Relishing the Challenge

[gitto 0]

To me it doesn''t appear to me that Alex Neil and the players are relishing the challenge anywhere near as much as they should be. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to compete at the highest level and if I was Alex Neil I''d be thinking more how and what I can do to pit my wits against experienced managers tactically. In the last three games he''s been tactically out thought by Ranieri, McClaren and Pulis and personally I''d be thinking outside the box and be right up for the challenge, but it looks as though AN may be beginning to doubt himself and that''s a slippery slope. That''s what happened to Kevin Keegan in 95/96 when Newcastle let Man U mug them for the title. AN is as good as any of those managers and look at Mourinio. Never played football at any level and one of the best managers in the world. AN and the players have got to start believing in themselves again, not be afraid of failure and start relishing the challenge, before it''s passes them by. Norwich are good enough with the players they have got AN has just got to get the balance right. Find ways of playing that suits the strikers at his disposal as it''s all about scoring goals. Saturday City were all over West Brom first half, but West brom scored the goal. I''ve watched Ferguson''s Man Utd do it time and again. Get outplayed, but score goals at the right time.

[lake district canary 4,830]

Could agree with all that.  If they are not relishing the challenge - and it is a big if - then they need to find their enthusiasm again.  I suspect though,  that there is only a temporary frustration or exasperation at the last three games, but nothing long term.  It only takes one good result to restore some faith again - and it could come anywhere.   We know we can compete, we know we can score goals - but the longer it goes on with no wins or draws, the harder it will get to rekindle that faith.   With a little luck, we could have had several more points than we have now and the players have to remember that they are up to the job.  I don''t think AN will be down about things for too long either - he is a positive and strong character and that will stand us in good stead long term.  Refreshing the team is paramount and getting Vadis and others like Grabban involved is important imo.  Tuesday will be a good chance for some fringe players to state their case for selection against Man City - and any flatness that remains from the last three games can be flushed away.  So Tuesday is an important game in our season, not only in terms of  a cup run, but for the squad and the season as a whole.  

[nutty nigel 7,902]

There''s a lot of posters on here not relishing the challenge. As soon as the waters get choppy they head for the lifeboats. To think Wembley was just 10 games ago...