Good post.
"This was a match we should have won. Norwich, particularly first half were incredibly naive, and we exploited that to the full, yet only scored from a lucky deflection, although possibly the ball was goal bound anyway."
So the ball was goalbound anyway so this is really a pointless statement? We
exploited Norwich's naivity. Not like United or Chelsea you mean? You sure we didn't "cause" it?
"There is no doubt that we created chances a plenty"
So we are creating chances - just not taking them. Didn't we hit the woodwork a few times? So there is not a problem with taking them eh?
"but the most telling stat is shots on target, we had 9, Norwich 7"
Is it? I'd say the score was the most telling stat but Norwich had 2 chances. One Holt should have scored from and the other he had no right to win. He doesn't make many errors but Pepe's fault that one. The point is, its where these seven shots were from. Ged used to rattle on about that stat but if all 15 shots in a game are from 35 yards it's not like we missed 15 sitters is it?
The first half saw us have the vast majority of the possession and chances. BUT, and it's an important but, second half Norwich had more possession and had they had any nous at all would have won. Once Holt came on and scored, they had us on the back foot.
But Norwich didn't have the nous did they? If we'd have had the "nous" in the first half it would not have mattered if Norwich had brought Holt on and not took anyone off because the game would have been dead and buried. All if's and buts of course.
Midfield was a problem.
Honestly? We weren't fantastic but should have scored 3 or 4 minimum
First half, with us attacking so much, the positional and defensive deficiencies apparant weren't punished.
Wonder why that is? How the bleeding hell do Norwich punish us when they didn't have the ball in the first half?
As soon as Norwich changed formation and wised up a bit, they strolled goal side of our midfield with remarkable ease.
I honestly recall Norwich having the better of the game for 15 to 20 minutes - I suppose it comes down to what you want to see and what your agenda is?
I'm not sure who was meant to be playing the more holding role, or if the task was meant to be shared, either way, it didn't work. Adam twice dribbled his way up the pitch and then fell over looking for non-existant fouls
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Don't get the correlation between these two statements
The first time Norwich scored 2 passes later, the second time they would have bar the best save of the day from Pepe.
The best save of the day from Reina?! Honestly? I'm sure Ruddy at the other end would argue against you on that point. You fail to point out that the worst save of the day caused the equalising goal too. Otherwise, top analysing!
Adam in a midfield 2, asking for trouble IMO and we paid. I don't think it's a coincidence that Adam's best game for us has been the one game where we played with a midfield 3, where Adam's defensive inadequacies were masked by the extra CM doing the donkey work for him.
He ain't a defensive midfielder so I can't dispute that.
In contrast, I'm not unduly bothered by Gerrard in a midfield pair in general, when properly match fit, I think he does OK, he presses, he tackles, and positionally he's not bad.
In honesty, I don't think Gerrard is a fantastic central midfielder. Look at the FA Cup final in 2001 when he played the role of Viera's puppy dog. How much did he learn from that game? Not enough. Gerrard for me is much better pushing further forward. In an advanced role he is World Class - in central midfield he relies to much on his energy when gets caught out of position. That said, I have to admit the game against the Manc's before is injury in March was probably the most disciplined I've seen him in centre midfield
He does tend to be better with a more defensive cover alongside him though incase he goes galavanting off up the pitch.
Totally agree
But Adam and Gerrard was never going to work, and Norwich got in behind them with a free run at our defence numerous times second half.
2 or 3 times. Does this equal numerous?
I hope we never have this central pairing again, and as soon as Norwich brought on Holt, Kenny would have been prudent to have brought on either Spearing or Henderson to protect the lead.
This is Norwich City bringing on a beefed up pub league player that's built like and about as pacy as me - not like Barcelona bringing on Andreas Iniesta!
People may rile at the thought or protecting a lead against Norwich but we have shown time and time again this season that keeping a clean sheet is a problem to us.
Our main problem is not protecting a lead or going to kill the game - it's the obligatory 10 yards we drop back and then lose all shape and energy
Kenny didn't and Norwich scored. As Adam did little positive of note second half I think he should have been subbed. Who knows, a more defensive CM in there and we might have protected our one goal lead.
If we put our chances away, your constant dig at Charlie Adam doesn't materialise. What about the chances Suarez missed? What about Pepe's error? Love them both to bits but lets see things how it happened eh?
We'd still have been disappointed, but we'd have had the 3 points
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Yes, I'd have cried my fucking eyes out into my Happy Villa chip shop curry if we'd have won 1-0!
Is there any point me discussing the CB's.
Absolutely fuck all point whatsoever but I know you just will
I mean, it looks like Carragher is going to be a fixture for Kenny for a long time to come. I'm not anti Carragher, but it's disappointing that Coates isn't getting a chance. Home v Norwich, who played with 1 striker for most of the match, is surely the perfect game to blood him in? If not, what is? Skrtel I thought was very good, covering and defending well.
So Pepe drops a bollock - but yet Carragher, who did very little wrong in my eyes is to blame - I really don't understand this statement. I'd love Coates to start playing more but support your reason for not wanting Carragher there with some sort of substance.
A most telling statistic though; Norwich caught us offside 9 times. How many times did we catch Norwich offside? A big fat zero. Defence too deep.
There is two sides to this though isn't there? If Norwich only push forward for 15-20 minutes of the second half then they are less likely to be caught offside. The two bulky luggers that they had up front in the last half hour were just too slow to get into our box let alone sprint into an offside position!
I thought Norwich defended as a team really well, something I just wish our team would do.
But if Norwich had lost 4/5-1 you could not have argued?...or maybe you could?
Our entire midfield (Bellamy, Adam, Gerrard, and Downing) attempted 18 tackles in the whole game, yet Suarez attempted 13 all on his own (chalkboard stats).
If we and Norwich's defence have the ball what do you want us to do? Tackle each other? Pointless statistic.
Now I might be on the wrong planet here, but does anyone else see something arse about face with that?
And the penny finally fucking drops. Mork calling Orson!
Why are our midfielders, when Lucas doesn't play, so reluctant to press and hassle and tackle? What happened to last season's high tempo pressing game? Are we not doing that any more? Is it not what Kenny wants?
Because the central midfield was set up to take the game to Norwich. It's Norwich at home for Christ's sake. Other managers have been taken to the grill for being too defensive / tactical against the likes of Norwich. We go at them and pin the back for 2/3rd's of the game and it's still not right for some.
And that lad Barnett for Norwich is a really good defender, his never say die attitude has much to be admired
Be careful! You'll make it sound like Norwich didn't in fact outplay us by the words "Never Say Die" attitude from a defender!
Defensive frailties, a dysfunctional midfield, many missed chances and some bizarre subs. Disappointing.
Seriously. Just read what you type - the irony. "Defensive frailties" - we conceded 2 clear chanes. "Dysfunctional midfield" -maybe it wasn't the best but it was definately not the worst "Many missed chances" dead right - so we did create many chances. Thanks for that - I thought Saturday was all a dream!
In a nutshell, we created a hat full of chances, we took one and got punished by a big lump up front. If we take the chances then balls all is said. Pepe catches the ball and fuck all is said. Yes we need to improve but a wasteful performance is being spun around and turned on its head to be an absolute shite performance. Norwich worked hard and are on form - credit where its due. It was never going to be 4 or 5 nil but it could have been. Chelsea and United didn't rip Norwich apart so we don't have the God given right for them to come to Anfield and roll over. Where they missed 2 or 3 at Old Trafford, they took one at Anfield.
Let's congratulate Norwich on a dogged performance and lets concentrate on the real problem which is converting more of our 6 or 7 chances we had.
