back from the game - norwich

[Ian Royal]

Nothing wrong with posting on back from the game after watching on TV or listening on the radio.

What is wrong with posting on back from the game, is when you bring you're own personal (stat filled) agenda on to it and take it totally off subject. Snowball, belt up or take it to another thread. The rest of you just ignore him so we can get back to what the thread is about. Discussing the game and what happened in it!

For what it's worth I didn't think it was a great game for Kitson, and he has lost a little pace and fitness, so it is harder for him to get into the box quick enough. But he does add an option for a delayed cross where he can really attack it and hopefully sneak in unmarked.

His link up play is still pretty good and he combined extremely well with Hunt, Marek and Long towards the end. When we keep it on the deck and play inventive stuff he is good to have. He's also useful if we lump it because he's tall and good in the air.

Lets remember Doyle isn't exactly performing much better at the moment. He spends large amounts of his time running into dead ends in the channels and drifting out to the wings in the hope of seeing the ball. And he's scored no more goals than Kitson since January, probably in a comparable number of games.

Kitson and Long seem to be working 4 out of the last 4 goals (in two games) have been scored by them with Kitson getting an assist as well. I'd say that's reason a plenty to keep the side consistent against B'ham. Switch it up for the play offs by all means. But lets keep as much of the 2 wins on the bounce team together as possible.

[handbags_harris]

Forgetting Snowball's somewhat tedious boring Motto-esque analysis, I'm a little surprised by people still being divided on certain player's input into a game. I would have thought it pretty easy, up until now, to recognise what sort of preferred midfield partnership Coppell prefers to play - ideally a box-to-box midfielder (Karacan) with a deep lying defensive midfielder there to break up play (Cisse). Cisse was not there to play match-winning passes, he was there to protect the defence (the role Harper supposedly played in the Harper-Sidwell partnership).

anyway, a classic away performance IMO. Sit back, soak up pressure, take the sting out of the game, then open up in the 2nd half. It seems that this was more by luck than design judging by Coppell's post-match comments though. Kebe looks so much more comfortable on the left side of the pitch, it looks like he actually wants to play there (which after reading Coppell's comments I find he's been asking to play there all season). 3 direct assists in 2 games now for Bambi.

I have often said on here that if Shane Long was given a run of starts he would start to look like a much better player, and, quite frankly, he looks a much better player after his (broken) run of starts - he's started 6 of the last 10 since scoring at Sheffield Wednesday and scored 6 in that time). But his all-round play is so much better, he's more intelligent with his runs, his first touch is much better, and last night brought an array of little tricks and flicks, the majority of which came off. He's starting to get in the zone at exactly the right time.

BTW, Liam Rosenior - the man has no discipline at all, and his ball-playing skills are mediocre at best. As someone quoted before, free headers falling to the feet of opponents, simple obvious laboured balls, rash challenges. I thought he should have been sent off last night and can consider himself lucky not to get a 3 (or is it 4) match ban. Makes you think doesn't it, that in nearly 2 seasons he's picked up probably as many bookings as Murty has in 11 years, and has been sent off twice to Murty's none.

[Royal With Cheese]

BTW, Liam Rosenior - the man has no discipline at all, and his ball-playing skills are mediocre at best. As someone quoted before, free headers falling to the feet of opponents, simple obvious laboured balls, rash challenges. I thought he should have been sent off last night and can consider himself lucky not to get a 3 (or is it 4) match ban. Makes you think doesn't it, that in nearly 2 seasons he's picked up probably as many bookings as Murty has in 11 years, and has been sent off twice to Murty's none.

TBF Handbags, Rosenior took one for the team with the potential red card. That was Bikey's fault.

[Uke]

For what it's worth I didn't think it was a great game for Kitson

Agreed, Norwich were watching the 'star' in case he could break free, while the unknown Long...

[Uke]

BTW, Liam Rosenior - the man has no discipline at all, and his ball-playing skills are mediocre at best. As someone quoted before, free headers falling to the feet of opponents, simple obvious laboured balls, rash challenges. I thought he should have been sent off last night and can consider himself lucky not to get a 3 (or is it 4) match ban. Makes you think doesn't it, that in nearly 2 seasons he's picked up probably as many bookings as Murty has in 11 years, and has been sent off twice to Murty's none.

TBF Handbags, Rosenior took one for the team with the potential red card. That was Bikey's fault.

But not as daft as when BK(?) fell and grabbed the ball with his hands at their end

[Maguire]

But "back from the game" ought to be exactly what it says BACK FROM THE GAME, not back from the pub or back from the sofa.

Ooh, get her going to a football match

I agree you see more at the actual game, get more of a feel of which players are winning their personal battles and so on. HOWEVER, television does actually show what's happening too and the vast, vast, vast majority of football discussion in the pubs, offices, factories, and homes of this country are based on what's been seen on TV. Get over it.

[Turns8]

BTW, Liam Rosenior - the man has no discipline at all, and his ball-playing skills are mediocre at best. As someone quoted before, free headers falling to the feet of opponents, simple obvious laboured balls, rash challenges. I thought he should have been sent off last night and can consider himself lucky not to get a 3 (or is it 4) match ban. Makes you think doesn't it, that in nearly 2 seasons he's picked up probably as many bookings as Murty has in 11 years, and has been sent off twice to Murty's none.

TBF Handbags, Rosenior took one for the team with the potential red card. That was Bikey's fault.

I thought that was Jem who lunged in after Bikey's error...

Rosey does his bit for the team, the bookings stat isn't really relevant in that this season referees have waved cards quicker than 'bring it on' signs and the sendings off would have probably been the same if Murts had been playing..the difference is the personnel and rash tackles or tackles for the team sometimes need to be made due to errors in the lead up...that's not Rosey's fault all of the time...

[Ian Royal]

For what it's worth I didn't think it was a great game for Kitson

Agreed, Norwich were watching the 'star' in case he could break free, while the unknown Long...

Well, Kits has certainly played an important role since coming back. Won us the game against Donny and Derby. Where would we be without those 6 points?



Mags makes a fair point. You get a better overall view of the game from being at the match, but you get a better view of specific incidents on the telly. You get a poor feel for the whole match on the radio, but it's better than nothing. You get a very poor feel for the match reading a paper or online review.

No reason why anyoe shouldn't comment though.

[Dirk Gently]

A lot of what I was going to say has already been said by others, so a few random stream-of-consciousness observations :

Kitson - he does seem less than interested at times, and also has a real tendency to let his head go down when he doesn't get a decision from the ref (which is most of the time). He then spends a minute or two sulking instead of getting over it and getting on with the game. He did come back too deep in search of the ball too much yesterday - not sure if that's criticism of midfield, but if you're going to do that you really need to be fact and committed in getting forward, and he doesn't seem to be.

Bikey - does some great things but is also far too confident and tries to be too clever without concentrating enough. One day it's going to cost us dearly. For instance, early on yesterday he passed back to Marcus without ever looking up to see where he was or where the Norwich players were. It nearly went horribly wrong and gifting Norwich an early goal would have been catastrophic.

Cisse - Undecided on him - he wasn't as bad as some say, but never really made a great impact on the game. I prefer Tabb, when fit.

Marek - perhaps his niche is as a second half sub pulling the strings once the other team is tiring. Worked beautifully yesterday, but he still can't tackle to save his life and is a red card waiting to happen.

Little - 6 weeks ago I said that he was past it and that this loan spell would sully the memories of him that we all have. I've seen nothing to make me change my mind since. He's certainly not playing right-wing as he's spending most of his time more towards the middle, and when the ball gets to him all momentum stops. His legs have gone so comprehensively that he's getting Rosenior to do all the running for him, and he's no way good enough to be both a full-back and a winger.

Long - A shame that we was dropped a few games a month or so ago just when it was clear he was in form - lots of energy and enthusiasm, which is exactly what we need. He makes things happen whenever he's on the pitch - if not for him then for others.

Karacan - Again, if he'd had more of a run in the team things might be different now - pace, energy and enthusiasm are what we've been lacking. Can't see him being dislodged.

The whole team - Once we'd scored it's as though someone had "pumped them up" - you could see the confidence flooding back as they tried some of the things they always used to be so good at. They didn't always come off but at least they were trying things, instead of taking the safe and predictable option. It just remains to see if this renewed confidence will survive the motivational booing at the a MadStad when a cross is mis-hit.

[LoyalRoyal22]

Got home last night at about half one, was worth it though. First half we were abit flat, but second half dominated. My player ratings...

Marcus- 7
Rosenior- 7
Harding- 6.5
Bikey- 7
Duberry- 7
Little- 6.5
Kebe- 9
Karacan- 7
Cisse- 5
Kitson- 5
Long- 9

I thought Cisse and Kitson had pretty bad games, although the fans on here that get on Kitson`s back are stupid, he has more than contributed since returning.

[LoyalRoyal22]

A lot of what I was going to say has already been said by others, so a few random stream-of-consciousness observations :

Kitson - he does seem less than interested at times, and also has a real tendency to let his head go down when he doesn't get a decision from the ref (which is most of the time). He then spends a minute or two sulking instead of getting over it and getting on with the game. He did come back too deep in search of the ball too much yesterday - not sure if that's criticism of midfield, but if you're going to do that you really need to be fact and committed in getting forward, and he doesn't seem to be.

Bikey - does some great things but is also far too confident and tries to be too clever without concentrating enough. One day it's going to cost us dearly. For instance, early on yesterday he passed back to Marcus without ever looking up to see where he was or where the Norwich players were. It nearly went horribly wrong and gifting Norwich an early goal would have been catastrophic.

Cisse - Undecided on him - he wasn't as bad as some say, but never really made a great impact on the game. I prefer Tabb, when fit.

Marek - perhaps his niche is as a second half sub pulling the strings once the other team is tiring. Worked beautifully yesterday, but he still can't tackle to save his life and is a red card waiting to happen.

Little - 6 weeks ago I said that he was past it and that this loan spell would sully the memories of him that we all have. I've seen nothing to make me change my mind since. He's certainly not playing right-wing as he's spending most of his time more towards the middle, and when the ball gets to him all momentum stops. His legs have gone so comprehensively that he's getting Rosenior to do all the running for him, and he's no way good enough to be both a full-back and a winger.
Long - A shame that we was dropped a few games a month or so ago just when it was clear he was in form - lots of energy and enthusiasm, which is exactly what we need. He makes things happen whenever he's on the pitch - if not for him then for others.

Karacan - Again, if he'd had more of a run in the team things might be different now - pace, energy and enthusiasm are what we've been lacking. Can't see him being dislodged.

The whole team - Once we'd scored it's as though someone had "pumped them up" - you could see the confidence flooding back as they tried some of the things they always used to be so good at. They didn't always come off but at least they were trying things, instead of taking the safe and predictable option. It just remains to see if this renewed confidence will survive the motivational booing at the a MadStad when a cross is mis-hit.

You didnt go to Derby then? when he was the best player on the pitch...

[Ian Royal]

Last parapgraph excellent summary of how the team look.

It's like the can't remember how to play until they score. Then someone turns the lights back on. It's looked much like that in pretty much every game I've seen this season.

[handbags_harris]

BTW, Liam Rosenior - the man has no discipline at all, and his ball-playing skills are mediocre at best. As someone quoted before, free headers falling to the feet of opponents, simple obvious laboured balls, rash challenges. I thought he should have been sent off last night and can consider himself lucky not to get a 3 (or is it 4) match ban. Makes you think doesn't it, that in nearly 2 seasons he's picked up probably as many bookings as Murty has in 11 years, and has been sent off twice to Murty's none.

TBF Handbags, Rosenior took one for the team with the potential red card. That was Bikey's fault.

the sendings off would have probably been the same if Murts had been playing

Absolutely no way that'd be the case. How many bookings has Rosenior had for dissent this season? The first two at Swansea and Palace were for exactly that...and what happened after that? Petulant poor man's Ashley Cole (face screws up in contorted rage whenever a decision goes against him) with mediocre ball skills and a rash streak in him. There is no way Murty would have thrown himself into that challenge yesterday the same way as Rosenior did.

[Ian Royal]

100% agreed.

[brendywendy]

Absolutely no way that'd be the case. How many bookings has Rosenior had for dissent this season? The first two at Swansea and Palace were for exactly that...and what happened after that? Petulant poor man's Ashley Cole (face screws up in contorted rage whenever a decision goes against him) with mediocre ball skills and a rash streak in him. There is no way Murty would have thrown himself into that challenge yesterday the same way as Rosenior did.

was a great foul

stopped a probable free shot on goal after bikeys latest in a long list of lapses(illiteration!)
in fact id say he absolutely had to slide in for that challenge, knowing full well it would end up in a booking
and bikey owes him a pint

[Uke]

latest in a long list of lapses(illiteration!)

I like your deliberate play on the speling of alliteration - I see what you did there

[Arch]

I'm not convinced Bikey was done (benefit of watching on TV). Yes he was turned, but in the Premiership against better forwards he showed a surprising ability to cover lost ground very quickly. I think he would have got a tackle in, but the question is whether he would have conceded a penalty.

[brendywendy]

latest in a long list of lapses(illiteration!)

I like your deliberate play on the speling of alliteration - I see what you did there

i got it accidentally correct in a weird way

[Thaumagurist*]

Little - 6 weeks ago I said that he was past it and that this loan spell would sully the memories of him that we all have. I've seen nothing to make me change my mind since. He's certainly not playing right-wing as he's spending most of his time more towards the middle, and when the ball gets to him all momentum stops. His legs have gone so comprehensively that he's getting Rosenior to do all the running for him, and he's no way good enough to be both a full-back and a winger.

You didnt go to Derby then? when he was the best player on the pitch...

I read somewhere that he got taken off because he had a hamstring injury. That possibly could have affected his performance and the reason why he was slow in getting back....

[brendywendy]

I'm not convinced Bikey was done (benefit of watching on TV). Yes he was turned, but in the Premiership against better forwards he showed a surprising ability to cover lost ground very quickly. I think he would have got a tackle in, but the question is whether he would have conceded a penalty.

that player seemed to have the pace to beat him or at least match him all night