Listen here people, I'm seriously concerned about my health! I'm not sure my heart can take many more of these dramatic, last gasp finales at Stade Carra...
...ah, sod it! I love it. Keep 'em coming!!!
First up, the penalty decision; well, it was certainly contentious, though I feel Match Of The Day's Alan Shearer (The Norwich hater) may have viewed it slightly more dubious than it actually was and as for Paul Merson, who I caught on tv after the game, who suggested it was the worst penalty decision EVER... I mean come off it, the guy wasn't fouled but claimed a foul, the whistle was never blown, and if you throw your arms into an unnatural position and the ball strikes your hand, personally, although harsh, I can see exactly why the referee gave it. Was it the correct decision? No, not in my opinion, probably not - if it had happened against us I'd have been upset, but then it is exactly the sort of thing that HAS happened against us all season... I seem to remember Shearer saying nothing about those. I can see why it was given, he gave the ref a chance to give it. It wasn't a dive outside the box like Walters or Di Santo. NOW THEY are dreadful decisions - Saturdays was just harsh.
Anyway, rant over!!
Can I just say how impressed with Blackburn Rovers I was on Saturday. They came to Norfolk under immense pressure but boy did they take the game to us and can count themselves unfortunate not to take all three points. They took control of the match with Nzonzi looking a real class act in the middle and apart from twenty minutes in the first half and twenty at the end, I never felt we were able to play our own game. It may have been because we just had an off-day but I feel it was far more to do with the visitors quick to close down in our half, a part of the game which we ourselves normally excel at. Not on Saturday though. We were a bit sluggish all over the field. That is, until Captain Marvel came on and gave everyone, and I do mean everyone, a very big lift.
Was it me or was the atmosphere very diluted? I got the feeling the Rovers 'faithful' were being a little less than faithful in their 'support' of their team, that is, until they went 3-1 up and thought they might win! We ourselves were quiet and we seem to need a bit of banter with good away fans to get us going too! I think they all wanted their team to lose to heap more misery on their manager but as it happens, the draw was probably the worst result they could have had in the circumstances as its a lifeline and a loss of points! To throw away a comfortable (and it was) two-goal lead at the death, no matter how unfortunate hurts like hell. Had they just turned up and lost 2-0 I suspect, worryingly, many of their fans would have been moderately happy and seen it has a further nail in their managers coffin.
Steve Kean certainly had the players in his camp at the weekend - I think their fans need to get behind their team a bit more and give them some backing. For me the problem lies with your owners, not your manager.
Now to us; I didn't think many would have scored more than 6 out of ten, maybe the full backs and Hoolahan, and of course Holt who changed the game, but fair play to the lads who dug in and deserved the breaks they got for their graft in the second half and never letting their heads go down. What a marvellous group of players we have at this club. They might not be on £65k a week and be worth £20m+ but my word do they fight for our club. You can't ask any more than that from any player.
Morison's goal was sublime, as was Hoillet's to be fair, and he did well again up front on his own. But Holt changed the game. His enthusiasm and scare-mongering of the Rovers defence pushed them back on their heels and was the catalyst for us gaining ground and putting them under real pressure. Attacking the Barclay End these days, everyone feels we can score at the death - when we really get our voices going we almost suck the ball in the net. Its not a coincidence how many late goals we are grabbing under Lambert!
But what to do with Holt. That is the burning question. How do we accommodate him in our team? Is he better utilised as an impact sub? Morison has done very well and deserves his place so do we change our system or do we carry on until results dip (if they do) and then Holty gets his chance? One thing is for sure, the man makes a difference to us - he is our charismatic talisman and I think when he plays we are a stronger team. Its not a bad problem to have I suppose!
Ruddy had a stinker, no question. A real shame because he has been outstanding for us for so long. As I've always said, he's always impressed me with how well he bounces back from his mistakes so we'll see how he gets on at Villa next week. The guy is a talent but every keeper makes mistakes. Anyone who saw Kenny for QPR play a brilliant match at White Hart Lane yesterday will not have missed that even he made a gaff which almost resulted in a goal - he got away with it, Ruddy didn't. Just the way it goes. Hopefully nobody will get on his back like last season!
Overall, I predicted a score draw before the game so not surprised and you have to be delighted with a draw having been 1-3 down with 7 minutes remaining! Plenty of room for improvement all over the park but amazingly, after 10 games, we are closer points wise and positionally in the table to 3rd place than 18th. Good times!
On a side note, we MUST sign Naughton if financially viable. The lad is a star full back and in my opinion could go on to play for England one day. I don't know his contract situation or availability but please Lambert, do all you can to sign him. First class player.
...ah, sod it! I love it. Keep 'em coming!!!
First up, the penalty decision; well, it was certainly contentious, though I feel Match Of The Day's Alan Shearer (The Norwich hater) may have viewed it slightly more dubious than it actually was and as for Paul Merson, who I caught on tv after the game, who suggested it was the worst penalty decision EVER... I mean come off it, the guy wasn't fouled but claimed a foul, the whistle was never blown, and if you throw your arms into an unnatural position and the ball strikes your hand, personally, although harsh, I can see exactly why the referee gave it. Was it the correct decision? No, not in my opinion, probably not - if it had happened against us I'd have been upset, but then it is exactly the sort of thing that HAS happened against us all season... I seem to remember Shearer saying nothing about those. I can see why it was given, he gave the ref a chance to give it. It wasn't a dive outside the box like Walters or Di Santo. NOW THEY are dreadful decisions - Saturdays was just harsh.
Anyway, rant over!!
Can I just say how impressed with Blackburn Rovers I was on Saturday. They came to Norfolk under immense pressure but boy did they take the game to us and can count themselves unfortunate not to take all three points. They took control of the match with Nzonzi looking a real class act in the middle and apart from twenty minutes in the first half and twenty at the end, I never felt we were able to play our own game. It may have been because we just had an off-day but I feel it was far more to do with the visitors quick to close down in our half, a part of the game which we ourselves normally excel at. Not on Saturday though. We were a bit sluggish all over the field. That is, until Captain Marvel came on and gave everyone, and I do mean everyone, a very big lift.
Was it me or was the atmosphere very diluted? I got the feeling the Rovers 'faithful' were being a little less than faithful in their 'support' of their team, that is, until they went 3-1 up and thought they might win! We ourselves were quiet and we seem to need a bit of banter with good away fans to get us going too! I think they all wanted their team to lose to heap more misery on their manager but as it happens, the draw was probably the worst result they could have had in the circumstances as its a lifeline and a loss of points! To throw away a comfortable (and it was) two-goal lead at the death, no matter how unfortunate hurts like hell. Had they just turned up and lost 2-0 I suspect, worryingly, many of their fans would have been moderately happy and seen it has a further nail in their managers coffin.
Steve Kean certainly had the players in his camp at the weekend - I think their fans need to get behind their team a bit more and give them some backing. For me the problem lies with your owners, not your manager.
Now to us; I didn't think many would have scored more than 6 out of ten, maybe the full backs and Hoolahan, and of course Holt who changed the game, but fair play to the lads who dug in and deserved the breaks they got for their graft in the second half and never letting their heads go down. What a marvellous group of players we have at this club. They might not be on £65k a week and be worth £20m+ but my word do they fight for our club. You can't ask any more than that from any player.
Morison's goal was sublime, as was Hoillet's to be fair, and he did well again up front on his own. But Holt changed the game. His enthusiasm and scare-mongering of the Rovers defence pushed them back on their heels and was the catalyst for us gaining ground and putting them under real pressure. Attacking the Barclay End these days, everyone feels we can score at the death - when we really get our voices going we almost suck the ball in the net. Its not a coincidence how many late goals we are grabbing under Lambert!
But what to do with Holt. That is the burning question. How do we accommodate him in our team? Is he better utilised as an impact sub? Morison has done very well and deserves his place so do we change our system or do we carry on until results dip (if they do) and then Holty gets his chance? One thing is for sure, the man makes a difference to us - he is our charismatic talisman and I think when he plays we are a stronger team. Its not a bad problem to have I suppose!
Ruddy had a stinker, no question. A real shame because he has been outstanding for us for so long. As I've always said, he's always impressed me with how well he bounces back from his mistakes so we'll see how he gets on at Villa next week. The guy is a talent but every keeper makes mistakes. Anyone who saw Kenny for QPR play a brilliant match at White Hart Lane yesterday will not have missed that even he made a gaff which almost resulted in a goal - he got away with it, Ruddy didn't. Just the way it goes. Hopefully nobody will get on his back like last season!
Overall, I predicted a score draw before the game so not surprised and you have to be delighted with a draw having been 1-3 down with 7 minutes remaining! Plenty of room for improvement all over the park but amazingly, after 10 games, we are closer points wise and positionally in the table to 3rd place than 18th. Good times!
On a side note, we MUST sign Naughton if financially viable. The lad is a star full back and in my opinion could go on to play for England one day. I don't know his contract situation or availability but please Lambert, do all you can to sign him. First class player.
Some excellent points, clearly and logically put across - even if it ended as a bit of a mish-mash
