this area the gulf is an absolute chasm. Let's say the game against Villa in a few weeks is a crunch one. Lambert will make each of those Villa players feel as if they are world beaters; Hughton will send them the message that they are all lucky they aren't playing in the Conference. And I wonder which side will win? I suggest that the truth is that our players are roughly equivalent to those of about half of the teams in this league in terms of 'natural ability'. As another poster (I think Carrabuh) said somewhere it is interesting that, even with the current mood of negativity, no one is blaming the players. The mediocrity at the moment is coming from somewhere else.
Please don't boo the guys at the game. I appreciate i'm the ulitmate armchair fan (last game I went to Delia brought Hucks out to announce he'd signed permanently!)... but nothing good comes from booing during the game. It will dent player confidence still further and frankly I think they need our support against Swansea not angst. Can just see the media getting their pencils sharpened for a juicy "wheels coming off" story on the back of it too. Anyway, back to my streams.
The part I've highlighted, I totally agree with and is, in a way, what I meant. I don't think Hughton has handled it very well. However, I'm not convinced our players are of the equivalent to half the teams in this league and I think, beyond Canary fans, most people interested in football would say Norwich have one of the weakest squads in this department and was why we were tipped for the drop. In a sense, it's irrelevant, because it is a team game and our players work well as a team. The only reason I highlight it is because I think it forms a huge part of Hughton's thinking, which is what I find so disappointing. It's me trying to make sense of some of the irrational (in my view) Hughton does - such as pointlessly late substitutions.
I, for one, won't boo on Saturday, but I tell you what, there will be an almighty nervousness about the place before the game and we must all try not to think negative and really get behind the boys starting with the loudest "On the Ball" we've ever sung. If things don't go our way we've got to try and avoid the boos and cat calls and encourage the lads to do better and play their asses off. Most of the stuff we've had to endure recently has been horrible and more sleep inducing rather than likely to provoke vitriol so I am hoping for, while not necessarily expecting unfortunately, a bit more spirit of adventure on Saturday. Come what may I won't boo - I might cuss and swear a lot but I won't boo.
I agree, don't boo during the game, but, the players HAVE to give us something to cheer about. Tha last time a chill went up my spine because of the positive cheering was during the first half against Spurs, we really went for them in that first 45 minutes, so more of that will do!
I was watching the game from the stands, and in answer to your question, Yes I was up cheering with the rest, but if you remember the Spurs game, the whole ground started singing 'Kick it off' simultaneously! It was spine chilling, or perhaps you felt nothing! Maybe you weren't there or you've forgotten? Once again Beef I don't need to be told how to feel or react by you, thanks!
Wow, it was just a question. I was there for both. I'm looking forward to a positive performance Saturday, hopefully a nice win, and of course Carrabuh disappearing off the face of the earth. Seriously, where do you go when things are going well? Did you reach the earths core when we got promoted?
I'm always here Beef, win, lose or draw. I think you are the one with the tendency to pull a disappearing act when your philosophy falls on its face. I on the other hand have been consistent with my thoughts all season even during the successful periods I've maintained what many are now saying.
