Don't blame Ruddy!

[Salopian]

At the end of the season, if we are a couple of points short there will be tendency to think of Ruddy's gift to Derby.

Even if he was held, or one arm was pinioned, he should surely have done better.

In the end, however, we lost because although we created more good scoring opportunities we were back on our wasteful tack. The BBC reckoned 15 attempts, but only 5 on goal and Grant was equal to the latter. We have been a high-scoring team, but we would have been out of sight in the league if we had shown more consistency. If we do not get the ball on target you are very unlikely to score, and if you aim straight at the keeper he will probably save it.

What I am suggesting is that the failure yesterday had a wider area of guilt than poor John Ruddy. The manager hinted the same in his post-match comment. In particular the high scoring Jerome and Johnson were guilty of poor finishing.(We can forgive a just-back Bassong.

The situation could have been worse because any first half competence and accuracy disappeared as the second half went on.

Many people felt that we should have won in the other game in Derby, but we had to settle for a draw. The same thing happened at CR. Why are we so often disappointing at home, this time first Wigan and then Derby?

 

[Beauseant]

I think that the key point is that away from home, even against struggling sides, City will find opponents attacking them, leaving space that they can exploit. At home they find it hard to break down sides who sit in. There's a selection dilemma too, because to break down sides you want the likes of Wes, Hoops and Redmond starting, yet against teams with 5 man midfields that leaves you light in the middle and susceptible to the counter (a lesson that Neil Adams never fully absorbed).

Agree about Ruddy, who's been immense. These things happen in the course of a season. If Grabban hadn't got injured, if Bassong had come back earlier, if Ruddy hadn't dropped the ball etc. There will be many more "what ifs?" before its all over.

 

[SussexYellow]

No we should not blame JR. We should back him, he is our first choice keeper and we should support him. 

Plenty of other games when we could have picked up more points, so it would not be fair to pick out just one game. 

I would not agree that we were disappointing yesterday. Derby are a serious promotion contender and we outplayed them. Their keeper made a couple of saves that got them the point. And we do seem to regularly come up against keepers in inspired form. If we do not achieve promotion we would be better to reflect on that, than look to cast blame.

 

[Safri15]

Agreed, we can't and shouldn't blame Ruddy. I think the Barclays response at the end of the game, a chorus of "Ruddy Ruddy Ruddy" when he took his frustration out on the ground will hopefully say it all.

In a world of mercenaries and money grabbing bar stewards, Ruddy is a breath of fresh air!

 

[Paul Handscombe]

Whilst I agree we back him, you also have to blame him for the error, yes the bloke had hold of his arm for a second or two but as a keeper you have to be stronger than that, also it was not as if he hadn't done it to him before.  All the Norwich players knew he had fucked up as not one of them complained and just walked away looking shocked and pissed off.

But yes we definitely back him.

 

[Salopian]

I have now seen the video from behind the goal, and Ruddy was fouled. While the ball was in the air, the Derby player grasped his arm, and pulled him downwards slightly and away from goal When the ball arrived Ruddy was still trying to regain his balance. As the corner was about to be taken, they were the only two players on the line.

We was robbed!

 

[Yellow Fever]

I've also just seen the better view of the Ruddy incident - totally cynical cheating! 

A great argument for video review of goals like they have in rugby for every try. 

 

[Surgeryman]

Whilst I agree we back him, you also have to blame him for the error, yes the bloke had hold of his arm for a second or two but as a keeper you have to be stronger than that, also it was not as if he hadn't done it to him before.  All the Norwich players knew he had fucked up as not one of them complained and just walked away looking shocked and pissed off.

But yes we definitely back him.

I agree with this. I would also say why was Jerome not goal side of the defender who held Ruddys arm? I remember against Leeds one season Chris Martin ( I think) fouled Schmichael for Leon Barnett to score so unfortunately it went against us on on Saturday. But we had good chances to win that and fluffed them! He is our first choice ( non better or remotely near him) and a solid keeper so we have to encourage but maybe the GK situation needs a review next season with Bunn off I assume.

 

[ZLF]

One foul on t he keep v several missed chances by the strikers yet its the keeper that shoulder the burden of blame.

The team didnt win when it should have.   a joint failure

 

[It's Character Forming]

Ruddy made a few great saves from Hudds breaks and set pieces today.