please log in to view this image [TABLE="width: 800"] [TR] [TD]For Norwich fans the premier league can be something of a lonely place at times, the nearest team being over a hundred miles away. With the absence of local rivals some fans turn to creating rivals and Aston Villa is now one of those.Inevitably the talk before this game will turn to Paul Lambert who played such and important part in Norwich’s rise from the bottom of league one to the premier league.[/TD] [TD] please log in to view this image [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE="width: 800"] [TR] [TD]There are still a lot of emotions that surround Lambert around Carrow road, although the majority seems to have turned from the anger of his acrimonious leaving, to a level of respect and thanks for the work he did. Another reason Lambert will be under heavy discussion will be comparison of styles with Hughton, old verses new as it were. Last season Villa took 4 points from Norwich and knocked them out of the League cup, but Norwich finished higher in the league with Villa suffering the embarrassment of being knocked out by a League 2 club, not that they were the first top flight team to be embarrassed by Bradford in that cup run though. Norwich on the other hand finished higher in the league and looked less likely to go down. There is still a level of distaste to Hughton’s tactics and Lambert is a stick that is used to beat Hughton by numerous fans. The comparison could be made however with a start-up company, there are managers who are excellent at the start of the projects, laying the ground work making the early running whist it is exciting and growth is high, when growth slows down and the companies aim is to consolidate and build market share more slowly with less risk. The first type of manager tends to move on and start a new project and a more long term thinking manager is found to build slowly and keep the company moving in the right direction. This is what happened with Lambert and Hughton. The problem is the early part is exciting to watch and be part of. When you have something to sweet everything else tastes sour. Moving back to the pitch Villa have been struggling recently to find the results despite a varying set of performances, they beat Arsenal and were unluckily losers against Chelsea early in the season but have struggled since, with the points from opening day still the only ones they have. Norwich on the other had seem to be two different teams exciting at home, terrible away, Norwich fans will be hoping good home form and Villa’s struggles will mean 3 point, but when was the last time lambert lost to his former club?[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE="width: 800"] [TR] [TD] please log in to view this image [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE="width: 800"] [TR] [TD] please log in to view this image [/TD] [TD] please log in to view this image On the Spurs game… “There are always lessons and we are not shy to say we were disappointed with our performance at Spurs but that is the beauty of this game. We always have another opportunity. We have closed that one down now and had a good week on the training field.”[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE="width: 800"] [TR] [TD]On Paul Lambert… “I think it is very clear that when a previous manager returns there is generally a degree of extra interest,” said Lambert. “Paul will always be remembered for the job he did here. He won’t be forgotten for that but this is a game against Aston Villa, not Paul Lambert. On Aston Villa… “All three games were quite tight (last season) and if anything our best performance came at Villa Park. We should have won that day. Does the game have a little bit more meaning? It generally does in terms of perception on the outside, but we have a good home record. What I do know is we’ll be tested because they are a young, exciting side and they have good offensive options.” He also confirmed there are no new injury meaning only Elliot Bennett is unavailable. http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/..._of_aston_villa_s_carrow_road_visit_1_2727422 [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
People seemed to enjoy the previous thread so I've thrown together another one, I doubt I'll have time to do this every week but I'll try to throw them up when I can, of maybe we could put together a rota.
Shame you don't have time to do them all, you make a fine job of things apart from a few minor errors that you can sort with careful proof reading! Even as it is, the minor irritants don't disguise that it's well thought out and excellently put together! Well done!
Another stellar effort Bath I love the line-up diagrams. Despite last week's result, do you think Hughton will stick with the same line-up? I think he might, though I suspect (or perhaps hope, along with many other posters) that Olsson may get his first start to counter some of Villa's pace. Other potential changes include perhaps putting Howson on for Johnson and Pilkington on for Redmond, but I feel Hughton is not a big one for mixing line-ups.
I'm Dyslexic so pretty bad at proof reading my own work Dave, i tend to read back what i meant to write not what I actually wrote, if you point things out I'm happy to change them, other wise thanks for the kind words. Also with regard to time this one took significantly less time than the previous one I'll commit to doing the Stoke game too and see if I can get the time down further.
Bath. The overall layout is excellent. To spread the load, maybe it could be turned into a template available to whoever volunteers to do the match thread when you can't? Someone on here would know how to do it surely?
Sorry Bath, I had no idea you were dyslexic, that makes your effort even more impressive, the typos aren't important, you put a d on the end of an, making a new word, you said to when it should have been too, like I say, they're not important, only to the pedants amongst us!
Subscription list to the pedants sub-group is currently closed. I've put you on the waiting list dave. When one of us serious pedants sees the light and eschews pedantry for ever, a place will become available.
Looking good. I'm hoping Hughton will mix it up a little from last week. I feel Olsson has to come in and I wouldn't mind seeing Redmond moved over the the right and Pilks on the Left because Snoddy has been really off form of late. I'd be happy to have a go at writing these when you haven't got the time (Or can't be bothered). I did a similar sort of thing on an old Norwich Forum.
I agree would really like to see Olssen start and maybe Pilks too, I just decided to put the previous line-up so it wasn't guess work. Thanks for the offer to help write, would be good to work something out, i like robbie's idea of making some kind of template.
nice thread bath i'd go like this: ruddy whittaker turner bassong olsson snodgrass tettey fer pilkington redmond van wolfswinkel subs: bunn, bennett, garrido, johnson, hoolahan, elmander, hooper i'd like to try redmond in a free role behind a lone centre forward. i know we shouldn't really be experimenting wildly at this stage of the season but i think it would play to his strengths and allow us to bring pilkington, who is still a key player imo, back into the side. its solid with tettey and fer breaking up the play, but allows us a very quick counter attacking threat with both full backs able to break, support and overlap, with both snodgrass and pilks able to come inside. if it doesn't work then there's plenty of options to call on from the bench but i have a feeling that team could work nicely, especially away from home, so i'd like to see something along those lines (not that we will! ).
nor howson. only picked garrido ahead of martin because i'm unsure of olsson's fitness to be honest. hoolahan got the nod ahead of howson but could be either - both offer different options
I like that team and I think Redmond would be excellent though the middle especially with Snoddy and Pilks taking turns there too, just to mix it up. It looks like a good way of getting our best players into the game without really having to shoe horn anyone in. The pace of Tettey and Fer in the middle will help defend against Agbonlahor too.
Neat looking post Bath, must admit I'm not looking forward to this game Villa are looking for a win after three loses in a row and I'd imagine their up for it. I hope Hughton does the right thing and drops Snodgrass also I hope the midfielders finally neaten up their passing and realise that RVW isn't 8ft tall.
We've looked pretty good at home, scored 2 past Everton and they haven't conceded a PL goal since, there were large portions of the southampton game that we were heavily on top and had some good opportunities, I'm not expecting a win but not overly fearful. We can't be as bad as the Spurs game. Right?
