We played well, better than in some of the games we won

The referee and assistants were the most biased I've seen for a very long time. I rarely call them out but this was awful. The offside when we played the ball backwards was just bizarre.

Our defensive line was way too high, suicidal really. The Norwich manager realised this and in the second half instructed them to play it over the top, and, despite our good play, we could have conceded a few more as we simply refused to change tactics. Whatever IV is, adaptable isn't one of his attributes.

Taking James off was a poor move. Palmer did OK when he came on but Kane continued to do very little. With James and Palmer we would have performed better, as it was we lost a lot of impetus from the substitution.

Schmidt did nothing but I can understand why he was brought on, we needed a goal.

We gave it a go, we could have scored at the end but it didn't happen.

At present, every game, two of our three forwards aren't of the same quality as the rest of the side. Victor offers something different as a sub, but if we're going to play this formation, which we most definitely are, we need better than Thomas, Frieser and Chaplin. No problem with their work rate, but the quality isn't there.

 

Decent 1st half, i thought we were awful 2nd half, again hoofball with no direction , no physical presence up top,just constantly conceding possession , defensively all Norwich had to do was hit the channels and they were away, i,d have liked to have seen odour on for thomas and styles given 20 mins supporting the forwards, Norwich not that great for me, not a patch on bournemouth...onwards and upwards..

 

It’s our old problem of lacking composure and looking after the ball that shows up more against the better sides in this league. We probably did as well as we could have but certainly no disgrace in the result and nearly nicked a point in the end.

 

Agree the standard of refereeing was poor Jay. As the summarisers said, every time they appealed he seemed to give them the decision. James' booking was questionnable but if it was then Vrancic's challenge on Kane should also have been. Stopping the game when Puki had bumped his face was premature and the non-offside decision was bizarre.

Also agree that our line was very risky - the same as at Swansea.

And also agree about taking James off. Our ball retention and overall quality dropped afterwards. I am beginning to wonder how James feels about being taken off every single game. When he joined I think it made absolute sense to ease him back gently but in his shoes my frustration would now be growing.

No shame in losing today and I was impressed by how we played, in the first half particularly. Hopefully we have some success in improving the quality of our squad a little over the next week or two.

 

Definitely made sense to withdraw James earlier in the season when he was still getting up to fitness. Not now. He'd got more running in him than kane and, at present, is ten times the player.

 

We’ve got 8 or 9 good players, and then a massive drop off in quality to the rest. As soon as one or two of those 8 are out we’re really struggling - we’ve been so fortunate with injuries and suspensions. Some right babber on the bench.

 

Kane is just cack on a stick. The new Frimpong without the fouls.

 

Give him a chance.

 

A bit harsh imo TM. I think he was great at Derby and good again in the first half today. I think he's decent and will only get better.

 

As others have said, thought we lacked composure all over the pitch. I lost count of the number of times we won the ball back but then immediately cleared it 50 yards forwards when there was a simple pass on.

Against the better teams we really need to look after the ball a bit better, or at the very least look to pick out one of the forwards with the long balls. We spent the entire game running around after them and it showed in the legs in the second half.

I think we missed Mowatt, particularly with Styles being unusually poor today.

 

Norwich are the best side we have played this season and our style of play makes us competitive in this league but we will always come off second best to the top teams. VI needs a plan B style of play or just stick with what we are doing as it keeping us in the top half.

Norwich goal was fantastic but we had some chances.

Good game nothing to moan about today other than the ref.

We have a few weaker players in the starting 11 so a few good signings in the coming weeks could give us a decent push in the second half of the season.

 

Palmer needs to play the ball and stop appealing for fouls he’s never going to get.

 

I think he's lacking confidence. He's trying to make sure he doesn't lose the ball, rather than trying something. He should be smashing the ball in from 25 yards not looking to play an easy ball. But if you think about Redfearn, particularly in the promotion season, he was 31 years old. If he put a shot 20 yards over the top of the bar it didn't bother him. He'd got the strength of character to just let it go and if he got the chance again, he'd crack it again. The noises from the crowd and comments from his team mates made no difference, he knew what he could do. Kane doesn't have that confidence yet. When Redfearn was Kane's age he was playing for Donny and Lincoln and not scoring anywhere near the amount of goals he scored for us. James, Mowatt and, imho, Palmer are the better options at the moment, but that doesn't mean Kane won't come good.

 

Against all the teams we play we need to look after the ball a bit better. Cos if the tide turns and we lose a bit of our momentum, we're playing the type of football that is unforgiving when you're on a downward spiral.

 

That second half was rubbish,what’s the point of having a midfield when we were just hoofing it anywhere.We can play really good football with it on the ground so to me kicking the ball anywhere is just pointless.

 

I thought Kane played a couple of excellent long balls out to Brittain today, did okay first haif but would have took him off instead of James in second haif.

Man of the match for me was Helik.

 

I'd have gone Brittain for MOTM, but if Helik had got to the ball at the end!

 

It's not that we aren't particularly good at looking after the ball, it's that we make no attempt to. It's not part of the plan. We prefer the opposition to have it. There isn't a better example of this than our approach to kick offs. We purposely give it away. The whole idea of our style of play is for the opposition to have the ball. I'm not defending this, it's batsh1t mental, but it's true. And at the moment it's working. We'll be found out, IV will be found out, he'll never be a top manager as he has no alternatives, he makes no concessions to the team we're playing or their tactics, but it's working at the moment because it's crazy and it's hard to deal with crazy.

 

Thought Brittain wasted a few good opportunities to cross or put poor crosses in missen.

 

No one was error free but first half especially he was all over the shop, and saved a certain goal.