Man Who Stares At Goats

[quote user="Mister Chops"][8]"Kick it off - drop quite deep - invite needless pressure -Win the ball - lump it up - Bravo, hit the skyLose the ball, City - fall back and defend deepSteady on - now''s your chance - yes, we scraped a draw." [/quote] What were the words again?

[quote user="vos"]One thing is certain we really have nobody who is showing any sort of form to start up front. Of course in addition we have the "Hughton factor". Will he go for one striker against the bottom team, already doomed and the worst defence in the premiership. Would not bet against it. I think we should go for a bit of experience and start with Becchio and Jackson, with either Holt or Kamara to come on at half time if it is not working. Pilks and Snodgrass to play wide, although Pilks bothers me as he tends to start brightly then disappears for long periods. Should definitely adopt an attacking attitude as with a back four including Whittaker our opponents should not pose much of a threat. Bearing in mind our very poor attacking play as of late, unable to find any space, frequently losing possession and general lack of basic footballing quality, means the result of this vital match is no foregone conclusion. The crowd will have to get right behind them at the start, but if Hughton starts with Snodgrass on the left to accomodate a tall gangling player wide on the right with little big time experience and main asset is heading ability, then as against Swansea the crowd will need to see something positive quick to get them excited. [/quote]This drives me craaazzzzyyyy.It amazes me that at this level of play, in the best league in the world, you have players who make pedestrian passes, or worse, can''t even find their man. It blows my mind how a player in the premier league can get away with poor passing.For me, there''s nothing worse than working your arse off to win the ball back, only to give it away 3 seconds later because of poor passing.

[quote user="nutty nigel"][quote user="Man Who Stares At Goats"][quote user="nutty nigel"] No way did we play 433 against Arsenal. We played 451. The personnel had the potential to play 433. Just like the 451 with Wes has the potential to play 424. But formations should be fluid and I think the 451 with Wes Snoddy and Pilks has the potential to be far more attacking than the 451 we had on Saturday.   I''d start Holt. From the players we have available he''s the best option. I must have missed his booking and sending off on Saturday.... [/quote] Nutty, given Holt''s recent form, what do you believe are good grounds for starting him? [/quote]   You wanna spend less time staring at goats and more time reading posts [8-|][;)]   I believe Holty scored our last winner.   What are good grounds for not starting him?     [/quote] Honestly? You mean our last winner scored by Holt back in February?Really? I would go so far as to ask how many shots on goal he''s even had.Listen, don''t get me wrong, I''m a fan of Holt, but have you seen his level of play over the last few games? I wont explain it, just watch the replays. He''s in a bad vain of form and has been average all season. Some could argue it''s the tactics and maybe that''s discouraged him to some degree, but overall, he''s not on his ''A'' game; that''s for sure.

[quote user="nutty nigel"]No way did we play 433 against Arsenal. We played 451. The personnel had the potential to play 433. Just like the 451 with Wes has the potential to play 424. But formations should be fluid and I think the 451 with Wes Snoddy and Pilks has the potential to be far more attacking than the 451 we had on Saturday.   I''d start Holt. From the players we have available he''s the best option. I must have missed his booking and sending off on Saturday.... [/quote] Nutty, given Holt''s recent form, what do you believe are good grounds for starting him?

[quote user="ARCHIEGEMMELL"][quote user="zemas tendon"]Big Grant has to start against Reading, has a good record against them in previous meetings, apart from sending off, will be up for the game, and boy do we need him to produce the goods!![/quote]On current form I wouldn''t even have him washing the kit! With certain individuals on here he could run out blind folded and you guys would still be lapping it up...talk about accepting mediocrity![/quote] I have to agree with Archiegemmell. I''m  a big fan of Grant Holt; always will be. I love his back story, he''s always been the talisman and heart of the team and he''s cemented his place forever in NCFC''s folklore.... however, his last few performances have been sloppy. His performance in the Arsenal game verged on being pedestrian. He was constantly caught flat footed and a step off the game.To put it simply, Holty''s head is not right and he needs to figure out where his passion is, because at the moment he''s nothing more than a big guy filling a jersey and kicking a ball.Not sure of it''s CH''s man-management/tactics that have gotten Holty in a slump, or if there are other reasons for it, but at the moment, he''s average at best.

Champagne on ice for me please.....I know we''re cutting it close this season, but the the key word here is ''season''.It doesn''t matter whether you win the game in the first minute, or the last minute; you win. It doesn''t matter if you survive the premier league in the first half of the season or the second; you survive.What I''m seeing is a lot of people who are not being satisfied because we haven''t established with a certainty, that we''ll be in the premier league next season. Me..... I''m rather enjoying the ride.... I thought we played well against Arsenal, on the road and were it not for a well paid lines-man, could well have walked away with 3-points and all the bed wetting that''s taking place on this forum would not be happening.Why so tense everyone? It''s just a ride.....

Walcott offside ..... absolute joke of a linesmanBad corner callbad pen callmissed offside

[quote user="Vanwink"][quote user="grefstad"]Bring off Holt, pleeeeaaaase. He is a walking liability. Bring someone on, the kitman, just someone, I dont care.[/quote]i Is he that bad.... Then give Lucy a go[/quote]He is that bad today. He is consistently being caught on his back foot and easily a step behind the pace of the game.

4 players offside .... Holt shows how lacking his first touch is...

But as I was saying..... before I was interrupted by a fantastic goal.... Holt now possesses the quality and influence of a squad player.

I hate to say it, but watching today has convinced me that Holt has lost his edge.I''ve stood by Holt for a long time, but his performance today as really GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

[quote user="Mister Chops"][quote user="Vanwink"]Overall Swansea looked a far better side, we looked nothing more than a Championship outfit, which with one or two exceptions is what we are. We lack an inspirational manager who is unable to get our players to raise their game in the way they did last season and if we carry on playing like this we are in with a very good chance of going down.[/quote]If we''re a "Championship outfit with one or two exceptions", and are currently mid-table in the Premier League, your argument points to the manager getting more out of his players than you suggest.[/quote] Spot on!

Actually Tchnika, by the pessimistic and attagonizing tone of your messages, your probably compensating for your inability to keep other things up...

[quote user="technika"]why?? hes missed a sitter, sorry to point this out, but its trueidioto[/quote]Technika -- keep it up. You''re always good for a laugh.

Norwich wins it with the 3rd in the 87th minute

YEEEESSSS !!! A much better fight from the players.. Now let''s put it away with a third.Have we scored three goals in a game this season?

Good to see a little fire in the belly. The goal has definitely woken the lads up and I''m looking for the same level of courage in the second half.  

nothing to see ....  move along.....

Keep it there boys!

[quote user="Notts Canary"]Seems like we mean to carry on as before, I keep waiting to see a change in style in response to our failings but oh well just hope we can hold on for the draw[/quote]Agreed. I was expecting more spirit and fire - the ''home field'' fight.We need the win. Not only for the three points, but also to remind the team that they can win.

Does our dial go to 11?Because our 10 clearly isn''t enough.

Why are we struggling so much to maintain possession?

If we can connect our passes and cross a ball into the box from the wing, we''ll win this game easily :: 3 - 1If not, we''ll draw the game at best. 1 - 1

[quote user="Jules"]This one really upsets me. Wigan are poor and we failed to capitalise. This reminds me of WBA game. Now we stand a chance of getting sucked in to the mire. [/quote] This....

3-1 Norwich win.KeiSnoddyHolt