Fiery Zac

See Making Plans post above. I was referring to that - which, if correct, most certainly is breaking the law.

He’s 35 but yes, incredible achievement - probably his best grand slam win. Also means he has the most grand slams. Good on him. Unbelievable what he’s achieved over the years. Djokovic only has himself to blame, and will hopefully get treated as anyone else would if he has broken the law.

As decent as Sorenson and PLM looked, and we’re not talking stand out performances at all, it was against the two worst sides I’ve seen all season (and I’ve seen a lot of NCFC). That system, whether you call it 4-4-2 or 4-2-4 (it wasn’t 4-2-3-1) worked against a weak opposition, particularly in defence, that were there to be attacked. We bypassed the midfield and let our more creative players drive us forward. So the midfield 2 did the basics well enough but beyond that just got the ball forward to the attacking 4. With Liverpool and Man City coming up (and even Palace will be much more of a test), if we are brave enough to try this again, we will see a lot more emphasis on the midfield and their work rate and discipline will be vital. Against these teams that will want to play through us and pack the midfield (which Everton should’ve done, Watford were just woeful in the final third) we will get overrun. Interesting decisions to make for Smith

Sorry Josh but nothing flukey about Ziyech’s goal - pure class. When you can root one of the best keepers the PL has seen to just watching it and visibly hoping for it not to go in, and make it look like the shot is going over only for it to dip literally into the top corner, then that’s one truly special goal. Goal of the week…there won’t be many better goals all season.

Whatever Dean Smith was referring to in terms of tweaks, I can absolutely 100% guarantee he will not be leaving Pukki out of the starting 11.

Yes we really were playing 4-4-2, Smith even alluded to that in his post match comments, about giving up possession in midfield. It’s also clear on the match heat maps and average player positions. The ‘wide’ players (Rashica and Sargent) were playing quite narrow but Pukki and Idah were definitely a strike partnership. Yes Pukki did some tracking back (though nothing like he did vs Everton) but in any decent 4-4-2 that will happen. I don’t see it as a formation that will last for us, but against certain opposition it will work.

And he summed up what the difference has been in the last couple of weeks… getting some players back fit call it excuses or whatever you like but that Xmas period we were decimated by injuries/illness. Maybe we weren’t playing the game others did by getting their matches postponed but with a squad such as ours, having players out is a massive impact. Started well and has a clear plan to utilise the squad he has. I hate to say it but he is a clear improvement on Farke in the PL. Has given us a fighting chance of staying up.

They were all correct decisions though. NEVER a foul by Pukki, Samir already going down, clearly try to con the referee and didn’t get away with it. It was actually some decent, CONSISTENT refereeing on display last night. Williams and some others from both sides tried to fool Mike Dean and he didn’t fall for it. Well played ref. Rashica wasn’t offside, end of. Sending off was obvious. Clear first yellow and when on a yellow don’t make a stupid late challenge, particularly one that’s late on a player who has clearly played the ball and then gets caught with their leg raised giving him the opportunity to make it look nasty. Clear second yellow. Sissoko was offside, end of. So it wasn’t that we ‘got’ the VAR decisions, it’s that we got the correct decisions. Officiating that was fair, consistent and correct

Before tonight, the bottom 3 had won 5 games between them all season. Its going to be very tough undoubtedly and I don’t think anyone disagrees, but we’ve given ourselves a chance now. Got the pivotal results needed, confidence will be back (particularly for Sargent), some key players on the way back and some very winnable home fixtures between now and the end of the season. Perspective indeed.

Yesssssssss

WOW

Wow he was so determined today, so focused and really got stuck in to everything. Never seen a player come off the pitch with so much passion and aggression still in them. It was inspiring and shows there is still so much belief and determination in the squad. And he’s only on loan. Great game and, along with Idah, MOTM

VAR is used to overturn ‘clear and obvious errors’. On field, Mr ‘man of the moment’ Oliver gave the goal so saw no foul or infringement in the build up. Was it a clear and obvious foul? Compared to every other game and numerous other similar incidents (Pukki on Sunday), it could be argued either way. Therefore the original decision was not a clear and obvious error. Was Cavani going to get anywhere near the ball had he not been ‘fouled’? Does the 3 and a half minutes it took to make a decision indicate it was clearly an error in the original decision?

Don’t know if it happened more than once but he reacted angrily to some home fans when conceding a throw. Fans were shouting for him to get in the game, be stronger, quicker (fair critisism of him last night imo) and he was very unhappy. This was literally just before being subbed off so may have been part of the reason he then went straight down the tunnel.

No, can’t agree with that at all. Exciting yes, reckless yes and lacking in race and championship experience. He also had the best car for the majority of the season and couldn’t get the title won. The fair winner of that final race would rightly be deserving of the championship…but that simply wasn’t Verstappen, in any sense other than the made up nonsense and controversy the sport now finds itself in. Mercedes and Hamiltons resurgence in the final races was outstanding and he fully deserved the championship win. Hopefully he will be rightly awarded it and become the undisputed greatest driver in F1 history. Unfortunately I don’t remember pre Senna F1 but arguments about Schumacher are weak imo. Hamilton is the calmest, cleverest and simply fastest driver I’ve ever seen.

Verstappen was second best all race, that was not his race to win. Hamilton had it spot on and managed the whole race perfectly. Crashes happen and it gave Verstappen a sliver of an opportunity by getting fresh tyres and having a go at flying through the pack and attacking Hamiltons old tyres with one or two corners to go, maybe. Follow their own rules on reformation after safety car and fine, great, let’s get some excitement. But no, one ludicrous decision by the body supposedly running the ‘sport’ allows a driver outclassed on the day to, not only win the race but decide the whole championship. If by following their own rules, the race would’ve ended behind the safety car then so be it, thems the rules. Choosing entertainment and clickbait controversy over the correct outcome has now diminished the sport and makes me question if I’ll ever be that bothered to watch it again (not that they care, the world is talking about it, and will continue to watch). Hamilton, Verstappen, the fans, F1 and sporting integrity deserved better. A shameful end to what was a very entertaining season.

Exactly, wtf was that about? Well it’s simple…if they followed the rules they set up it would’ve taken past the checked flag to have the grid back in the right order. Can’t have that in these days of entertainment above all else. Think/say what you like about Hamilton but he followed the rules and ran a race to win, and win comfortably he would have. Red Bull gambled as they had to to have any chance and then the governing body of the sport decided to hand the title to them

FIA making up the rules as they go along. Dramatic ending, controversy…just clickbait. Sporting integrity…nope, that’s gone across so many sports unfortunately

I sit behind the away dugout and get a few fans come over at the end to grab anything from anyone. Doesn’t usually work though. Today will be a lot worse. Ugh

Used to sit next to David Moyes at Carrow Rd. Haven’t seen him this season - too busy down in London

VAR showing in one game the great benefit to it and then the absolute farce. First goal rightly given, players need to stop trying to con the referee and VAR. Far far too many times, even with VAR there are decisions not given that are blatant cheating/penalties etc. only this week, Rondon had his shirt virtually ripped off his back - no on field decision, no VAR. Was clear as day live and even more so on replay. If the bar is set that high for contact in the box (or anywhere on the pitch) then there needs to be consistency…which nicely brings up the next incident… The penalty decision was farcical. How many times are we going to hear that VAR is for clear and obvious errors only for this basic rule to be completely ignored. The referee clearly saw the incident and felt it wasn’t a penalty. We’ve also been told that referees have been told to be more lenient with challenges and not all contact is a foul. The fact there is a strong case for Fred deliberately trying to win the penalty should be more than enough doubt for VAR to contemplate overturning the on field decision. But no, we get the pathetic ‘go and have a look at the monitor’ which just pressurises the referee into overturning his decision - even when there isn’t enough evidence to overturn their original decision. If Atkinson had originally given the pen, then fair enough, stick with the decision. But he saw it and decided no. Is there enough evidence to say he got it wrong?

Rashica was NOT signed as an Emi replacement. He’s a completely different style of player. The lazy comparisons from fans and pundits just shows the lack of understanding. Also, Rashica is a fantastic signing.

We were the better team and should have scored at least one. Quicker to press, stronger in the tackle and in game tactical changes that have so far made a significant difference under Smith. Players look revitalised. Pukki has support and just looks more interested, Rashica becoming the player we all wanted him to be, McLean and Rupp solid full of running and Gilmour (who looked better once Normann went off) showing confidence given to him by a new manager and starting to control the tempo of our attacks. We were good in possession and quick to close down when out of it. More direct in play but it suited us and was effective. We were generally higher up the pitch so longer balls, if not controlled straight away, were often attacked on second phase. Disappointment for me was not taking one of the chances we had, and we really need to be more clinical to stay up. Early days under Smith still and we didn’t lose the game (and never looked like doing so). The other concern is Hanleys continued lapses in concentration. We got away with it today (and last week) but surely his place is under question with an able replacement in Omobamidele ready and waiting. The overriding feeling for me from yesterday is that we now look like a PL team, and one that is good enough to stay up. It’s still an almighty task to survive but action has been taken to give us a chance and early signs under new management are very promising.

I don’t agree with that 11, but Rashica on the left is his best position. So much better in the second half last week when he was moved over.

Or going to be one of our greatest ever signings once we’ve stayed up