Norwood's defensive capabilites

[Isaw Joeshaw]

I completely agree that against teams like West Ham/Brom Norwood should start, as he is much better at playing passes that break down them teams. However with the teams like Liverpool and City, ampadu played very well and filled the gaps that we needed him too, and unfortunately we conceded from 2 crosses, something I dont hold to Ampadu. Furthermore, Ampadu actually came out with the ball a couple of times and played the right pass, showing he can build an attack from his interception. When you say fall apart agasint Chelsea, it was more to do with the manner of the game being out of reach by then

Your credentials as someone in a position to explain (not to say lecture) to others as to the capabilities of certain players in the holding midfield role took a huge nosedive when you stated that Ampadu played very well in that position against both Liverpool and City .

Against the former he did quite well and showed a few nice touches . Against the latter , however , he had an absolute stinker . I watched him closely as I’ve always tended to do with new players at the club and his positional play and distribution were awful , whilst tackles and interceptions were almost none existent . The fact that he also spent much of the game waving and pointing to other much more experienced players did nothing to help his cause from my perspective .

It is true that Ollie Norwood is not playing at the level he was at in the first half of last season , but that applies to almost every member of the team . Nevertheless , and having seen the performances of the alternatives for that role , there is no doubt in my mind that he is by some way the best and most effective option we have .

 

[Trafford]

You do realise that Baldock is just out of the frame ?

Yes but there is also presumably another Chelsea player that the bloke in shot is gesturing to?

 

[Revolution]

I am concerned that Norwood’s legs have gone. He’s not covering the ground he was pretty lockdown. Mind you, pace and tracking back is a problem all over the midfield. Second halves v Chelsea and Fulham were scary in this regard.

As for Berge, I do wish we’d thought more about what need he would fulfil when we signed him. He does different things but none of them very well or very often. You’ll see a shimmy round someone, and then he’ll vanish for 20 mins. It’s not enough. He doesn’t add much in the way of creativity.

 

[RecordBreakers]

Cant believe people are only just realising this because of our bad run, he was exactly the same last season just got away with it more as we was alot more solid defensively. Our performances have been abysmal no matter how anybody wants to dress it up and its down to every single player and member of coaching staff to sort it out, there's no point singling out players cos we win as a team and lose as a team. I feel after this break we'll come back fighting cos we bloody need to, if we stay up it will surpass last seasons achievement for me anyway.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

The fact of the matter is, the vast majority of our squad are Championship standard at best. This in itself is OK if they play as a tight, “well oiled” unit. Chris Wilders teams have always been a sum of their parts. If just one of these parts ain’t functioning at 100% it fucks the whole system up.
Sander Berge is by far our most talented player but I really think the way Chris had tried to accommodate him in what was a fully functioning a successful midfield has unsettled the balances of the team. Dropping both Norwood and Lundstram on several occasions to try and figure out Sanders best position hasn’t probably gone down great in what was a famously tight knit squad.

 

[Torrix1889]

Round and round we go, where we stop, nobody knows......

Norwood in the side = slow, can't tackle, can't beat the first man, occasional worldy ping
Norwood out of the side = get Norwood back in, better side with him sitting and distributing, missing his ping

and repeat....

 

[true99blade]

It’s so so so easy just to say ‘he’s poor at tracking men’ and ‘offers little defensively’. Probably because he’s not the quickest nor the strongest. He’s not there to be some powerhouse diving into tackles and speeding around the pitch for fuck sake. Give him the ball and players in front of him we thrive. Players around him are making him look worse. All this and he still puts a shift in despite the myth he can’t run. Just look at the stats last season and the ground he covered.

 

[coolasanidiot]

Norwood out of the side = get Norwood back in, better side with him sitting and distributing, missing his ping

Its 100% THIS..

 

[S40BLADE]

Wasn't he one of our constant statistical best at intercepting, tackling and ball recovery last season? Proper shite him yeah centre of all our issues.

 

[Torrix1889]

Norwood out of the side = get Norwood back in, better side with him sitting and distributing, missing his ping

Its 100% THIS..

Until you remember he can't tackle, is too slow and hardly ever beats the first man from a free kick or corner.....

 

[S40BLADE]

Yep deffo always been a defensive liability may as well cancel the contract and get Doyle back.

I agree that he is not as good this season/year but that goes for the whole squad. But out of all the players to focus on for defensive lapses Norwood is far down on my list for that especially considering he is barely starting anyway.

 

[true99blade]

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Yep deffo always been a defensive liability may as well cancel the contract and get Doyle back.

I agree that he is not as good this season but that goes for the whole squad. But out of all the players to focus on for defensive lapses Norwood is far down on my list for that especially considering he is barely starting anyway.

Don’t be bringing in facts that prove he actually isn’t a defensive liability. That’s against the rules. He’s small and slow thus he’s shit.

 

[GeorgeLColdwell]

Your credentials as someone in a position to explain (not to say lecture) to others as to the capabilities of certain players in the holding midfield role took a huge nosedive when you stated that Ampadu played very well in that position against both Liverpool and City .

Against the former he did quite well and showed a few nice touches . Against the latter , however , he had an absolute stinker . I watched him closely as I’ve always tended to do with new players at the club and his positional play and distribution were awful , whilst tackles and interceptions were almost none existent . The fact that he also spent much of the game waving and pointing to other much more experienced players did nothing to help his cause from my perspective .

It is true that Ollie Norwood is not playing at the level he was at in the first half of last season , but that applies to almost every member of the team . Nevertheless , and having seen the performances of the alternatives for that role , there is no doubt in my mind that he is by some way the best and most effective option we have .

To be honest with you, I was working when the City game was on and couldn't watch it, but did see the Liverpool game which is why I referenced the Cross goals and times he came out of defence, but I apologise for assuming he played well in the City game, i just added in at the time cause it fit with the response, but I'll stand by you on that. As for me lecturing or explaining, I didnt want this thread to be about who the better CDM is, or who has the better stats or why things have to change because the reality is Wilder is at the wheel and what he does is final, regardless of what any of the fans say. As for the team, defensively we have been poor, and this post isn't me saying Norwood is the big problem, cause he's probably the 10th priority right now and there are defenders who are further from their best than what Norwood is, so this isn't a hate post on him or any of actions. I mostly created this thread to educate myself and see if I had any sense in me and if any other tactical brain could point other points, either in Norwoods favour or not. Whether u agree with Norwood in or out, the central midfielder isn't the position we should be arguing about. We should be arguing about why there aren't 5000 blades spread out across BDTBL, but thats just me. Heads up lads, stop this arguing BS and start standing by your fellow blades.