Match thread vs Stoke

[NWC 240]

Great first half performance and a great result.But I must say - stoke were proper cr@p !!

[Brightside 0]

Let''s hope this is the kick up the arse our season needed. We''re out of the bottom 3 and level on points with ManUre. We''ve got tough opponents in our next few games but with this result I hope we''ve now got the belief and confidence to get points.

[Mister Chops 7]

First clean sheet away from home since QPR, Feb 2013.  Made Stoke look piss-poor.  Great performance. [y]Pilkington my MoM, Fer a very close second.

[A Gay Schoolboy 0]

[quote user="The New Boy"]

We''ve done an excellent job of neutralising a team who made two attacking substitutions at half time, are playing at home, and have a 6ft 8" striker on the pitch. In the process we have managed to create an end to end game, and almost saw our out of form winger score an absolute top class goal.

We''ve done an excellent job today against a difficult team to beat. 

[/quote]Agreed for the most part but its still dull as hell to watch. I''m not sure Stoke needed much help being neutralised as they looked woeful in the final third. End to end is generous too, up and down seems more accurate for the second half.

[Juggy 0]

[quote user="iron_stan"]good first half. unconvincing second[/quote]

You really don''t understand football if you thought Stoke weren''t going to come out and raise their game in the second half. 

They were the home team, losing 1-0, and they came out on the pitch having made two attacking substitutions. 

Some people will never be happy. We just won an away game, kept a clean sheet, and scored an away goal. 

And you aren''t happy because we didn''t dominate the game for 90 minutes. 

You may as well go and support Man City, seriously. 

[unique 435]

That was dire entertainment, but hey....a win at Stoke and an absolutely vital three points....that will help October''s upcoming fixtures somewhat.

[ROBFLECK 132]

So very very happy otbc

[Juggy 0]

[quote user="Dandy Mountfarto"][quote user="The New Boy"]

We''ve done an excellent job of neutralising a team who made two attacking substitutions at half time, are playing at home, and have a 6ft 8" striker on the pitch. In the process we have managed to create an end to end game, and almost saw our out of form winger score an absolute top class goal.

We''ve done an excellent job today against a difficult team to beat. 

[/quote]Agreed for the most part but its still dull as hell to watch. I''m not sure Stoke needed much help being neutralised as they looked woeful in the final third. End to end is generous too, up and down seems more accurate for the second half.[/quote]

I can safely say that it was the most enjoyable Stoke vs Norwich game that I''ve seen since promotion and the best Norwich performance in those games. This is the fifth time we''ve played them. 

[The Great Mass Debater 1,090]

Great stuff! Thoroughly inspiring win. Pride and passion. Thats all I wanted to see from our away performances. And oh look, we won!

Howson does seem to be our main threat from range. Maybe Murphy''s goal against Watford helped remind him that he''s quite capable of that. Well done lads! You''ve set the bar - dont let it drop!

[Houston Canary 0]

Nice to see Hughton showing some life on the sidelines.

Hard to believe we had only 3 shots on goal.

After the subs came on, we totally shut them down.

[ReadingCanary 0]

Hughton got the midfield spot on todayStoke just couldn''t get past usWell done

[City 2nd 191]

A win ugly, but three good points - bit ultra defensive second half and would have liked to have seen hooper and pace of Murphy which may have caused Stoke problems - but hey oh can''t have it all ways. Just what was needed, keep it going CH!

[Reggie Strayshun 0]

Massive win , that. Just shows what can happen if you set up away from home with 3 pts in mind.

Fer looked outstanding.

[Farkes The Herald Angels 0]

Goodnes, mircales do happen. On Premier League TV Andy Townsend was salivating with praise for the boys in yellow.

[The Great Mass Debater 1,090]

Would have been the wrong game for Murphy. Agreed with the subs today. Second half was always going to be about protecting the lead. We didnt rest on our laurels though, Stoke simply did what they had to do and we coped with them very well. No change in mindset from us at all, just a Stoke with more drive in the second half, which we dealt with superbly. Have to say Pilks, Fer and Olsson really impressed. Bennett did well too but needs to play a simpler passing game

[Redders Right Foot 22]

a very good win for us.

great first half where we dominated completely, and bar the first 10 mins of the second half we were even. dealt well pretty much everything they threw at us.

[Phillip J Fry 0]

First half we were brilliant. Our passing was sharp and accurate, the movement of our attacking four was very promising. 

Anyone complaining about the second half is being very harsh. We did what any team would''ve done with an away win, we sat deep and looked to counter. It worked, Norwich had the best chance of the second half and restricted Stoke to just one shot on target. Hughton''s substitutions were logical and Elmander was very good at keeping the ball in their half by winning throw-ins.

You can''t always dominate a game, especially away from home, and we never looked threatened by this Stoke side when they tried to attack. Offensively we dominated possession in the first half and looked competent on the counter in the second, whilst our defence marshaled two very big strikers and some quite talented wingers, despite missing our captain (and best defender) through injury.

All in all a very good day.

[Farkes The Herald Angels 0]

He has stated an opinion about the game. You have stated an opinion about his knowledge of football. I don''t agree either that it was an unconvinving second half, but stop being a n*bh**d and keep your comments less insulting. Idiot

[Redders Right Foot 22]

Would have been the wrong game for Murphy. Agreed with the subs today. Second half was always going to be about protecting the lead. We didnt rest on our laurels though, Stoke simply did what they had to do and we coped with them very well. No change in mindset from us at all, just a Stoke with more drive in the second half, which we dealt with superbly. Have to say Pilks, Fer and Olsson really impressed. Bennett did well too but needs to play a simpler passing game

-------------------------------------

my goodness, I find myself agreeing with you!

bringing on murphy would of been a risky call when we were already winning. all three of the wide men involved in the second half offer a lot more defensively than murphy (goes for redmond, too, even though he wasn''t on the bench.) and we could of been caught out along the wings.

the formation we played were made for both sides of the break. first half the extra man in mid allowed us to press, and after it allowed us to defend against their long ball, while going forward when needed.

great win, and a great tactical show from hughton finally. loving this right now.

[Lavanche 0]

Well deserved victory. At first half we were so much superior and even at the second half we looked a better team.

Very pleased we at last got our midfield balanced and I hope Hughton will follow this formula in future too. Target man at the 10 spot just doesnt work for us as our passing isnt good enough behind striker. Howson didnt do much in creating wise, but as our target now plays front of 10 those return balls dropped front of him and he was so much more useful than Elmander in that spot. Great goal from the lad and something we miss too often -> Long threat <-

Also Tettey''s energy give us so much more time with the ball as he can cover almost everywhere on the pitch and is more comfortable running with the ball than Johnson is. Fer took a bit risky chances there with the ball and at the box, but good game from the dutchman.

Little bit dissapointed of our CB''s ability to deliver the ball. Bennett and Turner did great defensive wise, but would like them to find our players from better positions. Both fullbacks had a good game. Martin could improve his last pass, but other wise very good overlaps from both and good defending.

Wasn''t best day for either of wingers. but at the end they did enough. Both give good cover for defenders.

RvW runned again great miles, made good runs and did everything right except getting the ball and scoring the goals. Must be frustrating for him.

Subbing him off was right thing to do. He was forced to play only his back on the goal and he isnt at his best in that where Elmander is kind a specialist in it.

Good work from everyone and even if none shined that much it was great teamwork and the one thing that popped out was that our closing down was so much better than in our few previous games which made the difference.

[Guest]

Hamann and Phillips on Sky running on about the ''blatant'' penalty Stoke were denied. Since when has laying a finger on an opponent''s shoulder and him falling over like a sack of spuds been a penalty?Excellent three points and much needed.

[FenwayFrank 2,459]

Sky just asked Leroy asbout pen, he said yeah I pulled his shirt, but only a little bit, looked at Howson and laughed ! [:)]

[Rock The Boat 1,332]

[quote user="Lavanche"]Well deserved victory. At first half we were so much superior and even at the second half we looked a better team.

Very pleased we at last got our midfield balanced and I hope Hughton will follow this formula in future too. Target man at the 10 spot just doesnt work for us as our passing isnt good enough behind striker. Howson didnt do much in creating wise, but as our target now plays front of 10 those return balls dropped front of him and he was so much more useful than Elmander in that spot. Great goal from the lad and something we miss too often -> Long threat <-

Also Tettey''s energy give us so much more time with the ball as he can cover almost everywhere on the pitch and is more comfortable running with the ball than Johnson is. Fer took a bit risky chances there with the ball and at the box, but good game from the dutchman.

Little bit dissapointed of our CB''s ability to deliver the ball. Bennett and Turner did great defensive wise, but would like them to find our players from better positions. Both fullbacks had a good game. Martin could improve his last pass, but other wise very good overlaps from both and good defending.

Wasn''t best day for either of wingers. but at the end they did enough. Both give good cover for defenders.

RvW runned again great miles, made good runs and did everything right except getting the ball and scoring the goals. Must be frustrating for him.

Subbing him off was right thing to do. He was forced to play only his back on the goal and he isnt at his best in that where Elmander is kind a specialist in it.

Good work from everyone and even if none shined that much it was great teamwork and the one thing that popped out was that our closing down was so much better than in our few previous games which made the difference.[/quote]

Lavanche, what do you think we need to do to get the best out of RVW?

[Redders Right Foot 22]

Sky just asked Leroy asbout pen, he said yeah I pulled his shirt, but only a little bit, looked at Howson and laughed

----

Love it!!

[thas a rummun 2]

The Fer ''penalty shout'' just makes up for the awful decision we were on the end of at Hull involving Turner.Swings and roundabouts, decisions even themselves out over the season etc etc.Great win. Much needed, will do wonders for confidence, and hopefully Carrow Road will be bouncing next Sunday rather than the nervous, partly anti-Hughton one it would''ve been had we been beaten this afternoon.I thought the Fer/Howson/Tettey trio in the middle of the park worked wonders. Pilks was very, very good. Snoddy still lacking a bit of confidence but very unlucky not to score with his effort near the end.

[shefcanary 2,409]

[quote user="thas a rummun"]The Fer ''penalty shout'' just makes up for the awful decision we were on the end of at Hull involving Turner.Swings and roundabouts, decisions even themselves out over the season etc etc.Great win. Much needed, will do wonders for confidence, and hopefully Carrow Road will be bouncing next Sunday rather than the nervous, partly anti-Hughton one it would''ve been had we been beaten this afternoon.I thought the Fer/Howson/Tettey trio in the middle of the park worked wonders. Pilks was very, very good. Snoddy still lacking a bit of confidence but very unlucky not to score with his effort near the end.[/quote]

Snoddy looked like getting some form back at the end - won''t begrudge him that, but he was woeful first half - if he had been halfway to his best form we would have scored a couple more then and put the game to bed.

[SwindonCanary 455]

They are shouting about a penalty, watch Wolfy when we hit the bar after 8 mins Huth had him by the neck then grabbed around the waist.

[Fiery Zac 1,066]

Really impressed we have some strength in depth in the squad now. Looking at the players that didnt play for whatever reason - Bassong, Garrido, Redmond, bennett, hoolahan, hooper. All good players who will play their part this season.

[Lavanche 0]

Rock the boat:

Faster delivery and switching the sides from he run. We wait too long with giving the cross and we very rarely try early low cross behind the defenders or trough ball on the ground.

Also when we attack we stick too much on the same side and try to find answers between our fullback and winger trough overlapping instead of sometims just trying to get that ball for other wing behind their fullback.

RvW likes to run and the only chance today from Pilkingtons good run and low cross was a situation where he is at his best.

At the other hand we have very few players who can give trough balls and Snoddy isn''t fast enough for quick wing switching, so Hughton would have to change something. My answer would be a risky

Pilkington - Hoolahan - Redmond/E.Bennett

behind him, but I doubt we see this formation.

Something that is a bit nervy is that Hooper doesnt like to play his back on the goal either and lives from similar situations than RvW so hopefuly Hughton finds a medicine for this problem.

For me it is again all about lacking the players in the midfield who are profiled passing machines. Profilic advanced or deep lying playmaker would make so much difference in my opinion. We have to play way too much trough the wing and that makes us a bit more slow than we could be.

And now I again sound like a broken record.

[killiecanary 0]

[quote user="swindoncanary"]They are shouting about a penalty, watch Wolfy when we hit the bar after 8 mins Huth had him by the neck then grabbed around the waist.[/quote]

Yeah I noticed that too! It was blatant.

I thought the team and tactics were spot on today. Dominated first half, got the goal, closed the game out very comfortably. Never really felt we were in danger of conceding a goal.

Oh and Iron Stan - just a question...do you support a football team? Just wondering...