This is it! The final "practice" match and just one more week to go for the real thing - yipee! http://www.usagoals.com/live/167847-norwich-city-vs-borussia-monchengladbach/watch/stream/online/free/feed/p2p/en/vivo/tv/gratis/ Hopefully it will be shown and as it is a 3pm KO in the UK I might just watch this one
Ruddy R.Martin R.Bennett Turner Tierney Johnson E.Bennett Pilkington Howson Snodgrass Holt Subs: Rudd Morison Vaughan Jackson Surman C.Martin Smith Lappin Barnett Francomb Same starting XI as the MK Dons game. I don't see it as being that weird to be honest. Its a 4-4-1-1 with Snodgrass playing just behind Holt and Pilks and Bennett on the wings. Same as we played numerous times last season with Hoolahan in the role Snodgrass is playing.
Must confess to being disappointed with preseason squad strengthening. Carrowroad.net blog on Newsnow says it all. I am not surprised that we have failed to score in in at least 3 matches and the formation with Holt playing in front of Snodgrass does not appear to be working. With Ayala going out on loan, with only two CB's regarded by fans as worthy of being in the squad and little cover for Tierney I get the impression that money IS an issue although we have been assured it isn't. In my humble view we need at least one quality striker, one right back and another CB. Both Ward and Barnett are limited in this league. Come on Hughton admit that you still need reinforcements. Hopefully they are on the way?
We lost 2-0 against the team who finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season. Not great admittedly, but certainly not the end of the world.
All I will say is this, no matter how much we bitch about it, that result will never change! All that really matters is that we are 17th or better next May!
Just got back from the game. First impression is that I hope we can play better, create more chances and have fewer misplaced passes. I thought Turner looked very assured along with R Bennett in defence. E Bennett and Pilks made some good runs, but I would have liked to have seen them brought into play more often. I don't think Johnson had a very good game. Disclaimer - these are just my opinions and I'm sure others will have different ones!!
Result is irrelevant especially against a better team. I'm more concerned with whether we kept the ball and created anything through the middle, did we?
I know this was a friendly but, from the reports, there were some familiar themes to concern us. We still look vulnerable down the flanks, particularly early on; RM is solid enough but cannot easily cope with shear pace; Tierney needs to improve positioning and to have competition. Not being able to break up possession and being a rather predictable attacking threat are not what we'll want once the real action starts (although I suspect the likes of Holt will step up a gear at that time). I, like others I'm sure, would just like to see a couple more quality signings before the end of the month, possibly L & R fullbacks and true defensive MF. Maybe CH is also eyeing a quality loan. On the positive side, Snodgrass seems to be settling in well.
