Leedscanary
Active Member
After now recovering from a 2.30am arrival home, I've had enough coffee to gather my thoughts on last night!
Before the game I suggested that this game could well be a barometer for the rest of the season - hoping that each team would end up 11 v 11 and I class Blackburn as an average Championship side, with top 6 aspirations so the performance from City should indicate how our season may pan out.
I'd not even reached my seat by the time Blackburn went in front. We seem to have a nasty habit of giving away needless free kicks immediately after kick off. Whether this is a release of tension after the build up of nerves I'm not sure, but it needs addressing by Neyul. The goal itself was class, unstoppable volley into the top corner from 20yards. No complaints, the lad took it well. Blackburn continued for the next 10 mins to settle really well in the game - could have had a penalty and missed a couple of half chances.
From 10 minutes on though, Norwich took the game by the scruff of the neck and dominated Blackburn for the rest of the game. The back 4 seem solid enough, Martin for all the criticism I've seen and heard elsewhere kept £8million rated Rhodes in his pocket until he was subbed in the 61st min. Garrido picked up a knock late in the first half and was replaced by Ryan Bennett, which meant a shuffle round with Martin at RB, Bennett & Turner at CB and Whittaker at LB. This line up did really well imo - Martin in his natural position and Whittaker seems to play better on the left. Bennett gave us a much needed presence at the other end too, could have scored twice if not for the Keeper and the crossbar.
Midfield, BJ and Tettey absolutely bossed it. Tettey chased down everything and laid off lovely short passes, whilst Bradley "Pirlo" Johnson was pinging crossfield balls like there was no tomorrow - possibly they'll have more time in this league and the talent will shine through.
Wes is still an enigma. For every piece of wizardry, there's that one touch too many - one turn too much. A solid player though and I'm glad he's with us than against us. Tenacious to the last, just which he had something more than a prosthetic foot attached to his right leg. I won't mention his corner kick :blink:
Grabban & Lafferty - 2 really really good signings. Lafferty is a Holt-in-waiting. Could end up with legend status. I don't think he'll score many, but his workrate is awesome - even back into the RB position. Put some really searching crosses into the box, that ideally he'd have been on the end of! Grabban, couldn't see the penalty too well from my vantage point but fair play to him for following it up. How many players these days wheel away to celebrate or stop with their head in their hands? So to see Grabban be alert and anticipate a save is really refreshing. Grabban also seems to have a knack of getting a shot away however he gets the ball. On the edge of the box last night with his back to goal, surrounded by 3 defenders he still managed to control turn goalwards shake off the defenders and unleash a shot. Something we have lacked for the past 2 years.
Redmond continues to frustrate me. He could have it all, but his decision making is poor to say the least. He really needs to up his end product. I thought Murphy had more of an impact in his 10 minute cameo than Redmond had all game. People keep saying give him time, it will come - he has now played over 100 senoir league games - how much more development does he want?
All in all a very good performance - on this showing we'll be a top 6 team this year. We just need Neyul to be able to push us on to grab(ban) one of those top 2 spots.
Oh, and highlight of the night - the guy in front of me in the Jarrold had a pidgeon nesting in the roof above and it kept pooing on him! 3 times it hit the target - was a good omen for City, I'll be keeping poo watch at the next game against Bournemouth!
Before the game I suggested that this game could well be a barometer for the rest of the season - hoping that each team would end up 11 v 11 and I class Blackburn as an average Championship side, with top 6 aspirations so the performance from City should indicate how our season may pan out.
I'd not even reached my seat by the time Blackburn went in front. We seem to have a nasty habit of giving away needless free kicks immediately after kick off. Whether this is a release of tension after the build up of nerves I'm not sure, but it needs addressing by Neyul. The goal itself was class, unstoppable volley into the top corner from 20yards. No complaints, the lad took it well. Blackburn continued for the next 10 mins to settle really well in the game - could have had a penalty and missed a couple of half chances.
From 10 minutes on though, Norwich took the game by the scruff of the neck and dominated Blackburn for the rest of the game. The back 4 seem solid enough, Martin for all the criticism I've seen and heard elsewhere kept £8million rated Rhodes in his pocket until he was subbed in the 61st min. Garrido picked up a knock late in the first half and was replaced by Ryan Bennett, which meant a shuffle round with Martin at RB, Bennett & Turner at CB and Whittaker at LB. This line up did really well imo - Martin in his natural position and Whittaker seems to play better on the left. Bennett gave us a much needed presence at the other end too, could have scored twice if not for the Keeper and the crossbar.
Midfield, BJ and Tettey absolutely bossed it. Tettey chased down everything and laid off lovely short passes, whilst Bradley "Pirlo" Johnson was pinging crossfield balls like there was no tomorrow - possibly they'll have more time in this league and the talent will shine through.
Wes is still an enigma. For every piece of wizardry, there's that one touch too many - one turn too much. A solid player though and I'm glad he's with us than against us. Tenacious to the last, just which he had something more than a prosthetic foot attached to his right leg. I won't mention his corner kick :blink:
Grabban & Lafferty - 2 really really good signings. Lafferty is a Holt-in-waiting. Could end up with legend status. I don't think he'll score many, but his workrate is awesome - even back into the RB position. Put some really searching crosses into the box, that ideally he'd have been on the end of! Grabban, couldn't see the penalty too well from my vantage point but fair play to him for following it up. How many players these days wheel away to celebrate or stop with their head in their hands? So to see Grabban be alert and anticipate a save is really refreshing. Grabban also seems to have a knack of getting a shot away however he gets the ball. On the edge of the box last night with his back to goal, surrounded by 3 defenders he still managed to control turn goalwards shake off the defenders and unleash a shot. Something we have lacked for the past 2 years.
Redmond continues to frustrate me. He could have it all, but his decision making is poor to say the least. He really needs to up his end product. I thought Murphy had more of an impact in his 10 minute cameo than Redmond had all game. People keep saying give him time, it will come - he has now played over 100 senoir league games - how much more development does he want?
All in all a very good performance - on this showing we'll be a top 6 team this year. We just need Neyul to be able to push us on to grab(ban) one of those top 2 spots.
Oh, and highlight of the night - the guy in front of me in the Jarrold had a pidgeon nesting in the roof above and it kept pooing on him! 3 times it hit the target - was a good omen for City, I'll be keeping poo watch at the next game against Bournemouth!
