Norwich City v Swansea City (home) Saturday 7th November.

[Suffolk Canary]

The stats show that Bassong did almost as much defending on his own as Bennett and Martin combined last weekend.

"Lies, damned lies, and statistics" 

Him and Olsson left ridiculous amounts of space at times. If Aguero had been fit he would've had a field day 

 

[GJP]

Aguero can have a field day against pretty much anyone because he's an exceptional player. If certainly rather have Bassong dealing with him than the others.

Bassong is our best defender. Much like when Turner was around, anyone in a defence with Martin and/or Bennett knows they'll have to do the majority of the actual defending.

 

[Gorlestongirl]

I agree with much of what's been said.  My own feeble thoughts are:

• We lost by one goal last time out to a team (who are much, much more than Aguero plus 10),who will probably win the League and did all right midweek.  
• Newcastle and Southampton away apart, we've not been seriously outplayed this season.  Last three games we've lost by one, penalties and one goal. The margins are small and we don't need to transform in order to shift them in our favour.  
• Neil is clever and is learning a lot about how to set the team up against different opposition.
• Jerome is a tough man on the pitch but has never struck me as prickly.  If he is I'm not sure that would persuade Neil to play him against his better judgement.
• Of course the game tomorrow (today!) is a must win.  Which of them aren't?
• when will my YTS contract run out? I need to be earning serious dosh.  Got six grandchildren to buy Xmas presents for.

 

[morty]

Wise words Gorlestongirl, provide us with more and you'll earn that pro contract 

 

[Canaryboy]

• when will my YTS contract run out? I need to be earning serious dosh.  Got six grandchildren to buy Xmas presents for.

Well for your sake I hope it is before I change 'YTS contract' to 'Steve Walsh' or 'Mark Fotheringham' 

Which will happen shortly after I bring back the image gallery and blog feature (soon). 

 

[gerryinromania]

Yes, we really do need a win, not only for points, but in order to lift everyone,board,staff,players and fans. It would be good to see the crispness in passing and moving notch up another gear. I think that we will be 3 points better off tonight. Interesting to read that the Sunderland manager has set his team a target of 4 points from the next 5 games, they are 4 points below us. Enjoy the game and safe passage to those that are fortunate enough to be going

 

[Watling the Gnome]

The conditions are pretty foul this afternoon and the slick surface will suit the passing game.  I don't have the best feeling about this afternoon's match, and I base that on nothing other than perhaps my usual pessimism, but I worry that Shelvey, Ayew and Sigurdsson will frequently expose our back line.  I don't see that we can play two true DMs at home to Swansea and we need to go out and look to win.  The space teams have found to counter-attack us worries me.

Of course, I might just be depressed.

 

[dj161]

 

[Din]

Be interesting to see how Wisdom does. Surely he can't be any worse than our other 2 right backs.

O'Neil is an interesting one as well, ahead of Redmond.

 

[KeiranShikari]

Wasn't expecting that.

 

[Lavanche]

Redmond probably injured as he isnt on a bench either?

Good to see Wisdom getting a start. Gives more strenght to defence. Surprised of O'Neil too. As there is Mulumbu, Dorrans and VOO on the bench. So we are playing with 3 attacking players and 3 midfielders who wont bring much to our attack apart from Howson.

Well Dorrans have not been that succesful after few first games of season and Mulumbu probaly isn't fully fit + O'Neil is probably better with distribution and VOO havent play at this level so hard to judge this choise, but I probably would have gone any of those three before O'Neil.

Well we willsee how well he plays.

 

[eatonparkboy]

Rudd might as well look elsewhere. Whittaker gets dropped, rightfully after poor performances but Ruddy is fireproof. What kind of message is that to both of them.

 

[eatonparkboy]

I don't know which is the most exciting. Watching this or watching the crust form on my cup of hot chocolate.

Swansea can only play one way and we are letting them. 

 

[Lavanche]

Straight out of Hughton's playbook with bit more straightforward attacking.

So no pressing and with fast attacks we managed to give ball completely to them, which isnt always bad thing when facing better ball playing team, but we should get on goal scoring situations from our attacks and we had none in open play.

Can be that Redmond was supposed to play and we were forced to play this way, but playing Howson in the wing isnt really working so Alex have to find some alternative tactics when Redders isnt in team sheat. Make Brady play there and let Hoolahan play in free role on left for example, but Hoolahan and Jerome isolated and no pace in our right wing we are forced to play only trough left side and Wisdom really isn't player you expect to do wonders from those long crosses to other wing so Swansea has very easy time to defend their right side as there is no pressure on other side.

 

[It's Character Forming]

Yesssss - come on, we need this City

 

[Lavanche]

Way better second half and tactics payed off. Mayby we dropped a bit too much after goal, but otherwise good defending whole 90 minutes. Attacking was always going to be hard with this line-up, but we had very good spell after subbing Mbokani in.

Good training in tactical sense as we have hard opponents comming next few rounds and very imortant 3 points. Not a game I expected against Swansea in home, but conservative tactics have won many tournaments.

Gives us some room to breath.  

 

[eatonparkboy]

Delighted with the result but still unsure about the performance. The last minute typifies it for me. Mbokani puts O'Neill in and he passes it wide instead of shooting. Put your foot through it and it its either a goal or half way up the stand a goal kick which takes time.

We played a bit more from the halfway line instead our 18 yard box in the second half which was better but against a side who look pretty but carry the goal threat of a spent firework, I thought we could have gambled a bit more. I felt sorry for Jerome as it appeared he was to blame by being subbed. But it worked out in the end so a better weekend in prospect.

 

[Gaffer]

I'd rather watch us grind out 1-0 victories than get beaten 6-2. Good tactics by AN today.

 

[Canaryboy]

Mbokani is fast becoming one of my favourite players, he's the real deal, a bit of a Drogba.

 

[GJP]

First half was a dull affair.

Nice to see the somewhat eagerly criticised Howson pop up with the vital goal.

Thought O'Neil played very well with Hoolahan, Tettey and Howson all battling away.

Lovely clean sheet and I'm delighted I took Coral up on their generous offer of 10/1 for a home win.