MATCHWATCH : Norwich City (a)

[Snowflake Royal]

Everyone saying Moore won’t be here next season? Pince says he doesn’t give a monkeys what’s gone on before. If he comes in and plays well ince will want to keep him. If Moore is realistic in his wage demands. I can very much see him being here next season.

Why would Moore want to stay? His career's gone down the toilet here and he'd need to take a £20k+ pay cut.

Ince may not care what's gone before, but I'd question why he'd want an injury prone declining player who hasn't played in a year and is on bad terms with the owner.

If Moore's here next season, he's a fool, Ince is a fool and Dai and Bowen are fools.

[paultheroyal]

Great point, workmanlike performance. A lot of Norwich fans saying that’s up there as best they have played all season… Christ On a bike… not sure how I react to that comment.

NGW when he came on was decent. Pleased he contributed to equaliser. He has to start. Typified by McIntyre in first half getting forward to end a promise position by booting his cross out of play.

Mom Carroll, nothing to be said about the others. Good night.

[Snowflake Royal]

I hate singling players out, especially after a good result and team performance but João was absolutely dire tonight. Really wasn't at it and looked totally disinterested again. Would happily sell him if it means Carroll and Mbengue stay until the end of the season

Unless he scores he generally is pretty crap. Doesn’t do much for the team and his hold up play is embarrassingly poor for a big lad.

Put himself about quite a lot first half.

Never works with Carroll though, daft to play them together imo.

[URZZZZ]

Yiadom and Holmes were terrific. The RCB role suits Yiadom to a tee, think he’s playing some of his best football since he joined. Not sure many other of our CB’s would have covered Pukki’s pass across goal a few minutes into the game. The transformation in Holmes’ game has been superb. Commanding and authoritative, and seems to have a knack of being in the right place at the right time. Shows the value of trusting players rather than jumping on their backs after a few poor performances. It was clear the problems were widespread last year

Sarr is not quite on the same wavelength yet but he’s had 7 months without playing so no issues there - needs time to integrate into the squad

Do think there’s a bit of a conundrum up top. I think Ince chooses his two up top based on the opposition which is plausible in itself but I think it’s time to give two more of a sustained run in the side to build confidence. Joao is a top Championship striker but the way we play doesn’t suit his game and for that reason, would firmly place him as 4th choice. Having Carroll in the side makes us a bit more susceptible to being over reliant on him and hoofing it. Nice conundrum to have though as opposed to being stuck with Puscas for 3 months last year

[Zip]

If, say he would accept 10k a week it’s getting 25k off the wage bill, and there won’t be many better cb’s we could get through the door for 10k pw if he produces the form that we know he has in his locker. I’ve never been on board with the Moore hate. And there are always two sides to every story.

No problem if he stays but £10k a week seems high to me. He will have to take a huge pay cut. Tops £8k.

[CountryRoyal]

I hate singling players out, especially after a good result and team performance but João was absolutely dire tonight. Really wasn't at it and looked totally disinterested again. Would happily sell him if it means Carroll and Mbengue stay until the end of the season

Unless he scores he generally is pretty crap. Doesn’t do much for the team and his hold up play is embarrassingly poor for a big lad.

Put himself about quite a lot first half.

Never works with Carroll though, daft to play them together imo.

Yeah I thought we got over that failed experiment tbh.

[URZZZZ]

Great point, workmanlike performance. A lot of Norwich fans saying that’s up there as best they have played all season… Christ On a bike… not sure how I react to that comment.

It’s a reactionary comment to them losing Smith - who wasn’t a popular figure there. Had Smith have still been there and they’d churned out that performance, they wouldn’t be saying that

[Royal_jimmy]

Yiadom and Holmes were terrific. The RCB role suits Yiadom to a tee, think he’s playing some of his best football since he joined. Not sure many other of our CB’s would have covered Pukki’s pass across goal a few minutes into the game. The transformation in Holmes’ game has been superb. Commanding and authoritative, and seems to have a knack of being in the right place at the right time. Shows the value of trusting players rather than jumping on their backs after a few poor performances. It was clear the problems were widespread last year

Sarr is not quite on the same wavelength yet but he’s had 7 months without playing so no issues there - needs time to integrate into the squad

Do think there’s a bit of a conundrum up top. I think Ince chooses his two up top based on the opposition which is plausible in itself but I think it’s time to give two more of a sustained run in the side to build confidence. Joao is a top Championship striker but the way we play doesn’t suit his game and for that reason, would firmly place him as 4th choice. Having Carroll in the side makes us a bit more susceptible to being over reliant on him and hoofing it. Nice conundrum to have though as opposed to being stuck with Puscas for 3 months last year

Couldn't agree more on Holmes' development this season. He showed tonight just how much he's developed. As bad as last season was I think it's helped him a lot, I am a bit more disappointed with McIntyre albeit he's still been a good option for us, he's just not hit the next level in terms of progress. I will be surprised if Holmes is with us next season at this rate as he looks destined for a premier league club.

[Royal_jimmy]

Yiadom and Holmes were terrific. The RCB role suits Yiadom to a tee, think he’s playing some of his best football since he joined. Not sure many other of our CB’s would have covered Pukki’s pass across goal a few minutes into the game. The transformation in Holmes’ game has been superb. Commanding and authoritative, and seems to have a knack of being in the right place at the right time. Shows the value of trusting players rather than jumping on their backs after a few poor performances. It was clear the problems were widespread last year

Sarr is not quite on the same wavelength yet but he’s had 7 months without playing so no issues there - needs time to integrate into the squad

Do think there’s a bit of a conundrum up top. I think Ince chooses his two up top based on the opposition which is plausible in itself but I think it’s time to give two more of a sustained run in the side to build confidence. Joao is a top Championship striker but the way we play doesn’t suit his game and for that reason, would firmly place him as 4th choice. Having Carroll in the side makes us a bit more susceptible to being over reliant on him and hoofing it. Nice conundrum to have though as opposed to being stuck with Puscas for 3 months last year

Couldn't agree more on Holmes' development this season. He showed tonight just how much he's developed. As bad as last season was I think it's helped him a lot, I am a bit more disappointed with McIntyre albeit he's still been a good option for us, he's just not hit the next level in terms of progress. I will be surprised if Holmes is with us next season at this rate as he looks destined for a premier league club.

[Royal Rother]

Holmes in the PL next season?

I’d be amazed if that happens yet awhile.

[Royal Rother]

I hate singling players out, especially after a good result and team performance but João was absolutely dire tonight. Really wasn't at it and looked totally disinterested again. Would happily sell him if it means Carroll and Mbengue stay until the end of the season

Unless he scores he generally is pretty crap. Doesn’t do much for the team and his hold up play is embarrassingly poor for a big lad.

Put himself about quite a lot first half.

Yeah, he broke into a trot 2 or 3 times. I mean, he didn’t touch the ball or break into a sweat or anything but fair play to the guy.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Carlisle, weird to think, they were in the top flight during my teens.

Saw us play them early 80's at Elm Park, was a draw and they went up I think (third tier) and we've not crossed paths since nor met in a cup.

Peter Beardsley played for them that day, mind you we had Webb, Dixon and Sanchez that season.

[From Despair To Where?]

Holmes in the PL next season?

I’d be amazed if that happens yet awhile.

Sincerely doubt any of our squad will be getting games in the Premier League next season, unless you mean SPL.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Unless he scores he generally is pretty crap. Doesn’t do much for the team and his hold up play is embarrassingly poor for a big lad.

Put himself about quite a lot first half.

Yeah, he broke into a trot 2 or 3 times. I mean, he didn’t touch the ball or break into a sweat or anything but fair play to the guy.

That's just not his game though. A lot didn't come off for him last night and he doesn't seem to work with Carroll all too well, but they both occupy defenders. You don't really want to just lump it Joao, you need to get quality to him which, unfortunately, we lack on a consistent basis. His best spell for us came when we got the ball on the floor and played into him, which we don't tend to do as often now.

[RoyalBlue]

Unless he scores he generally is pretty crap. Doesn’t do much for the team and his hold up play is embarrassingly poor for a big lad.

Put himself about quite a lot first half.

Yeah, he broke into a trot 2 or 3 times. I mean, he didn’t touch the ball or break into a sweat or anything but fair play to the guy.

Sarcasm completely misplaced. But some of our 'supporters' will clearly be on his case whatever he does.

Had you nodded off when he was brought down right on the edge of the box whilst well placed to shoot? When his header from the corner was brilliantly saved by Gunn?

Both Ady Williams and Tim Dellor (who certainly isn't Joao's greatest fan) reckoned he played pretty well last night and, IMO they were right.

[RoyalBlue]

I hate singling players out, especially after a good result and team performance but João was absolutely dire tonight. Really wasn't at it and looked totally disinterested again. Would happily sell him if it means Carroll and Mbengue stay until the end of the season

Unless he scores he generally is pretty crap. Doesn’t do much for the team and his hold up play is embarrassingly poor for a big lad.

Tall but not the strongest physique. And just because a player is big doesn't mean that hold up play is where their talents lie. Look around and I think you'll find plenty of other big players who aren't great at hold up play but make up for it with other aspects of their game.

As for all the Joao critics saying they'd be happy to sell him - you can't have it both ways. If he really is as crap, lazy, disinterested, ineffective and with a lousy attitude like you claim, who else is going to want him?!

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I think it's just becoming apparent he isn't suited to how we play, it's not that he isn't talented or is lazy, we just don't play to his strengths really. If we move him on, that would be ok providing we can bring someone else in on a cheaper wage.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

I think it's just becoming apparent he isn't suited to how we play, it's not that he isn't talented or is lazy, we just don't play to his strengths really. If we move him on, that would be ok providing we can bring someone else in on a cheaper wage.

He fitted our style in Pauno season one when playing as a lone striker with technical players feeding it in to feet just behind him like Olise, Swift and Ejaria.

If someone comes in with any sort of money I'd sell in Jan, its never going to work as long as Ince is here.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I think it's just becoming apparent he isn't suited to how we play, it's not that he isn't talented or is lazy, we just don't play to his strengths really. If we move him on, that would be ok providing we can bring someone else in on a cheaper wage.

He fitted our style in Pauno season one when playing as a lone striker with technical players feeding it in to feet just behind him like Olise, Swift and Ejaria.

If someone comes in with any sort of money I'd sell in Jan, its never going to work as long as Ince is here.

Well I mean we've always got scope to try and bring players like that in next summer potentially, Camara looks a good player from our academy, maybe go and spend some money on someone and bring in a loan for example and that might help Joao because he's probably our best goalscorer out of the lot, we just need to play to his strengths and tie him down to a new deal after that.

Having said that, I'd rather us not lose too much of our structure now if we can and the foundation we've built so far because we've become almost a classic, tough to play against, tough to beat Championship side. Not dazzling, but a team nobody really wants to face, especially away from home.

[Hound]

Joao’s quality and been a great signing but do feel his time here is coming to an end

Suspect he’ll get a go at a top champ club next year and get one more decent contract for his trouble and we’ll look for someone a bit harder working to play off Carroll who we’ll try to keep along with Yaks