Norwich V Preston (Away FA Cup 3rd Round) Sat 3rd jan 2015

[kirku]

Out

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Its not really surprising though is it? We must have the worst cup record in the football league when compared to our league position. We should have just played the youth and reserves, at least then our first team players wouldn't be taking the confidence hit.

I wonder if an official ratio for cup performance vs league position exists. I'd be interested to know our index position

 

[eatonparkboy]

I think the last time we made it into the next round was when they drew the balls out of a black velvet bag on a Monday!

 

[Canaryboy]

 What was the point of fielding a full strength lineup? What has been achieved. 

Exactly, what was the point in that? If we'd won all we've done is beaten a League One team (OK so a good one, but still a League One team) so any confidence boost is negligible unless we had a goal fest which was always going to be unlikely in a cup tie for us, if we'd lost (which we did) confidence hit. 

This game was crying out for people like Rudd, Loza, the Murphy's, Garrido, Lafferty to show why they should be given a shot in the second half of the season in the league. We had far more to gain by giving fringe players a go. 

 

[Yellow Fever]

Those who were advocating playing younger players were proved right. Johnson and perhaps Howson aside, none of the City players were really prepared to go for it. Redmond hardly ever beat his man, who was Preston's MotM. Dismal just before a key game against Bournemouth. 

 

[SussexYellow]

Has anybody got any thoughts on what our game plan was to attack PNE. OK Hooper looks as though he was our only fit striker, but an attacking force of Hooper, Redders, and Hoolahan looks very lightweight - particularly against a big defence that pride themselves in not giving much away. Wolves away revisited.

Unfortunately my pre game concerns have been realised.

Long journey home for those that have travelled. They deserve better.

 

[lyb]

Except we fielded a lot of fringe players for the League Cup game where we exited, we lost, and so everybody was saying we should have taken it more seriously. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. 

This lineup should have been able to deliver today. Utterly pathetic.

 

[Dandy Mountfarto]

Except we fielded a lot of fringe players for the League Cup game where we exited, we lost, and so everybody was saying we should have taken it more seriously. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. 

I think probably thats just a case of different people wanting different things.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Not a single shot on target according to BBC stats. From essentially our first xi. Playing against lower league opposition. Not good enough

 

[Boyerboy]

Very disappointing and very worrying. The poor run started at Shrewsbury. It seems as if the malaise at Reading has carried on.

Something needs to shake this squad up to have their effort and ambition match their ability. I've no idea what but we cannot go forward sleep walking like this.

 

[Dandy Mountfarto]

I wonder if an official ratio for cup performance vs league position exists. I'd be interested to know our index position

Me too, I reckon Colchester might beat us iirc their cup record is astonishingly bad. I'd be able to code a simple program to figure it out if I had the data but I don't and I can't be arsed to collate it.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Exactly, what was the point in that? If we'd won all we've done is beaten a League One team (OK so a good one, but still a League One team) so any confidence boost is negligible unless we had a goal fest which was always going to be unlikely in a cup tie for us, if we'd lost (which we did) confidence hit.

This game was crying out for people like Rudd, Loza, the Murphy's, Garrido, Lafferty to show why they should be given a shot in the second half of the season in the league. We had far more to gain by giving fringe players a go.

Only thing I can think is that after the league cup Neil wanted to avoid another poor showing. Well that worked!

 

[Yellow Fever]

I thought the line-up was OK, but I also thought the players would up their performance in the second half and Johnson and Howson aside, none did. Beginning to doubt the character of some of our players. 

 

[SussexYellow]

Except we fielded a lot of fringe players for the League Cup game where we exited, we lost, and so everybody was saying we should have taken it more seriously. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. 

This lineup should have been able to deliver today. Utterly pathetic.

As I posted above I am not convinced that line up could deliver tactically. We need more than just names on paper that look good. They need to organised into a formation with a tactical plan that gives a chance of winning the game. We do not seem to have had that, and as such we have almost beaten ourselves before a ball has been kicked.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

I think the last time we made it into the next round was when they drew the balls out of a black velvet bag on a Monday!

I wonder how this season cup-wise fares against others? Can't get much worse than being knocked out after 1 game by lower league opposition in both cups. Its just the embarrassment factor to determine.
Hughton's efforts against non-league Luton obviously more embarrassing, but think we also reached quarter finals of the league cup same season?

Cup-wise, this seasons performance can't be far off worst-ever?

 

[splutcho]

Totally forgot we were playing, just checked the result and am not at all surprised. Hopefully Adams will be unemployed soon.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

I thought the line-up was OK, but I also thought the players would up their performance in the second half and Johnson and Howson aside, none did. Beginning to doubt the character of some of our players.

Quite possible more than a few want away. Hughton's favourites bassong et al, forgotten men becchio and bennett, players like ruddy, Redmond, hooper may have an eye on premiership football. Not hard to imagine the overall feeling between the players at the club might not be as positive, commited and productive as we might like

 

[Dandy Mountfarto]

Cup-wise, this seasons performance can't be far off worst-ever?

Not even close. 2010, 2009, 2008, 2003, 2001, 1999, 1997 were all worse in terms of what round we got knocked out of. 2007, 2005, 2004, 2000, 1998 we did equally bad. We are really bad at cups.

http://www.norwichcity-mad.co.uk/cup_history/norwich_city/index.shtml

 

[It's Character Forming]

Well similar lineup to Shrewsbury away. Similar performance and result worse

Not a lot more I cansay

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

As I posted above I am not convinced that line up could deliver tactically. We need more than just names on paper that look good. They need to organised into a formation with a tactical plan that gives a chance of winning the game. We do not seem to have had that, and as such we have almost beaten ourselves before a ball has been kicked.

Agree. There doesn't seem to have been much tactical nous shown this season. Why do we assume footballers are the worlds best tacticians/strategists/man managers. Footballers are hardly known for their IQs. Surprised management remains dominated by former players in this modern era. Especially as one of the most talented managers in the current game never kicked a ball in his life. I understand footballers need to respect their managers for them to be successful and lots of that will come from the bloke telling you what to do having been in your position, but it doesnt seem to be a problem for the special one...