Baracouda

Bassong''s current form, we was shaky at the start of the villa game... and thought we looked much more settled when Bennett came on, and this has carried into the Stoke match. Nevertheless, what a great situation to be in, discussing 3 CB''s on the merit of their performances, as opposed to 3 struggling CB''s. We also forget that Martin has came in done ok at CB.

Be an incredibly bad mvoe for Poyet imo. Whilst I havent seen to much of what Di canio brought into at Sunderland, but there is some serious question marks over his transfers. (Out... Brambe, Elmohamady, Graham, Kigallon, Mignolet, McClean, N''Diaye, Sessegnon) (In Altidore, El-Hadji Ba, Borini, Cabral, Celustka, Dossena, Diakite, Giaccherini, M''rg Karlsson, Sung-yueng, Mannone, Mavrias, Roberge, Watmore ) U would argue that... Larsson, Fletcher, Johnson, as only three capable of getting in to most sides.

I understand Jimmy... but Chrissy did ok with Redmond at birmingham, and ok he got introduced before Chrissy joined so your never know if he would have started playing him at 17/18.

Djc i agree... Not sure what Chrissy is meant to say... he''s the next messi, he should be in the England squad.... I just hope he''s done enough to force himself onto the bench and maybe the odd sub appearance, would work quite well Redmond 60/70 mins, and then the pace of Murphy.

Have to take the positives out of this... The likes of Murphy and hopefully a few fringe players, can really show their wares and start to force themselves on to the bench, if they havent already done so. You just don''t know, maybe one good game for someone on the fringe, and next he''s first team regular. Nevertheless, great opportunity for the team, and just hope someone takes it to start knocking on the door.

To be fair to Hughton, he''s recognised that the last few weeks we have been poor with the ball particularly when Johnson/Tettey played together. He wanted to see what Howson/Fer arguably the two best footballers [with the ball] we have who play that position. and to be fair, we created a reasonably amount of goal mouth action.

Have to agree yellow shirt, how anyone thought he was a good player... well guess it''s the same people who voted Lee Croft as player of the season, he couldn''t cross either.

I feel all the Leeds players are the problem, all too one-dimensional. Howson ok/good on the ball, apart from when he''s trying to take players on.. too weak defensively, lets players run off him. Johnson good defensively poor on the ball. Snoddy, most of crosses to me seem to be over hit, and ok was considerably better today, still it''s all about him and not the team. Decision making his a big Achilles heal, too many times slows it down when it''s a counter-attack, and destroys the play. Can we try one game with no ex-Leeds players.

Foghorn, I agree would love a Bundesliga manager, watching the games for a few years you appreciate it''s not particularly brilliant skill involved just optimum decision making Snoddy would need to learn to pass when a pass is on, and Howson would need to learn not to take people on 30 yards from home his own goal...

without us being sacked should read: without us being relegated and CH sacked

I personally think CH is doing the job which is asked of him... sure we all disappointed by the away performances. Success and failure of a football side is always subjective, and everyone always wants to go one better [Charlton fans]. Currently the football on show, is poor [Blames the ex Leeds players for that]. I believe if your looking for realistic chances of CH leaving his post without us being sacked it will be a move upstairs to a director of football to oversee Neil Adams promotion from academy to first team.

Louis, I agree but if your look at the last two seasons we have kept probably the largest proportion of cash for January hence why we spent the money in March for tax purposes. I would also hazzed a guess, that money might just be stored away for the new stand, if the first half goes according to plan.

Of course Norwich are being prudent, but it''s the perfect balanced strategy:- a) No Debt b) Majority of disposal income is spent on transfers/wages c) Increase in spending on youth team. d) Transfer kitty split in two [not neccesarily equal] for transfers/January. If you look at Everton as a ''role model'' club, our wages will gradual increase resulting in less disposal income for transfer fees, but hopefully the odd big sale = transfer funds and the higher wages for class of player. But their spending on youth has been critical with the likes of Rooney, Rodwell and now Barkley to mention three. So answer to OP, yes we are being prudent but it''s a resounding ''''No" to your suggestion we as fans/club are getting short changed.

UkraineCanary great shout on Elmander.

Pilks on left and Redmond in central.

I still would be very interested if we played Hoolahan in a deep lying role. With the 4231 and had Tettey and Johnson to break play up and Wes to run the team, it''s his great passing strength passing and moving starting plays off. Admittedly defensively we would be weak, but if u play Olsson on left and Redmon as AMC, and Snoddy right there is quite a bit of hard work there. I believe it''s our great weak area, and would be interesting to see how well or badly it played (of course more for lower teams in league).

with Calderwood''s history as a manager, it''s understandable how many don''t "rate him". But unless I''m mistaken Lambert use to big up everyone at the club... win a match was the players, and if they lost it was him. When people glorified him as a manager, he use to deflect it towards the players and the rest of the coaching team. So while the fans under-value Hughton''s team, the reality it''s probably they haven''t been acclaimed by our coach like Lambert did, and everyone thinks there somethings wrong with them. The truth very few managers have the confidence to praise the coaching staff.

Good Post Dandy. I agree we are defending with 8 and only attacking with 4 instead of the 6 with the two fullbacks regularly moving into midfielder covered by the two DM''s. Instead of utilizing the possession nature of the 4231, and defensive shape by the 2 man DM''s. We are using the 4231 as a containment formation and get deeper and deeper, which is very frustrating as I believe we have the personnel for the large part to make the possession nature work. The containment strategy, unfortunately means we start deep in our own half and the attacking players are too far away from the ball to be used early, so the passing for large part is between the DM''s and CB''s, and has been breaking down a lot in this area. Which compounds the problems.

The 3-5-2 is a good formation, and I''ve been thinking about the same idea... I came to the conclusion that, both the 4231 and especially the 352 relies on the passing ability of the 2 CM/DM''s. Both formations are possession football with the 4231, retain possession whilst midfielders join the forwards and the 352 whilst the wide players move forward. The downside of the 352 is your effectively defending with 7 (3 CB''s, 2 WB''s, and 2 DM''s) and with the 4231, your defending with the 6. Whilst your idea of the 352 makes sense... I would personally stick to the 4231... I would try Redmond in the hole, particularly against Hull he was drifting in field too much for my liking. When we have Tettey and BJ as defensive midfielders both are the destroyers and without the deep lying play maker we need to create easy passing opportunities for them and usually the easiest pass will be to a wide player stood in front of the fullback, so i''ll go ahead and play Olsson on the left, and Redmond in freerole AM, and Snoddy on the right. Drop Fer back into the CM''s and he appears to be considerably more cultured in the passing department. Choice would be Tettey/BJ/Howson in the other Cm role.

http://www.sjearthquakes.com/blog/post/2013/07/18/throwback-thursday-whats-huckerby

I didn''t see the game last night. I am very interested to see how the twin''s do in general. The U18 games they loved passing to each other, and those passes/crosses were very good. However, they didn''t like passing to anyone else... initial response would be they are very greedy but in hindsight they might not believe in the other U18 team... although isn''t a good thing, they might play properly in the full side and be making better decisions or hear''s hoping anyway.

I liked Bendtner when he first broke into the Arsenal side, he seemed to have lots of football ability and a special gift of drifting off his marker and finding space only to be fairly wasteful. However, after his early promise and natural ability he appears to have gotten mentally lazy and I would severely question how much he really wants it. If hughton can work some magic on him, he would another great signing.

I think many people are very unfair on Ola. Just having turned 27, this could well be his last ''big'' transfer and opportunity to play for Liverpool (I believe he''s holding out for if the press are to be believed). As Norwich push our current boundaries in the short term I''m sure there will be many more disappointments for the club in transfer targets but equally there will be great success stories like signing RvW, Fer and Olsson.

Good Point Josh. I normally prefer the younger players with potential both for the club and player to progress. It''s a win-win situation if it works out. We have for the last few seasons signed young and promising players, with the exception of back up goalies, and Turner / Garrido / Bassong. It seems Hughton is trying to get good experience and youthful progression, if he nails the blend and team structure it could be an exciting era at Norwich. Also the other benefits of having so many internationals at top end countries (England/Italy/Holland/Cameroon/Sweden/Norway) Is hopefully, the high technique and more important good solid decision making rubs off on our youth side (even if it Rubs off on just one of them).

i agree with the sentiment OP. Last year when everyone was talking about increasing the stadium several posters commented, with the increase in TV money... the impact of large stadiums is reduced. Whilst i''m not saying we''re gonna win the league, I genuinely believe a top6 finish is open to a team outside of the big six. Not saying us, but it''s the best opportunity for anyone. Wherever the top6 came from, use to big the big four and before that was United on their own competing with different sides each year, until Arsenal settled into a competitor). Spurs 1 champions league finish and Liverpool no champions league finishes in quite a few seasons... really ''''Big 6" ? Or just being kind to scousers? Top7 Sides: Arsenal -- Still not spent that 100m they going on about. Liverpool -- About to lose Suarez Tottenham -- Probably most settled, now looks like Bale staying. United/Chelsea/Man City/Everton new managers. Couple of those sides are going to get it seriously wrong and potentially open it up to someone to nick a top6 finish... even if it''s just for a season. Contenders? Swansea/Newcastle/WBA/Norwich??