Norwich City vs Burton Albion(away) Saturday 30th December.

[morty]

Well that went pretty well as expected.

I know we had to rotate but jeez. I don't know how Marley Watkins even gets a game, and Husband sounded woeful.

 

[GJP]

Let's face it, we all knew the chance of that team doing anything today was pretty much slim to none. Hardly a selection to worry Burton.

To not score a goal against them in 180 minutes of football tells you all you need to know about where this club is going in the short-medium term future under current leadership at all levels.

 

[hogesar]

A slightly depressing insight into the likely football on offer next season after we've sold Pritchard, Maddison etc.

We are clearly playing it cheap and refusing to pay some appearance based fee to Wigan. Today was crying for a player like Wildshut to break through the lines.

 

[GJP]

Well that went pretty well as expected.

I know we had to rotate but jeez. I don't know how Marley Watkins even gets a game, and Husband sounded woeful.

No wonder Webber says he'll need a few windows.

 

[Din]

That was an absolutely f*cking shameful performance. A point gained is literally the only positive we can take from this, and we didn't even deserve that. We were completely lacklustre and lackadaisical against a team who are now 2nd bottom in the league and didn't do anything we didn't expect them to do. And Farke, somewhat rightly, is going to get blasted for this. Burton have lost 8 straight league games and then as usual along come Norwich. I didn't see the game where we lost 4-0 to Millwall, but today was the worst I've seen us play this season, and I was at Villa where we were absolutely appalling.

The majority of our squad had appalling games. Husband and Watkins, two players who have a point to prove in a way, were pathetic. As I said above as well, if it turns out Husband dived for that penalty appeal in the first half when he had a fantastic chance to score then he needs to be internally disciplined or something because that is really really poor. I hope for his sake the referee has f*cked us over there. I'm not trying to scapegoat those two by the way they're not the sole reason we didn't win, but they are two players who have been underwhelming to say the least this season and they did absolutely nothing today to suggest they should be near the team. The rest ranged from terrible to poor, apart from Tettey who was decent to be fair, but as I said because he played in this game he probably won't be able to start on Monday. 

Anything but a win against Millwall is now completely unacceptable. I said before the Brentford game that we need to be taking a bare minimum of 8 points from the next 4 games, as it stands the most we can get is 7 if we get 3 points on Monday and to be honest I really don't fancy us to even get that. Didn't even realise but we have a horrible run of fixtures after Millwall. We have Bristol City away (3rd),Sheffield United home (6th),Brentford away (10th, and in great form),Middlesbrough home (9th, and just appointed Pulis),Derby away (2nd),Ipswich at home, and then Wolves away (1st). We are going to be in a lot of trouble after that run. Need a lot lot better.

 

[Number 9]

For all the squad rotation nonsense which has filled the media recently, the facts are that this game was simply 3 points for the taking!

Last time I checked, we could have done with those points and that win to boost the players confidence and the fans attitude approaching the home game against Millwall.

I've tried looking at it from different angles but basically it was a huge error in judgement by Farke. Goodness knows what he will come up with for tomorrow, one thing will surely be certain, the crowd will explain the situation to him unless Millwall get totally crushed.

Millwall's away record isn't good (much like Burton home record) but Farke has unwittingly increased exponentially the pressure on this game in front of the home supporters, who knows what the players will do. 

 

[morty]

Pritchard left Brum with a massive ice pack on his ankle. Maddison has been managing a calf injury. Tettey's knees are well documented. Jamal Lewis is just back from injury and 3 games in 6 days is a big shout for any player, far more so for one not fully match fit yet. Klose was rested and replaced by Hanley, who got in the Championship team of the day for his troubles. Rafa Benitez also changed 6 players yesterday and ground out a much needed point.

Yeah I was a bit shocked at the amount of changes, but there is a back story behind them all. And, if the result of fresh players means we get a win tomorrow (and my God we need one at home) that will be 7 points out of 9 from 2 away games and 1 home, which isn't the worst, and especially considering our current run of form.

The team we put out yesterday should have been enough to win the game, sounds like Watkins and Husband had stinkers though.

Also two clean sheets in two away games.

 

[hogesar]

Thats all fine and well Morty, but it relies on us beating Millwall, who havent won an away game all season. 

Ive said elsewhere but as long as we get that win then we can look forward. If we draw or lose then the amount of changes made will be rightly classed as a massive *bleep* up when we can least afford it.

 

[morty]

Thats all fine and well Morty, but it relies on us beating Millwall, who havent won an away game all season. 

Ive said elsewhere but as long as we get that win then we can look forward. If we draw or lose then the amount of changes made will be rightly classed as a massive *bleep* up when we can least afford it.

Absolutely, I said nothing that contradicts that. Tomorrow is the test if Farke's gamble pays off or not, personally I think it will.

 

[OldRobert]

I can't believe we are making excuses for not getting the better of Burton.  Have we no strength in depth at all?  I don't remember in days gone by, players pleading tiredness, and not being able to play four games in fairly quick succession.  Hell's teeth these guys are supposed to be professional athletes, and they aren't kicking an old leather ball, with leather boots on.  That performance was dire, and we won't beat Millwall unless Lady Luck has some say in it.

 

[morty]

I can't believe we are making excuses for not getting the better of Burton.  Have we no strength in depth at all?  I don't remember in days gone by, players pleading tiredness, and not being able to play four games in fairly quick succession.  Hell's teeth these guys are supposed to be professional athletes, and they aren't kicking an old leather ball, with leather boots on.  That performance was dire, and we won't beat Millwall unless Lady Luck has some say in it.

Not excuses, mitigations. The game has moved along a lot in recent years, and 3 games in 6 days is a lot. And no, we don't have strength in depth, which maybe has a lot to do with players currently heading for the exit like Jerome, Wildschutt and Martin.

 

[morty]

I can't believe we are making excuses for not getting the better of Burton.  Have we no strength in depth at all?  I don't remember in days gone by, players pleading tiredness, and not being able to play four games in fairly quick succession.  Hell's teeth these guys are supposed to be professional athletes, and they aren't kicking an old leather ball, with leather boots on.  That performance was dire, and we won't beat Millwall unless Lady Luck has some say in it.

To add further context, Birmingham beat Leeds yesterday. No team has any God given right to beat another in the Championship

 

[GJP]

I can't believe we are making excuses for not getting the better of Burton

There are no excuses. It's a failure, regardless of tomorrow's result.

 

[hogesar]

There are no excuses. It's a failure, regardless of tomorrow's result.

I agree we should obviously be beating Burton but if we beat Millwall itll be a decent points return on 3 games (Although personally I dont think expecting 3 wins out of these 3 games was exactly being ambitious)

 

[Number 9]

Psychologically play your best team from the start v Burton. It's inconceivable to think that our our best team wouldn't beat Burton. Take off the 3 players you want to rest in second half once the games won.

 You then go to the Millwall game having 6 points in your pocket, players full of confidence and supporters look at the top half of the table. 

Millwall's away form is dire but the way Farke has managed it, they have suddenly become a huge obstacle.

What's he gonna do against Chelsea? The Arsenal game cost us a great deal, has he learned his lesson? We need as many league points as possible yet we see some bizarre decisions, I struggle to agree with some decisions Farke has made.

 

[Fenway Frank]

That was a very poor game, Burton weren’t great and we couldn’t rise above the style of play, resulting in 90 minutes of head tennis. I was also surprised by the team selection, and it has to be said, it didn’t really work. One shot on target is a terrible stat. Watkins had a stinker, Husband had a poor start but did do ok as the game went on. Having said that I think Lewis should have started , and must start tomorrow. I was surprised Klose was left out but Hanley and Zimmerman dealt with the aerial threat pretty well, Hanley being my man of the match. 

I do have to say, regardless of how bad the game was, the “ fans” behind me were complete n0bheads. Started to moan after five minutes and were still doing it as they left. I’m not talking about the sort of things we would all say, but when someone comes out with “ f@ck off Watkins you useless c#@t” that is a step too far for me. 

Pinto tried to get the team to applaud our fans at the end but the chorus of boos put some off. Zimmermann as usual did, as did Hanley who gave someone his shirt. We need to play a lot better to get something tomorrow.

Met a few Derby fans at Cambridge services though, thanked them for making my day ?

 

[Fenway Frank]

Forgot to say, if you haven’t been to Burton it’s worth a visit ?

 

[OldRobert]

To add further context, Birmingham beat Leeds yesterday. No team has any God given right to beat another in the Championship

Just as well, as the majority of our performances are barely Chump standard.  Btw I don't remember saying anything about beating all and sundry, my emphasis was on performance, which I say again generally speaking is nothing short of carp.  Just my opinion of course.

 

[Canaryboy]

Where was Wildschut?

Can we assume that he is an imminent departure (the reason we are currently linked to wingers?).... OR.... that 'two burgers' as he is nicknamed by team mates, was the player who moaned to the press about training being too hard?  

Its obvious that an attacking trio of Hoolahan - Vrancic - Watkins has no ability to get in behind the defense, and it had 0-0 written all over it.  

I can only hope that if Wildschut is leaving that his replacement isn't as immobile as Vrancic and Wes.... we need a bit of PACE in the squad, and Wildschut is one of the few players who is willing to actually try and beat his man. 

I understand the need to rotate, but don't understand why Wildschut didn't come in for Murphy

 

[morty]

Where was Wildschut?

Can we assume that he is an imminent departure (the reason we are currently linked to wingers?).... OR.... that 'two burgers' as he is nicknamed by team mates, was the player who moaned to the press about training being too hard?  

Was seen on the day of the match in Zak's riverside (no joke),I would assume he will be off somewhere this month.