Full Replay of Timbers vs Canaries from this morning!
Match starts 45 minutes in...
Portland Timber 1 - 0 Norwich City
The Canaries suffered their second pre season loss against MLS competition in the early hours of this morning. Portland Timbers fielded a side of reserves and fringe players whilst Norwich starting XI was not far off my predictions:
GK - Carlo Nash
LB - Elliot Bennett
CB - Russel Martin
CB - Ryan Bennett
RB - Steven Whittaker
LM - Nathan Redmond
CM - Johnny Howson
CM - David Fox
RM - Robert Snodgrass
CAM - Wesley Hoolahan
ST - Ricky van Wolfswinkel
As I predicted John Ruddy was rested for the game, I had suspected Mark Bunn to come on at half time but having already got 90 minutes under his belt it was no surprise to see Nash deputize the full 90. Nash had a fairly uneventful debut for The Canaries, he made a couple of good saves both sides of half time but for the most part wasn't really tested as the game struggled to get out of midfield. Some may argue that he should have done better for the goal conceded mid way through the second half. In all fairness to the guy he has played very little competitive action in the last few years and in all honesty won't feature a lot for us this coming season.
Surprisingly I think Elliot Bennett had a really good game at left back, he looked quite assured in defense. Of the back four he looked the most fit and some of his movement on and off the ball when he was allowed to get forward was really good. He is still slightly off pace but this is to be expected due to us only being in the 2nd week of pre season. He has impressed me in the last two games and I'm looking forward to seeing him in action against Brighton on Tuesday evening.
Russell Martin once again took custody of the Captains Armband, whether we can read into this as a sign for the new season is unclear but I would be very surprised if he wasn't called upon to take over from Grant Holt. He had a pretty good game at centre back although once again he wasn't really tested a great deal. He also came close to scoring at the other end when he watched his flicked header go inches wide to the Timbers post.
Ryan Bennett and Steven Whittaker both had OK performances, Bennett as always was fairly dominant in the air and had a header go wide from a corner in the first half. In all fairness the ball did come off his back rather than his head! Whittaker for me looked well off pace and took a nasty knock in the second half, although did continue and looked OK. His pace was off, his movement was not bad but more worryingly was how often he gave the ball away. This is all about match fitness and sharpness and at this stage it would be unfair to judge or condemn a player, however of the back four he looked the most off pace.
In midfield, to use an american term, the MVP was with no doubt Nathan Redmond. He gave us yet another fantastic display in passing, pace and skill. His pace and speed down the left flank left the Timbers all over the place. So much so that a couple of their guys got well deserved bookings for disgraceful challengers on him. In fact Powell was lucky to stay on the pitch after two two footed challengers. Redmond however seemed to brush it off showing a really good level of maturity. He had one spectacular shot on goal from about 30 yards that the keeper got a hand to pushing it onto the bar and out for a corner. He looked really dangerous when he cut inside and had some lovely link up play with Wes and RVW. I'm really keen to see him and Leroy Fer and RVW link up soon. I think this threesome could be a real handful for Premier League defenses next year.
Johnny Howson looked a long way from match fitness, his sharpness and movement was poor and much like Steven Whittaker he gave the ball away far too much. He showed very little true creativity in terms of passing and link up play, which is a massive shame because his form at the end of last season was superb. Hopefully over the next few weeks his fitness and sharpness will get better and he will be back to his best. Maybe he spent a little too long fishing this summer! I have always been a fan of David Fox but if we are to progress forward as a club I don't think anyone can really argue that Fox along with Andrew Surman are two players that don't cut it at this level. His movement was average as was his passing, once again he showed no flair or creativity in possession.
Snodgrass had a better game than against San Jose but once again he is still miles off fully fit, more worringly for me was his movement on the ball. We all saw last season a lot of wasted chances when he was in possession, sometimes he seems intent on going it alone. Personally I feel he needs to learn to look up from time to time. He had a couple of good opportunities to pass to people like Wes, Redmond, and RVW who were all in space and in on goal, instead he tried to dummy and swerve his way through the Portlands defence where inevititably, just as he did last season, he would hit a brick wall. I think if Snodgrass is going to be a hit for us this season someone in the training camp really needs to drum into him that this is a team game and not about individuals.
Unfortunately once again Hoolahan had a decidedly average game. His passing and sharpness was off just as against San Jose. His movement was better this time round and he did find some nice space for both RVW and Redmond but if we are too be blunt and honest I honestly can't see Wes being used as heavily this season, it's all about consistency and he just isn't consistent enough.
Up top The Wolf looked sharp once again. He didn't have that many chances bestowed upon him, largely because once again the service to him was either poor or non existent, however he definitely looks a hand full. On a couple of occasions he beat the offside trap and got in behind the Timbers defense only to drag his shots narrowly wide. He also displayed some lovely link up play with Snoddy in the second half demonstrating some lovely one touch football to get Snods through on goal, who got a good ball in across the face of goal but unfortunately no one was home to drive the effort past the flumaxed Timbers keeper. He showed some great movement and pace in the first half culminating in his header going narrowly wide of the post. It would seem despite my concerns that when match fit he will be a dangerous player and indeed does have some pace in attack.
Overall the display was better than against San Jose but again not a whole lot to write home about. As I have said many times this is pre season and the priority is match fitness not getting results. However it would have been nice to see slightly more creative flair in attack. The first half was very good and we were unlucky to go into the break at 0-0. The second half however, presumably through tiredness, was almost a non event, despite some lovely passing play in the final 15 minutes. I have long been saying that when playing a 4-5-1 the best way to utilize that formation is to keep the ball to the ground use the pace of the wingers and full backs and create space through the centre of the park with good possession and passing play. The occasional long ball over the top is OK but as the only option it doesn't work. It's too predictable and in the Premier League far to easy to defend against and read. When you play a long ball you are unlikely to pull anyone out of position on the opposing team, its also slower which means defenders have longer to possession themselves correctly. You end up relying purely on the pace and arial threat of your striker. Memory takes me back to the game against Posh last year and Jacksons goal. That was the perfect example of how to use the long ball tactic. Finally our set plays need a lot of work, unfortunately David Fox seemed to be taking most of them and his final ball was poor.
The players return the the UK today where they will have the weekend off before returning to training on Monday and then the short trip to Brighton on Tuesday for a 7.30pm kick off and the AMEX Arena.
Have a great weekend and thanks for reading.
See you soon.
Follow me on twitter @chrisdeighton
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