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Citizen Journalist Foghorn

Time to play Steven Whittaker

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Whilst I''d like to see him back, you can hardly drop R.Martin when he''s done nothing wrong?

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Absolutely. Seems to be able to play just about anywhere! And damned effectively too.

Obvious replacement for EB (much as I love him), but wouldn''t mind him coming in for Howson or BJ. Perhaps we could try a different formation?

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[quote user="AJ"]Whilst I''d like to see him back, you can hardly drop R.Martin when he''s done nothing wrong?[/quote]Why not?  We have won 3 games in the 24 R Martin has started this season.  We are now 1 win in 14 games and deservedly so.I would look at the two players and say that Whitaker offers a little more going forward than R Martin.  Whittaker linked up well with Snodgrass and was a big reason why Snodgrass was playing so well during our unbeaten run.

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Yes I would definitely start Whittaker next game, with tettey in for howson with pilkington coming in too

It''s about time we started playing what''s close to our strongest team

If I was hughton I would even be tempted to drop hoolahan and go with holt and becchio upfront giving them there ''last chance'' to show us what they can do this season.

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Happy for it to happen but the quality of performances between the two is negligible.     Their opta/whoscored scores are identitical which mirrors the performances I have seen on the pitch,  whittaker attacks better while martin defends better.   Bothare middling to average PL full backs.

 

 

However how does this solve our main problems which are defending higher up the pitch,  getting the midfield to pass to a yellow shirt,  get midfielders in the box and getting the midfield to be more creative? 

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If nothing else, it might give the players a bit of a boost. They might see Whittaker as a bit of talisman. It would be a bit harsh on RM but then maybe CH needs to do something different.

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I would keep the same back four but play Whittaker on the right of a three man midfield with Tettey in the middle and Johnson out left.

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His stats are what they are because he enjoyed a run in the team during our good form. From what i have seen of him this year he is no better than Martin, much weaker defensively and perhaps offers more going forward. The love for him reminds me a bit of the love for Ayala last season, all a bit unexplained.
Find it really strange how some fans go on about him as the messiah who can stop our dreadful run, unfortuantly he is not. I would not drop Martin, think he''s been one of our stronger players recently and has been leading the team.
We need to find a way to get two strikers on the pitch along with Wes, all at the same time. 

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What Whittaker brings is the experience off playing for a team that was expected to win every game. He knows how to see games out, he has the experience and can bring that to other members of the team.

For me that is why he is better than Martin, more goals have come down that side since Whittaker has been out of the side.

To play in a team that is expected to win every game is very different to how we have been at Ncfc. For me he has to be in our first 11 if that is at right back I have no problem. We need the best players playing now. Whittaker needs to bring that ability to our. First team and I think he will start against Swansea. Sorry Russell Martin is very good but if he is replaced by Whittaker for this game and the run I have no problem. I believe Whittaker could have been a pots candidate if he had not have got injured.

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[quote user="priceyrice"]His stats are what they are because he enjoyed a run in the team during our good form. From what i have seen of him this year he is no better than Martin, much weaker defensively and perhaps offers more going forward. The love for him reminds me a bit of the love for Ayala last season, all a bit unexplained.
Find it really strange how some fans go on about him as the messiah who can stop our dreadful run, unfortuantly he is not. I would not drop Martin, think he''s been one of our stronger players recently and has been leading the team.
We need to find a way to get two strikers on the pitch along with Wes, all at the same time. 
[/quote]

When Bale was up against him he switched wings, nothing else to say really is there. The question is wether he brings something additional to the team. In my opinion he does.

H

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I don''t know precisely what he brings to the team, maybe it''s simply talismanic luck, but we have never been the same side since he has been out. He needs to be fitted in even if it means a harsh dropping of Martin.

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Drop Benno(would anybody even notice?), move Snoddy back to the right and use Whittaker on the left.He has good attacking instincts, can use either foot and will provide cover for Garrido - simples!

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I think Whittaker has to play and right back is a good choice with snoddy up ahead, maybe a midfield or tettey, Johnson and Howson with kk and becchio upfront. You can play holy out left and know he will drift a bit but up against a Swansea team who will have loads of possession you want defensive structure to be good, which we really do have. But we need something different. But I do believe snoddy and Whittaker on one flank is the right thing. I would like kk out wide but his fitness is not up to it yet.

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[quote user="Herman "]I don''t know precisely what he brings to the team, maybe it''s simply talismanic luck, but we have never been the same side since he has been out. He needs to be fitted in even if it means a harsh dropping of Martin.[/quote]

Wa are lacking those players that "make things happen" Hard to quantify but whenever i have watched him he has a bit of class.

H

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Exactly. I don''t understand this mentality of you can''t drop him or him. Out of the two i would pick Whittaker all day. He surges forward more and as we''ve seen already can shoot. Just can''t see why he is out of favour at the mo?!

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Yet Martin has a better shot per game and goal per game ratio than Whittaker?

 

its swings and round abouts - martin keeps us more defensively sound ,and scores more;   whittaker is better going forward.  Flick a coin but he wont solve our problems either in midfield or by replacing either garrido or martin

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If Hughton wants to win his home games then we need to do something different, i would like to see Whits and Fox play part of the games, he''s probably the most natural passer of a ball we have as his pass to Jackson at Portsmouth shows. Sticking with a formulae that brings few goals is a rIsky strategy as the Wigan goal and defeat showed. After we conceded it was game over.

H

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I dont believe Whittaker as miracle maker, but I would try him in place of Martin.

Martin is solid player, something that you can count in every game, but Whittaker is player that can do something that you dont expect. Bit like Pilkington he can drift out of game and suddently win us the game with single good run.

Also Whittaker is a bit faster than Martin or atleast his acceleration is so he has easier time to come back from further positions.

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Whittaker offers something else to the team and has been missed. He is unusual in that he has reasonable pace and likes getting forward, which is very unusual for a Norwich City player these days.

The bottom line is that Hughton has to try something different, because the current system is not working.

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[quote user="basil brush"]Whittaker offers something else to the team and has been missed. He is unusual in that he has reasonable pace and likes getting forward, which is very unusual for a Norwich City player these days.

The bottom line is that Hughton has to try something different, because the current system is not working.[/quote]

 

Good bottom line. If you keep doing the same things do not be surprised if you get the same results.

 

Something needs to change and Whittaker for Russ would be a low risk change. Harsh on Russ who also brings leadership to the team.

 

A possible reason for our loss of form now, and certainly relative to the pre Christmas run, is that there has not been much rotation in the team. So players are possibly no longer at their sharpest. Freshening things up a little might just work. Also if we are not going to change our system a few personnel changes might just give opposing managers a bit more to think about.

 

OTBC 

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[quote user="Sussexyellow"]

is that there has not been much rotation in the team.  

[/quote]

 

I disagree with this - its more about the poor quality of the replacements that have come in.   Since the start of the year we have had Camp, R Bennett, Howson, E Bennett and Jackson as stand ins and they lack of ability has been shown to be wanting.  That is the full spine of the team.   The likes of Bunn, Kei and Whittaker have shown they are good enough to take a starting place if needed.

 

It comes does to those replacements not quite having the quality we need for this system.   Thats where we need to strengthen and release next season.

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I agree with Orford65 on this one. If Pilks is out, leave Snodgrass on the right & have Whittaker on the left. He''s showed he''s just as comfortable there as anywhere else.

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[quote user="ZippersLeftFoot"][quote user="Sussexyellow"]

is that there has not been much rotation in the team.  

[/quote]

 

I disagree with this - its more about the poor quality of the replacements that have come in.   Since the start of the year we have had Camp, R Bennett, Howson, E Bennett and Jackson as stand ins and they lack of ability has been shown to be wanting.  That is the full spine of the team.   The likes of Bunn, Kei and Whittaker have shown they are good enough to take a starting place if needed.

 

It comes does to those replacements not quite having the quality we need for this system.   Thats where we need to strengthen and release next season.

[/quote]

Zipper I accept that we lack the quality to have effective rotation. My argument is that the lack of options on rotation is taking its toll on those asked to play week in week out who quite understandably are becoming jaded.

Whittaker I feel is one of our real options for some rotation. He is good enough. Playing him and with Tettey, and hopefully Pilks, coming back on Saturday we do have the opportunity to freshen things up a bit more than has been the case recently.

OTBC

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I think we did look jaded around the new year - but the last 3-5 games its not been about energy levels but quality but only in central midfield.   I dont think the back 4 have looked jaded or played poorly.

 

I agree that Whittaker (or Kei) could be a left wing option and much better than wasting snoddy or wes out there.  In particular I think whittaker could have done a better job than Howson with BJ- but I suspect Fox may have too.    My preference is to keep players to their specialist position so for this weekend my unfulfilled ideal would be fox and tettey - i think they are our two best players at the club for the role.

 

Stick to 451 and not playing howson and we will coast in...

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I wouldn''t drop Martin either and you wouldn''t have to if I had to drop one player from our back four it would be turner and don''t forget how effective Martin played in the centre last season. So if it was me I would definatly bring Whitaker on and put Martin in the centre.

It has been annoying me how Whitaker hasn''t played since being fit and with the back four of: Whitaker, Martin, Bassong, Garrido I would be a lot happier.

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[quote user="barclay_boy111"]I wouldn''t drop Martin either and you wouldn''t have to if I had to drop one player from our back four it would be turner and don''t forget how effective Martin played in the centre last season. So if it was me I would definatly bring Whitaker on and put Martin in the centre.

It has been annoying me how Whitaker hasn''t played since being fit and with the back four of: Whitaker, Martin, Bassong, Garrido I would be a lot happier.[/quote]
Why would you drop Turner? I think, along with a lot of other fans, that he has been the better CB in 2013

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[quote user="ZippersLeftFoot"]

I agree that Whittaker (or Kei) could be a left wing option and much better than wasting snoddy or wes out there.  In particular I think whittaker could have done a better job than Howson with BJ- but I suspect Fox may have too................   

Stick to 451 and not playing howson and we will coast in...

[/quote]

Alternatively  play Garrido in the left midfield/ wing position (as he can cross the ball) and play Whittaker at left back.

I agree about not playing Howson.

 

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[quote user="priceyrice"][quote user="barclay_boy111"]I wouldn''t drop Martin either and you wouldn''t have to if I had to drop one player from our back four it would be turner and don''t forget how effective Martin played in the centre last season. So if it was me I would definatly bring Whitaker on and put Martin in the centre. It has been annoying me how Whitaker hasn''t played since being fit and with the back four of: Whitaker, Martin, Bassong, Garrido I would be a lot happier.[/quote]


Why would you drop Turner? I think, along with a lot of other fans, that he has been the better CB in 2013

[/quote]

Agreed, there is no reason to drop Turner.

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