Norwood

[Yakblade]

Want to start by saying I'm a big fan of Mr Norwood and his signing was a masterstroke. But there is a worrying trend that I noticed as far back as the Birmingham home game.

His ability to ping inch perfect passes across the pitch is matched by very few, if any in the division. It's a joy to watch. When we are leading he seems to be able to do it for 90 mins and helps us spread the play. But when we are chasing the game his long passes seem to fly out of play or miss their target more often than not. He's trying too hard to force the issue and is often becoming more of a hindrance than help. It happened again last night.

It's a tough one problem to solve. Would you leave him on in the hope that maybe one Hollywood pass creates a chance. Or would you take him off and hope his replacement can play the simple pass well, keep possession and push forward for a goal.

I honestly don't know what I'd do if I was Wilder. My opinion changes on a daily basis.

 

[Gimli]

Want to start by saying I'm a big fan of Mr Norwood and his signing was a masterstroke. But there is a worrying trend that I noticed as far back as the Birmingham home game.

His ability to ping inch perfect passes across the pitch is matched by very few, if any in the division. It's a joy to watch. When we are leading he seems to be able to do it for 90 mins and helps us spread the play. But when we are chasing the game his long passes seem to fly out of play or miss their target more often than not. He's trying too hard to force the issue and is often becoming more of a hindrance than help. It happened again last night.

It's a tough one problem to solve. Would you leave him on in the hope that maybe one Hollywood pass creates a chance. Or would you take him off and hope his replacement can play the simple pass well, keep possession and push forward for a goal.

I honestly don't know what I'd do if I was Wilder. My opinion changes on a daily basis.

I know what I’d do, I’d keep one of the best midfielders in the division on the pitch.

 

[robbiez666]

I think his passing has much to do with time.

When we're ahead, we're normally dominating games and playing well so he has more time on the ball to pick his passes. In games like yesterday when the opposition press us back, instead of being able to shield and turn (like Coutts two years ago) he instead tries to rush his passes and they're usually off.

Unless Dowell can play in that role, I don't think we have a replacement so he has to stay on the pitch. Taking both Duffy and Norwood off whilst chasing a game is suicidal.

 

[Stretch]

A good OP and responses, all certainly more balanced than some of the criticism levelled against Norwood after previous poor showings.

I think 'He's trying too hard to force the issue' sums it up best, but that in itself isn't a bad thing as we want players who keep trying and aren't afraid to fail.

I recall Duffy in the first few months with us, consistently hard working, committed and very brave in that when things didn't come off [quite often at first] he just kept going. He went on to become [in my opinion] the key player within our system and style of play.

So for Norwood, it's right that he keeps trying to influence games with his quality, but perhaps should also not be afraid to keep it more simple at times, keeping possession. This is the one thing that I felt Coutts [at his peak] was slightly better at. Keeping hold of the ball, making several short pass & returns if needed, in order to allow our attackers to get into position, then BANG, in would come the 30 yard pass. Norwood does seem a little rushed at times by comparison.

Then again, we used to get criticised for playing too slowly, so f@&*£d if I know

 

[Guesty]

Norwood had a bad game yesterday, one of a few he's had since he joined.

He can do things with the ball that no-one else in the squad, and very few in the division, can do. But I don't rate him as one of the best in the division even so. He's not especially reliable or consistent, he's given several goals away and his tackling isn't very good. This last point isn't always important but as the deepest midfielder he picks up a lot of bookings. He got one too early on in the game yesterday and was brutally exposed thereafter.

His qualities are obvious. Hell, he made the winner at the Lane just last week. I just don't ascribe to the popular notion that he's an undroppable God among men.

 

[SwissBlade]

Want to start by saying I'm a big fan of Mr Norwood and his signing was a masterstroke. But there is a worrying trend that I noticed as far back as the Birmingham home game.

His ability to ping inch perfect passes across the pitch is matched by very few, if any in the division. It's a joy to watch. When we are leading he seems to be able to do it for 90 mins and helps us spread the play. But when we are chasing the game his long passes seem to fly out of play or miss their target more often than not. He's trying too hard to force the issue and is often becoming more of a hindrance than help. It happened again last night.

It's a tough one problem to solve. Would you leave him on in the hope that maybe one Hollywood pass creates a chance. Or would you take him off and hope his replacement can play the simple pass well, keep possession and push forward for a goal.

I honestly don't know what I'd do if I was Wilder. My opinion changes on a daily basis.

And yet in the last few weeks when we won a load of games on the bounce and made it to second in the league

What to do? Drop one of the best performing midfielders in the Division, not just the club, because he pings a few 40 yarders off target. Replace him with whom?

Its an absolute no brainer, you don't drop players of his quality until he's consistently underperforming, which he's showing zero chance of doing at the moment.

His shit tackles though... I'd pull him aside in training and get him working on that

 

[Yakblade]

I'm not saying drop him. Far from it. He's vital to how we play and been one of the main reasons we're in the position we are.

Yes, before yesterday we were on a decent run of good results. But in how many of those were we chasing the game in the second half? How many times were we being seemingly overrun in midfield with Norwood having little time to ping those long passes?

My point was he seems to struggle when we are under pressure, particularly in the middle of the park, and trying to push for an equaliser. Then, and only then, does he become less effective as our quarterback.

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

I’d sign Kevin Macdonald having one of the best midfielders Norwood is good but having two is better kmac is pure quality at least try to sign him

 

[blade67]

A good OP and responses, all certainly more balanced than some of the criticism levelled against Norwood after previous poor showings.

I think 'He's trying too hard to force the issue' sums it up best, but that in itself isn't a bad thing as we want players who keep trying and aren't afraid to fail.

I recall Duffy in the first few months with us, consistently hard working, committed and very brave in that when things didn't come off [quite often at first] he just kept going. He went on to become [in my opinion] the key player within our system and style of play.

So for Norwood, it's right that he keeps trying to influence games with his quality, but perhaps should also not be afraid to keep it more simple at times, keeping possession. This is the one thing that I felt Coutts [at his peak] was slightly better at. Keeping hold of the ball, making several short pass & returns if needed, in order to allow our attackers to get into position, then BANG, in would come the 30 yard pass. Norwood does seem a little rushed at times by comparison.

Then again, we used to get criticised for playing too slowly, so f@&*£d if I know

I thought he was poor yesterday but impressed that he didn't hide at any time, same at home to Birmingham, when things just kept going wrong for him.

I'd stick with him whislt he's showing that attitude as it will turn around for players like him and win us points in other games

 

[PaulHalfway]

That’s probably why he is not playing in the premier league, but a top player at this level but can be inconsistent especially in away games

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

If Norwood was the best version of himself every single game we wouldn’t have him. He will have off games but will he win us more points than he loses? Yes by a street I would suggest

 

[Guesty]

His shit tackles though... I'd pull him aside in training and get him working on that

Glad it's not just me!

I thought he was poor yesterday but impressed that he didn't hide at any time, same at home to Birmingham, when things just kept going wrong for him.

I'd stick with him whislt he's showing that attitude as it will turn around for players like him and win us points in other games

Got to give it to him, he never does hide. What sometimes happens though is that he's forced very deep. Against Birmingham, he was practically picking the ball up on his own penalty spot! He kept at it though, determined to make things happen.

 

[Dnblade]

I thought it was just his delivery into the box was off 2nd half,the rest of his game was ok,although getting the booking didn't help...I think he would have got nearer to the Fulham player that had the run on him and ran past him just before JOC committed the foul...JOC wasn't happy with him,but he daren't foul him,as he would have walked.

 

[guancheblade]

I think his passing has much to do with time.

When we're ahead, we're normally dominating games and playing well so he has more time on the ball to pick his passes. In games like yesterday when the opposition press us back, instead of being able to shield and turn (like Coutts two years ago) he instead tries to rush his passes and they're usually off.

Unless Dowell can play in that role, I don't think we have a replacement so he has to stay on the pitch. Taking both Duffy and Norwood off whilst chasing a game is suicidal.

I think your solution is hidden in there somewhere, something about Coutts shielding and turning?

The gaffer needs to work on getting Paulio fighting fit again because ability to retain possession and recycle the play was the biggest factor in the success of the team and our style of play in the time before he was injured. When our midfield are harried you need clever on the ball players. Norwood doesn't have that in his vast locker sadly.

 

[Harry's Game]

Without the pre November 2018 Coutts being available who else do we have who is anywhere near the quality of Norwood?

I’ll answer that one for you.. no one.

 

[LondonBlade89]

The real question here is: is anyone safe from the post-defeat over-reaction?!

 

[I should coco]

The real question here is: is anyone safe from the post-defeat over-reaction?!

TC, Woody and Jimmy Hagan seem safe so far but it looks like everyone else is fair game.

They all hate Wilder too apparently, if you read other threads.

 

[LenTednTony]

The answer was there all along. Norwood IS one of the top performers in the division and while the burden of shifting gear from defence to attack is his, he deserves the opportunity to ‘pass the baton’ as it were. Couttsy in my mind, is better at shielding and gaining that extra yard for himself. If needs be, give Couttsy a run by replacing Ollie and not by replacing Fleck or Duffers. Couttsy is Norwoods replacement at the moment but, watch this space. You heard it here first!

 

[PokerBlade]

When we are leading he seems to be able to do it for 90 mins and helps us spread the play. But when we are chasing the game his long passes seem to fly out of play or miss their target more often than not. He's trying too hard to force the issue and is often becoming more of a hindrance than help. It happened again last night.

Maybe you're looking at it backwards and it's that when he isn't playing so well, or when the opposition is playing better, his passing is less successful and that's what means we aren't leading in the game. Rather than he has some adverse reaction to losing that we need to pin down.

 

[BushBlade]

The answer was there all along. Norwood IS one of the top performers in the division and while the burden of shifting gear from defence to attack is his, he deserves the opportunity to ‘pass the baton’ as it were. Couttsy in my mind, is better at shielding and gaining that extra yard for himself. If needs be, give Couttsy a run by replacing Ollie and not by replacing Fleck or Duffers. Couttsy is Norwoods replacement at the moment but, watch this space. You heard it here first!

I think some of us suspected Norwood was Coutts replacement, given he’s been playing in Coutts’s position since we signed him. But don’t worry, I’ll keep it quiet.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

But when we are chasing the game his long passes seem to fly out of play or miss their target more often than not.

Tonks-it Ollie?

 

[BushBlade]

Maybe you're looking at it backwards and it's that when he isn't playing so well, or when the opposition is playing better, his passing is less successful and that's what means we aren't leading in the game. Rather than he has some adverse reaction to losing that we need to pin down.

In Joshua’s first ten or so fights he just knocked his opponent out in a couple of rounds. I don’t know why he doesn’t just go back to doing that instead of all this pissing about he does these days.

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

The real question here is: is anyone safe from the post-defeat over-reaction?!

Only deano

 

[adebo]

Norwood was bossed by leroy fer on Saturday and it demonstrated what he lacks to be a premier league player. Its just size and physicality, Swansea still have 3 or 4 Premier league players and unfortunately 2 made the difference Saturday night (fer and dyer)

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Coutts and Norwood should be in the same 11. They are both pivotal players....but different. Norwood is playing much too deep for my liking,he should be further up the pitch dinking balls into the channels. Coutts should be in the engine room recycling the ball. Norwoods game is all about the final ball and Coutts game is all about keeping it. Let’s not get into that old Gerard/Lampard debate.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Norwood was bossed by leroy fer on Saturday and it demonstrated what he lacks to be a premier league player. Its just size and physicality, Swansea still have 3 or 4 Premier league players and unfortunately 2 made the difference Saturday night (fer and dyer)

That's not his game though is it? He isn't in the team for size and physicality. His passing range and control of posession is his job, Leroy Fer would be a perfect partner for Norwood.

 

[LenTednTony]

I think some of us suspected Norwood was Coutts replacement, given he’s been playing in Coutts’s position since we signed him. But don’t worry, I’ll keep it quiet.

But unless I am reading it wrong robbiez666 doesn’t think we have anyone to replace Norwood unless I am reading it wrong. I just thought if he felt that way, maybe others do too.....sorry.

 

[Sheff de party]

Genuinely find it amazing some of the criticism he gets. No one is above it completely, but it’s been asked whether he’s toxic, he’s been blamed for a goal when he gave it away on the halfway line and now his passing is being called into question.

He’s given everything for this team and he’s central to the way we play. In fact, we are so high in the league because of how we play, which we changed to accommodate him.

Give me a player who misplaces the occasional pass but does what he does over the dross I’ve paid to watch in previous years any day

We used to have Monty and Doyle.

 

[I should coco]

In Joshua’s first ten or so fights he just knocked his opponent out in a couple of rounds. I don’t know why he doesn’t just go back to doing that instead of all this pissing about he does these days.

Like my wife helpfully says. "Why don't we score more goals when we are losing..."

Football, it really is a simple game.

 

[Sheff de party]

Like my wife helpfully says. "Why don't we score more goals when we are losing..."

Football, it really is a simple game.

I take my Mum sometimes and every time we concede, after she’s said “oh no”, without fail she’ll turn and ask me if they’re “just not concentrating.”

Oddly, given how good we are now, it’s quite often the reason!

Though it hasn’t been for the decade she’s been asking