Broken record track 2

Norwich games with Johnson and Howson starting together in midfield 2012-2014:

League: Played 34, Won 5, Drawn 9, Lost 20. Points 24.
Cup: Played 1, lost 1.

2 of those wins in our 2 "gimmes" at the end of the season in 2012-2013.

In 2013/2105 we took 5 points from 12 games when they started together. 2012-2014 the combo was a bit more successful with 18 points from 22 games although it is noteworthy that Howson only played once in our 10 match unbeaten run (when he came back into the side for the win at Swansea) whilst Johnson featured consistently. After that he stayed in the team for the cup defeat to Villa but then dropped out again for the home win against Wigan.

Admittedly in 3 or 4 of the games last season Tetts also played and obviously most of the time we were playing with one up front.

In virtually all of the games our possession stats were between 35% and 45%.

My conclusion, therefore, is that the issue we should be concerned about is not Johnson or Howson playing ahead of Tettey but rather Johnson and Howson playing regularly together as the central midfield duo. This is possibly not surprising when you think they were Leeds central midfield and we finished above Leeds in league 1 with a midfield containing Simon Lappin, Korey Smith and Darrel Russell.

I will not post again on this matter now until Adams has selected a few more teams and we have a few more results on which to judge. I will happily cop any flak which comes my way for this post if Johnson and Howson as a midfield duo lead us to the championship title. Individually both are good players and i am happy to have either of them in the side!

Posted By: Jim on October 14th 2014 at 10:33:08

Message Thread

Broken record track 2 (NCFC) - Jim, Oct 14, 10:33:08
- Who cares, as long as they declare what they had for lunch. (n/m) (NCFC) - I Am Hoot, Oct 14, 11:46:25
- Very concerning. (NCFC) - Ken Dodds Dads Dog, Oct 14, 11:04:13
  - ^^^ this. The danger of stats, which we see a lot og (n/m) (NCFC) - Higher Wrather, Oct 14, 12:15:57
    - *of* on here (n/m) (NCFC) - Higher Wrather, Oct 14, 12:16:28
- Howson doesn't create chances for strikers nor win the ball so what is the point of him? (n/m) (NCFC) - Larry Hagman, Oct 14, 10:38:01
  - Agree with a lot of this but we've not really seen him at this level. (NCFC) - lurd, Oct 14, 13:09:03
  - that's bollocks actually - he does tackle and win the ball pretty well (n/m) (NCFC) - Higher Wrather, Oct 14, 12:19:44
  - He created one for Grabban in the last game. He's a good player although (NCFC) - Jim, Oct 14, 10:47:38
    - 3rd chance created in 2 seasons (n/m) (NCFC) - Larry Hagman, Oct 14, 11:44:53
      - Howson has a decent shot on him and works hard, but lacks vision. (NCFC) - phrankin, Oct 14, 12:58:30
    - FFS JIM (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Oct 14, 11:43:41
      - You wouldn't play Tettey in your first choice XI? (NCFC) - Tricky Hawes, Oct 14, 12:07:45
        
        i'm winding up Jim (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Oct 14, 12:38:18
        
        I think Adams needed a look at Howson in a full game. Otherwise how can he make a judgment (NCFC) - Higher Wrather, Oct 14, 12:18:31
        
        I would. All day long. He would be my first choice CM. (n/m) (NCFC) - Pit, Oct 14, 12:15:59
        
        Tettey and BJ or Howson (NCFC) - duke of york, Oct 14, 12:15:32
        
        YCNHTMP (n/m) (NCFC) - Brom, Oct 14, 12:38:01
        
        Would like to see more of Vadis and O'Neil alongside Tettey (n/m) (NCFC) - Larry Hagman, Oct 14, 12:18:22
        
        Vadis the young lad who has never played a League game in the Championship (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Oct 14, 12:41:35
        
        "the young lad" (NCFC) - mr carra, Oct 14, 12:50:51
        
        Yes thats him (n/m) (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Oct 14, 13:29:29
        
        Ha ha (n/m) (NCFC) - Old Git, Oct 14, 13:17:22
        
        25 is not exactly young in footballing terms (n/m) (NCFC) - phrankin, Oct 14, 12:59:33
        
        He looks about 30 too (n/m) (NCFC) - duke of york, Oct 14, 14:22:59
- Doh - messed my dates up in 4th para. 2013/14 and 2012/13 (n/m) (NCFC) - Jim, Oct 14, 10:33:56

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