Norwich Report Card

By: Dr Fishy
Date: 31/10/2001

DR FISHY has compiled match statistics and a report card for the side that lost 2-0 at home to Norwich. The Dr concludes that Town must get better or suffer another dose of his cane!

Coyne: Somehow he was labelled Man of the Match by the club but I don't know why. Maybe it was because the ten outfield players were all poor and Danny was average? Again he was suspect on crosses all night and I don't wish to blame Coldicott for the first goal. It could have been avoided if Coyne came for the cross in the first place.

Grade: C

Chapman: He seemed to slot in well and was almost perfect defensively. Despite being small he certainly knows how to head a ball and had bags of pace. But how many times was he up against two players? He didn't get out of his own half to support the midfield and couldn't play balls down the line due to him being left-footed.

Grade: C

Gallimore: Back to his usual sub-standard performance once more. He just can't have two good games in a row, can he? His balls forward were aimless and his defensive work left a little to be desired. He waves his arms about a lot as if all the defensive mistakes have got nothing to do with him. Poor, if you're the captain.

Grade: C-

Broomes: Many see him as our best defender on the night but to tell you the truth they were all pretty average. He looks classy when going forward and bringing the ball out, but he doesn't win much in the air and he hasn't got the strength to hold off strong strikers. He's got a bit of pace and a good sliding tackle but he wasn't impressive.

Grade: C

Beharall: He struggled to contain Libbra as he was making runs all over the place, just as Allen was on Friday. He was a difficult man to mark and it showed. He was allowed to hit the bar and also turned Beharall too many times. He was out of position when the second goal went in but most agreed at half time he was our best player!

Grade: C

Boulding: Showed off his electric pace in the first 20 minutes but when the goal went in we didn't see it again. The team seem to have this mentality that if they go a goal down the game is out of reach and they just lose interest. Boulding was one of these although he didn't look like the player he was against Birmingham.

Grade: C

Butterfield: Now Danny has been struggling to win over the fans this season but he's not going to win any over if he refuses to tackle, pressurise and hold up the opposition. Nor is he going to be friends with Chapman if he insists on playing centrally when he's supposed to be out wide. Provided no cover and was, dare I say it, useless.

Grade: D

Coldicott: Although he tried, he was clearly lacking the energy he discovered four days ago. He was rightly subbed in the second half after running out of steam. He is certainly one of our most committed players but there comes a time when you just can't go on and looked physically shattered. He's a touch unlucky to be blamed for the first goal as it was the defenders' duty to deal with high balls in the six-yard box.

Grade: C-

Pouton: My mate with crutches would have been able to use his left foot more than Pouton did last night. He tried to play a ball two yards in front of him with the outside of his right foot when a simple touch of the ball with his left would have sufficed. But this is Pouton. If he refuses to pass the ball with his left just two feet forward then maybe he's not the potential Premiership player we all thought he'd turn out to be.

Grade: D+

Jevons: Runs about a bit but loses out in the air. Doesn't have any strength whatsoever but looks useful when we pass along the ground. Useful on the right, but by that time we had started hoofing the ball high into the night sky where the wind took it away from us.

Grade: C-

Allen: Once again he wasn't that bad but seriously lacked support from midfield. It's obvious he is an experienced campaigner as he has now run his socks off in Town's last two games in four days and looks like he can keep on going. He's not getting the goals or the chances because of the players around him.

Grade: C+

SUBS

Willems: As soon as he entered the fray Town concede. He had the referee against him all night and was penalised for falling over after being tugged back several times. Had one wayward shot outside the area from a free kick but was generally invisible.

Grade: C-

Rowan: Replaced Allen for some mysterious reason but failed to do anything special. He was utterly useless in the air, so once more, why do I have to ask: why do we play high balls forward. Keep it on the ground and you'll get the most out of Rowan. This lad will score goals but play it in front of him and along the ground!

C. Thompson: Not a bad debut by the youngster and put himself about a bit. It look as if he might have a bit of pace about him and some strength but again he's a bit of a dweeb in the air. Where's Livvo?

Best part of Town's performance: Is there one? I can't think of any, not after witnessing that. All I can say is that it was better than the Watford game but about on par with Rotherham.

Areas for improvement: To play it to the strikers' feet. Not to hoof the ball from defence. Not to be sloppy in defending. Be able to use our own players' strengths and avoid their weaknesses e.g. Play it to Rowan's feet and not his head; to pass to feet and not volley the ball onto the opposition's defenders' heads. Need I go on? The usual stuff.

Entertainment scale: What's worrying about this season is the fact that when we lose we are beaten comprehensively. Last season we just about gave every team a decent game and were not overran once. This season we are offering three points on a plate to the opposition, and more concerning is that it's occurring at Blundell Park. We've got to stop gifting teams goals and score more ourselves. On an attacking angle we were back to poor, the same could be said about the defending. Our midfielders weren't used and so it looks like there'll be more boring performances ahead of us this season.

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