Weren't in the team today. Fox might have been injured or rested and Naughton was tied against his parent club... but after that should either walk back into the team? I think Johnson/Howson and Rusty/Drury did more than enough to justify a start next match!
At the start of the season we did well with Pilks and Johnson in the side. Justified selection today. Wilbraham also deserved is chance. Howson and Ryan Bennet look excellent to. Would stick with this team for Man.City with possibly Naughton coming in at Right Back. Proud of the boys today. Well deserved. Let's push on to finish as high as possible.
I am absalutely amazed how drury has done what hes done over the last 3 days! 70+mins against everton and then a full shift against Aaron Lennon is just a sign of what a true great player he has been for our club. Same for rusty, he played extremely well and i agree entirely that they should be kept in place for next week (injuries pending of course) Howson and johnson played extremely well aswell, but against a different formation and different style midfielders maybe a change might be made. Its a tougher call for 2 central midfielders than 2 wing backs, especially when you dont know how PL will line us up come saturday! I do however believe we keep bennett and pilks in the starting line up
Bennet (Elliot) has been getting better and better. Also gets back to cover defensively. Ryan Bennet and Howson also look class don't you think Boots?
I dare say Howson will probably play every game left this season, but I expected Rusty and Drury to get killed by Bale/Lennon in truth. Gone are the days when Rusty looked of the pace at RB, can't remember him looking out of his depth since Sunderland.
Think they did extremely well especially when you consider we arguably had our first choice defence all missing Naughton Whitbread Ayala Tierney
I think Ryan Bennett is now first choice, and is Whitbread injured? I thought Ward was playing instead of him rather than as a replacement to him.
I tell you what, if the january signings are anything to go by for the summer my god are we going to have a cracking squad for next season Ryan Bennett is one where you would say old head on young shoulders, and along with howson they are the future of Norwich City!!
Whitbread has an ankle knock It's amazing that players like Johnson and Pilkington have time out then come back and instantly produce an excellent performance. I think the bottom line is the competition for places in the team is as fierce as it gets and they all know if they play well they stay in. It's an excellent position to be in.
We know that PL likes to tinker depending on the opposition. Today was set up for the formation w played as Spurs went 4-4-2 attacking and didn't expect 4-4-2 attacking back at them. He's bound to change it against ManciniCity. Will they be more direct or stick to their highly predictable style which isn't always easy to deal with. I would hope he doesn't because that was one of our best performances of the season. Our performance against Everton was put in perspective with their result today. But changes were made. Fox had a poor game Saturday so I was expecting him to be dropped. Surman covered a lot of ground Saturday but looked confused at times so with Pilks fit it was going to happen. Bradders was MOM for me and Howson looks like an assured and clever young man. Bennet and Pilks gave us that shape that Hoolahan doesn't always and an out ball for their full backs. Ryan Bennet and Ward looked immense and never really troubled and their goal was lost in midfield by us as we were pushing out so I don't blame them for it. Martin and Drury had potentially the hardest task but looked in control. The front two were awesome and I was shocked when Holt came off with so long left. Did Pearce ring PL and tell him to cotton wool him? I would love to see that format having a go at a fragile ManC defense.
Both Ryan Bennett and Howson look class acts - the pair of them should be automatic picks from now on - awesome displays by both of them on Saturday and yesterday. The fact that we have so many players out injured (Ayala, Tierney, Whitbread, Vaughan) and Fox didn't even make the bench yesterday shows what a strong squad we have - totally committed to the cause and it can only get better with one of two more signings in the summer (Naughton for one - we must try to keep him). Elliott Bennett improves with every game and a special mention must be made to Adam Drury who has been immenase in the past two games. Looking forward to Saturday and believe we can get something off Moneybags City if we play with the same desire and skill as we have in the past two games.
not only does ryan bennett already look england class, i think he looks england captain class... how the funk did we get him for £3m? and howson for £2m??? crazy cheap!!!
