Norwich – I said that they had lost a few key players in the summer in Maddison and Gunn and that they would be nearer the bottom than the top and I stand by that. Krull is a decent keeper and Rhodes as proved today can get goals at this level but they lack quality from back to front. They have some big defensive units and some functional players and a few bits of talent if a little unpredictable in Hernandez, Marshall and Pukki but not sure they have enough to be anywhere higher than mid table and that is at best. Today they went behind and were struggling but then kind of got a goal out of nothing with first real attack. After this I felt they offered little. They had two unbelievable chances but the first was clearly offside but they hit the post soon after. They were always seemingly looking to the point after this and other than free kick near the end they were defending and seemed content with their lot. It is ironic after last year that we scored so late on. I am not sure they time wasted at all this year really. A few moments of ‘cramp’ but the game was kind of evenly poised even if we were looking the more likely (aside from that double chance). They lacked pace and power really in key areas and I felt ceded a lot of the ball. They kind of retreated more and more second half and should have tried to attack more. They had that double chance but after this I am not sure they even tried to attack and the changes they were made seemed to be to hang onto the point. In the end their negative approach got what it deserved. The manger Farke could walk off with his rain coat on (really in the baking hot weather) taking absolutely nothing back to East Anglia. Bit of justice after some of last season’s ridiculous shenanigans.
Opposition Man of the Match: There was no player that was brilliant. Rhodes scored a poacher’s goal made by Hernandez who did well. Both of these were fairly quiet though. I felt the two centre backs headed and cleared things but the lad Tettey who seems to have been there for a while, stood out. He worked really hard and chased across to cover ground. I felt he was the one player who really dug in second half.
Opposition Weak link: Heard good things about the lad Pukki but felt he flitted in and out of the game and missed a really good chance when they hit the post and it came back to him. The two wide lads also left a lot of space for United’s players to run into.
Henderson 7.5/10 - Did not have a great deal to do. Little chance on the goal as once again he was left badly exposed. Second half though made a superb save as they broke to be effectively 3 on 1. It was clearly offside but a crucial save as he stood up tall After this saw a header hit the post and a ball go over but not much else to do. His reaction on the goal showed his commitment to the cause as he ran the length of the field to celebrate with his teammates.
Freeman 7/10 – He was ok in the first half and had a few runs forward and involved in some of our attacking moments down that side. A few times he played in crosses and no one anticipated but he was always in the attacking area. Defensively he was fine. They had a few moments down that side but cannot remember too many errors. Second half I felt he was a bit slow to get forward and seemed to run out of energy. Not a surprise when he eventually did go off as Wilder alluded to; he has played 3 games in a week after a long layoff.
Stevens 7.5/10 – He was good today I felt and carried on a better performance against Hull. I thought he put some really good crosses in today and that a few times our strikers should have read things better but too often they all went front or back post. He kept going down that side and covered so much ground which if often forgotten. A few passes/balls were telegraphed but overall it was more like the Stevens of early last season. Defensively he was fine also. A player who gets a lot of criticism for me and not always deserved.
Egan 7.5/10 – Think he has gradually improved after two poor opening performances where he was at fault for at least one goal. He had looked shaker defensively and also poor on the ball. Last week he was better against QPR and carried this on against Hull. Today, that improvement continued as he was more dominant than he has been. He scored a headed goal, was really close to a second headed goal and in the defensive wide he won headers, tackles and looked more the player we expected when we signed him. He also used the ball better today. Still worried when teams attack us with pace and runners but overall it was a good day for him today.