Neil Dawson
UTC Legend
Arnie Terminates Canaries….
Bournemouth and Jason’s unbeaten start to the season moves on after Norwich strode into town and strode back out again with another Danjuma special leaving them empty handed. It wasn’t the easiest watch with Bournemouth still adjusting to a new formation and Norwich full of passing football that meant we had long periods of chasing the ball, but three points is three points and keeps us in touch with the division pace-setters.
As expected Kelly missed out with Rico coming in at left centre back and Smith moving to wing-back. Billing came back after Gosling’s poor show at Boro and Danjuma switched to the centre in a new 3-5-2 line up which gave the three in midfield that the team seems to have missed in the opening games.
The first half was full of pretty football by both sides but not over-brimming with substance. Norwich were missing their two best players Cantwell and Bendia both pending moves. Brooks for us was ‘ill’ which will make the more conspiratorial fans wonder although King made the bench. As a result all the pretty build ups lacked end product although Norwich enjoyed richer possession and Bournemouth played increasingly on the break. Our best chance was created and smashed by Solanke but Krul saved well. The big Dutch stopper also foiled Stacey’s downward header. At the other end Begovic turned in an uncharacteristically decent performance and smartly denied Hernandez and Rupp.
It looked like it was going to take something special to score and it came when Lerma found DANJUMA who brilliant let the ball run across him to get a yard and then fired unerringly into the bottom corner with his left foot from the edge of the area. Two home games – two worthy match winners so you feel a little that there is no crowd for our fast rising St John’s Ambulance mens’ favourite player.
HT Bournemouth 1 Norwich 0.
The second half was largely dominated by Norwich but again with little end quality and Cook and Rico in excellent form denying space and blocking. There were a couple of penalty shouts but both were ridiculous – the sort of decisions only given to Manchester United by VAR but absent in all other forms of football. Their possession was relentless though and Bournemouth were suffering with an out ball – Solanke in particular showing the reactiveness of a pub crowd at 10pm curfew times. The much maligned 20m ‘hit’man had a golden opportunity as well to bury the match but he headed Danjumas cross softly into the air from 6 yards and over the bar when it was easier to score. Picture the closed eyes kid at school that hated heading if your stream went down.
So the game remained technically on a knife-edge but in reality I never thought Norwich would score as they brought on a succession of average strikers who were no match for our back three. In contrast we were able to bring on King who looked majestic with some bursts down the wing and some great time wasting meandering as the game ran it’s course.
There were a couple of minor cardiac arrest moments with Pukki stretching for a cross and Hugill heading wide but it was generally a calm finish with Bournemouth even pushing for a second in injury time.
FT Bournemouth 1 Norwich 0
Begovic 7 – Excellent saves and one moment aside assured handling and kicking.
Mepham 6 – Calm and steady, not hugely noticeable.
Cook 7 – Excellent marshalling and positioning.
Rico 7 – More suited to a defending role than a wing back IMO.
Stacey 6 – Quieter of the two wing-backs but tidy.
Cook 7 – Excellent first half in deep role – caught more often in 2nd
Lerma 6 – More advanced and gave press energy slight lack of quality
Billing 6 – Some useful foot ins but doesn’t hugely effect a game.
Smith 7 – Burst around with energy but needs to be on right side.
Danjuma 8 – Some real moments of quality including the main one.
Solanke 5 – Gave it away, lacked intelligence, missed a sitter, subbed.
Verdict
At the start and end of a season points are more important than performances. There is no doubting that and as a result we have made a good start. What we now need to see is if this team grows into each other and becomes an effective unit. At the moment we look like some quality individuals playing a formation that doesn’t produce much. As a result our games are getting settled by special moments rather than effective team domination.
We (some of us) put up with low possession at home when Eddie changed to it because a) it was the premier league and b) it brought the odd amazing result that lived in the memory. At any other time of this club 36% possession at home would not have been welcomed and the only other manager to try it – Pulis – got short shrift. When journos called for Pulis type managers during Eddie’s dodgy spells in the Prem the fan-base rightly pointed out they would rather lose playing Eddies bravery than draw or win with West Brom/Stoke levels of possession at home.
That’s my worry. 36% possession to a poorer side than us…….at home. This needs to change – unless our perception of the type of football we want to watch has? Football is about getting at people, getting on the ball, making magic. Today was efficient and dull and relies to much on a moment of magic and other teams not making use of 64% of the ball. So while a glance at the league table is reassuring this team has to develop a joy of playing and an identity if it is to entertain us and ultimately succeed. Let’s hope we are cracking on with working that out and I’m sure we are.
I think a switch back to a back four would facilitate this – our wing backs were so deep again today and it left huge gaps on the flanks that allows teams to strangle the middle. This wouldn’t be bad if we had players in the midfield that were able to operate in small spaces but of the four central midfielders on the books only Cook can do that and as is often discussed – erratically. Billing and Lerma aren’t small space players so the final ball is often laboured and predictable.
All of these are things for new managerial teams to work out and I’m sure they are on it. We need to get higher up the pitch and we need to create over-laps and use space on the edge of the area much better than we are. However – it is a results business and todays excellently organised defence and the ability of Danjuma to conjure means the effective start to the season continues. With Coventry up next it could be ten points out of twelve which would put a smile on all our faces
Bournemouth and Jason’s unbeaten start to the season moves on after Norwich strode into town and strode back out again with another Danjuma special leaving them empty handed. It wasn’t the easiest watch with Bournemouth still adjusting to a new formation and Norwich full of passing football that meant we had long periods of chasing the ball, but three points is three points and keeps us in touch with the division pace-setters.
As expected Kelly missed out with Rico coming in at left centre back and Smith moving to wing-back. Billing came back after Gosling’s poor show at Boro and Danjuma switched to the centre in a new 3-5-2 line up which gave the three in midfield that the team seems to have missed in the opening games.
The first half was full of pretty football by both sides but not over-brimming with substance. Norwich were missing their two best players Cantwell and Bendia both pending moves. Brooks for us was ‘ill’ which will make the more conspiratorial fans wonder although King made the bench. As a result all the pretty build ups lacked end product although Norwich enjoyed richer possession and Bournemouth played increasingly on the break. Our best chance was created and smashed by Solanke but Krul saved well. The big Dutch stopper also foiled Stacey’s downward header. At the other end Begovic turned in an uncharacteristically decent performance and smartly denied Hernandez and Rupp.
It looked like it was going to take something special to score and it came when Lerma found DANJUMA who brilliant let the ball run across him to get a yard and then fired unerringly into the bottom corner with his left foot from the edge of the area. Two home games – two worthy match winners so you feel a little that there is no crowd for our fast rising St John’s Ambulance mens’ favourite player.
HT Bournemouth 1 Norwich 0.
The second half was largely dominated by Norwich but again with little end quality and Cook and Rico in excellent form denying space and blocking. There were a couple of penalty shouts but both were ridiculous – the sort of decisions only given to Manchester United by VAR but absent in all other forms of football. Their possession was relentless though and Bournemouth were suffering with an out ball – Solanke in particular showing the reactiveness of a pub crowd at 10pm curfew times. The much maligned 20m ‘hit’man had a golden opportunity as well to bury the match but he headed Danjumas cross softly into the air from 6 yards and over the bar when it was easier to score. Picture the closed eyes kid at school that hated heading if your stream went down.
So the game remained technically on a knife-edge but in reality I never thought Norwich would score as they brought on a succession of average strikers who were no match for our back three. In contrast we were able to bring on King who looked majestic with some bursts down the wing and some great time wasting meandering as the game ran it’s course.
There were a couple of minor cardiac arrest moments with Pukki stretching for a cross and Hugill heading wide but it was generally a calm finish with Bournemouth even pushing for a second in injury time.
FT Bournemouth 1 Norwich 0
Begovic 7 – Excellent saves and one moment aside assured handling and kicking.
Mepham 6 – Calm and steady, not hugely noticeable.
Cook 7 – Excellent marshalling and positioning.
Rico 7 – More suited to a defending role than a wing back IMO.
Stacey 6 – Quieter of the two wing-backs but tidy.
Cook 7 – Excellent first half in deep role – caught more often in 2nd
Lerma 6 – More advanced and gave press energy slight lack of quality
Billing 6 – Some useful foot ins but doesn’t hugely effect a game.
Smith 7 – Burst around with energy but needs to be on right side.
Danjuma 8 – Some real moments of quality including the main one.
Solanke 5 – Gave it away, lacked intelligence, missed a sitter, subbed.
Verdict
At the start and end of a season points are more important than performances. There is no doubting that and as a result we have made a good start. What we now need to see is if this team grows into each other and becomes an effective unit. At the moment we look like some quality individuals playing a formation that doesn’t produce much. As a result our games are getting settled by special moments rather than effective team domination.
We (some of us) put up with low possession at home when Eddie changed to it because a) it was the premier league and b) it brought the odd amazing result that lived in the memory. At any other time of this club 36% possession at home would not have been welcomed and the only other manager to try it – Pulis – got short shrift. When journos called for Pulis type managers during Eddie’s dodgy spells in the Prem the fan-base rightly pointed out they would rather lose playing Eddies bravery than draw or win with West Brom/Stoke levels of possession at home.
That’s my worry. 36% possession to a poorer side than us…….at home. This needs to change – unless our perception of the type of football we want to watch has? Football is about getting at people, getting on the ball, making magic. Today was efficient and dull and relies to much on a moment of magic and other teams not making use of 64% of the ball. So while a glance at the league table is reassuring this team has to develop a joy of playing and an identity if it is to entertain us and ultimately succeed. Let’s hope we are cracking on with working that out and I’m sure we are.
I think a switch back to a back four would facilitate this – our wing backs were so deep again today and it left huge gaps on the flanks that allows teams to strangle the middle. This wouldn’t be bad if we had players in the midfield that were able to operate in small spaces but of the four central midfielders on the books only Cook can do that and as is often discussed – erratically. Billing and Lerma aren’t small space players so the final ball is often laboured and predictable.
All of these are things for new managerial teams to work out and I’m sure they are on it. We need to get higher up the pitch and we need to create over-laps and use space on the edge of the area much better than we are. However – it is a results business and todays excellently organised defence and the ability of Danjuma to conjure means the effective start to the season continues. With Coventry up next it could be ten points out of twelve which would put a smile on all our faces