no shane long, poss no odemwingie

[smooth 114]

that is great news, def want long out. He would certainly score against us, great forward so relieved he is out.

This is a massive game, we need that win. We need to score 2 or three goals this sunday so attacking line up is needed.

but if odemwingie starts on the bench that would be ideal too.

[GJP 79]

No John Ruddy either.

 

Key players missing on both sides.

[Lets be aving you! 0]

The reports I''ve seen rate Shane Long as a 50:50 starter, with Odemwingie almost certainly fit.

 

I''ve not seen any report definitely ruling Long out.

[Jim Smith 2,610]

[quote user="Lambert is god"]

The reports I''ve seen rate Shane Long as a 50:50 starter, with Odemwingie almost certainly fit.

 

I''ve not seen any report definitely ruling Long out.

[/quote]

Ditto. In any event lets not get ourselves too worried about Shane Long. Decent enough but no better than Holty.

[Indy 3,471]

Shane Long decent enough but no better than Holty, that''s viewing things from Canary Goggles.....

I lov Holt but you ask me who I would rather have Hotl or Long, only one answer Long every time. Both would have been better.

[Jacko 0]

Not usually that fussed about opposition players but Shane Long does have a pretty formidable record against us. So I really hope he is out.

[BarclayCanary (Former HDDH) 0]

Odemwingie is playing and shane long is 50 50 apparently.

[smooth 114]

Well I certainly take note of the opposition players and tactics that each team brings to each game. For one their dead ball tactics, who to look out for at corners etc.

I look at individual match ups. I certainly feel if odemwingie and long were to play upfront it woudl be a tough ask for our cb''s. I believe with one of them out that would mean that de laet can cover one while barnett is with simon cox (or whoever else starts upfront).

Gera on the bench, a great prem. player, certainly want to stay close to him, could be a job for Crofts if gera comes on.

The preparation for each team and individual players is as important as your game as you can utilise where you feel you have a good match up or attack a particular weakness at set pieces (or nulify).

There are some players however who on their day are impossible to prepare for. Matt Le Tissier was certainly one of those. His show in a 5-4 win for soton in the mid 90''s was a great example.

But hopefully Long will be out, I beleive de laet can handle long or odemwingie. Barnett not so sure. So it would be handy if one of them is out.

[Jim Smith 2,610]

[quote user="Jacko"]Not usually that fussed about opposition players but Shane Long does have a pretty formidable record against us. So I really hope he is out.[/quote]

Does he? Scored a tap in at Carrow Road last season but can''t remember that many others (possibly one at the Majehski a while back) and last season we beat them at home and should have won away as well.

Holt has a better record than Long over the last few seasons and is just as much of a handful. If we are scared of Shane Long then we may as well give up on the prem now!

[smooth 114]

I think each team has it strengths that we as a promoted team need to respect, shane long is one of those at wba.

You don''t give up, as lambert says you rise to the challenge of pitching yourself against great players and other players who are in this divison on merit. If we had not gone up would any of our strikers be wanted by a prem. team, I think not. Shane long on the other hand is wanted by prem teams.

You look at goalkeepers that can keep there teams in it with great saves and feel like a brick wall, even those at mid table teams jussi j at bolton and shay given at aston villa. There is a reason why these players are still in the prem after season upon season''s. Goalkeepers are invaluable, paul robinson and brad friedel, still hold out young and up and coming goalkeepers whereever they go.

You have to look at every position, individual, set piece that the team do. I find it fascinating, but I also feel it is where we need to find that enigma that can make other clubs not just see us as a promoted team. But one with a few players that can take the headlines as carroll did last year for newcastle. Bennett, Pilkington, Holt and Morison (and vaughan when fit) can all have that impact in this league where teams will look again at little old norwich.

[GJP 79]

[quote user="Jim Smith"][quote user="Jacko"]Not usually that fussed about opposition players but Shane Long does have a pretty formidable record against us. So I really hope he is out.[/quote] Does he? Scored a tap in at Carrow Road last season but can''t remember that many others (possibly one at the Majehski a while back) and last season we beat them at home and should have won away as well.  [/quote]

He also scored twice against us in our last home game before relegation to League 1.

 

So, yeah, his record against us is pretty good.

[Mr. Bump 0]

[quote user="Jim Smith"][quote user="Jacko"]Not usually that fussed about opposition players but Shane Long does have a pretty formidable record against us. So I really hope he is out.[/quote]

Does he? Scored a tap in at Carrow Road last season but can''t remember that many others (possibly one at the Majehski a while back) and last season we beat them at home and should have won away as well.

Holt has a better record than Long over the last few seasons and is just as much of a handful. If we are scared of Shane Long then we may as well give up on the prem now![/quote]......Scored against us at BOTH the Madejski and Carrow Road last season, scored 2 against us at Carrow Road to pretty much relegate us and scored against us at the Madejski that season too. He''s scored at least a goal in each of our last 4 games against Reading. Based on that, the fact he''s already scored against United and Chelsea and the fact that untested Declan Rudd will be in goal, I don''t think it''s unreasonable that people would want Long to be out.

[Bethnal Yellow and Green 2,424]

[quote user="smooth"]Well I certainly take note of the opposition players and tactics that each team brings to each game. For one their dead ball tactics, who to look out for at corners etc. I look at individual match ups. I certainly feel if odemwingie and long were to play upfront it woudl be a tough ask for our cb''s. I believe with one of them out that would mean that de laet can cover one while barnett is with simon cox (or whoever else starts upfront). Gera on the bench, a great prem. player, certainly want to stay close to him, could be a job for Crofts if gera comes on. The preparation for each team and individual players is as important as your game as you can utilise where you feel you have a good match up or attack a particular weakness at set pieces (or nulify). There are some players however who on their day are impossible to prepare for. Matt Le Tissier was certainly one of those. His show in a 5-4 win for soton in the mid 90''s was a great example. But hopefully Long will be out, I beleive de laet can handle long or odemwingie. Barnett not so sure. So it would be handy if one of them is out.[/quote]

WBA will play 4-5-1 so would imagine our defense will only have to deal with one or the other. Although as Roy hasn''t had them both at his disposal it is hard to say, if he does choose to play them both the most likely formation would be a 4-4-1-1 with Odemwingie playing just behind Long (this is how Fulham sometimes lined up, and something Roy has used with WBA a few times). If this is the case then Crofts and Johnson will have to be mindful of WBA playing between the lines and breaking from midfield - which is what Tchoyi and Morrison will be looking to do. If Norwich go for a high defensive line we might struggle with the pace of Long, a deep line and the arieal threat of Odemwingie and Tchoyi will come into play.

 

The key to the game will be breaking down a very organised team who will defend in numbers and look to hit Norwich on the break, if we can score the first goal then we have a good chance of getting all 3 points. Hodgson isn''t known for getting wins away from home and for us to not get all 3 points would be fairly harmful for us - with WBA having no points that certainly doesn''t make things easier, this will be a game they also see as a must win.

[Lets be aving you! 0]

Article just appeared on official WBA site reporting that Shane Long has recovered from injury, trained today and is expected to be available for selection on Sunday. Ditto Odemwingie.

[First Wizard 0]

[quote user="Lambert is god"]

Article just appeared on official WBA site reporting that Shane Long has recovered from injury, trained today and is expected to be available for selection on Sunday. Ditto Odemwingie.

[/quote]

 

Bugger!

[Jim Smith 2,610]

[quote user="Lambert is god"]

Article just appeared on official WBA site reporting that Shane Long has recovered from injury, trained today and is expected to be available for selection on Sunday. Ditto Odemwingie.

[/quote]

Thats it then we may as well give up. Don''t get me wrong of course its good for us if the opposition''s better players are out injured but the way some on here are talking we will be facing the equavalent of Lionel Messi on Sunday not some half fit, inconsistent Nigerian winger who had a bit of a purple patch last season and a striker who in my view is no better than either Holt or Morison. Good players yes. World beaters no.