Looks like you've been getting a lot of stick for this post fella, which I personally find somewhat uncalled for as I kinda agree with the vast majority of what you've said. I was, and am still a little, disappointed that Grabban started over Jerome, and don't really understand how CJ and NR can be fit enough to be on the bench but not to start - have we not just had pre-season training? Is there any proper excuse to not be fit enough to play 90 minutes? Grabban just isn't good enough to play the lone striker role, particularly in home games against teams we should be looking to pick points up from, and I hope the gaffer has learnt from this and that we don't see that experiment again.
Which means the entire workload is on Jerome's shoulders until this mooted new signing arrives. AN said he and DM are busting a gut to get 'it' done by the weekend, prior to the Sunderland game - fingers crossed
Maybe try a slightly different formation that does suit the available personnel then, square pegs and round holes and all that
For those of you still criticising AN for not starting with Redmond and Jerome, try looking at it from the manager's viewpoint! I'd rather trust his judgement than yours, especially as hindsight is not available beforehand! http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...right_call_in_norwich_city_s_opener_1_4186751
I wasn't aware that CJ had missed all those pre-season games, I'll perhaps give him the benefit of the doubt in that case
Thing is Munky, if he'd started one or both and they had received a long-term injury due to their lack of fitness, those very same posters would be knocking AN for starting them!
I can see why AN didn't start with Jerome & Redman and I don't really see this as an issue because of their fitness, however I would be concerned if Grabban started ahead of Jerome if they were both fully fit. I also think in general that Redman is more likely to get a start with with Jerome playing up front as opposed to Grabban.
I think the game demonstrated that we are thin on the ground in some departments and we need to get players in.
I'm not sure I totally agree that Neil got the line-up or formation wrong per se. We were all over them for the first twenty minutes, should have scored at least one with the Grabban chance and Bradders had a point blank header saved. Even Pardew said after the game that early on he thought he'd picked completely the wrong team and they were in trouble. However, what happened was that Palace completely changed their shape on the 20 minute mark and suddenly exploited our wings. I'm not fond of Pardew (I think he showed himself an arrogant buffoon far too many times at Newcastle) but I have to say that was pure managerial class. Neil was outmanaged at that point and didn't react to the change quickly enough (by responding with a change of shape, I'm not suggesting that he should have brought on a sub at that point). That comes with experience, and I've no doubt Neil will take that on board and learn from it, but it's what happens in the Premier League - opposition managers are smart and experienced enough to change a game just with the shape. None of that alters the fact that we still should have probably got a point out of it and I agree that there are question marks over Grabban's long-term position. But I don't think the CBs can be blamed for either goal particularly, let alone Pardew's management expertise. Another word on Pardew - it's easy for him to be gracious as he's just won the match, but I was surprised with his honesty actually. It might have been the ref that ultimately won them the game, but it was Pardew that put them in a position to do so IMO, and that's a learning curve for Neil.
I was watching Sky Sports News in the Clubhouse and Dermot Gallagher came on, as he always does on a Monday, to discuss controversial decisions from the weekend. He always finds a way to support the referee and the most he will ever say is ' it could be argued that the decision was wrong but I can see why he gave it ' Today he looked at 5 decisions and supported the Ref in 4 of them. In the case of Jerome he not only said it was a bad decision and, for the first time I have heard him say it, he also said that he couldn't see why he made that decision. Sums it up really.
It was simply a ridiculous decision. Had CJ been attacking the ball front on with his foot that high and studs showing then yes, it would have been dangerous. But surely the space directly in front of a player 'belongs' to him, and as the ball was within this zone with the nearest defender right behind him and therefore out of that zone then it beggars belief how he could have seen that as being dangerous play. As I've mentioned before it's actually the linesman I blame the most for it, and looking at the ref's reaction on the highlights it does almost look from his face that he knew he'd got it wrong by the time the game restarted - all of which makes it even more outrageous that the penalty wasn't given as (whether they like to admit it or not) refs do tend to look to even things up when given the opportunity after they've made a cock up.
Jerome did get inured in pre season and missed some games, so I can understand some precaution with him, but don't know why Redmond didn't start,
Having blamed Alex Neil's inexperience and failure to react mid-game, reason to be positive... In his first game in charge of Hamilton Accies after they were promoted to the Scottish Premiership, he lost 0-2 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Hamilton Accies then went on an unbeaten 9-match run picking up seven wins!
That's the Scottish Premier. It's conference or Sunday league football. English Premiership is a different beast with so much money being spent. I'm really hoping he can make the changes to go to a terrible Sunderland and come back with a win. We need it. Shatter the not winning away in the Premier League in his first every away game. That would be a massive morale boost.
To say the Scottish Premier League is Sunday league football is a ridiculous and laughable thing to say in my opinion, never really know where people are basing that fact on. I know the standard in football is different but it's a bit disrespectful to say it's a Sunday league. But Rob's point still stand, The step up AN had to make in the Scottish League is similar to what he is facing now and I'm sure he would have learned a lot from Saturdays game and will make the adjustment that is needed.
Hooper - Champions and Champions league striker, to a Championship last minute sub. Stephen Hughes, Key Scottish Prem Player, A championship reject for us. There are a lot of examples of how poor that league was, even before it was made into the farce of letting Celtic win the league the last 4-5 seasons coz Rangers were banished and noone else can financially compete. It's not even a competitive league for Celtic!! And they would struggle in the Prem.
But again They didn't do too badly in the Champions league not so long ago, so no way of knowing how well they'd be in the Premier League. You're forgetting a few Premier League teams buy Scottish League players too, it's not a one way thing. But as I said before, I know the quality between the Premier League and Scottish league is different but it's not conference or Sunday league standards, that's for sure.
Ironic, really, that people are criticising the quality of the Scottish Prem, yet were keen to sign Van Dijk...
