Salopian

This could be one of the most important matches f the season. We are facing a very good team who are likely to be there or thereabouts at the end. We are facing them with so many players unavailable - Vivas, Howson, Hooper, Ryan Bennett and Olsson in particular. If we get anything at all from this, with virtually half a team missing, it will be quite an achievement. I tried to think of something Nelsonian to say, about expecting their best, but I couldn''t Let''s just hope that they all play blinders, and show the country that there is a very good team in Norfolk, and let''s urge them forwards and upwards!

I would defend Gary for last year - poor manager,poor team, lost confidence, injuries, etc., but I suspect that his style of attacking - "wait in the centre until the ball comes near" doesn''t suit what NA wants - quick attacking football with plenty of movement. I do share the concern over striker provision. Lafferty is not a conventional striker, although I hope that he contributes at least 10 this season. Jerome is an unknown quantity at the moment. The result is that that we have had almost half our goals goal scored by Grabban. He is mining a rich seem but could always get himself injured, and in any case seems to miss as many as he scores. We can''t expect regular goals from Josh, Bradders or Alex, midfielders who already have half our goals. Perhaps NA & Co. can restore Becchio, or bring on Loza, but the latter will take time.

Grabban has scored four in four, and probably missed twice as many. So far he has looked a very mobile and versatile striker, but he often needs two attempts at the ball. If someone could persuade me that Hooper is much more clinical, I could go for him rather than Ofoe, because we have Howson coming back and McGrandles and so far Bradley and Alex playing very well. I am not convinced that Lafferty will score a lot of goals, and Jerome is still new. I am worried that we would have only three main strikers plus Loza and Becchio. In terms of international valuation Ofoe surely is a higher value player. I would expect him to gain us 6 or 8 goals this season. He is something of a terror weapon. As he approaches at pace with the ball, you can see them thinking, "What do we do now?" I think that his defensive qualities are also very useful. He is perhaps not the all-round player as Fer, but he is quick and strong. I would hate it if we lost him.

NA has said repeatedly that in our new "longer" season, - could be 45-50 games, with plenty mid-week, he will need to rotate the squad on a regular basis. Add to this possible effect of injuries and suspensions - look at what has happened already, and it''s clear that for each position we need at least two players of equal ability. Then there is the question of loss of form. Finally, he needs sufficient flexibility to change personnel and team shape to better suit the strategy he wishes to use. It''s not difficult to think of situations where he might want to use all three of them. No one player should have a "nailed-down" right to a position, or he becomes too big for the team and even cramps its progress.

How long does it take to make an agreement? - The clubs agreed a fee ages ago, he has said farewell to his colleagues, has had his photo taken outside CR, and tweeted thanks to all the supporters. Adams would like him to come. All very commendable, but it is getting near Tuesday. If he pulls out over the next two days, we are in the proverbial........, in chances of signing another very good player. Come on Wivas, and come on McN. - have someone lined up. My nails a very short by now, which doesn''t matter, but I fear that my beloved club could lose out.

I think that the strikers/wingers have had some special coaching on shooting. Bradley and Redders, in particular usually aim for and achieve just inside the post, with very little blasting. To provide my thoughts on the topic:. Redder''s shooting is now more accurate, and he has a good shot with either foot. I think that shooting as soon as he..., means he is usually shooting from outside the area. I think that Josh has a stronger shot, and can score from any reasonable range. In pace, in a straight line Josh may slightly shade it, but if an element of dribbling and tight close control is needed Redders is better. In passing accuracy, and certainly in crossing I feel that Josh wins by some margin. In experience Redders has been playing in the top two divisions for four years, while Josh has played in a few games, often as a substitute. Redders has much more experience, but when Josh has acquired a few more games I think that he will become a cracking player. Next summer the "big boys" could well be sniffing around Josh rather than Redders! So, not too much difference between them currently, and I hope that both continue to develop, and cause havoc among defenders for years to come.

If Garrido did have a not reaction to a much longer game than expected, it''s essentially choose four from five for the back line. I can''t see Bennett E given a run out, as he is very inexperienced at RB. He may be tried there, but he needs cover. Cuellar will surely play. In the midfield, O''Neill will surely start. with one of Tettey and Johnson.The wide midfielders depend on his chosen shape and strategy. I think that Lafftery has probably had enough pounding down the wings, as well as trying to be a striker. Josh will probably play, because of his pace and shooting ability, as well as his ability to pick passes. Who the other wide man will be only Adams knows. Could Bennett be the other? Jerome will start, obviously, and I suspect that two strikers will be used. Who the second will be I have no idea, but I suspect that it could be Grabban, perhaps subbed later by Loza. Crawley are a useful side, having put out Ipswich in the previous round, We can''t afford to take them lightly and potentially bring an end to our present surge. The international week is coming, when players will be rested, so there may be fwe changes apart from Cuellar and Jerome.

If he wasn''t fit, it wouldn''t necessarily be a bad thing, if it means that Bennett plays, and Martin is at RB. I don''t have much faith is either Whittaker or Garrido. Both are excellent at getting forward and crossing, but both have defensive limitations, especially against pace. So to use Bennett, and play only one of Garrido and Whittaker, in my opinion doesn''t weaken the back four, and probably strengthens it.

Ryan Bennett must start, to help deal with the high balls coming frequently. Otherwise the same as started on Saturday, unless Garrido is not fully fit, in which case Whittaker to LB. The defence must maintain shape and confidence. It would be nice to score early, but the important thing is to prevent them scoring early.

With our rather ponderous and leaky defence, the question is whether we could cope with only one defensive central midfielder. Tettey and Johnson have done a good job of protection, and scored goals. I have a great respect for Howson, who is a complete footballer, but while Wes is on fire we are making and scoring plenty of goals. Adams will have selection problems, but for once of the right kind - too many good players, at least forward of the back four.

We saw him at his best last season when he converted defence-splitting passes from Fer. I doubt if he would receive any such this season, so perhaps some of his potency has gone. I have mixed feelings about him. Celtic knew how to use him very successfully. Hughton hasn''t a clue, and the Adams attack method may make it difficult to use him. Whatever happens, if he goes this week or next I suspect it will be for less than we paid.

I have often posted about Benno - he comes from the area where I now live. He is very much a confidence player, and really only approached his best after several consecutive games. Unless his injury and treatment have slowed him down, he had considerable pace, as quick as Redders, although Benno probably doesn''t dribble so much. I would say that he probably has a harder shot, and certainly defends better. Some people suggest that he would make a good RB, and few wingers would be quicker, but I wonder if he is tall enough for this? At the moment Redders has yet to learn how to cross properly, and he tends to get forward so quickly that there are relatively few Norwich players as far down the field. Both have suffered in the last two seasons from the priority given to Snodgrass, and neither has looked very convincing down the left and being naturally right footed tend to cut inside. I am not sure if Redders is a scapegoat, although a number of people are disappointed in the end product, whether cross or shot. He is so impressive in motion that the finishing does seem less good. I hope that the new coaching staff take him under their wing and help him to develop. He has enormous potential, but I fear that under Hughton he didn''t really improve very much.

We still have only three usable strikers, so if not Jerome, we need someone. It is not unknown to have two strikers out injured for a time.... Becchio seems to have ruled himself out. We have little cover in the back four. I hope that Cuellar signs. He has vast experience and should be good in the Championship. If he doesn''t sign, we need an able CB quickly. If Turner is injured, or Bennett, there is only Martin, and many are wondering whether he is good enough dealing with high balls. Time for Bassong to rejoin the club, or has he ruled himself out? Things could be dodgy at LB, with Olsson out, and Gerrido possibly injured. I have anxiety about Garrido in any case. I am not sure about any limitations on squad size in the Championship, but with some of our younger players home-produced ( two Murphy lads, Loza), There must be scope for one or two more players.

We are now awash with cash, with sales raising £20m plus, and transfers in costing much less than half of that. (And there are parachute payments of course.) I hoped that we might sign one or two very good Championship players who could develop into Premiership players when we have promotion - but we have significantly weakened our squad and reduced our prospects. It is possible with Lafferty and the rest we can become a top half team, especially if Cuellar signs, but I think that we would have to spend a little more to make the play-offs a possibility.

Yes, I was a little hurt when Adams told us yesterday that Fer was in the squad, and then this morning discover that the player is having a medical. Adams has always appeared honest, and tried to answer questions, and when he evaded answering you had the impression that he couldn''t speak about a matter. So I am left with the possibility that he lied or misled, but there is a second possibility, that he was telling the truth but overnight QPR came in with a larger bid, and the club accepted it, whatever Adams wanted. Did they even consult Adams? Did he know what was going on? I suspect that we shall hear a damage-limitation later. Whatever happens, it seems that money in their hands now was more important than retaining possibly our best player.

I think that Jerome may be more suited to the rough and Tumble of the Championship, and he is probably quicker and stronger than Ricky.Jerome is a different sot of player to be Grabban and Lafferty, so I am not unduly concerned at the signing of the new player. We have done a good loan deal for Ricky, I think, - losing his wages from the wage bill for a year and also collecting a £1m loan fee. If he does well and recovers his form, then we shall have recovered much of the fee to sign him, even if the French get to enjoy his renaissance.

A narrow win for either side, depending how many errors our defence makes, but most likely 2-2. As for the team, I would move Martin to RB abd put Bennett in as CB. The central midfield means three from Tettey, Johnson, Fer and Surman - difficult decision, and I have no idea what Adams will choose. I would have Wes behind Lafferty and Grabban.

Another one on the cheap. Where''s all the money gone? We could spend £15m to £20m and we are buying unexceptional free agents - Lafferty, O''Neil, now Cuellar. I may have to take back that description of Lafferty, - it looks like it, I''m optimistic about his contribution.

It took him some time to show what he was capable of, and the advent of Redmond didn''t help, and playing on the left was as difficult for him as it was for Redmond. He is a confidence player, and once he has had a few games, and come to trust his knee, I hope that we shall see again the effective player he was, - with pace and an ability to cross better than Redmond''s.

My own view is that he could, not necessarily will, make a useful contribution to our season, but he would be fairly short term signing, if we are promoted. In other words, I don''''t think he is premiership material. It seems that Celtic were prepared to lay out £3m, so we would not have to pay more then that. What would he offer? A pacey, athletic approach, able to put himself about and resist hulking big defenders. So he is very different from both Hooper and Lafferty, and perhaps also Grabban. Hos often he plays will depend on his own form and any injuries sustained by the strikers. That would give us four front line strikers, which is usually enough, with Loza in reserve. Perhaps they will now make efforts to get rid of Becchio, unwanted by both Hughton and Adams. The slight disappointment is that another week has gone and two weeks left, and there is no sign of the defenders we need, and a midfielder if, as seems likely, Fer goes. We must have one of the weakest back lines in the Championship, and with Olsson out for a match or two more, we could ship goals.

For me it has to be Lafferty. He mad some brilliant tackles, and shored up the left, but he was mobile enough to get forward and contribute there very well. We didn''t see it displayed against Watford, but he has a very useful free kick from around the penalty area. If Adams signs a couple of good defenders, and releases Lafferty further forward, I can see him causing havoc in opposing defences. He''s a real handful! He shows an engagingl commitment to the cause, and I can see him becoming a real favourite at CR.

They both like to get forward, and are often successful when they do, but they share a common disability. They have no real pace, and struggle with quick wingers. They are each probably quicker at back-peddling, which they do often, in place of tackling. The result is that, with Turner and Martin also a little slow, other sides have found it fairly easy to cut through our defence, or round it.

A really good goal from Johnson, and just at the right time, when hopes/commitment were being reduced. He is capable of scoring good goals, blasting, heading, and now chipping. His main problem is inconsistency, -a low proportion of goals to chances. This something which has been a problem for our team during the last seven or eight years. Even under Lambert we scored plenty of goals, but we had so many chances, and even the great Holt missed a high proportion, although those he did score were often outstanding. What is consistent about him, and in this he is second to no other player, is his thorough-going commitment. He is a defensive midfielder, helping to shield a fairly leaky defence, and yet he regularly pops up in and around opponent''s penalty areas. If many of his colleagues showed the same commitment we would do much better.

So many sold, and so few signed. Perhaps some of Hughton''s signings were poor, and some players discontented after his two seasons in charge. I find it slightly worrying that the sale of Snodgrass and Pilkington could raise approaching £10m, and so far we have signed three players for little more than £3m, including all fees - two of them were out of contract. I refuse to believe that there are not available players for the net £6m who are better than what we have, and there are also the parachute payments. I fear that the bean counters have hampered the signing of good quality players.Perhaps there is also the fear of Adams becoming a Hughton, and wasting money. Whatever the imbalance between disposals and signings, and McN pointed out the our income would halve, I hope that attempts will be made to strengthen our back line, particularly RB and CB, and that we shall sign at least one who would be able to hold his own in the Premiership! I hope that in the next two weeks my fears will be allayed, with signings, but......

Redmond doesn''t seem to have advanced in the year he has been at CR. His shooting is atrocious, his crossing still leaves much to be desired. I would defend him to some extent in that yesterday Lafferty was playing well everywhere, but seldom got into the penalty area. The consequence was that Grabban was generally on his own with five of six Watford players. At the moment I am not sure who should replace him temporally, but he certainly needs some extra training in crossing and shooting, which are the basic skills of a winger! I would drop him for a few matches while he has special coaching. The best qualified to replace him would be Josh, but he prefers the left. Jacob is arguably not quite ready, but can''t be far behind Redders. If he can quickly gain confidence again, Benno is probably the best bet. He has shown a better control of crosses, and he packs quite a good shot on him. We created some good chances yesterday, and really ought to have scored 4 or 5 altogether, and each time Redders had a shot the result was predictable - too high or too wide. So, to some extent he is a little bit of a passenger.