please log in to view this image Ball progression stats for the top 5 leagues in Europe. Ridiculous stats from Emi (4.25, 5.5 if you want to find him). It's crazy how he's equal third in the league for assists, putting up these top stats, and we're suffering a comparative goal drought.
So, do you bring Ben back in to start vs Liverpool or stick with Handily? We need Ben's pace but we've been playing well with Granite at the back. DF did say if Godfrey is healthy, he starts.
We'll have had two weeks of just training, I'd almost be temped to try 3 at the back. It's a complete throwaway game, if it looks decent then maybe it gives us a platform to turn fortunes around. Krul Godfrey Zimbo Hanley Max Vrancic Tettey Byram Buendia Duda Pukki Equally, as Farke thinks performances have been better, I can't see him wanting to upset that. Hanley had a torrid time in the away game, and it does feel harsh to drop him for Godfrey. Is Zimmerman undroppable? He appears to be a walking penalty recently.
3 at the back would be an interesting exercise but I can't see it if it means dropping Todd. What about Rupp and Buendia, who is the better fit against the Reds? Good question about Zimm, but I can't see him starting on the bench.
I like that formation for Liverpool with one FB going forward while the other maintains the defensive line. Buendia and Duda could share defensive duties when the ball is lost. Vrančic could move forward to form a 3 behind Pukki when we have the ball.
We could play 6 centre backs against Liverpool it wouldn't make much difference, they are just too good this season. Better to play how we always play and hope we can pull off a miracle rather than mess about with new formations at this end of the season.
On the contrary, now is precisely the time to be trying new formations out, with an eye to next season and, more particularly, the one after. Keep on as we are and history, like my posts, will keep on repeating itself .......
Where would we get 6 CBs! I never thought we'd have a chance against ManCity. We made changes and we won. We've nothing to lose against Liverpool, let's just be less predictable and go for it!
Pretty sure Farke has set us up with only 2 centre backs in every game this season and pretty much every game he has been picking the side . I can't see that changing anytime soon.
Not that he had much choice, DD. How often have we had 3 CBs available? Much of the time we've only had 2 or even just 1. I don't expect DF to change other than the way he did against ManCity, but you never know...
Zimbo on what we need now: https://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city...rmann-assesses-relegation-situation-1-6505967 Good performances are great, but it's points we need from here on out. With 4 points from the last 3 games, the base is there, but we need a run of points to get back in touch.
I was going to post it on my “How we survive” thread, but one of the interesting things is at different times of the season points can feel worth more or less: We’ve just been through a patch where a lot of our fellow relegation competitors have played each other, which means guaranteed points “against” us. That means when we get a draw it hasn’t felt like it’s improved our situation (and actually our odds have moved away, even though proportionally a point a game equals safety...) I haven’t done a rigorous check, but for the rest of the season, I think there are only a 3/4 games remaining between our competitors (two involving West Ham). Most of the remaining relegation six pointers are ours! That means points gained from now on in should look a bit more helpful for safety. None of that takes away from the fundamental point that we desperately need to start winning, and often. 22 points from 13 games. Not quite top 4 levels, but it isn’t far off that.
Given the number of 6 pointers we have, I think 20 points could be enough but we have to win most of those 6 pointers and draw the others. We've left ourselves no margin for error but most players are fit now and Klose could come back next month.
As DF admits, it would be a miracle if we were to pull it off, but with a now fit squad, swelled by Duda and Rupp, we are capable of putting a run together. It's enough to keep our interest anyway and if it doesn't happen, it will hardly come as a surprise to most of us.
Tettey has signed a new one year contract for next season. https://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/alex-tettey-signs-new-deal-with-norwich-1-6511751 He doesn't score that many, but they're usually gems as the compilation video shows.
That's good news! Negotiations went smoother than last time. This will give him time to work on his coaching badges