Wembley’s too expensive anyway

Yes, we were dire and priority remains being at worst 17th. We’re told we’re safe, and it’s pretty difficult to disagree, but I won’t truly be comfortable until the maths say so. The added bonus of the cup run was exactly that and Bolton and Stoke have extra games now to pick up injuries and what have you, we don’t. Bright side an’all that.

Leicester used the ball better, we couldn’t string five passes together and everyone appeared to be on their own wavelength. Some could barely be bothered to string together five paces. Morison especially so, he even set the tone early on by firing lazily over the bar when even Barnett would have been annoyed not to at least hit the target.

Could the notable cameo(s) from Wilbraham slip Morison down the pecking order? Unlikely, but if Wilbraham had missed the amount of good chances Morsion has this season we’d never hear the end of it. Wilbraham couldn’t have done any more than he did when he came on. He won nearly every ball with good flick-ons or control, chased defenders down and nearly snatched an equaliser.

This isn’t a knee-jerk overreaction resulting from yesterday. Morison’s first touch is never good, and he’s wasteful both in front of goal and holding the ball up. I never fancy him to slot it home when the ball’s on the floor. In front of goal in the air, yes, he’s a threat. You can make up for your shortcomings by visibly putting in the effort, Jackson and Holt do it but the same could never be said of Morison.

Talking of rubbish first touches, Barnett was equally poor. For me he’s behind Martin as our fifth choice centre-back, and no doubt sixth choice when Bennett properly arrives. Granted, he’s good at getting in the way, but a thinking defender he aint. Maybe we’ve been spoiled by the Zak, Ayala and Ward, but Barnett is truly atrocious with the ball anywhere near his feet. He’s our clumsiest defender too, and we all know we’ve had too many of them the past few years.

But despite all this, we’ll have a changed back four and we’re going to get something against Manyoo.

S-whatever

So it’s back across the border to them there in Wales. Hopefully there’ll be no bricks through any coach windows, but Holt appears to have ignited that again. But anyway.

As pointed out over on Holtamania, a Swansea win puts them above us in the league. And that’s annoying. Mainly, because we will then – however temporarily- lose the ability to counter the sickly love-in for Swansea with a “Yeah but just look at the league table.”

Sitting Pretty?

It’s worth remembering that while the January window “slams” shut, it’s a full month. And ours was a success amid all the boredom.

Somehow Twitter was awash with bemusement over the Bennett deal. We signed him, Swansea didn’t. We have cover at centre-back and another one on the road back from injury. Loaning him back was a deal-maker. Plus, it keeps him playing a high level of football. The sigh of relief from Elliot Ward was heard across the county.

Priorities Right

So it seems Lambert is at a bit of a loose end in this transfer window. Aside from the stock “the lads need a hand” and “they’ve done brilliant for me” (“How far we’ve come” was the only real notable absentee), the most important thing he said was regarding squad players and not signing them.

Unfortunately this will fall on many-a deaf ear. Come window-closing time people will be in bits bemoaning the lack of activity. I, and I hope many others would agree, would rather we did just as Lambert is planning. More specifically, not straining the wage budget with players that are no better than what we already have.

Kyle No-ton?

So Naughton’s not been allowed to stay out to play at Carra past May. It’s safe to say that’s a blow. But, nevertheless, he’s here until the end of the season so it’s not all bad.

It presumably means the money we had intended to put aside for the impressive full-back is now available to be spent elsewhere. On another full-back maybe? With Tierney struggling, Drury being Drury and De Laet being De Laet, we’re a tad thin on the ground.

Either Way

What a big few games coming up, eh?

Ignoring Spurs, they’re all very winnable, starting tonight. A good Christmas and we could be almost comfortable going into January. Not that any chickens are being counted or laurels are being rested on, mind.

Heads we win

Having a quick nose around the previews of today’s game, one thing from the BBC one stuck out.

Aside from the token patronising head ruffling, the match facts at the bottom surprised me. Not the one that says we’ve allowed the more shots at our goal than everyone but Bolton but that “Norwich have scored the joint-most headed goals in the top division.”

Good ideas

So it seems Super Chrissy Martin’s fallen off the selection board to a point where he’s available for other teams to select.

I’m sure your mate down the pub’s mother’s friend-from-work’s son’s best mate’s brother knows why that’s so, but it’s a weird one. When The Big Wilba is

Out of Nowhere

Going into the last three games, we’d have all taken four points. Mission accomplished, if tinged with a hint of what could have been.

The patronising is even becoming bearable. Us coming away from with our hair being ruffled by the ‘Experts’ in the media is nothing if not tedious. On the other hand it would show we’re doing alright.

Blink and You’ll (Not) Miss It

You may not have noticed, but the biggest tournament in international rugby is going on at the minute.

It’s even on terrestrial tv.

But despite ITV’s worst efforts, you wouldn’t be blamed for not noticing. England’s stuttering could be blamed, ITV’s ineptitude at live sport could too. But the main issue lies with the whole structure of the tournament.

After a brace of three games a day, the schedule seems to have descended into something a bit ad hoc. I imagine the team managers ring each other each day asking if they’re coming out to play, seemingly the answer’s been no more times than not.

In the oval-shaped brand of football, we’re scratching around to find when the next game is on but when the footballing equivalent comes round we can’t escape it. Game after game after game.

Heck there’s even the odd upset. I’m not talking about the same scale as a dogged Ireland beating Australia, try Senegal beating France.

It just doesn’t happen when William Webb Ellis is involved. The RWC is a bit of farce because of it, they may as well jump to the quarters. Georgia or Russia won’t beat Italy, let alone the bigger boys. As a spectacle it falls short until the quarters.

Many will argue the lesser lights should be there so they can develop their game. But conversely they’re only going to be improving their defence, Carter ain’t exactly giving them the ball.

By the time we get to the juicy bits everyone will have forgotten the World Cup’s even going on.