Norman is one of the better passers in the side. He can distribute the ball playing in front of the defence.
That requires knowing where to be and when.
He’s not a holding player.
Shearer would have struggled to hold the ball up effectively such was the distance between Lavery and any support for much of the game.
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Again, not wishing to be rude, but I’m not basing my assessment on one game - I’m basing it on his 18 months so far.
He’s been one the bigger disappointments for me.
But why are you viewing him as such, why not view him as a deep lying playmaker?
Again, he’s not a playmaker. It requires skill in the position, and reading the game.
That develops over years - not 3 games.
He’s a right back.
Well, yes I agree on one level.
But in the context of the resources we have available…
I think we have been conditioned to accept it.
Ermmm, I’ve been telling you for 19 months what we are getting is not acceptable? 
I don’t see the difference between that and think “Cameron Norman has done a good job at Defensive Mid today” or “on the list if things wrong with this teams he’s probably not even on it”.
Opinions ay it ?
Norman is not a holding midfielder in a million years, but fair play to him for giving it a go!
It’s not his fault…
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Preconceived ones, that the owners is unwilling to change I would suggest but ok.
Precisely.
We have been conditioned over the years to now accept things like this. It’s a specialist position.
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My 14 year old made an interesting point re our midfield. Bates is the only one who looks to open his body up when he receives it. It’s a basic coached technique from an early age, allowing you to switch play and get out, or to play forward. It’s something Kinsella or Sinclair rarely do. Hence all the giving it back to the centre halves or full backs. We really do lack an intelligent ( in terms of football!) central midfielder. Bates is still young and Guthrie wasn’t fit enough (clearly).
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And I’m not particularly anti Lavery either. But it’s clear he’s very isolated and would work better in a 2.
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When I first saw Bates in the JPT and the odd game here and there, he wasn’t a negative midfielder at all. He buzzed around, picking up the ball and breaking forward or looking for a pass.
The last year or so I really think he’s been stifled. Almost like he’s been told “no risks” “play percentages”.
I hope that part of his game is still there and hasn’t been “coached” out of him because it’s exactly what we need.
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Exactly!!! I’ve been saying this for months and months about Kinsella / Sinclair. Great point.
I think Bates is our best bet in terms of getting the team playing. Either as the holding player or in a more standard midfield role. I still think he has promise. Clarke’s comments about Vale only having one specialist defensive midfielder recently made me chuckle, considering the unbalanced squad we have.
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Absolutely spot on. I thought I was going mad for a bit with my opinions on the midfield.
A proper intelligent midfielder to complement Bates is paramount for next season.
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Agreed but I don’t want to see him as a holding midfielder. Not in this league.
Way too lightweight and I don’t think that is his game, I think it’s what Clarke tried to turn him into (because we didn’t have enough lightweight holding mids like Sinclair and Kinsella??)
He’s one of the few I’d like us to keep.
And I loved that comment too, explains why he signed Sinclair, Liddle, Sherron, persisted with Kinsella and tried to turn Bates into one. Don’t need right winger though apparently 
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