Learning lessons

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

We've come an awful long way in a handful of games at this level, from being physically second best against Boro to then dominating the Dingles for example, every game is a learning curve. We're learning fast and starting to impose how we want to play at this level, e.g. Derby. But every game brings new learning and yesterday was different lesson, how to adapt - against a savvy (if not sly) established second tier side. To adapt to a team that has done its homework, is out to frustrate, is out to run the game down and wind us up by not allowing us to play and the game to flow - because to be quite frank, when it does flow, that's when we're at our best. In Norwich we saw the cynicism the championship can bring, grinding out results in an unfashionable way because there's a big payday at the end of it all, if you're successful. And it worked yesterday. It got the better of most of us, including Wilder - and understandably so, their tactics were underhand at best at times.

But like the other lessons, we'll learn from this and won't get fooled again. It's the Norwich fans I feel sorry for, if that's the football they'll be subjected to this season.

The fact of the matter remains - we were all confident before the squad and the injuries were announced. A settled starting 11, with no injuries, at home can give any team in this division a game - Norwich are no exception to that and are far from world beaters. If we'd have been at full strength yesterday, I'd have fancied us to win.

UTB - time to get ready for the Derby now.

 

[Slim Man]

I think we have to be more willing to change to a flat back four if things aren't working.
Thomas should always be on the bench from now to allow us that option, take off Wright and let the full backs bomb forward as before but with one less man back.

Yesterday we had to resort to chucking Basham upfront but obviously circumstances dictated that.

4 defenders, Coutts and Fleck, 2 from Brooks, Duffy, Thomas and Lavery out wide with 2 up top.

Being able to change mid game to a good old fashioned 4-4-2 with our attack minded defence overlapping will see us win a lot of tight games imo.