Norwich City v Arsenal (home) Sunday 29th November 2015

[GJP]

 I accept most of that but think he is reacting a bit too late with his substitutions. I cannot agree with some who thought Grabban did OK. I thought he offered very little and believe that if you continue with one striker and want movement and control, then Jerome is the man to start. And I felt it sounded strange to hear him say that the changes made were to bring in more technically gifted players.

Actually I was of the opinion last season that Grabban is a better footballer than Jerome, so I can see where the manager is coming from.

Grabban's touch and link up play is superior to that of Jerome (and Lafferty) and I can see why AN has stuck by him.

Whether he's got enough goals in him at this level is another question but that question hangs over all of them.

 

[Canaryboy]

 I accept most of that but think he is reacting a bit too late with his substitutions. I cannot agree with some who thought Grabban did OK. I thought he offered very little and believe that if you continue with one striker and want movement and control, then Jerome is the man to start. And I felt it sounded strange to hear him say that the changes made were to bring in more technically gifted players. So he thinks Dorrans and Grabban are more gifted than Mulumbu and Jerome. Personally, I disagree with that.

However I am not the manager and he did what he thought was right. But the new style, providing a point a game is going to leave no room for manouvre by the end of the season.

Or will January's reinforcements bring a change?

I just think he played Grabban because he wanted us to play quick counter attacking football, that's the one thing for me that Grabban has which Mbokani and Jerome don't, that extra yard of pace especially when carrying the ball. 

When you are expecting to be under the cosh and you have a relatively immobile striker like Mbokani isolated on his own up front the temptation is there just to start pumping high balls up to the big man as an outlet, and when you do that the ball just comes straight back down the other end, and we saw us resorting to that a little against Man City. 

I thought Grabban did OK today, took his chance, and I can see what Alex Neil was trying to achieve by picking him. 

We also have 6 games in 28 days coming up, that's a hell of a lot of games to expect from any single individual at this level so makes sense to get the squad players involved a bit more at this stage and wouldn't surprise me to see Howson left out of a couple soon because he's played a hell of a lot of football this year. 

They say that its a "squad game" for a reason, if we picked our 'on paper' best XI every week we'd be bottom of the league, you need at least 3 strikers in this league and you expect your third striker to get some football.

 

[Canaryboy]

And I felt it sounded strange to hear him say that the changes made were to bring in more technically gifted players.

Likely just a bad choice of words, probably just meant players with a bit more finesse?

 

[eatonparkboy]

So why are we all talking about Grabban

Actually I was of the opinion last season that Grabban is a better footballer than Jerome, so I can see where the manager is coming from.

Grabban's touch and link up play is superior to that of Jerome (and Lafferty) and I can see why AN has stuck by him.

Whether he's got enough goals in him at this level is another question but that question hangs over all of them.

Don't think Dean Ashton agreed with much of that and neither do I. Jerome was one of the main reasons we went up last season and it doesn't matter how fast you run its where you run.

 

[GJP]

I'm a big fan of Jerome and I didn't make any comment on how fast Grabban or Jerome run.

I just think Grabban has a better touch and awareness than Jerome. Sorry if you and Dean Ashton can't see that.

 

[eatonparkboy]

I just think he played Grabban because he wanted us to play quick counter attacking football, that's the one thing for me that Grabban has which Mbokani and Jerome don't, that extra yard of pace especially when carrying the ball. 

When you are expecting to be under the cosh and you have a relatively immobile striker like Mbokani isolated on his own up front the temptation is there just to start pumping high balls up to the big man as an outlet, and when you do that the ball just comes straight back down the other end, and we saw us resorting to that a little against Man City. 

I thought Grabban did OK today, took his chance, and I can see what Alex Neil was trying to achieve by picking him. 

We also have 6 games in 28 days coming up, that's a hell of a lot of games to expect from any single individual at this level so makes sense to get the squad players involved a bit more at this stage and wouldn't surprise me to see Howson left out of a couple soon because he's played a hell of a lot of football this year. 

They say that its a "squad game" for a reason, if we picked our 'on paper' best XI every week we'd be bottom of the league, you need at least 3 strikers in this league and you expect your third striker to get some football. 

So why are we all talking about Grabban leaving in January? I thought all he did was score today to be honest. And most of the pundits on Five Sport thought we looked better with Jerome on.

And the rotation system is in fact more for clubs with adequate replacements in the squad. We haven't. There is no way he is going to rotate the back four if they keep playing as they have been. And despite another shaky performance, Ruddy will not be dropped.

 

[Canaryboy]

So why are we all talking about Grabban

Don't think Dean Ashton agreed with much of that and neither do I. Jerome was one of the main reasons we went up last season and it doesn't matter how fast you run its where you run.

So has Dean Ashton said something about Alex Neil picking Grabban over Jerome today?

The decision to start Grabban today was vindicated the moment he stuck the ball in the net.

 

[eatonparkboy]

So has Dean Ashton said something about Alex Neil picking Grabban over Jerome today?

The decision to start Grabban today was vindicated the moment he stuck the ball in the net.

No, he said apart from scoring he thought he was poor.

 

[GJP]

Hmm. But then Dean Ashton would not have been able to deliver the performance that AN wanted from Grabban today.

 

[Canaryboy]

So why are we all talking about Grabban leaving in January? I thought all he did was score today to be honest. And most of the pundits on Five Sport thought we looked better with Jerome on.

Sorry mate but just don't see where you are going with all this. 

We've played extremely well against one of the best teams in the league and came away with a well earned point, Grabban stuck the ball in the net, what complaints can we have?

Its competition for places which brings the best out of players, and if all three of your strikers are sticking the ball in the net then that can only be a positive thing, it raises the bar.

 

[Canaryboy]

No, he said apart from scoring he thought he was poor.

Did Ashton say anything about how utterly crap Olivier Giroud was today?

 

[GJP]

Giroud is a funny sort of player. Seemingly good enough to play for Arsenal and his goal scoring record is pretty good but he's also fairly easy to defend against.

Which is obviously why most people would say Arsenal need a "top" level striker.

 

[eatonparkboy]

Sorry mate but just don't see where you are going with all this. 

We've played extremely well against one of the best teams in the league and came away with a well earned point, Grabban stuck the ball in the net, what complaints can we have?

Its competition for places which brings the best out of players, and if all three of your strikers are sticking the ball in the net then that can only be a positive thing, it raises the bar.

Maybe I feel that we could have got more out of today's game. I'm not the manager, I don't coach the players so I'm just left with my own opinions. And I didn't see the game the same as others. And I wasn't alone.

We did play well, in the end. But I believe the change came with the Sanchez injury. Yes Grabban scored and I'm delighted with that. And remarkably we haven't lost when he has scored. But I don't agree with others opinions about his overall contribution.

We played well in the end because the pressure was off the back four and the two in front of them and the danger that their left hand side caused for the majority of the first half dissolved with Campbell on. O'Neil pushed up and Dorrans kept making runs with that assurance and Wes was able to be facing their goal instead of his own. And then we become a much better team and more enjoyable to watch.

And I still want to see how we perform against not "one of the best teams" to agree that AN has the tactical nous some of you speak so highly of.

 

[hogesar]

Grabban had a good game, and got more involved at bringing the ball up the pitch after his goal, confidence has always played a big part in Grabbans performances and he looked so much better after the goal.

Pleased for Ryan Bennett, who I didn't particularly rate. Really good defenders performance. Perhaps smashed it clear a couple more times than necessary but he was so good defensively both in the air and on the deck.

Brady awesome as always.

 

[morty]

Grabban had a good game, and got more involved at bringing the ball up the pitch after his goal, confidence has always played a big part in Grabbans performances and he looked so much better after the goal.

Pleased for Ryan Bennett, who I didn't particularly rate. Really good defenders performance. Perhaps smashed it clear a couple more times than necessary but he was so good defensively both in the air and on the deck.

Brady awesome as always.

We need to invent a new word that is more awesome than awesome for Brady. Seriously they may as well give him POTS right now.

 

[eatonparkboy]

When you think of some of our expensive signings that just didn't work out, for whatever reason, yer man Brady is Adele, Andy Murray, Tyson Fury and Mo Farah rolled into one.

I just hope, with the absence of too many true left sided players in this country, that other clubs do not come around in January and try and take him away from us.

He was a steal at the price we paid for him and no wonder Bruce was exasperated.

 

[dj161]

I remember saying to people about a month ago, That I know why Steve Bruce was saying he wanted £25million for him, not that he's worth £25million, but he's just a top top player that he desperately wanted to keep and was just trying to get the best possible deal for his club

When you think we got Brady for £7m, and Man City got Sterling for £50m, I know which one was the better deal, and lets just say that Sterling is not 7 x better than Brady, not to mention Brady's versatility, hes already played left back, left wing and right back for us and its only november, I could even see him doing a good job in the wes position in time

 

[ZLF]

Brady was exceptional again and MOTM for me.

Wisdom was extremely solid and despite my concerns the back 4 had a fairly comfortable game once we moved the action 10-15 yards back towards the halfway line and I became a game where the defenders were on top for both sides with very few touches in each others penalty area.

Biggest plus is the number of players contributing;  we have a squad of options and interchangeability.  Add in  alittle more quality at each end of the pitch and continue to play like that and we should not have any relegation fears.   Just need to find that consistency.

 

[Dubai Mark]

Despite my initial disgust, I agree the Grabban selection was justified fully, very neat finish. As for Brady, I think my missus got really hacked off as a result of the times I kept saying "that man is class", top top player and I'm watching the next match up the Pub, not that she doesnt know the offside rule or anything, just need to be somewhere that I dont make the person jump next to me when we score!

 

[Killiecanary]

Likely just a bad choice of words, probably just meant players with a bit more finesse?

I have no problem with the words AN used.  

technically Dorrans is As good as Mulumbu if not a little better.  I was surprised that Mulumbu didn't play, especially with Tettey out, but O Neil was, once again, immense!  In addition  I think Grabban is better with the ball at his feet than cam.  

Different players for different setups.  But for me Grabban did fine yesterday.  He is a different type of player to CamJam - less willing to chase hopeless causes (which iamdmit I love CamJam for) and I think our manager got it spot on yet again.