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From My Seat: Norwich City (H)

Match Report: Norwich City (H)

Oh dear — an inadequate in depth squad comes home to roost. On paper, the line up reflected the issue of those unfit to start with those left available and many on receiving news of the line up would have noted that we had good players on the pitch with little on the bench and those that were fit to start could not be used in their accustomed positions which left us with a team that was and looked unbalanced and add to that mix at least two players woefully short of form to face a side that were going well over their last six games without anywhere near the class of our first choice picks but full of endeavour and fight and it was no surprise that we got the game that we did. In fact from my seat I thought we were fortunate to draw with only the lateness of the oppositions equalising goal masking the fact.

We assembled as usual in our Walton ale house full of optimism until the team was texted through and many a pint suffered a mid-swig gulp as it revealed our acute problem due to injuries as well as many a guess of who might play where. I nearly got it right except I had Jags and Heitinga swopped – still the players on the pitch should be enough we thought as we made our way up Spellow lane to the game. Right away there was a feeling of a ‘touch of apprehension’ as the walk up was quiet and only snatches of hushed conversation reflecting on team set out and possible dire outcomes.
I picked up my proey which today was a retro in the style of the seventies with a free ‘Pink Echo’ in the style of the era thrown in.

Both copies were reflecting the April 13th 1974 Goodison Park game v Norwich. Our team that day was Lawson, Darracott, Seargeant, Clements, Kenyon, Hurst, Bernard, Buckley, Lyons, Latchford, and Telfer. And our sub was Jones. We won 4-1 with goals from Buckley, Telfer, Latchford and Lyons 27,967 faithful turned up to witness it. If you were around in those days when you got home from the match you could have watched the likes of ‘Dr Who’, ‘Dixon of Dock Green’, ‘On tour with the Osmonds’ and the film that night was ‘Morning Departure’ starring John Mills and Richard Attenborough. Followed by ‘Match of the day’ featuring Ipswich (1) Liverpool (1) if you were still up after that then ‘That’s Life’ and ‘Sergeant Bilko’ followed.

Back to the present and in keeping with the 70s theme after an adult ‘Toffee Lady’ had distributed her wares we set of in our quest to gain three points. We made a good start with some joined up stuff along with some stuttering stuff as we sought understanding within our ranks. Distin hit a long but accurate one to Naismith who found Osman with a set up pass but his effort although well curled went wide.

We kept pressing and while we kept the ball on the deck and good movement we looked half decent and it was no surprise that on the 12 min mark we got a breakthrough courtesy of two of our newer acquisitions, Hitzlsperger lofted one down the left into the path of Oviedo who showed speed and nous as he cut in and found Naismith who hammered the ball into the roof of the net. Cheers but not wild ones such was the apparent doubt in fans minds regarding our predicament on the line up front. Norwich haven’t conceded many goals lately so maybe – just maybe we could go on and prosper.

For half an hour we dominated and sure fire joined up stuff had Norwich rocking and sort of half chances came until after a fine move Baines forced Ruddy into vital save low down to his left. For the last 15 mins of the half we went off the boil and when Holt started out-muscling our defenders a bit of apprehension set in allowing Holt to flash a shot wide and then force a corner that we did not defend properly and were glad to see a free header go wide. Half-tome came with us still one up and our best hope seemed to lie with the managers words of wisdom in the dressing room as a glance toward the bench saw little or nothing that could dramatically change anything already on the pitch.

The second half was hard to sit through as we were offering little and you could see Norwich growing in stature and belief even if you didn’t want to admit it.
We were at sixes and sevens, first when Howard sort of scrambled across his line to keep out a free kick and then got right lucky when he was late off the line and just managed to flap away as Holt looked favourite.

Hell it was all Norwich now and Holt was running riot and he set up Snodgrass I think and but for a Hettinga clearance from the line we would have been all square then Howard seemed to go the wrong way as a goalbound header came in but he recovered and did well to keep it out. We did have bits and pieces of long enough possession to worry them none more than Baines who had an excellent slalom of a run that saw him through and forced Ruddy into a sprawling save. The same player after many shenanigans fired a free kick just over.

Osman was doing his best to both provider and Mr quick feet in and around the box. We were getting nowhere and the viewing was anything but easy as almost all assembled would be grateful to say ‘Never mind the quality’ ‘Feel the win’.

It was now a case of could we hold on to this precarious lead as the clock ticked down. Should the manager make subs especially as Pienaar and Jelavic were right off the boil but a look at the bench told you any move would be a gamble. I agreed with the manager, we were in the lead leave it alone.

It almost worked until with every fan and the manager with Fulham on the mind saw Baines give away a stupid free kick as we entered the 90th minute, it was stupid only in the sense that we had a ref who interpreted contact as he and only he saw fit. Baines contact was minimal but he should have known better as he had 90 mins of this most irritating ref. to suss him. He wasn’t biased just poor.

Free kick it was though... Garrido took in regulation fashion to the back post where the big centre back Bassong headed goalwards, at that moment I lost exactly what happened as the ball seemed to hit the bar with Howard still rooted to the line but flapping and the ball seemed to hit the bar come down with Holt charging it over the line. A right mess but the Ref signalled goal. I will look to see that again in slow motion such was the surprise of it. Final whistle and dejection was the order of the afternoon as the result was greeted as a loss rather than perhaps as a point toward safety.

MOTM – Osman

Overall a disappointing game on many fronts. Our line up laid bare the point I have been making for sometime — Great first pick team – injury, suspension and loss of form leaves us as witnessed today and indeed at Reading. Fifth in the table indicates a good start to the season and I saw last week on this site an article urging fans to celebrate this and not be negative but I have to report that there is among match going fans little or no negativity but rather a large dollop of frustration that we are not seeing an end product from such good approach play, the inability to cover for such good players like Jelavic and Pienaar while they are obviously, for whatever reason, hopelessly out of form.

We know we are a genuine threat to break into the top four but also we know we just have to rely on there being few if any injuries of any length of time. No suspensions or the loss of form. Now that is a tall order so really all us fans can do is hope, know how near we really are, continue being the twelfth man yet all the time really knowing only a few signings in Jan can help the cause. Is that being negative? – I don’t think so.

Arsenal Wednesday night and as things stand it could be a touch more than difficult but as with all things footy related you just never know so, if we gather, clap Arteta, then welcome them to the bear pit Goodison can become under the lights, it could be quite a night. Fellaini will be back barring training ground mishaps and let's hope he brings a few more with him and we have a night to savour.

It can be many things following the Blues but I am never bored.
UP THE BLUES

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