ron obvious 1,473 Posted December 24, 2017 Sounds like it to me:https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/2017/december/farke-birmingham-preview/Thinking about the last game (!), as many have commented there is a problem with playing Pritchard & Maddison together. Having said that, it''s likely that their lack of game time together has caused the poor communication, getting in each other''s way etc.I''m still convinced two such quality players can find a way to play together. One worth persevering with I think. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paul moy 235 Posted December 24, 2017 As I said on a previous thread, it''s time to revert to the defence that was very successful until this recent appalling run. I also want to see Jerome restored as a target man to take pressure off of the defence and the underperforming Oliveira restored to super-sub, where he is best suited. All is not lost if we do this, and surely Farke can see where our current failings lie. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,518 Posted December 24, 2017 Agree with the above posts - would even keep Reed in with a slightly more forward role and allowing Maddison and Pritchard to roam free. GunnPinto Zimmermann Klose Lewis Tettey Trybull Reed Maddison Pritchard Jerome Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted December 24, 2017 Oliveira was better than any of Maddison/Pritchard/Watkins against Brentford. He worked harder, caused Brentford more problems and scored a very good goal.That''s not to say he was at his very best but he deserves to keep his place. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted December 24, 2017 As for Tettey and Trybull, Farke''s decision to have not already restored at least one of them to the team is a very questionable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ron obvious 1,473 Posted December 24, 2017 GJP, he ran around a lot, but that''s about it - Cameron does that sort of job much better. When it came to being an effective goal threat he was very poor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Van wink 2,994 Posted December 24, 2017 Great to see Alex warming up on Friday night. Is he going to stay though? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted December 24, 2017 He was our only threat and scored a good goal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ron obvious 1,473 Posted December 24, 2017 When it was too late to matter. Whenever it mattered his control & decision making was awful.He is a good player, so I don''t know why that is. However, the fact he doesn''t last long anywhere is, I suspect, significant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted December 24, 2017 It wasn''t awful at all. The worst decision of them all came from Pritchard taking on a shot from a tight angle when the cut back was on for likely a tap in. Oliveira would have been heavily criticised for that. Pritch wasn''t. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ron obvious 1,473 Posted December 24, 2017 Not what I saw. I saw a player who was faking it - looking as if he was trying, rushing around a lot, but doing nothing useful when he got there.I don''t know why that is. He''s proved he can be seriously good at this level. But he''s stopped doing it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted December 24, 2017 Did you think anyone else was faking it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ron obvious 1,473 Posted December 24, 2017 Quite a few really. For different reasons, & mostly I think because they''d lost any idea of what they were supposed to do.He didn''t start, but Josh is one of the worst offenders. He''s lost all confidence, so makes only half-hearted attempts at beating a man, tackling back etc.It''s up to the coach to sort it out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted December 24, 2017 Indeed. I thought there were worse offenders than Oliveira for not really putting their all into it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hogesar 9,502 Posted December 24, 2017 If we were going to drop Oliviera it should have been a couple games ago. But he was alright on Saturday. Although interesting to see even Pinto having a bit of a go at him at various stages. Although Pinto was dreadful himself so didnt have much of an argument. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,518 Posted December 24, 2017 Players trying too hard - Pinto in particular I think and over cooking it too often. Oliveira looked to me like he was trying hard, but not getting anywhere. Vrancic''s effort onto the bar he would normally have got too imo - there is just a little too much desperation to succeed that it is making it harder for us. But then that effort has to be put in. Hopefully they will be a little more focussed and a little less frantic away from home. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paul moy 235 Posted December 24, 2017 [quote user="GJP"]Oliveira was better than any of Maddison/Pritchard/Watkins against Brentford. He worked harder, caused Brentford more problems and scored a very good goal.That''s not to say he was at his very best but he deserves to keep his place.[/quote]Well, Dean Ashton reckoned he should have been subbed at half-time as he was so poor. Jerome would add more to team play and work ethic as a target man and defender in set piece situations, as he has proven in the unbeaten run, and should start the next game if fit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paul moy 235 Posted December 24, 2017 [quote user="GJP"]He was our only threat and scored a good goal.[/quote]Which he can do as a sub in the last few minutes. His overall game play is poor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted December 24, 2017 Olivieira is simply more dangerous in the final third. And when the rest of the team carries little threat you need something to worry defenders. I''ve always been a big fan of Jerome but it''s been a long time since he looked dangerous.Compare that to Brentford who had 3 or 4 lads causing us problems in the final third. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paul moy 235 Posted December 24, 2017 [quote user="GJP"]Olivieira is simply more dangerous in the final third. And when the rest of the team carries little threat you need something to worry defenders. I''ve always been a big fan of Jerome but it''s been a long time since he looked dangerous.Compare that to Brentford who had 3 or 4 lads causing us problems in the final third.[/quote]The whole team would carry more threat with Jerome as a target man as he would bring others into play. Oliveira is perhaps more dangerous but is a lone wolf and seems to play for himself, while we need to consider who is more beneficial to team play as we urgently need to start winning games again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FenwayFrank 2,423 Posted December 24, 2017 “Did you think anyone else was faking it?”Our wives ? 😀 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GJP 79 Posted December 24, 2017 Is that true though? Jerome''s touch and awareness isn''t as good as Oliveira''s. I would suggest the bigger problem is the players in support of Oliveira. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paul moy 235 Posted December 24, 2017 [quote user="GJP"]Is that true though? Jerome''s touch and awareness isn''t as good as Oliveira''s. I would suggest the bigger problem is the players in support of Oliveira.[/quote]For success, a team needs to be greater than the sum of its parts. Jerome creates that scenario as he is a team-player and brings others into play as a target man. Oliveira is not a target man so can not do that, and actually lowers the sum of the parts by taking Jerome''s place. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hairy Canary 628 Posted December 24, 2017 The style of football we are trying to play is to keep possession in order to deny the opposition the ball to stop them scoring and at the same time create a limited number of chances to score. For that to succeed you need a clinical finisher and that Jerome has never been.For Farke to play Jerome would mean a major change in philosophy which unfortunately looks unlikely. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Creative Midfielder 1,976 Posted December 24, 2017 [quote user="paul moy"]The whole team would carry more threat with Jerome as a target man as he would bring others into play. Oliveira is perhaps more dangerous but is a lone wolf and seems to play for himself, while we need to consider who is more beneficial to team play as we urgently need to start winning games again. [/quote]Exactly - Nelson on his game carries a real threat but when he''s not, and he''s nowhere near at the minute, he contributes nothing at all. Not sure if he''s actually fit but if he is I would definitely have Cam starting on Boxing Day - felt sure he would start against Brentford until I found out he was injured.Tettey is also an absolute must - really baffled as to why he didn''t start against Brentford. Hopefully Farke will have learnt from his mistake, although that he really should have already learnt that particular lesson from earlier in the season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
unique 434 Posted December 24, 2017 It rather looks as though Farke will be going all-out for three 0-0 draws, which no doubt will be deemed three excellent results.Are Norwich the only Championship side to have just two strikers in their squad? I use the word ‘strikers’ loosely, as both players appear pretty clueless when it comes to knocking a football into the net. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Van wink 2,994 Posted December 24, 2017 lake district canary wrote the following post at 24/12/2017 2:12 PM:Players trying too hard - Pinto in particular I think and over cooking it too often. Oliveira looked to me like he was trying hard, but not getting anywhere. Vrancic''s effort onto the bar he would normally have got too imo - there is just a little too much desperation to succeed that it is making it harder for usThis is so often the way with a team that’s struggling for form.As for Oliveria, at the moment he is spending far too much time chasing the ball when out of possession. I admire his effort but he needs to be using his energy more productively and in particular well timed runs and working when we do actually have possession. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Smith 2,290 Posted December 25, 2017 There is not a problem playing Maddison and Pritchard together but there is a problem playing them together with Reed and Vrancic behind. Way too lightweight and very predictable exposed by Brentford.Our good run had Tettey and Trybull at CM for most of it and Zimm and Klose at CB. Most of the best results also had Wildshutt on the wing.Quite why 4 of these players are not in the side again whilst all fit is baffling. He needs to return to these combos that worked earlier in the season and Wildshutt to give us some pace and directness. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Badger 2,389 Posted December 25, 2017 [quote user="lake district canary"]Agree with the above posts - would even keep Reed in with a slightly more forward role and allowing Maddison and Pritchard to roam free. GunnPinto Zimmermann Klose Lewis Tettey Trybull Reed Maddison Pritchard Jerome[/quote]Mainly the same for me, but I''d have Vrancic for Reed - more likely to see and make a decisive pass + Nelson for Jerome. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big O 225 Posted December 25, 2017 I''d be tempted to give Maddison a rest a Birmingham and maybe reed.I''d try no get back to basics and give us an ability to counterattack.Therefore if Hanley fit...GunnPinto Hanley klose LewisWildshut trybull Tettey vrancic/stipermann Pritchard Oliveria SubsZimmermanVrancic/StipermannReedNaismith MaddisonJeromeMcGovern Share this post Link to post Share on other sites