As GE says though, the difference in tactics is significant. Our shift to the PL has been far more seamless than I expected. The balanced approach between defence and attack seems far more fluid than it did under Hughton or Lambert (who was never really balanced at all). The difference is the increase of pace in any counterattack which makes the opposition a lot more cautious, but there is also the crisp one touch passing in the build up to the attack which has made us look very natural in the PL. The pundits keep saying we lack quality (by which they mean big names), but the players brought in over the summer have fitted in seamlessly really. Dorrans had been here but he, Mulumbu, Brady and even Wisdom looked the part from the start, as has Jarvis more recently. That doesn't just happen. A lot of work has gone in by AN and his team to make it happen. We still have yet to see fully what Mbokani will add but there is a solidity and sophistication about our play in the first 7 games that I didn't really expect. The Liverpool and West Ham away matches epitomise this and I sense there is even better to come.
Yeah, I keep hearing this and I haven't quite made my mind up whether it annoys me. I don't think it does - at the moment it makes me smile because I feel it keeps making sure others underestimate us. And not only Mulumbu (who obviously hasn't played for us in the PL yet) and Brady and Jarvis, who both certainly look PL class, but I'm also yet to see us face up to a team with a player who is markedly better on the ball or all-action than Howson. I thought Hoolahan, if we're talking about quality, had a bigger impact and a better game than Payet (albeit that Payet also got an assist) and yet the latter is the one who is getting more of the plaudits (possibly fairly as he was awesome against the likes of Man City and Arsenal). If anything, I'd say quality on the ball is beginning to look like our strong suit in midfield. Arguably it's height and strength we're lacking.
On the subject of Howson's play, this is well worth a read: http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter...a-shining-example-for-all-the-right-reasons/?
I've also just seen AN's latest comments on Mbokani in the Pinkun: “He is a strong, strong boy, I thought when he came on he gave us a different dimension in terms of looking after the ball. I think you’ve got to have variety in terms of options,” said Neil. “You look at (Diafra) Sakho and Andy Carroll at West Ham and they are complete opposites. We’ve got Cameron, who relies on power and pace, and Mbokani who relies more on taking the ball in and looking after it, he’s different to what we’ve got which makes my job easier. He’s showed he can compete in the Premier League. The biggest thing you question with foreign players is that physicality of the Premier League because it is not leagues like Spain or Portugal where there is much physical contact. He thrives on that side of the game. Technically he linked the game really well.”
Good article. One point made yesterday about the pigeon - it was all very amusing, but it probably added a minute of extra time... (obviously not Howson's fault though!)
