Ollie*Norwood wants Albion to get among Reading – as they adapt to a new way of playing under their Dutch boss.
The Seagulls midfielder has first-hand knowledge of the style of football being introduced by Jaap Stam at the Madejski Stadium.
Now the recent arrival from the Royals hopes to make a winning return and keep Albion right up there with the Championship pacesetters.
Stam arrived as Reading boss in June while Norwood was away in France, playing for Northern Ireland at Euro 2016.
The player had a three-week break once the Irish had been knocked out by Wales and he left Reading three days before the new league season started.
But there was enough time spent with Stam in pre-season to see what he was trying to do.
Ollie Norwood in action for Reading against Crystal Palace
Norwood reckons there were examples in last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Wolves of how Reading can be pressed into errors as they look to pass the ball from deep.
He told The Argus: “The manager there wants them to play total football.
“He has a very Dutch ethos about the way he wants them to play and move the ball about from the back.
“I’m sure the gaffer here and his coaches will come up with a plan to try and counter-act that.
“We go up there in good form, we haven’t conceded a goal yet and long may that continue.”
Stam came in during the summer and Norwood suggested his new methods might take time to get used to.
He said: “It was a massive change from where we were last season.
Reading boss Jaap Stam
Last season, from Christmas onwards, was a massive disappointment after we started the season so well.*There was a change of manager and a change in style of football.
“Jaap came in and wanted to play total football and at times you can get caught out by that, as we saw at the weekend against Wolves. I am sure we will look to act upon that.
“I was only in the building for ten days (under Stam) having been at the Euros but you could see what he was trying to do and the players were trying to enforce the plans he was looking to put in place.”
If there is any advantage to be gained by playing against clubs where new managers are still bedding in, then the fixtures have fallen well for the Seagulls.
They open the season with five games against teams who changed managers this summer – Derby, Colchester, Nottingham Forest, Rotherham and now Reading.
Having a settled side and way of playing has stood Albion in good stead in these early games, as Hughton recognised during his post-match press conference on Tuesday.
Norwood has been happy with the way he has slotted in, notably in the win over Rotherham on Tuesday.
He said: “It was a very good performance and a very good 3-0 win again.
“We looked strong. In the last 15 minutes we maybe got a bit sloppy but that can happen when you dominate a game so much.
“It’s another win, another step in the right direction and we look forward to Saturday.”
Albion had to wait a little while before taking control and, once they were three goals clear, they could sit back in the last half-hour.
But Norwood said: “They weren’t hurting us. We have high energy and high pressing and sometimes you have to take a little breather and surrender the ball a bit.
Anthony Knockaert has impressed Norwood
“We knew the third goal would be important. We wanted to get that as soon as we could and we spoke at half-time about that.
“It was definitely game over at 2-0. We weren’t going to lose that one.
“But, once the third one went in, you can relax a little bit.”
Norwood played a part in stretching play from left to right in the build-up to the second goal.
Article continues after...[h=3]More Articles[/h]
And his quickly taken free-kick led to the penalty which made it 3-0.
Having said, on arrival at the club, that his job was to get the ball and give it to the more dangerous attacking players, he was as good as his word.
“They are top players,” he said of Albion’s front two and the widemen.
“Anthony (Knockaert) knows the league and is a fantastic player. He has got that ability but he matches it with work rate. He gets back and puts in a shift for the team.
“Murph (Jamie Murphy) has got energy. He made a great run for the second one, in behind, and we worked the ball back across to the other side and scored again.
“The gaffer has got good options and there is a real team spirit here, which is something I have clocked on to really quickly.
“We need more than 11 players and that is evident.”
Original article
The Seagulls midfielder has first-hand knowledge of the style of football being introduced by Jaap Stam at the Madejski Stadium.
Now the recent arrival from the Royals hopes to make a winning return and keep Albion right up there with the Championship pacesetters.
Stam arrived as Reading boss in June while Norwood was away in France, playing for Northern Ireland at Euro 2016.
The player had a three-week break once the Irish had been knocked out by Wales and he left Reading three days before the new league season started.
But there was enough time spent with Stam in pre-season to see what he was trying to do.
Ollie Norwood in action for Reading against Crystal Palace
Norwood reckons there were examples in last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Wolves of how Reading can be pressed into errors as they look to pass the ball from deep.
He told The Argus: “The manager there wants them to play total football.
“He has a very Dutch ethos about the way he wants them to play and move the ball about from the back.
“I’m sure the gaffer here and his coaches will come up with a plan to try and counter-act that.
“We go up there in good form, we haven’t conceded a goal yet and long may that continue.”
- Norwood hopes Albion can get among the Royals
- Albion keeper back in contention and injured trio on the mend
- Maenpaa glad he stuck around after considering quitting Albion in summer
- Defensive solidity is key insists Albion boss
- Albion midfielder insists he will only get better
Stam came in during the summer and Norwood suggested his new methods might take time to get used to.
He said: “It was a massive change from where we were last season.
Last season, from Christmas onwards, was a massive disappointment after we started the season so well.*There was a change of manager and a change in style of football.
“Jaap came in and wanted to play total football and at times you can get caught out by that, as we saw at the weekend against Wolves. I am sure we will look to act upon that.
“I was only in the building for ten days (under Stam) having been at the Euros but you could see what he was trying to do and the players were trying to enforce the plans he was looking to put in place.”
If there is any advantage to be gained by playing against clubs where new managers are still bedding in, then the fixtures have fallen well for the Seagulls.
They open the season with five games against teams who changed managers this summer – Derby, Colchester, Nottingham Forest, Rotherham and now Reading.
Having a settled side and way of playing has stood Albion in good stead in these early games, as Hughton recognised during his post-match press conference on Tuesday.
Norwood has been happy with the way he has slotted in, notably in the win over Rotherham on Tuesday.
He said: “It was a very good performance and a very good 3-0 win again.
“We looked strong. In the last 15 minutes we maybe got a bit sloppy but that can happen when you dominate a game so much.
“It’s another win, another step in the right direction and we look forward to Saturday.”
Albion had to wait a little while before taking control and, once they were three goals clear, they could sit back in the last half-hour.
But Norwood said: “They weren’t hurting us. We have high energy and high pressing and sometimes you have to take a little breather and surrender the ball a bit.
Anthony Knockaert has impressed Norwood
“We knew the third goal would be important. We wanted to get that as soon as we could and we spoke at half-time about that.
“It was definitely game over at 2-0. We weren’t going to lose that one.
“But, once the third one went in, you can relax a little bit.”
Norwood played a part in stretching play from left to right in the build-up to the second goal.
Article continues after...[h=3]More Articles[/h]
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[h=5]Albion keeper back in contention and injured trio on the mend[/h]
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[h=5]Maenpaa glad he stuck around after considering quitting Albion in summer[/h]
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[h=5]Defensive solidity is key insists Albion boss[/h]
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[h=5]Albion midfielder insists he will only get better[/h]
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[h=5]Stockdale faces fight to regain Albion No.1 shirt from Maenpaa[/h]
And his quickly taken free-kick led to the penalty which made it 3-0.
Having said, on arrival at the club, that his job was to get the ball and give it to the more dangerous attacking players, he was as good as his word.
“They are top players,” he said of Albion’s front two and the widemen.
“Anthony (Knockaert) knows the league and is a fantastic player. He has got that ability but he matches it with work rate. He gets back and puts in a shift for the team.
“Murph (Jamie Murphy) has got energy. He made a great run for the second one, in behind, and we worked the ball back across to the other side and scored again.
“The gaffer has got good options and there is a real team spirit here, which is something I have clocked on to really quickly.
“We need more than 11 players and that is evident.”
Original article