Ollie Norburn

M

Middxile

Well-known member
It might be me, but I’m not entirely on board with the ON love- in. I suspect he’s been carrying some kind of injury for a couple of months. In his early games he was a colossus in midfield, but now he seems sluggish, even hesitant ever since. You can’t be that good, then so ordinary without due cause. At this point, King Kenny is streets ahead of him. I would prefer to wait for him to achieve full fitness, rather than watch him playing to only 70 % of his ability.
 
He’s our best defensive midfielder and allows the King to buzz about and use his energy and stamina without knowing he’s the only screen for the defensive 3.
My favourite current pairing as it reminds me of Stewart and Kenny (when Stewart actually played games for us) who were the best pairing in the league.

Carey played really well Saturday but the Shrews didn’t have a lot going forward. Against a team like Peterborough or Portsmouth I’d be more content with Norburn and Kenny with Dembele in the slot
 
Middxile said:
It might be me, but I’m not entirely on board with the ON love- in. I suspect he’s been carrying some kind of injury for a couple of months. In his early games he was a colossus in midfield, but now he seems sluggish, even hesitant ever since. You can’t be that good, then so ordinary without due cause. At this point, King Kenny is streets ahead of him. I would prefer to wait for him to achieve full fitness, rather than watch him playing to only 70 % of his ability.
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Its not just you, I don't see it either. He had a couple of good games at the beginning of the season, and then a few absolute mares, where almost everyone blamed Marv, even though Marv wasn't playing well it was compounded by Norburn in front of him. There is something that really annoys me about him as well, in that he seemingly spends so much time telling other players what to do that he actually doesn't do his own job. It was very apparent at defensive freekicks and corners where he is berating or instructing other players he quite often has his back to the action when the opposing team plays the ball.

I'd rather see us start with the same line up and try and cause Portsmouth problems and then if our noses are in front on 70 maybe then shore up, but even then for pure defensive capability I might be tempted to go with Connolly.
 
Middxile said:
It might be me, but I’m not entirely on board with the ON love- in. I suspect he’s been carrying some kind of injury for a couple of months. In his early games he was a colossus in midfield, but now he seems sluggish, even hesitant ever since. You can’t be that good, then so ordinary without due cause. At this point, King Kenny is streets ahead of him. I would prefer to wait for him to achieve full fitness, rather than watch him playing to only 70 % of his ability.
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He’s only played one game in six weeks so you can only be basing this on last Sat v Bolton when in fairness he sustained a rib injury before HT. To be fair he battled on but it looked painful hence the reason for looking sluggish afterwards probably.
 
Middxile said:
It might be me, but I’m not entirely on board with the ON love- in. I suspect he’s been carrying some kind of injury for a couple of months. In his early games he was a colossus in midfield, but now he seems sluggish, even hesitant ever since. You can’t be that good, then so ordinary without due cause. At this point, King Kenny is streets ahead of him. I would prefer to wait for him to achieve full fitness, rather than watch him playing to only 70 % of his ability.
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I'd rather have Norbs at 70% than Carey @ 100%
 
I'm not sure I've seen a love-in but surely on the whole so far, he looks like a good signing that lots of teams would love to have? He did have one stinker, but otherwise generally a positive influence on games and contributes consistently.

I agree with chunky that in the tough games, him and 👑 will be very important players so I hope he's not far away as we head to what looks the hardest game so far.
 
He's a good player with a very good character. He hasn't been as consistent as I'd like though and it's worrying how many games he's missed through injury. Finding the right balance with the midfield 3 has probably been our biggest problem. Dougall should be first pick in the midfield, so with Carey and Dembele finding form/fitness, it's difficult to see Norburn getting a start. I guess away from home if we deem Carey and Dembele leaving us too open.
 
This is such a reductive post, almost a template of the OP.

Good result happens, look at which regular was missing, and start a thread asking if they are really any good.i
 
Norburn hasn't had the opportunity to play with Dembele much and Dale. He's not had a chance to have an out ball. Instead he's had to go side to side. He'll get better.

If Norburn is fit on Saturday he should be on the bench as Kenny and Sonny were brilliant this weekend.
 
He brings a calmness and assurance in the midfield that we’ve been crying out for for a few seasons now.

Even last week at Bolton there was some head tennis for the first few seconds of the game and then it comes to Norburn and he calmly brings it down and gets us playing.

He does everything a midfielder needs to do in our own third. Doesn’t offer much going forward but that’s not really his responsibility in the current set up.
 
He gets stuck in which we need against the top teams. He’s not proved himself fully yet but no need to panic.

He needs a run of games like any player would. Can’t blame him for getting banged in the ribs!
 
I thought he was superb for the first 25 minutes against Bolton. You could see he was in a lot of pain after that which affected his game. He battled on with what turned out to be a cracked rib. A top player.
 
Yet to be convinced he's all that. Not a chance he will be dropped, he was the blue chip recruit and as such he's been given the captain's armband. @Costero Poderoso makes good points about his way of talking to and 'organising' them around him. It seems to be putting players off their natural game, taking away the fluency etc. He's a decent enough player especially if you are trying to defend a lead in a crucial game.

But when he does play the whole style of play seems slow, predictable, tedious, predictable and lacklustre, ultra-defensive and boring. Maybe as a centre half he'd be very effective? I know from other threads others too don't like the style of football we play with Norburn as a defensive midfielder in front of the defence. When Kenny has played that role like he did v Shrews and early season with Virtue we looked far more balanced and able to put together a quick effective attacking move. I've said it before, this sideways, backwards, sideways, backwards, out wide, backwards, hoof up top has been dire!
 
thecatintheroof said:
Completely different players - like comparing HP to tartar sauce!
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Indeed they are, but it's unlikely they'll both play in a midfield three given Dougall & Dembele should both be playing and I'd take Norburn over Carey every time. In fact I'd even take Morgan over Carey if Norburn is injured, maybe not Weir or Oakley-Booth though
 
Carey has done alright over the past couple of games but Norburn, Dougall and Dembele should start. Carey is a good option off the bench for the number 10 role when Dembele tires. I'm still not sure how Albie Morgan fits into our midfield given the other personnel, he would be behind a fit Matty Virtue for me.
 
Mike_BFC said:
He gets stuck in which we need against the top teams. He’s not proved himself fully yet but no need to panic.

He needs a run of games like any player would. Can’t blame him for getting banged in the ribs!
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He commits many fouls which is different from getting stuck in.
 
I think he's probably our best sitting midfielder when fit but I have to be honest, I'm not sure if he helps or hinders us when he plays. Reason I say that is because he slows everything down so much so as a team our tempo is much slower which I don't think suits the rest of the players. In his defence he hasn't been fully fit for a while but I'm just saying what I see.
 
Critchknows said:
I think he's probably our best sitting midfielder when fit but I have to be honest, I'm not sure if he helps or hinders us when he plays. Reason I say that is because he slows everything down so much so as a team our tempo is much slower which I don't think suits the rest of the players. In his defence he hasn't been fully fit for a while but I'm just saying what I see.
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Jordan Thompson did that by diving at every opportunity
 
April13th1970 said:
Indeed they are, but it's unlikely they'll both play in a midfield three given Dougall & Dembele should both be playing and I'd take Norburn over Carey every time. In fact I'd even take Morgan over Carey if Norburn is injured, maybe not Weir or Oakley-Booth though
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Norburn v Dougall though is a different story and at the moment I'd be going for King Kenny!
 
I mentioned this on Saturday and asked the question if Norburn is fit will he automatically get back in the starting XI
and if so at whose expense. But surely his lack of matches has to be a deciding factor.
For me Kenny is far more suited to that role and I repeat, Norburn is a liability. He tackles yes but is over zealous most of the time and will inevitably get red carded at some point. As I also said Saturday he reminds me of Gary Brabbin.
My daughter went to school with Norburn and says he was cocky and a bully.
Maybe that’s why he’s always shouting at his team mates.
 
I'd probably give Norburn a break now until the FA Cup game and ease him back in.
Cracked ribs and a sore neck just need a bit of R and R time whilst he can continue to do some training.
Important player who we need back at his best in December!
 
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