smooth

We look out of sorts. We have not seen slick passing, control of a game all season and I dont think we have found our rhythm or the cohesion we thought we would have. Right now looks like a lot of individuals rather than team in attack. The link and movement is not there. Kenny made a big mistake today, 2 mins after half time you dont do that. We need to raise our game and show we can get back in to a game. I have been waiting for a reaction from poor performances in recent games but still waiting for it.

But with Marco his goal threat and performances at the cutting edge side of things have not moved on since our promotion season. Sometime players have that season when they play at 10% above their ability level and I am not saying that was the case but no doubt it was Marcos best season of his career. I agree when he came back in he does link up with Pukki brilliantly, but I also think we are looking back at that promotion season. It is a tough position for us to fill at the moment and I believe Dowell is the player that we want to be the starter, so hopefully he can be injury free and have a good run through the next few months. At the moment however we need a player to rise and give that little extra to get us over the winning line. It is grueling this season with short weeks and also many issues for players with families and friends during this crazy time for us all across the globe. But we now need to find that spark again, a moment of genius or a player or 2 playing at a high level which carries us for a couple of games gain 3 points.

Never should have been sent off, there were a few highlights of him tacking in our box. That was the problem, I dont want him tackling, Aaron's was pushed backed and our threat was diminished. Vrancic had that chance in the first half and I wish we had taken it. We will play well without Buendia but we need players to genuinely step up. Today they did not.

Pukki is number 1 Idah was number 2, pace, strength and had worked with our creative players previously. Once he is fit he will be on the subs bench as farke likes to keep pukki on and have Idah coming in from the left. I can see why, the style of play does not change too much and Idah can do a lot and improve greatly. He is good enough for the championship and if we are playing dominant he will gain more confidence. Hugill relies on the group slightly differently, we are beginning to see him settle but I would also say that Idah is the likely change as he can fit into the technical style we play. So I would say Hugill and Idah are equally 2nd choice and it depends on who we are playing. Hugill will start if pukki is out, but Idah is likely to be the first striker to come off the bench if pukki starts or remains on the pitch. Either way 3 good strikers. I think soto will be a really exciting prospect, what technique, intelligence, awareness and ability. He looks very, very promising.

Fantastic business I would say. Gibson is looking very, very good. Reads the game well and is a leader. Clearly our number 1 centre half. Giannoulis looks astute, strong, intelligent and creative. Again his game looks assured. I think if settled we could see a very strong player on our books.

Capt. Pants I would say he looks a very intelligent left back from the videos I have seen. Of course they are highlights but it shows he has a range of crosses, picks out players, has good reactionary control and looks assured. I like a tackling full back too and if a deal is close I would say with him and Gibson on the left side of our defence till ths end of the season would five us a great chance of going up. Quintilla looks decent in the early outings, but there is a step up here. Obviously we do not know the full story with Xavi but if something is amiss this speculation is looking at a player who can upgrade that position. I think it is, if it goes through, a good signing of intent for what we want to achieve this season with ambitions to play in the premier league.

100% I have family members in teaching and totally concur.

Exactly, if he continues in this form then that is really impressive. I do think Rupp has pushed him to be better and again that is a great tussle for the starting berth for the remainder of this season. But as with all players you have to perform each week to rightly be in the first 11 and the teams performance also has to be good. So it is a good position to be in, but we certainly have options this year in that area and certainly if we go up we will increase the quality in this area as we know the level up is extremely high

I will happily see McLean show his worth at the moment, he has stepped up and after some showings where he is out of position or poor in possession, he is looking better. Rupp was looking good with Skipp and so a nice one for farke to watch, I would have no problem if rupp is looking better in training to be reintroduce as no position is safe. You have to perform in training and on game day. I quite like rupp showing us a bit of what he can do and hope he can up his game to make McLean up his game. But for those who think McLean is a starter in the premier league if we go up. I highly doubt that, we would need an improvement.

I agree a lot with the OP what I will add is that when we came up we did have Hernandez and buendia as the support behind pukki. This meant a technical player keen to come inside and a fast, energetic player used to challenging a full back in the outside. It meant that when they switched or throughout the game the defence had to be aware of both types of attack. I do wonder if once fully fit we will move back to pace and technical on either side rather than 2 technical players. We need goals from all over the pitch, so I hope we begin to see more names on the scoresheet and I agree be more greedy as it will certainly make oppositions drop if they go 1 or 2 goals behind. We do not want to look fragile with a 1-0 lead

It gives farke a time to bring in the changes we all thought should be in for qpr Zimmerman is needed to move aside for Gibson Quintilla and rupp are certainly are in line for a start. Disappointed with the qpr performance and a step up is needed. We need to show our intent of being a team working for automatic promotion and staying in these spots. The team know they can step up and now is a good time to start another unbeaten run but you cannot go without 3 points for a number of games now.

I agree because I would say that it means the next game is a must win Why? Because you need to show tour credentials and dominance if you want to go up. So if we do not win tonight we need to react with urgency, but today I expect a win and I expect the reaction. That is what top teams do and i hope we want to be that team

100% the best thing is to react from a loss is to get a win however you do it. We need to be hungry, greedy and eager to win every ball, we will tonight if we want it more than QPR. I hope that if we show that and get the win we will then see that throughout the season. A draw is ok, but prove our credentials with a win

I think that is it. Hugill will go further down the pecking order. Idah would go further down the pecking order. If we go up we need to do that so if an opportunity comes for the right striker in Jan then I would look. It is more likely we stick with these 3 but I would argue that Hugill needs to show that he is worthy of being the second striker. If he continues in this way and we go up then I would be worried that we do not have the right fire power. So Hugill now needs to step up and Idah will also need to show his worth once back. Simply put both need to score goals.

King I understand the thoughts on a striker, but I do think we entered the season light here and should have had 4. Idah is not just promising, he is becoming a threat to many in this division and a long run out will get him on ths scoring charts. Hugill, needs to show his style and make an impact for defences to worry about him and for our group to play to his strengths. I understand the point on spending cash on strikers but I also know that if we do go up we will need another striker who is more potent than Hugill and we will need to purchase or loan one who will truly challenge Pukki. Yes it is an investment in a striker but they score the goals to get you promoted or stay up. We have invested in Hugill but in the football world we are in it is not an extravagant figure and it is a position where you need to start getting goals quick. Otherwise you can become like Becchio. In other promotion seasons we have bought in a player or players who have added to the group or have shown a little intent to gain promotion. We have exceptional players in our squad and first team but if one is available and we believe a deal can be done then go for it.

I think Hugill needs to show his hand a bit once on the field. I feel we try and play the same way which means the confidence of others may not be with his style. But having seen his goals last season they aren't all headers so he should be able to be a threat. But so far he has not looked like a player who is pushing pukki, let's not forget Idah has come on ahead of him and I will say Idah is a striker with many more attributes but still learning. I agree with many comments that a poacher is needed, someone who is greedy takes the right shot. I am glad other said that Hugill should have squared the ball yesterday for Skipp to take a shot rather than him after retrieving a corner. Goals win games and I think another striker will make ths league be aware that we are wanting a player we believe will score to take us up and then be up there for ths premier league challenge. Not sure Hugill looks like he is showing that he is ready to step up

Watford in the 2nd half did what many premier league clubs did last year. Use athleticism, strength and desire to win out the battles. If Watfors produce that level of performance they will be rushing up the table. I would like an addition as I think it gives you some added energy and belief to the team. I think a 2nd striker is needed if Pukki got injured I really feel we miss a sharp shooter of a forward. There are a few positions we could improve, a centre half with pace, strength to play alongside Gibson. Aaron's, Quintilla, Byram and good enough with Mumba and Sorenson for now. I agree in ths centre of midfield if we go up, we will need that influence, as we have for so many years. We have creativity but we need finishers. I know Idah is going to be a good one but we need that finisher now. We need to just begin to turn the screw and show a bit more of ths confidence we have with goals. Reaction needed at QPR and then again I hope we are looking to add in January. We need to get over the line kn this league and gain promotion so another striker will help. Hugill I think is an interesting prospect but has not really shown any signs of cohesion yet. He does need chances but he needs to make an impression when he comes on. So far he hasn't changed the game and made his footprint on the performance yet.

Sport is just such a joyous and irreplaceable environment for shivers, ecstasy, tears, frustrations and moments that you can remember the smells, sounds and visuals. Without it is not even worth thinking about. I have to say the last time I felt the real magic was the spurs away cup game last season and the man city home game had an energy. The energy at the man city home game and release of adoration for the players who were on the pitch was truly emotional. Man City did not know what they were walking out to, our players had everyone of us on the pitch with them. Forget 12th man, it was like every NCFC fan with them, knowing the injury crisis had left us with true bare bones. It was that game which emotionally showee me why I am a sports fan, a Norwich fan and how it can give you the highest of highs

Oh so many, late goals, wonder goals, goals clinching promotion, goals that bring tears of joy and a new energy around the ground. As a young boy 1992-93 season home game against chelsea Dave Phillip's long range effort and then mark robins deft volley lob over beasant from about 18 yards out. That showed a level of class about a number of players there and then even polstons goal against villa at home. Huckervys goal against Cardiff and a few others similar will stay with me Many above will also stick. So incredibly difficult. One thing which is a very strange thing to remember from a football game is the best pre game training I saw in front of a full Barclays. The whole nottingham forest team were leaving the field, leaving pierre van hoojdonk and a couple of balls. He set up about 25 yards out and pinged everyone top corner. Real sign that he was ready and that he was in confident form. One thing I will also add I will also appreciate a worldly from the opposition and I do recall playing wimbledon in a cup game and a fantastic long strike against us. I think it is always an amazing reaction around a football ground when all 4 stands applaud a goal

I would agree with centre forward need. Idah is getting an understanding with our creative players. But we need a senior striker who can read situations quickly from our creative players. I also think we will dowell be more influential, same with lungi , Quintillas delivery will help. Quite like both reading forwards actually, but know we will be looking far and wide too.

Is Rupp back? It would be great to have him and Skipp start today if he is ready. They have forged a partnership and I think McLean is ideal to come on to close out a game. However his opportunities may be limited if xavi is coming back then Sorenson will be fighting, rightly so, to play that central midfield role.

With the mentality and troubled injury history of last year looking like a distant memory it is great to see grit, determination and the ability to play out wins. It's not perfect, injuries still have effected us, not having a striker for a few games etc. However even with players such as McGovern or Zimmerman coming in, filling holes when krul and gibson will likely take their positions back is fantastic. Last night kenny went through a rough patch in the second half, with bad positioning, 4 consecutive misplaced passes and then he managed to shake it off as a group we helped each other and got stronger to quash a period of sustained pressure by Reading. I like that there is still learning and areas we can improve on, not just in cohesion and play but with more grit and strength. But we are building characteristics that we are more than a threat from different areas of the pitch for a whole 90+ mins. We are showing defensive resilience and that is growing. We are not naive and playing with a knowing of how to win or position ourselves when pressure is in. Hanley was superb yesterday with his body positioning and challenging the forwards in advanced positions. Great to get Dowell and Cantwell playing time and it looked a cut above alongside buendia and pukki. Long may it continue.

Ged, I 100% agree that Lungi in central midfield is a must and I agree that as you note that CDM position is so valuable in the prem that if this seasons goes as well as it does, we need to get that position right and I so hope we have learnt from last year on that one. So I would agree we need Skipp to get settled happy and if we think the conversation means he may be here next season great, we do need to try Lungi there, no question. He is looking like a very able player and in his natural position will shine this season and for more to come, of which I have no doubt. But it is a position we do need to look at if we are on track to go up. So I see the arguments for bringing McCallum back, but I think his development is going well at Coventry. He will be a better player for it and it seems that there has been noise recently in our media that this position is being looked at. I would be happy bringing someone in to fight with Xavi, if he comes back; or to add that experience in a starting position allowing Lungi to play more in the middle. I do think we need a senior play in that position as we get close to the run in after January so it will be interesting to see what happens. Hopefully our form continues now and we get more cohesion, players back and each one carries a bit more load. We have a na excellent chance of keeping momentum going.

I think that is it and if we go up we need senior or experience along with youth. So a few more additions of senior players will help our young players who have played in the prem and we are better prepared. We do not want to players to be earmarked as a weakness early if we go up with little experience. I think we are hoping Xavi comes back or we can loan another experienced player in that position. Let's hope in January we are in a position where we can be thinking of promotion and getting in a player or two to help ahead of the summer recruitment I think McCallum will be part of the first team squad, but to have him as starter next season if we go up may be too soon. But again let's see his development is still going very very well. Maybe he will be ready, but if anything farke and group are ready to understand what they need next season if we go up, after seeing last seasons performances etc.

Quintilla was putting in some really good deliveries early doors from corners and we really needed to challenge them. I remember the chants and anticipation from corners. But we have never had too much of a regular threat from these types of set pieces. Would love a centre half to score 4 or 5 thumping headers in a season. Maybe against Reading it may be the night!