Tim Allman, Capital Canaries Did Norwich use all their luck up last season at Southampton? Yes, I think so as I watched City labour to a disappointing defeat at St Mary's on Tuesday.

Tim Allman, Capital Canaries

Did Norwich use all their luck up last season at Southampton? Yes, I think so as I watched City labour to a disappointing defeat at St Mary's on Tuesday.

Last season the Southampton shot count against was over 20, including a missed penalty by Stern John. It was reported that he took over the spot kick duties from Rasiak as he supposedly didn't want to score against the team he may have been joining. And then he moved to Bolton instead of City on loan on deadline day.

City didn't get much luck on Tuesday night, hitting the post and the ball rolling across the goal, and also conceding a fifth penalty of the season as the referee decided that Stefanovic had made contact inside the box as opposed to outside.

But sometimes in life you make your own luck. Taking chances is a start, and we had two excellent opportunities, both spurned, which could have brought us back into the game. It wasn't bad luck that City didn't score from these chances.

The sending off wasn't bad luck either. Questioning the ref's ancestry won't get him to change his decision; all it will do is get an invitation to check that the hot water in the showers is switched on. Oh, and Jonathan Grounds was recalled from his loan spell this week, though it wouldn't have been such bad luck had we had our senior centre back available.

Unlike our manager, who seemed remarkably upbeat about our performance at St Mary's, I didn't share his enthusiastic view of the game. We were under pressure for the first few minutes, settled down and played some decent stuff in the middle 15 of the first half, until Jordan Robertson scored his wonder goal. For those of you who were at the third round Coca Cola Cup match in October 1998, and there were 14,189 of us in attendance, it was as good as Robbie Elliott's goal for Bolton that evening.

After going behind we played it too long too often, with our centre midfield two not involved enough, not wanting the ball enough and not imposing themselves on the opposition. I want to see more from our skipper than I have done this season, and when Sammy Clingan is back from injury, I will be surprised if Glenn Roeder does not relegate Fozzy to the bench. No one in the team should be fire-proof, especially the captain.

My view on players is that they need to play in their most effective positions. That means Ryan Bertrand at left back, and John Otsemobor at right back. Don't play Matty Pattison in Lee Croft's position, which makes us far too narrow going forward, and find a system in which we can bring the best out of Wes Hoolahan, who on his day looks the best player in the team.

On the plus side, Lee Croft looked our most dangerous attacking player and OJ Koroma, despite the chances missed, and his poor hold-up playlooked to have some real pace and ability on the ball.

I'm just curious as to why the only league game Koroma has started this season is the away game closest to Portsmouth where it was easiest for him to be watched. Surely not?

Finally, a warm welcome to yet another loan player to Carrow Road. I last saw Leroy Lita play against Norwich in that 0-4 demolition at the Madjeski when Reading cantered to the Championship title, and he looks as if he's got pace, a goal poacher's attitude and the sort of player we so desperately need at Carrow Road. All we need to do so is create some chances for him.