Norwich vs Wigan (Away) 6th December 2014

[ZLF]

I am still frustrated by Howsons inconsistency during games but he is streets ahead of BJ.   Maybe if he ran around like a headless chicken he would be rated better 

Us winning the ball back and  having plenty of possession is not the problem - so howsons lack fo relative contribution is irrelevant.    And BJs core skill is effort - his reputed ball winning skills are a fallacy imo.

Our first problem is pace & movement mainly of the ball and incisive play going forward - all bj offers there is an aerial threat and the long hopeful ball - howson can offer us so much more.

At the back its about the back four being in position and concentration.  Again BJ offers nothing here as so regularly out of position and tettey is in a different class anyway

 

[Canaryboy]

I'd only be interested in seeing Johnson back if it were to play in a 4-4-2. 

This would be OK:

                            Ruddy

Martin         Turner      Hooiveld    Garrido

Redmond   Howson     Johnson    Olsson

                  Lafferty       Hooper

Is about time we tried something new and gave Lafferty an opportunity up front. Probably harsh on Jerome to leave him out, but it is time to start playing Hooper every week (2 goals in 2, how can you not?) and I like the idea of a little and large in a 4-4-2. 

No matter what centre back pairing I choose I worry about the lack of pace. Its also ridiculous that we can't play a 4-4-2 without choosing a full back on the wing (there is Murphy, but I just don't know if hes ready to start games, an obvious ability to make an impact but also capable of going missing?).

I'm just a little fed up with the fact that Adams has gone into this season with a big squad but having left us short of pace at the back and an obvious shortage of wingers. I keep saying it, so often that I'm boring myself, but we must be the only team in the league who would struggle to pick an XI for a 4-4-2! 

I'd even be open to seeing Johnson wide left (where he played for Leeds) with Tettey or O'Neill in the middle with Howson, and Olsson at full back. So maybe this:

                            Ruddy

Martin        Turner       Hooiveld     Olsson

Redmond   Howson     Tettey       Johnson

                  Lafferty      Hooper

But then I fear that we have a lack of pace in attack (or the whole team in fact),so that makes me wonder whether we'd be better off with Jerome up top with Hooper.

I honestly just don't know anymore. I find picking an XI for a 4-4-2 a really difficult task, and I think that says more about holes in our squad than I do about my ability to pick a team! 

 

[morty]

I may be proven completely wrong in about ten minutes time, but if I were Adams I would play it a bit safe, and go with a more solid 4-5-1.

 

[Canaryboy]

I may be proven completely wrong in about ten minutes time, but if I were Adams I would play it a bit safe, and go with a more solid 4-5-1.

Still have the same issue with lack of wingers though. Plus that is the one system which I feel we still need Hoolahan for, as the midfielder who links midfield with attack. I know that Hoolahan was in bad form before his injury, but didn't he play behind a lone striker early in the season when we were winning games? 

See this is why I'm so frustrated by us selling all of our wide players. It is difficult to pick an 11 for a conventional 4-4-2 or for a normal 4-5-1. Adams has bought players to fit his 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-2-2 and made it really difficult to pick an XI for any other formation. I'm surprised he never thought of sticking Redmond back out on the left and using Elliott Bennett on the right. 

 

[morty]

Still have the same issue with lack of wingers though. Plus that is the one system which I feel we still need Hoolahan for, as the midfielder who links midfield with attack. I know that Hoolahan was in bad form before his injury, but didn't he play behind a lone striker early in the season when we were winning games? 

See this is why I'm so frustrated by us selling all of our wide players. It is difficult to pick an 11 for a conventional 4-4-2 or for a normal 4-5-1. Adams has bought players to fit his 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-2-2 and made it really difficult to pick an XI for any other formation. I'm surprised he never thought of sticking Redmond back out on the left and using Elliott Bennett on the right. 

I kind of assumed the Bennet on the right and Redmond on the left option too. We have never really replaced Pilkington or Snoddy, and we desperately need a wide left player. Obviously we can't play Hoolahan wide left, but I'd be happy with him in a five man midfield, but not in a four.

But yes, we are short of wide options.

Though as someone else pointed out, Lafferty has actually played a lot of his football on the left wing.

 

[morty]

 

[morty]

4-4-2, and NO REDMOND!!!

 

[morty]

Folks on my twitter not exactly inspired by the team selection...

 

[Dandy Mountfarto]

I've been a staunch supporter of Adams but even I'm baffled by that line up. 4 central midfielders? No Turner?

 

[Canaryboy]

Can only imagine that he is playing a diamond there. 

                            Ruddy

Whittaker    Martin        Cuellar      Olsson

                           Tettey

         O'Neill                       Johnson

                         Howson

            Hooper           Jerome 

Can't think of any other reason why we'd have four centre midfielders on the pitch! 

 

[morty]

Can only imagine that he is playing a diamond there. 

                            Ruddy

Whittaker    Martin        Cuellar      Olsson

                           Tettey

         O'Neill                       Johnson

                         Howson

            Hooper           Jerome 

Can't think of any other reason why we'd have four centre midfielders on the pitch! 

Its either that or Adams has totally lost the plot lol.

 

[Canaryboy]

I'm actually pleased to see Whittaker back in the team in a way, we haven't been any better at the back since he was dropped, and Martin at centre back probably won't be a disaster against Wigan with the strikers they have, Fortune can hold the ball up but can't score for toffee (although if Adams tries that against Holt & Huddersfield we are screwed).

 

[Canaryboy]

Fortune can hold the ball up but can't score for toffee.

I shouldn't have said this. 

 

[Dandy Mountfarto]

I'm so disappointed that here we are still seeing Johnson, Tettey, and Howson playing together despite them creating essentially nothing for over a year under Hughton. There's just no creativity there at all.

 

[ZLF]

*sigh*   *tears*

 

[TILLY]

Looks like a good £3 million spent on Grabban then ?

 

[morty]

Looks like a good £3 million spent on Grabban then ?

He is injured, not just left out.

 

[kirku]

After seeing that line-up, I might go to bloody Tesco instead of finding a stream.

Pathetic.

 

[GJP]

Once again Martin survives. Turner does the defending of 2 players and when he finally makes a couple of mistakes he gets dropped.

Now it'll be up to Cuellar to pick up the slack.

 

[GJP]

As for no Redmond... if he makes it clear he wants out in January who could blame him?