Norwich vs Brentford (Home) 24th January 2015

[Yellow Fever]

So why did we decide to play to Brentford's strengths? I thought the idea of tactics were that you assessed where the opposition are strong and nullify it, assess where they are weak and exploit it, as well as playing to your own strengths. We don't seem to have done any of this

This is it precisely! The team were very poorly prepared for this game and I feel that's something we've lost with Phelan leaving. It was no secret how Brentford would play and yet we recklessly piled players forward without any thought about counter-attacks. Cuellar was up in the RW position at one point when we lost the ball and Brentford broke. In spite of that recklessness, though, we only managed about 10 shots, 4 on target. Neil was hired to manage this set of players and get them working as a team. That patently failed yesterday. 

 

[eatonparkboy]

This is it precisely! The team were very poorly prepared for this game and I feel that's something we've lost with Phelan leaving. It was no secret how Brentford would play and yet we recklessly piled players forward without any thought about counter-attacks. Cuellar was up in the RW position at one point when we lost the ball and Brentford broke. In spite of that recklessness, though, we only managed about 10 shots, 4 on target. Neil was hired to manage this set of players and get them working as a team. That patently failed yesterday. 

Exactly. When McAvoy arrives, our coaching staff will all be alien. I am not being rude or racist. Just merely pointing out they are all from the Scottish leagues. Where is the transition going to come from. Phelan would have provided that.

 

[Canaryboy]

Michael Turner's comments about Mike Phelan were very interesting, said that they players "bought into" him. He did say that they were looking forward to meeting and working with McEvoy, but those comments were quite telling. Sounds to me as if the players expected and wanted Phelan as manager, and that Neil & McEvoy will need to win them over.

 

[Canaryboy]

Exactly. When McAvoy arrives, our coaching staff will all be alien. I am not being rude or racist. Just merely pointing out they are all from the Scottish leagues. Where is the transition going to come from. Phelan would have provided that.

I don't think that's too much of a big deal, both Gary Holt and Alex Neil have played in this league in the not too distant past. Somebody up thread was worried that we'd see an influx of Scottish players though, and that bit does worry me a little. Signing players from Scotland is always hit and miss. On one hand you get players like Wes Hoolahan and Shaun Maloney coming out of that league, and on the other you get players like Ian Murray and Stephen Hughes, who on paper you'd expect to be a success but in reality look out of their depth once they get here.

That's the problem with the Scottish Prem, its one of those leagues where you've got players who are League Two standard (Michael Nelson went from League Two, to the Scottish Prem, to League Two) and then you've got players like Ross McCormack.... £120k compensation Motherwell to Cardiff.

 

[Yellow Fever]

The lack of transition concerns me as well. Holt will provide some, but not as much as Phelan would have done. These are Turner's comments from the Pink'un on Phelan:

"When he (Phelan) first came in, I think everyone was enjoying the sessions he was putting on,” said Michael Turner. “He has got huge experience in coaching and everyone learned a lot from him. He put on very good sessions and everyone enjoyed them....When he came in he brought in some good ideas and the lads really bought into him."

Will they 'buy into' Neil and McAvoy in the same way? I hope so, but we'll have to wait and see.

 

[BroadstairsR]

Surely the ego trip that is McNally noticed this and didn't make the obvious move when Adams went.

Why? why/why? did he find the need to appoint a total unknown when Phelan was ready, able and willing?