Canaries V (what proved to be) the Arsenal light-weights

[Lee1]

Unfortunately couldn't get tickets - great shame as have very fond memories of Norwich. Good city, worked there for a while and my eldest son was born there. Good ground,anyone else remember game (late 80's/early 90's ?). Our end packed,2-0 down at half time and then hit 4 in first 20 mins of second half and then night in the clubs in Tombland Happy days!

[shu]

Remember the game well , think it was one nil down , we then scored 4 and they got one at the end.

Don't park at the train station , the car park is very small , if I was you put the following in the sat nav .NR1 1HA , it should come up as Clarence Road , there is a huge NCP which costs £4.30 per day on a sat . This is close to the station and ground.

[armchair]

If this gets fucked up IMO you blame the players not Wenger

WOW!
The AKB gettin their excuses in early for this one! Not even a ball kicked yet.

Mustnt blame Wenger ever.

[tel]

Unfortunately couldn't get tickets - great shame as have very fond memories of Norwich. Good city, worked there for a while and my eldest son was born there. Good ground,anyone else remember game (late 80's/early 90's ?). Our end packed,2-0 down at half time and then hit 4 in first 20 mins of second half and then night in the clubs in Tombland Happy days!

That was one of my 1st away games so it must have been 87? It was rammed in our end but the noise in the 2nd half when we scored 4 quick goals was immense. I vaguely recall Rocky having a great game but I didn't hang around after as I'd been at an all nighter the night before and ran out of steam.

[highburyJD]

armchair says: excuses in early??? did you even read the rest of the post?
I list, what I see as, Wengers keys failings. There are several, many based on discounting the opposition.

in this case I think we can afford to (and should) discount the opposition
Norwich are poo. They may attack, may try and defend deep or hold a high line.
Who cares? Batter them. Losing to them IMO would be inexcusable for the players WHATEVER the manager did
I dont think if we lose Wenger has specifically "fucked it up".

He has assembled a group of players with sufficient quality that if every coach at the club is kidnapped by aliens tonight
they should still win on Saturday

[Vinny1967]

Talking of JW and his possible return it was announced in the press today that there is a ''Behind closed door'' friendly against a Chelsea 11 tomorrow.
The U21' have no game in this fortnight either so it will give game time to JW, Sagna and Frimpong.
Hopefully they all come thru it with no problems.

[northbank123]

Should hammer them but us away from home after an international break, hardly nailed-on.

[Herd]

There's an Excellent Curry House called Raj of India pasty the ground on the Yarmouth road about 1 mile away past Carrow rd if thats your bag ,and in fact there's a few hotels with open bars down that way if u want to avoid the throngs and its also easy to Park .

[DB10GOONER]

armchair says: excuses in early??? did you even read the rest of the post?
I list, what I see as, Wengers keys failings. There are several, many based on discounting the opposition.

in this case I think we can afford to (and should) discount the opposition
Norwich are poo. They may attack, may try and defend deep or hold a high line.
Who cares? Batter them. Losing to them IMO would be inexcusable for the players WHATEVER the manager did
I dont think if we lose Wenger has specifically "fucked it up".

He has assembled a group of players with sufficient quality that if every coach at the club is kidnapped by aliens tonight
they should still win on Saturday

Sorry, but that is just a bizarre way to look at football. And it’s one of the worst AKB excuses I’ve ever read tbh.

The manager plays a VITAL role. Otherwise why would any team have one?! To say the manager selects the players and then he is absolved of all guilt or blame if things go tits up is ridiculous, mate. Why do Chairmen sack managers? Because the players are shit? No, because the manager has failed in his role.

The PL has shown us all one thing in particular. Freak results can happen. Relegation-fodder can (and sometimes do) go to places like Old Shatford or The Conglomerates or Victim City and win games. Not often – but it does happen. You can NEVER discount the opposition in the PL.

A fancied team (like say, Arsenal) can turn up and 3 or 4 key players coincidently have an off-day or a dip in form/confidence/whatever. Maybe the ref is shit and gifts the home team a soft goal. Maybe (coincidently) every single oppo player has his best game of the season that day. Suddenly we are on the back foot and the oppo have their heads up. THIS is when the manager is vital and THIS is when he really earns his pay. He changes the formation or makes a couple of key substitutions. He tells a couple of players a few home truths or he throws an arm around a player lacking in confidence. He initiates a “Plan B”. He does any or all of those things.

THIS is where Wenger fails so often. And if I’m reading you right, THIS is where we should just ignore his failings, discount the opposition and blame the players??!!

[Herd]

To be fair to le Boss ,he does a world class job of tossing the water bottle and badgering the 4th Official when we are losing !

Wengers poor team selection, paucity of variety and a total lack of defensive nous are my biggest gripes !

[jaymitch81]

Where is everyone drinking before this match?
I know the 'Compleat Angler' which is near the train station used to be the place for away fans.

Does anyone know the best place to park? Was thinking of just parking at the station but dont want to pay a fortune!

Any help much appreciated.

Will be getting to the Angler about 1pm for a few then heading to the weatherspoons down the road before doing a little bar crawl to the ground. Just hope it don't bloody rain.

[SteveO 35]

I'm a bit concerned about the non-jumping German facing Holt.

Still TV5 had a nice 90 minute rest playing against Scotland so we should be fine

[northbank123]

I'm a bit concerned about the non-jumping German facing Holt.

Still TV5 had a nice 90 minute rest playing against Scotland so we should be fine

To be fair rather him than Koscielny getting pushed around. Did okay against Stoke and Carroll so I'm not too worried, yes he's poor in the air (amazingly so given his height) but being a good centre-half is largely about knowing how to manage your weaknesses.

[SteveO 35]

I'm a bit concerned about the non-jumping German facing Holt.

Still TV5 had a nice 90 minute rest playing against Scotland so we should be fine

To be fair rather him than Koscielny getting pushed around. Did okay against Stoke and Carroll so I'm not too worried, yes he's poor in the air (amazingly so given his height) but being a good centre-half is largely about knowing how to manage your weaknesses.

I thought he was shite against Carroll, but yes he did have a very good game at Stoke. I just don't think its right that when we've got a fella that big, that TV5 always ends up marking the biggest lump the oppo have got and then largely getting slated for it, whilst everyone marvels at a 5 yards sideways pass that Mertesacker makes. He's been far better this season than last which I think is down to Bould organising the defence better but I just wish he'd 'man up' a bit when we play some of the lower teams. When he joined we were all glad that we signed a supposedly imposing centre half and I hope that's what he turns out to be because its been the main missing ingredient from Wenger's teams of recent seasons

[northbank123]

I'm a bit concerned about the non-jumping German facing Holt.

Still TV5 had a nice 90 minute rest playing against Scotland so we should be fine

To be fair rather him than Koscielny getting pushed around. Did okay against Stoke and Carroll so I'm not too worried, yes he's poor in the air (amazingly so given his height) but being a good centre-half is largely about knowing how to manage your weaknesses.

I thought he was shite against Carroll, but yes he did have a very good game at Stoke. I just don't think its right that when we've got a fella that big, that TV5 always ends up marking the biggest lump the oppo have got and then largely getting slated for it, whilst everyone marvels at a 5 yards sideways pass that Mertesacker makes. He's been far better this season than last which I think is down to Bould organising the defence better but I just wish he'd 'man up' a bit when we play some of the lower teams. When he joined we were all glad that we signed a supposedly imposing centre half and I hope that's what he turns out to be because its been the main missing ingredient from Wenger's teams of recent seasons

Think you're being a bit harsh, as I see it he has been genuinely quality this year, in an organised defence his reading of the game is phenomenal. That said, of course his lead boots will inevitably cost him goals throughout his career but for me fewer than Vermaelen's recklessness and Koscielny's paralysing fear of physical contact. I don't see him being an "imposing centre-half" in the sense that he's going to give the striker an elbow in the face while heading the ball 40 yards down the pitch but for me it's more important to have a centre-half who can organise a defence (particularly playing next to Jenkinson) properly and cut danger out before it arises.