Outgoing? Oliver Norwood

[ChipButtyBlade]

Cheers for the thumbs up at the Kop during the lap yesterday.

 

[Working Class Hero]

I'll be consistent here and say he's not a player I'm going to particularly miss, much like Berge. When Norwood first arrived he was great and half the reason he worked so well was the overloads that we created. Whenever Norwood pinged the ball there was a target and at least two others waiting for the second ball. As a result an unsuccessful pass often worked in our favour. Again this worked in our first season in the Premier League.

As for our relegation season he was massively ineffective as the overlapping centre backs dried up and we no longer created overloads and the midfield three of Fleck, Norwood and Lundstram were painfully piss poor.

In the two seasons after in the Championship Norwood was very much a 50/50 player. When we committed bodies forward he ran the show. As soon as we went ahead and Hecky got negative he dissappeared from the game and we were down to ten men. In other games where teams managed to dominate us then Norwood dissappeared and we were often down to ten men and he didn't do enough off the ball to have any other kind of influence.

My main problem with Norwood was the consistent inconsistency, you had no idea if this game would be one where he ran the show, or another if you asked if he was even on the pitch, much like Berge.

I'll be grateful to Norwood for those two seasons, but not for the three that followed. A good player, but not consistent enough to be considered a legend for me. Personally if you gave me a choice of Paul Coutts at his best or Norwood at his best, I'd take Coutts, as he'd give you that performance week in, week out. No questions.

By your own admission though, Norwood's best lasted longer than Coutts' best, and in my opinion Coutts was much poorer than Norwood in the years when he wasn't at his best. Norwood's best was also in higher divisions than Coutts' (in fact his whole career has been played higher).

I loved both at their best, and it's a shame we have to choose between them rather than ever having them together, but Norwood was the superior player for me.

 

[SGBlade]

By your own admission though, Norwood's best lasted longer than Coutts' best, and in my opinion Coutts was much poorer than Norwood in the years when he wasn't at his best. Norwood's best was also in higher divisions than Coutts' (in fact his whole career has been played higher).

I loved both at their best, and it's a shame we have to choose between them rather than ever having them together, but Norwood was the superior player for me.

We all loved Coutts and rightly so. But there’s no question who was the better player, and made the bigger impact, both across their career and for us specifically.

Norwood was one of the best midfielders in the league in both our champ promotion seasons and one of the better midfielders in the Prem in our first season there. Playing against world-class midfielders most weeks. Sure, he had two crap seasons in the Prem for us but then the entire squad did as well.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Was he injured Sunday? Not in squad, thought he would have got some last minutes.

 

[LJBlade]

Was he injured Sunday? Not in squad, thought he would have got some last minutes.

And have the fans boo and jeer him again when he came on? It wouldn't surprise me if he asked not to play.

 

[Balham]

No way.

4.5 good. 1.5 bad.

I think people forget how good he was in the first half of last season.

Never a favourite of mine but 4.5/1.5 is nearer the mark imo

Nobody gets any credit for the 20/21 season. At best Norwood is 3.5/2.5. If we'd not been totally hamstrung financially last summer we should have let him go.

Good:
18/19
19/20
21/22
22/23*

Not good
20/21
22/23*
23/24

*22/23 is split: first half good, second half not good.

 

[bonobo]

When we had that ridiculous injury run last season, Norwood was absolutely immense. Even if he tailed of in the last couple of months,I would say he was second only to Ndiaye in being the most important player in our promotion.

 

[JackSUFC]

Currently on trial at Stockport in League One!

 

[10-0 win]

Probably looking for a lengthy contract more than division

 

[Belvedere Blade]

 

[john Mathison]

Thought he would get something in the Championship, very surprised he hasn't.

 

[mattbianco1]

View attachment 189449
View attachment 189450

Cheat code in League 1

 

[Cappy]

Great signing for Stockport

And look at those new teeth!

 

[Tazzy]

Good luck to him.Him and fleck was one of the best midfields i have seen in my 50 odd years of supporting the blades

 

[bertieblade]

He has signed a THREE year deal. He obviously has a good agent as his legs had gone in his last season at bdtbl, so heaven help him moving forward. Good player but was in my opinion not up to the pace mentally and physically in his last two years

 

[Original United]

Norwood and Fleck should be remembered as us being able to enjoy promotions and premier league football. Rarely do players/clubs get it right when it comes to saying it is time to leave.

We are so much in better position after he signed than before he signed and have the great memories

Thanks Ollie

 

[Bell4]

Good luck Oli

Top man

 

[ben1987]

Good luck to him. He was phenomenal for us in his prime. Was time to say goodbye though unfortunately. That’s a good move for him he could run games in a decent side at that level with his eyes shut.

And the chripy cunts line goes down in history

 

[ThatJa]

Had his teeth done over summer.

 

[JayGreen17]

Amazing signing for them, shocked a champ club didn’t come in for him.

 

[Bladesman]

Had his teeth done over summer.

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

Nice if we can draw them in a cup competition so he can get a great reception. His best days will be more fondly remembered than his worst by then. In a few years we'll be talking how we missed him in his prime and what a stalwart he was. Time is a great healer.

 

[mancunianblade]

Went to watch Stockport today. Norwood got MOTM he was a different level, head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch. Dropping deep picking up the ball and spraying it about in typical Norwood style.

Good to see him enjoying his football and still doing it well.

 

[Th!stledo]

Norwood only one who scored his penalty for Stockport in penalty shoot-out. Lost 4-1 on penalties.
Well done Ollie.

 

[Younger Dryas Blade]

Norwood only one who scored his penalty for Stockport in penalty shoot-out. Lost 4-1 on penalties.
Well done Ollie.

Shame he couldn't have done the same at Forest.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Norwood only one who scored his penalty for Stockport in penalty shoot-out. Lost 4-1 on penalties.
Well done Ollie.

He stood out as the best footballer but like bazzaboy played deep restricting the opportunities for him to hurt Orient.

 

[mancunianblade]

heart breaking for them losing out on pens after they should have won the first leg.

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

heart breaking for them losing out on pens after they should have won the first leg.

Thought the same that offside goal decision looks huge now

 

[mancunianblade]

Thought the same that offside goal decision looks huge now

I’m sure I read that PMGOL apologised after the first leg. It’s essentially cost them a pace in the final.