Six things we didn’t learn from Norwich City’s 2-2 draw with West Ham

[Curious Canary 0]

1 Why didn’t Jarvis feature?

Must have been desperate to play against his former club.

Even if not starting probably a better option as sub to replace Naismith or Hoolahan.

2 Do we have a plan B?

Before the game we should have an idea of how to change the team to go more defensive or more attacking according to the state of the game.

Making changes 5 minutes from the end smacks of desperation, not of planning or reading the game. West Ham make changes and we sit on our hands for 20 minutes.

3 Never mind the Keeper debate who are we going to make our first choice Number 9?

Mbokani doesn’t seem to work hard enough. Maybe Jerome lacks a bit at the very top level. Is Bamford just for cover? Why did we keep Lafferty? Why didn’t we keep Hooper (clearly a better player than Bamford)?

It’s easier to choose Ruddy.

Every goalkeeper makes mistakes, even Joe Hart. Hart has been dropped but only for the odd game. Ruddy should have been back for the Liverpool game if not earlier.

4 Who should play at right back?

Martin has been a great servant but is looking wobbly, getting in poor positions and lacking pace.

Pinto looks iffy, was it a mistake to sign him?

Wisdom is inexperienced, looks similar to Pinto, good pace going forward but can’t defend.

Bennett can play right back, although maybe he should be in the centre (City have only had 4 clean sheets, who played centre back in all of them? Bassong and Bennett).

Whittaker is a better player than most City fans think and not the worse option but is now seems to be at the end of the queue.

5 Are we going to play with one or two defensive midfielders when Tettey is back?

Who does Tettey replace? Like for like its O’Neil.

Or are we going to leave out Hoolahan (maybe a light weight, luxury player), or go with no width like at Villa.

Is Dorrans better than O’Neil?

Mulumbu hasn’t impressed and doesn’t seem like a good fit with Tettey.

Not an easy call especially as the next 4 matches are highly losable, Leicester (a), Chelsea (h), Swansea (a), Man C (h).

6 Do the fans want to see entertaining football or do they want to see us win?

Personally I don’t think you can have both.

We are not Man U (they aren’t playing that well in any case) or WBA (everyone would love Tony Pulis).

Chances are there’s going to be plenty of goals but most of them at the wrong end.

Change the manager? Probably won’t make any difference at this stage. He would have to work with the same players.

And Catch 22 – any manager good enough to keep us up wouldn’t want to risk his reputation by coming here.

In reality the fans don’t have a choice but it would be so much more satisfying if only Alex Neil would put the right team on the park and make the correct substitutions when necessary.

[nutty nigel 7,509]

I think if we remember Hootun, and contrast the comments then with the comments now, we are left in no doubt that winning is all that matters. However that still doesn''t answer the question that if we''re not good enough to win what''s the most preferable way not to win...

[Redders Right Foot 22]

One thing I (re)learned from Norwich City''s 2-2 draw with West Ham

never feel comfortable enough with the score to text your mate who''s an opposition supporter "hahahaha" Happens all too often.

[Jim Smith 2,314]

If Tettey comes in for Wes then I will despair.

Tettey and Howson please with our attacking trio of Wes, Naismith and Redmond behind the striker. Stick with it for a few games.

[norfolkngood 1,086]

Before the game we should have an idea of how to change the team to go more defensive or more attacking according to the state of the game.

Making changes 5 minutes from the end smacks of desperation, not of planning or reading the game. West Ham make changes and we sit on our hands for 20 minutes.

this is why I think AN is not as good as people think

he got us into a winning position against Liverpool and west ham

if we had changed to slowing the game up keeping the ball breaking the play up we should have won

it seems he sets the team up and they play like that all game our defence was all over the place for first goal why didn''t AN / our coaches stand in the dug out shouting to defenders to keep shape and sit back ? keep that defence in one line of four

no they sat back and watched bassong go walk about klose get out of position against a fast striker RM to far our wide line and not near klose leaving a large gap between RB CB

they watched all this from the dugout and done nothing !

why isn''t gary holt watching and organising / shouting shape at the back four ?

all good hugging each other when we score but in game management by AN and coaches is shocking