Norwood

[John Street West Terrace]

That is the last game that Norwood should play in a Blades shirt.

He plays deep midfield. On a good day we cannot afford to play a deep midfield player with no pace. But to play somebody who ballwatches on the edge of their own box and lets his man have an unchallenged strike from 19 yards is absolutely unforgivable.

He got us here - but so did Billy - he can’t be a part of keeping us here.

All 11 today were bobbins don’t single out individuals .. we were collectively shite

 

[Almosthuman]

Absolute bollox- he was and is the only player we have who always shows for the ball- always willing to try and forward pass, never hides.

Hourihane - in comparison hopeless, never beats his man, always passes back to man that has given him ball or backwards- a cowardly player - that isnt fit to lace Norwoods boots.

MCB- fucking useless - Never ever ever do i want to see that dope play for us again
Baldock/ Stevens/ Davies/ Osborn/ Uremovic - all appalling today

And you single out the best player for us by miles today- What?

I'm not saying he hides and not saying others were any better than him.

Also not judging him just on this game. Just because he doesn't hide and always shows for the ball doesn't mean he's not utter gash when he gets it.

He makes 1 or 2 quality passes every few weeks. Other than that it's either short passes or he just gives it away to the opposition.

When defending he just gives fouls away. Its not a personal attack on the lad, I just think he's past his best and has been poor to average since 2nd season in the Prem.

 

[Rudders]

Norwood was behind the central 3 defenders many times today to take the ball. Hourihane was about 30 metres further forward than him at least. It was the strangest midfield set up I have seen in a long time. Norwood and hourihane have done well this season as a partnership playing really close together as 2 conventional CM. Huge brain fart from Hecky on the selection and tactics and shape which were awful throughout. Thought Norwood did ok today. He is not the problem.

 

[Davalon]

Norwood was behind the central 3 defenders many times today to take the ball. Hourihane was about 30 metres further forward than him at least. It was the strangest midfield set up I have seen in a long time. Norwood and hourihane have done well this season as a partnership playing really close together as 2 conventional CM. Huge brain fart from Hecky on the selection and tactics and shape which were awful throughout. Thought Norwood did ok today. He is not the problem.

I think Norwood gets plenty of unjust stick but first half today he and Hourihane were both dropping deep at the same time.

There was one instance where both were stood on our centre halves' toes 10 yards inside our own half in possession.

 

[bertieblade]

Norwood has no reason to drop deep to pick up the ball off anyone of our three centre halves, if they are not capable of working the ball to find him in space further up the pitch ideally in the centre circle they should not be playing the game. This should then enable Norwood to thread better quality balls to our attacking players and crate chances, not ping it out to our wing backs who are both useless at creating.

 

[Champagneblade]

Norwood is essentially 'Basement Beckham'.

He can't beat a man, and so doesn't try but when he's on it, he can pass and can cross.

The issue we have is the over-reliance on him to dictate play simply because the others are not brave enough to.

Go through the team yesterday.

Baldock, Stevens and Berge all hugely guilty of the easy pass. Passing backwards is easy. It's borderline cowardly when you are supposed to be pushing for the win. Osborn on his wrong foot was no better though not quite as bad as Baldock and Stevens.

Uremovic tried to pass forwards but got caught out twice, partly because nobody wanted it in front of him and Davies will move forward partially but not to any area be can penetrate the opposition block.

Hourihane occasionally passes forwards but these days he occupies a position so deep it makes little impact. He's just passing to others who are not comfortable taking the responsibility.

Gibbs-White doesn't mind passing forward, in fact he looks for it, but without Sharp, he's often been the furthest one forward, so who does he pass to?

To make Norwood better he needs others to show more. Either they are lacking confidence, belief or something because for all his detrimental points, he receives little to no help from his teammates.

Our season is going to be dictated by how many minutes we can get into Fleck, Basham and Sharp in the next 4 matches. For that reason Monday worries me greatly.

Come away with no points over Easter and there is too much to do with some tricky fixtures to go.