The Norwood Effect

[Tom Bott]

If we kept Brooks and just loaned a good striker I'd be feeling really confident - and that's something we should've been able to do.

Though the 1.5 million signing on fee and a wage of 4/5 times what we were paying him may have been a stumbling block.

Preventing us from signing the players we have.
Without Coutts we looked lost, even with Brooks, we now have Norwood as back up. And all the other excellent additions.

 

[Stretch]

Accommodating both Coutts and Norwood is probably the nicest problem Wilder will ever have in his managerial career. Fleck and Duffy at the moment are undroppable as well so unless we go with a back 4 (very possible) then we drop a striker. Considering we are short in that area anyway and whilst I think we will get another one in, loading the midfield with quality is the best option if we remain short up top.

How many teams in this division would cope with the midfield below? Norwood is a very versatile midfielder so will get forward if required and we know what Fleck and Duffy can do on the ball. The Roller can sit back and pull the strings, mop up and feed the wing backs.

Of course the big question then is who starts up front, so if we go with our current strike force then who can best play the lone striker role? On paper it's Leon but Sharp looks a man possessed at present. Another option up front would be enormously welcome.

.............................................Henderson............................................

.........................Bash...............Egan.............JOC.............................

Freeman...............................................................................Stevens
................................................Coutts................................................

.........................Norwood............................Fleck..............................

....................................Duffy/Woodburn/McG............................................
........................................................Striker........................................

 

[Tom Bott]

What a transformation he’s made to the midfield already!!. Fleck and Duffy have the freedom to go forward!!. His reading of the game is something we’ve not had in a while. Let’s just hope we can get a striker in?. UTB

Stuart McCall, though at the time Brown and Tongue got most of the credit.

 

[Eric Cartman]

Quality players know how to play together, even if fans don’t quite understand it.

Rewatch Argentina’s performances from the past 8 years and tell me that again I beg you.

 

[blade too long]

Norwood has shown that Brooks for all his potential and he will be a class prem player one day didnt offer às much as consistently as Norwood will in the next 2 seasons. Norwood is just that more off the shelf ready for our needs just now. We are in a dogfight in a very competitive league and Norwood is just that bit stronger . Flashes of genius are ok but we need 46 battling gutsy displays

 

[sheffielder]

We've been transformed since he signed. He links everything up and keeps the ball moving quickly.

And forwards too! Who knew

 

[super_pig]

So if both are fit who do you play Steve?

i’m sure Chris and Alan have a cunning plan

 

[super_pig]

What went wrong with Steven Gerard and Frank Lampard then? Both looked very average when playing in the same England team.

cos they ‘were’ both fairly average..big problem was they kept scholes out of the team

 

[super_pig]

There is no pressure to rush Coutts back now,but when fully fit we will have two very good championship players to choose from,i'd be perfectly happy with either of them.

both

 

[Sheffsteel]

You picked the wrong person to ask about England Wank, I’m afraid.

Quite why people don’t want two genuine quality players in the team I don’t know? Happily Tufty will certainly do so.

Let’s bring back Monty and Doyle and keep you all happy. I’ll be in the minority favouring proper football and proper footballers.

Many teams usually need a Monty/ Doyle type in their midfield.

The top level equivalent of those 2 is N’Golo Kante.
Kante has no flair and doesn’t play anything like a Coutts/ Norwood, Kante can only make short simple passes.
However he’s is like a Jack Russel Terrier, he’s got an unbelievable engine, he’s forever snapping at the heels of dangerous players
And he manages to consistently break up loads of opposition attacks.

Kante isn’t the most talented or easy on the eye
But does the defensive work of 2 midfielders and frees up his fellow midfielders to be more attack minded.

He’s acknowledged as one of the best midfielders in the world at what he does
.....but having 2 Kantes in the same team would probably be a bad idea.

Not saying you’re wrong, would love to see Coutts and Norwood in the same team, both look class players to me.
just think it’s not that simple and Wilder would need to change our tactics to accommodate them.

 

[stringjunior]

cunning plan

A plan so cunning you could stick a tail on it and call it a fox™

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Many teams usually need a Monty/ Doyle type in their midfield.

The top level equivalent of those 2 is N’Golo Kante.
Kante has no flair and doesn’t play anything like a Coutts/ Norwood, Kante can only make short simple passes.
However he’s is like a Jack Russel Terrier, he’s got an unbelievable engine, he’s forever snapping at the heels of dangerous players
And he manages to consistently break up loads of opposition attacks.

Kante isn’t the most talented or easy on the eye
But does the defensive work of 2 midfielders and frees up his fellow midfielders to be more attack minded.

He’s acknowledged as one of the best midfielders in the world at what he does
.....but having 2 Kantes in the same team would probably be a bad idea.

Not saying you’re wrong, would love to see Coutts and Norwood in the same team, both look class players to me.
just think it’s not that simple and Wilder would need to change our tactics to accommodate them.

It's all about balance and having players that compliment each other. Sometimes you need someone to carry the water, so someone else can turn it into wine (Norwood; hallelujah!).

Unfortunately we've been knocked out of the League Cup already, but i would've loved to have used the next round to experiment with a 3-5-1-1 / 5-3-1-1, and see whether we can accommodate Fleck, Coutts, Norwood and Duffy in the same team at the same time. It possibly being the perfect away day formation against the better sides in the division.

 

[YES Blade]

Rewatch Argentina’s performances from the past 8 years and tell me that again I beg you.

Exactly, if football management was a simple as picking the eleven best players and sending them out there because “Quality players know how to play together”, then the owner wouldn’t pay big money for managers!

The owner could just sign a load of quality players and pick the team themselves.

 

[DronnieBlade]

The importance of adequately replacing Coutts, or not as the case may be, further evident.

Will be more than interesting to know what Wilders plan is when all are available.

Something has to give as I don’t think we will play Coutts, Norwood Fleck AND Duffy unless he wants to go with 1 up top. Which I doubt.

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

The campaign against quality continues...


...only in S2.

 

[Pinchy]

Rewatch Argentina’s performances from the past 8 years and tell me that again I beg you.

Fantastic Sam would improve them no end.

 

[YES Blade]

The campaign against quality continues...


...only in S2.

Everyone is loving the quality that Norwood is showing. You’re just getting arsey because your favourite player might not simply walk straight back into the team when he’s fit again.

 

[Pinchy]

Everyone is loving the quality that Norwood is showing. You’re just getting arsey because your favourite player might not simply walk straight back into the team when he’s fit again.

Nobody is loving that quality more than me. Paul Coutts has it in spades. That is now being re-written by the ‘every team needs a Monty or Doyle’ Brigade. Let’s get one thing clear, both were utter shite non-footballers, needed by nobody.

Paul Coutts is a proper footballer. A delight to watch. We were top of the league when he last kicked a ball and his absence cost us very dear. He was right at the heart of all our excellent football. So we now look for ways to leave him out.

Incredible.

 

[Shalalalafenoughty]

The particular qualities possessed by Coutts are such that there is no footballer on earth with whom he wouldn’t “fit in” - he is always available as an outlet or otherwise to receive the ball, even when marked, he has the ability and self-confidence to control it, pass it short or long, receive it back if need be and orchestrate moves across and up the pitch. If you’re another midfield player, whatever your own particular qualities, there is no negative at all about having Coutts alongside you.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Imo one of the biggest positives is there is now zero need to risk coutts before he’s good and ready and full for to contribute.

Had Evans / Lundstram continued in that role we’d maybe have been tempted to take a risk before he was quite 100% - now we can ease him back and have 2 quality players

 

[YES Blade]

Nobody is loving that quality more than me. Paul Coutts has it in spades. That is now being re-written by the ‘every team needs a Monty or Doyle’ Brigade. Let’s get one thing clear, both were utter shite non-footballers, needed by nobody.

Paul Coutts is a proper footballer. A delight to watch. We were top of the league when he last kicked a ball and his absence cost us very dear. He was right at the heart of all our excellent football. So we now look for ways to leave him out.

Incredible.

So with a midfield three of Norwood, Fleck and Duffy which is the Doyle/Monty type player?

For me it’s as simple as this, if we stick with the same formation then Coutts is on the bench until he can force his way in or we get an injury/suspension.

If we change the formation then Coutts has a chance of starting straight away. But I wouldn’t be in favour of changing when 3-5-2 has brought us much success and certainly not to shoehorn in fan favourites.

 

[Pinchy]

The particular qualities possessed by Coutts are such that there is no footballer on earth with whom he wouldn’t “fit in” - he is always available as an outlet or otherwise to receive the ball, even when marked, he has the ability and self-confidence to control it, pass it short or long, receive it back if need be and orchestrate moves across and up the pitch. If you’re another midfield player, whatever your own particular qualities, there is no negative at all about having Coutts alongside you.

Absolutely right. I know a little Scottish fella who thinks exactly the same:

 

[Pinchy]

So with a midfield three of Norwood, Fleck and Duffy which is the Doyle/Monty type player?

For me it’s as simple as this, if we stick with the same formation then Coutts is on the bench until he can force his way in or we get an injury/suspension.

If we change the formation then Coutts has a chance of starting straight away. But I wouldn’t be in favour of changing when 3-5-2 has brought us much success and certainly not to shoehorn in fan favourites.

Players, not formations, bring success. Tufty says that quite a lot, so I have no doubt whatsoever he’ll bring the Roller back as soon as he can. Quality players like Paul Coutts took us to the top of the Championship. We already know Fleck loves to play alongside him. So will Norwood.

You can’t have too many good footballers in your team. Do try to move on from Monty and Doyle, fellow Blades. You’ll feel the benefit eventually.

 

[YES Blade]

Players, not formations, bring success. Tufty says that quite a lot, so I have no doubt whatsoever he’ll bring the Roller back as soon as he can. Quality players like Paul Coutts took us to the top of the Championship. We already know Fleck loves to play alongside him. So will Norwood.

You can’t have too many good footballers in your team. Do try to move on from Monty and Doyle, fellow Blades. You’ll feel the benefit eventually.

Quality players played in the right way bring success, you can’t just sign a load of good players and send them out there and get the win.

I’m interested to know what team you would pick when Coutts is fit.

 

[Pinchy]

Quality players played in the right way bring success, you can’t just sign a load of good players and send them out there and get the win.

I’m interested to know what team you would pick when Coutts is fit.

Henderson, Norwood, Fleck, Coutts and seven others.

 

['Doc' Pace my hero]

both

Yes,possibly,but that's just being greedy !!

 

[super_pig]

The owner could just sign a load of quality players and pick the team themselves.

isn't that what happens at Chelsea??

 

[ForgeBlade]

What went wrong with Steven Gerard and Frank Lampard then? Both looked very average when playing in the same England team.

Lampard in his peak was a quality midfielder. Gerrard was, is, and always will be an overrated, hypocritical, cheating, diving cunt.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I’m interested to know what team you would pick when Coutts is fit.

the link below is the Fulham team that played in the Blades 4-5 game last season

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41978135

It was McDonald that played the deep role for Fulham with Cairney & Norwood playing further forward. From memory Norwood played a 40 yard cross field ball for the 5th goal?

Perhaps we are seeing Norwood playing deep until Coutts is back fully fit which then will release Norwoods skills to play further up the field.

It isn't a criticism of your question, just an idea based on the role he played for Fulham last season.

It would mean no roll for a No:10 in certain games, but perhaps it is CW's continuing insistence that he now has players to change things round to suit the opposition.

UTB

 

[Ant Climax]

Lampard in his peak was a quality midfielder. Gerrard was, is, and always will be an overrated, hypocritical, cheating, diving cunt.

In an age of social media ignorance that’s standout stupid. Kudos