I see according to the RDP that our very own KL played a key role in Northern Ireland's victory over Hungary, scoring one goal and assisting in the other. http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...ty_is_the_hero_for_northern_ireland_1_3760817
You wouldn't know he was a Norwich player from the bbc match report - no less than seven former clubs of players are mentioned (Watford three times!) but not a single mention of us. Shouldn't bother me I suppose, but it does a bit.
Now all we need is for him to bring his international form to the domestic stage Seriously, though, it's bound to do his overall confidence and attitude a power of good - which can only benefit his team-mates and NCFC
EXCELLENT post cc and exactly what I was thinking - let's just hope he hasn't picked up any injuries and he can start finding the net for us on a regular basis!!!! Yes, let's hope so, as I think he'd do very well there and I'm hopeful we'll see a change in the starting 11 at Cardiff.
My only worry about him playing the frontman role is it can become a bit formulaic, with long balls pumped up expecting the big man to hold the ball up while waiting for support. Although that depends on factors like pace, mobility through the team, movement of others off the ball etc. I just have visions of Andy Carroll and 'big' Sam
Spot on. That is a big concern of mine. If people are unhappy with the current formation (though it seems broadly functional to me...) then I think we should switch Lafferty to his natural side, the left wing, and Redmond to his natural side, the right wing. Grabban is not nearly comfortable enough on use ball to be a winger IMO and is undroppable as a striker.
There's a new story on the BBC about him where Michael O'Neill speaks of his "difficult year" last season when he "played little football". Really? He played thirty odd games for Palermo, inspiring their promotion and winning their player of the year didn't he? Sounds like he got his leg over with plenty of Italian women as well, doesn't sound that a bad a year to me
I don't think his selection for NI is measured on his bedroom performance My understanding was that he made mostly substitute appearances, which really frustrated him (and explains the decent minutes per goal record). Edit - He also looks like he was dropped for the last four matches, which had something to do with the dispute with the coaches and lead to that odd press release from the Palermo President.
Good post cc and I probably wouldn't change things around too much, but perhaps encourage Grabban and Lafferty to swap places occasionally.
I never said it did, but the story makes out that he had a pretty miserable time of it out in Italy, and of that I certainly have my doubts.
An excellent article on Lafferty here gives an overview of his checkered history, as well as some very positive news for us: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...-oneills-boys-to-france-in-2016-30568985.html
I was joking! But yeah, you have a point - the press is always likely to exaggerate these things. It is clear, though, that he had certain attitude problems that lead, on occasion, to poor on-the-pitch performances. It's also clear, though, that since coming to Norwich people who know him seem to think he's turned a corner.
Just because you have a big man up front doesn't mean you have to lump the ball forward. I would want it played to his feet as much as possible. Look at Everton! They have one of the biggest and strongest strikers in the league yet they play beautiful football. I just think Lafferty can link play up better and supply balls to the wings higher up the pitch. Also, if Wes is playing I think he'd hugely benefit from playing behind Lafferty as opposed to behind Grabban, because Lafs can receive the ball in the final third, hold it up and lay it off.
Lafferty showed some class yesterday the ball sticks to him like glue and I don't think he lost possession once for N Ireland, should he start as the lone striker instead of Grabban?certainly not he is a winger.
Lafferty played for NI as part of a front three in a 4-3-3. I wonder if City might do the same when Hooper is fit enough to start. IMO, all of our strikers would feel comfortable in that formation with Wes, Odjidja or Howson as the ACM (perhaps two of those against weaker teams). That would allow for movement up front and be very hard to defend against. Grabban can play on the right, but what I'm not sure about is his tracking back when the ball is lost. Certainly no doubt about that in Lafferty's case, and that is something that could be lost if he were to play the central or lone striker role.
