Mason 47

Just such a strange team, we are. Well and truly in control and looking decent but absolutely adamant to get Watford back into the game. Who, Kone apart, seem to me to be utterly rubbish. 3 points is a must here.

For me it's more the lack of Nunez. He's become quite involved in our better performances recently, not least v Coventry where everything seemed to click. I thought we had one eye on tonight with the selection at QPR but seemingly all roads lead to Barnes.

I'm not generally a negative poster but I see no good coming out of that lineup. Let's hope I have poor taste.

In fairness RE Aboh, I'm not sure anyone is suggesting he goes straight into a starting place. Fasi seems to have the shirt at the moment with Hernandez regularly brought on. However given diminished options with Rowes injury and Springett + Plachetas departure, it would seem an ideal time to get Aboh, Welch or Myles on the bench and minutes if appropriate. Wouldn't it be great to see a new academy prospect get on the pitch at 2-0 up tonight?

He walked off and back around to the tunnel unassisted, can't think he would have done so if it was a bad enough tear to put him out for months. Be a shame if it is the case, though.

What else do we expect him to say...?

I believe there is an option if promoted, but from what I remember there was a general agreement amongst those in the know that it was probably out of financial reach for Dusseldorf regardless. Tbh I'm long since over Tzolis. He probably wasn't handled properly early on, but certainly his mouthpiece on Twitter has been very vocal in the past 18 months. First it was unfair that he wasn't being played; he then got minutes but they were on the wrong wing. Then he played on that wing, but now wanted to play centrally. Then there was offence that he was expected to do defensive running 'like a centre mid'. Doesn't sound at all like he wants to be at Norwich, and thats actually fine by me. Get a decent price and move on.

I must admit I felt frustrated when I saw the lineup yesterday, as I thought the Coventry lineup + subs pretty much nailed it (Rowe injury aside). To go back into Standby Mode for QPR and spend the first half as relative spectators is really disappointing. To then claw our way back in before inexplicably hitting the reset button in the second half, well, I've posted enough about that elsewhere. I've yet to see 'Barnes lone striker' offer anything worth having. He's got his uses but that certainly isn't one.

I'm not sure I'll be 100% right but, by my thoughts, going to Barnes lone striker meant that their back line could push up as there was no longer any real threat in behind. The ball wouldn't stick with AB nor Sara who moved up to support meaning the play was almost entirely in our half and out of our hands. Less decisive but also meaningful, Stacey's departure for a much slower player meant Chair and Paal (who I was impressed by) could push up without fear of being exposed. Stacey is a key outlet for us, often playing as high as his winger as he has the pace to get back. This is also why I think Rowe was generally anonymous. So the subs were not directly responsible however gave QPR the opportunity to play a lot higher than we had allowed in the 2nd half up until that point. As we know with this Norwich side, pressure will find holes. The subs are not a hanging offence by any means, but they do seem to occur in ignorance of the game state.

I do think it's one of Giannoulis' worse traits- he likes to wait and nick the ball off people using his speed, rarely goes to 'win' the ball. Kenny is there too, mind, and it looks like they're both waiting for Borja to get back to close the player down.

In fairness, I'm not sure there's many implying that we should be battering QPR by default. Certainly in my case, I probably would have been happy enough with a point before the game. I was dismayed at how flat we were in the first half, overjoyed with how the players stuck in and got themselves in front, then back to dismay as we made tactical choices that allowed QPR back into it. Directly following the subs we were so passive that the goal felt a bit inevitable. I think it's reasonable to be frustrated that we just took the boot off the neck.

It's not so much the literal subs I have an issue with, it's the intangibles. We were on top, just gone ahead and had the momentum; going to Barnes lone striker and Lungi in at RB flicked a switch and turned us utterly passive until the equaliser. We had 3 players around the crosser and he had so much time to deliver, case and point. I accept there were reasons that players had to come off, but the way we just ceded the momentum in the game was barmy IMO.

Really poor half from us. QPR not better, just a goal ahead. Would say in hindsight it was a mistake to go back to Barnes after looking good in the previous game without. AB himself has actually done fine, it's just the stark contrast in performance from last time out and that's the only meaningful change. At least we know we have players on the bench that can change it up

Hanley straight swap for Duffy and I would start McCallum, who I think took his chance when Dimi was out and has played his way in. Rowe back in for Fassnacht, the latter didn't do much wrong but if JR is fit, he plays. Sainz - Sargent - Rowe is a very exciting prospect. Feel like Wagner may start Barnes though, which would mean Nunez on the bench.

Game of opinions I guess. To me, MK Dons and Swansea were reasonably-placed teams that he took to reasonably-placed heights with a bit of added playing style. He's gone to a squad that should be top 3 and that's how they're playing- I wouldn't put them at the level of a Burnley or a Farke Norwich. I'm not saying he isn't a good manager. I'm just saying I think he's where he is, currently, based on style points and good press. 6/10 in his managerial career so far, if we're doing numerical assessment. Be interesting if they stick with him when we go up at their expense 😉

The Southampton squad should be top 3 in this league with any decent manager. I look at his appointments beforehand, and it seems he struggles to make a really impactful system without top operators. As most have said, if they get promoted they will no longer be top operators and instead will likely be amongst the weakest 5-or-so squads in the league. That would be the real gauge of where he is at as a manager.

To me this window was the start of a greater transfer plan, the majority of which will happen in summer. In this sense I don't think it was bad at all.

I'd change red cards. In the case of a red, the offended-against teams manager chooses between either the player coming off or taking a penalty (regardless of where it happens on the pitch). In the same vein, I'd bin off in-play penalties.

If used as a tool to help the on-field officials rather than replace them, I'm all for it. I always thought VAR was only to intervene if there was a very clearly incorrect decision. The second they started looking at offsides as a matter of centimetres, they went the wrong way with it

Great watch, that. Can say anything else about this group but they definitely all want to pull in the same direction. Head coach to boot.

I don't think there really is anything to prevent such a thing from a private party. I know one of our in his 70s that was sat in with the home fans at Portman Rd. However, non-private corporate tickets at auction is begging for mischief. Potential PR disaster very much cut off at the root IMO.

I still maintain that, although asking for trouble, the throw-in from Stacey isn't that bad. McLeans decision to try and get just anything on it & put it back into traffic, and the 2 CBs not giving him the call to let it come across his body, equally culpable. We then have Duffy getting sent for Cromer crab before the goal (and exactly the same minutes later, Angus bailing us out big-time). So yes, silly decision by Stacey, but very much a collective failing. Celebration was worse though.

I understand it's for charity but that's absolutely the right call. Such a huge margin for things going tips-ut.

Stacey has better weapons but Max is the better player. JS is better in the air, too, but incredibly prone to ball watching and switching off to a player lurking in behind.

I have a feeling we'll make it in now, against my other instincts. As to the rest, I'd actually say it doesn't really matter. One of Leeds or Southampton, Ipswich, Norwich and then whoever. Whichever of that initial pair will be favourites, probably rightly so.