Norwood

[coolasanidiot]

Apart from the obligatory daft giveaway In second half. What a game, first half was a masterclass.

But every man stood up today, played well.

Hope that well and truly closes the door on the 23% twats who wanted Wilder out.

Feels like we have won the league.

Well done to every last one of them.

 

[Almosthuman]

I'm not sure, I still think he's a liability now. I really want him to get back to last seasons best but I thought he didn't look great tonight.

That being said, tonight will give them all confidence so hopefully he'll come roaring back

 

[Iceybabey]

Norwood did well, especially second half but there are still question marks over him for me. Newcastle's midfield was wank and never had the movement of other prem teams we've faced this season so I reckon that's why Norwood did OK.

 

[Jon Bon II]

He had a good game but how come he can ping the ball from touchline to touchline with inch perfect accuracy but as soon as he gets around the box, he turns into me trying to cross the ball whilst wearing wellingtons two sizes too big?

 

[metalblade]

Norwood wasn't pressured tonight he will always do well given time and space.

 

[Dnblade]

I always think we always need a playmaker type for our system to work,and Norwood has got his faults without the ball, but we don't function without him knitting things together when we have it.

 

[Echo Blade]

Though he made a good few tackles without fouling today which improved his overall contribution greatly.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Played well tonight, just what we needed. Then gave the ball away and didn’t bother tracking Wilson into the box just to balance all his good play out

 

[Working Class Hero]

Norwood has been good for the last three games now (despite some opinions). He is what he is, when we have possession he makes the whole thing work. When we're getting over ran he will struggle because of his mobility. That's the way it's always been with him.

 

[Gateford Blade]

He was greatly helped by Newcastle’s midfields social distancing

 

[puppet]

I only counted three "mistakes" by him tonight but I also saw him going in to tackles he'd normally stand and watch and the one where he took it off the toes of three indecisive Geordies late in the game was sheer class.

 

[dazzlingblade]

Played well tonight but let's not get carried away, he was given the freedom of the lane tonight, they just let him have the ball

There won't be any other teams that do that

 

[Working Class Hero]

Played well tonight but let's not get carried away, he was given the freedom of the lane tonight, they just let him have the ball

There won't be any other teams that do that

But that's exactly what will happen in the Championship, and exactly why we shouldn't be offloading him like so many have said on this forum lately.

 

[Wincobank S9 Blade]

It was the game for him today we were always going to have slightly more possession than usual but yeah other than the mistake did well and happy for the defence and Ramsdale too with the clean sheet

 

[S64 Blade]

He gained some goodwill from me tonight. Still not convinced he’s up to it, but much better today!

 

[Shoes_On]

We always seem to be more fluid and create a lot more chances when Norwood plays

 

[mattbianco1]

Hope that well and truly closes the door on the 23% twats

Thought that was referencing Bruce's average possession against us

 

[bonobo]

I am usually first to defend him. But tbh, most of the mistakes of this season were there, just compensated by Lunny and Fleck stepping up. Class is permanent, form temporary, legs not sure....

 

[true99blade]

He had a great game, t’was a shocking pass that could’ve been punished on another day though.

 

[BladeInIreland]

he looked alot better when he had two sides if the pitch to aim for.

 

[Sharp as a blade]

As usual with Norwood he's well worth a place in the side when we're having a decent amount of possession.

Unfortunately in this league that's not very often and when we're not having much possession he's a bit of a liability.

Decent performance tonight.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Played well tonight but let's not get carried away, he was given the freedom of the lane tonight, they just let him have the ball

There won't be any other teams that do that

Agree...don’t think Norwood has changed much from this year compared to previous seasons.

We need possession with runners offering options for Norwood to play his quarter back role.

When out of possession Norwood is poor and if we lose cohesion with no options then again Norwood can’t play his style. Always though Norwood is a player to use at home but probably prefer a Lunny type when playing away.

Basically play to Norwoods strengths and he’s excellent. Play to his weaknesses and he’s crap.

 

[ancientblade]

Agree...don’t think Norwood has changed much from this year compared to previous seasons.

We need possession with runners offering options for Norwood to play his quarter back role.

When out of possession Norwood is poor and if we lose cohesion with no options then again Norwood can’t play his style. Always though Norwood is a player to use at home but probably prefer a Lunny type when playing away.

Basically play to Norwoods strengths and he’s excellent. Play to his weaknesses and he’s crap.

think its 50/50 on norwood for next season he should still be good enough for the championship but is a weak link at premier level

 

[Stevo]

Could he be shoehorned into a number 10

 

[Lane Ender]

One thing that that annoys me with Norwood and Fleck is losing possession or missed place passes leaving us under the cosh

 

[ancientblade]

One thing that that annoys me with Norwood and Fleck is losing possession or missed place passes leaving us under the cosh

yes usually by underhit passes in midfield that put us in trouble

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

The role of the holding midfield player is by no means an easy one and it takes a special kind of player to be able to be successful in it .

Of the ones we have on our books at present , Oli Norwood is still head and shoulders above any others in his understanding and execution of it , albeit his performances have not been at the level he achieved last season when he was among the top five in the PL .

To support this opinion , I would point towards the performances of Ampadu , Berge and Basham (much as I love him ) when they have been played in that position which have varied between no better than ok to being borderline useless .

Yes , Norwood does make mistakes but when you’re involved in the play as much as he is in every game he plays , that’s almost inevitable . I’ll take that all day long against the type of player who shirks responsibility of which we have had many .

 

[Champagneblade]

The role of the holding midfield player is by no means an easy one and it takes a special kind of player to be able to be successful in it .

Of the ones we have on our books at present , Oli Norwood is still head and shoulders above any others in his understanding and execution of it , albeit his performances have not been at the level he achieved last season when he was among the top five in the PL .

To support this opinion , I would point towards the performances of Ampadu , Berge and Basham (much as I love him ) when they have been played in that position which have varied between no better than ok to being borderline useless .

Yes , Norwood does make mistakes but when you’re involved in the play as much as he is in every game he plays , that’s almost inevitable . I’ll take that all day long against the type of player who shirks responsibility of which we have had many .

Without him in the team we lack direction. He's very much then conductor of the orchestra. Now we also miss him when he's not playing well.

I don't see Berge adds enough to the play when there. We all saw, though it was a while back that Lundstram failed in the role after Coutts was injured and has excelled more in a box to box role.

Ampadu is off the back of a decent game but to me he is a defender, still learning his trade, who can play a bit. That doesn't make him anyway near good enough to be dictating the play of the whole team.

Besic could play the role but the role then changes to what it is under Norwood. It becomes a deep lying midfield destroyer, a poor man's Makelele/Kante rather than that of a (cringe) quarterback type role.