Pyro Pete

There is no need to panic. A win against WBA in a fortnight and we will rocket up the table. Look at the the fixture list for two weeks time: Birmingham v Man Utd Blackburn v Middlesbrough Bolton v Crystal Palace Everton v Southampton Fulham v Liverpool West Brom v Norwich Man City v Chelsea Portsmouth v Tottenham Man City are in 12th place on 8 points. Will they beat Chelsea? Doubt it. Portsmouth to beat in form Spurs? Nope. Southampton take out 3rd place Everton? Not a chance. Will Birmigham halt the Man Utd revival? Can''t see it myself. Fulham defeat Liverpool? Unlikely. Palace to beat Bolton at the Reebok? No. So we can be off the bottom at the first available opportunity. BUT, we need is to start winning. So would the real Norwich City please stand up.

Are you sure you were watching the same game as me?I thought he was anonymous, yet again. Just like against Palace. Just like against Man Utd.How many times did our million pound winger go past their full back? I can''t recall a single occasion. How many killer crosses? None. Shots on goal? Let''s not forget his defensive contribution. Who was that man giving the Portsmouth player all the time in the world before he blasts a swerving shot at Green that lead to the first goal? Oh yes, it''s good old Jonson.I hope he does improve, otherwise it will be a very long season.

It''s hard to be disappointed when the team showed such spirit to get back into the game, and then looked to win it.I was surprised McKenzie didn''t get on the score sheet today. How he didn''t get on the end of that ball Hucks played straight across their six yard area I''ll never know. But still a really positive, high energy display from him.By the way, do I receive a Pink''un tie now that I''ve reached 200 posts?

Holt''s second half attacking display deserves recognition.But defensively the guy is out of his depth in this league and we all know it.

We can''t afford the fee, the wages, didadidadida...

[quote]Good music, but he''s still got a dodgy mullet.[/quote] Well quite

So what will saturdays team performance be like in D-day terms? Like the american first wave, and get absolutely slaughtered? Or like the some of the subsequent British landings, and stroll it easy as you like?With our lack of height at the back perhaps Greeno should shout "Incoming!" whenever a cross is delivered.For my part, I think they''re all bally heroes! But remember, whatever the result, stiff upper lip chaps.

[quote]I was at the forum last night and had to say how embarrassing some of the questions are, and quite unfair to expect the players to respond :[/quote] I''ve never been to this sort of thing. What embarrasing questions were asked?

westoncanary - That doesn''t surprise me sadly. Everyone who saw MOTD thought it was the worst challenge of the season so far, except the Liverpool fans I know who said Hamann didn''t mean it. Makes you wonder about some clubs doesn''t it. But did you see the Liverpool players reaction on the replay though? The city players looked understandably outraged at Hamann, while the Liverpool players defended him trying to start a fight. Carragher is seen at the back waving his fists around!

I watched the Portsmouth v Everton game yesterday on telly. Portsmouth look a reasonable, slightly workmanlike side. Everton won by getting tight to their midfield, giving them no time and space to play in to their strikers. That, and an iffy free-kick decision which led to the winning goal.The lesson for this saturday? Press the ball in midfield and be nice to the ref.

Don''t be so melodramatic Gorleston Jim. I certainly have not called for Worthington''s head. Apart from the Palace game, I think Worthy has done well results-wise. But as a fan I do have the right to question the manager, players, and the board. I shall be asking myself some thoroughly searching questions later on believe you me.Leeds Yellow said "Brilliant Pyro Pete! The going gets tough so let''s question the manager''s ability"Well, my point is simply that if Worthington and us fans can question the players'' ability - and we have - then it''s perfectly reasonable for us to question the manager''s ability as well. That''s all. There is nothing "mindless" in questioning tactics, team selection and our lack of a second decent striker. That''s what fans who care about their club do. I am looking for Worthington and the players to succeed. But he needs to learn quickly from his mistakes if we are to survive in this league.

But is it really the just the players who are struggling to compete at this level? Todays comments shows Worthy knows only too well that if in next month''s games his players don''t perform, then it''s he who will get the axe before too long. I do worry about Worthington sometimes. Everyone at the Bristol Rovers match saw what a shambles the team was by playing in that diamond formation. Holt, as a left winger desperately trying (& failing) to put in crosses. Francis, unsure what his job was on the right of midfield. Safri passing it around neatly, but without proper wide men making runs for him to find, playing him is utterly pointless. Doc looking like a defender up front - anyone could have scored that one-on-one yet he missed. Meanwhile Hucks looks on wondering what he has done to deserve this. So great idea to play the same line-up & formation away against one of the best teams in the Premiership. Great management there Worthington. Ok, I expected us to lose against the teams we have done. But now our season really begins and we will be asking "Is Worthington a good enough manager to keep us up?". I hope he is.

The diamond turned out to be more of a cubic zirconia. Utterly worthless.

Cheers Vince. No surprises in the line-up then. Glad to see Fleming is fit.

I doubt it. If Fleming isn''t fit I''m sure Doc will go into the defence. But I got the impression that last tuesday''s match was treated as a practice session for today''s game at Anfield. So Doc will probably stay up front, leaving Worthy deciding whether to play McVeigh or Bentley in the attacking midfield role. Any news on McKenzie''s availability?

[quote]Agree with the last post, feel that Damian is a bit lost in the diamond formation - I think we can only play 2 from Francis, Safri and Holt[/quote] I have to agree that the diamond formation leaves Francis unsure whether to push forward or stay back. He''s normally an energetic box to box midfielder. But playing Safri in front of the defence and Bentley behind the front two cramps his style.Holt also looks out of sorts out on the left flank, where his crosses are understandably awful. He is no winger.

A good attendance. Based on that performance I bet there won''t be the next round though. "Fool me once..." etc. At least the kids were getting into it, sort of. There were two very funny little''uns sitting behind me who moaned and moaned at the players, and Worthington''s tactics and negative team selection all game as if they were seasoned City Stand supporters. Very impressive. They ended the night chanting "Bottom of the league, We''re not having a laugh!", until the dad informed them we were third from bottom.

Great photo''s fool. I sit right next to the infill in the Jarrold Stand, the draft is terrible so I can''t wait for it to be completed. What they have seem to have done is:Make the lower tier of the infill the same staggered gradient as the Jarrold Stand, but the same depth as the lower tier of the River End. Meanwhile, the upper tier of the infill is the not as deep as the upper part of the River End - it stops about half way back. But again, the infill seems to match the gradient of the upper part of the Jarrold Stand so views won''t be obstructed. Apart from those awful pillars of course.Between the two tiers I assume they will put in a layer of corporate boxes like the River End has.

We scored, kept a clean sheet and recorded out first win of the season. Hurrah!Apart from that, it was rubbish.

This is more like it. People saying what they think, rather than the namby-pamby "let''s just enjoy it" brigade. Yes, on paper Villa who finished 7th would have been expecting to win. But who thought after watching 20 minutes that they were really any good? I disagree that Safri isn''t performing. I think two of his bookings were very harsh, and his early substitutions are down to lack of match fitness that have left him tiring in the last 15 mins. His passing is what we have been lacking from a defensive midfielder, and with Francis in front of him our central pairing should have enough bite. But who has Safri got to pass it to? With Holt sitting in front of Drury all game, David "I''ll shoot from anywhere" Bentley unable to pass the ball, and Doc playing like a central defender up front we''re not going to score many goals. It''s Hucks or nothing. I found myself in the odd position of cheering whenever Edworthy or Drury got the ball because they ploughed forward and actually passed it to Hucks in the final third! Worthy has shown he can get own lot to defend well. Which should take care of those vital single away points very nicely and is a solid platform to build on. But at home we need to take the initiative. Now is the time to see if McVeigh, McKenzie, Henderson and others can make a contribution. Because if they can''t we really have run out of options.

But Worthington has spent a million on one player. And what has that million pound man done so far? Sweet FA. Every time I see Hucks beat several players then look up to see he has no-one to pass to I keep asking why didn''t we buy another stiker in the summer? Then I am reminded of that cool one million quid sitting in Brondby''s bank account not ours.

I want to add that I thought Fleming was superb yesterday. I''ve been a bit critical of the way he''s been caught out of position in previous games. But against Villa yesterday he was rock solid. My perspective of yesterday''s match was from the exposed end of the Jarrold Stand next to the infill building site. We got utterly soaked in the rain - which makes a change from the opening day when I got sun burnt. Hope they get that infill finished sharpish. It looks good too.

I came to yesterday''s game expecting Aston Villa to be a quality side. But after 20 minutes or so it was obvious that they are no better than a good Division One team and were there for the taking.What a shame then that Worthy was so negative in his tactics and team selection. Four defenders, three defensive midfielders, and a centre half up front. Leaving only Hucks & Bentley as our only real creative attacking players. Fine in away games when a point is a good result, but not at home.Like many others, I am realising that last years players really are good enough to match and beat Premier league teams. Edworthy has won his place back and is looking just fine. McVeigh should now oust Bentley. McKenzie should replace Doherty.Worthy needs to show some faith in the players that got him promoted.

So what did everyone think of Bentley''s performance against Villa today?I find him an infuriating player. One minute he is giving the ball away left, right and centre. Then the next minute he puts a couple of great shots just past the post. His nickname should be Mr Inconsistent.For me McVeigh looked much better than Bentley when he came on. Time for Bentley to start delivering or join the reserves.

I''m glad Phil Mulryne has been making himself useful.