Hey there Canaries. No team in this division can be underestimated but I just wanted to know how you feel about Sunday after the positive result against Wigan on the weekend? Stoke are a very good side nowadays with some good players but away from the Brittania they are a different team, and with European excursions on top of the fact they will be missing key players in Delap, Etherington and a few others puts you guys in a good position. What is the mood like on here?
I 100% guarantee that we will not lose to Stoke on Saturday! Wish I could offer the same about Sunday
Im feeling a little optomistic about sunday, its very winnable and i think we can take it stoke and pick up the 3 points. But we need to cut out the silly little errors from the wigan game and try not to be as nervous as alot of our players were showing at the weekend.
I have to admit I am hoping that being tired after Thursday night Europa League action combined with the negative publicity Stoke have been getting about their tactics might play to our advantage! They are clearly at their best playing physical, no nonsense football and not giving anything away and I think we would struggle against better players adopting that approach. I am hoping the players have been reading the newspapers and decide that against 'little Norwich' they will showboat and prove everyone wrong. If they back off Fox and Hoolahan they will create chances. If they back off Bennett he will be past them and whipping quality balls into the box. I'm predicting a 2-1 win for Norwich!
Don't forget the Carrow Road faithful backing the lads as well, We've been waiting 6 years for this! I reckon we'll be in for a good game, with an epic atmosphere! Stoke shouldn't be leggy this early in the season, even though they are playing on Thursday. All the same I think we'll get a draw at least, provided the nerves are settled!
One thing has just struck me and shows that we're the new boys while Stoke are the established side. Our game got moved back to Sunday due to Stoke being in Europe so that they weren't forced to play Thursday and then go again Saturday (two games in three days) yet our League cup match has been fixed for the 23rd, Tuesday, meaning we play Sunday and then go again Tuesday (two games in three days). The same has happened to Wolves who are playing Fulham and also aren't considered to be an established side. The third side to be playing on Sunday and in the League cup are Bolton, who are considered an established side and they play on Wednesday in the cup.
I reckon if we don't let them intimidate us, and pass it like we can. Home advantage, we can beat them.
I think we're capable of getting a point. However, I am in no way kidding myself, it is much more likely we will lose. Stoke are now a quality side, especially defensively. It will be very tough indeed. Hopefully it being our first home game of the season will count for something and we'll be belting out On The Ball City...
Is the game on Sky this Sunday? I think we COULD win it with their injuries and tired after Europe but I think we will get edged out tbh.
If we play it on the floor we have a chance,try and mix it with these lads and i think it could be rough rumble.
Stoke fan in peace..... I can guarantee no-one from Stoke will showboat - certainly not away. Unless we are losing the full backs are usually fined if they go past the wingers even once. We have a style of playing that does not change much away, irrelevant of the competition. I'm not yet sure how much the Europa will affect us - We are looking to bring 4-5 players in yet so we can deal with 2 games a week but Pulis never buys anyone until the final day..... For now we are short of players and our present commitments are likely be too much for some of them. At home I would be very confident, away I am never confident. We would usually try to keep things really tight for 70 minutes then bring on a little flair and go for it.... However we only have two fit strikers right now (KJ and Walters) so our options will be limited. You'll need good fullbacks as our wingers are top notch.... I guess it goes without saying that our backline and goalie are pretty consistant too. Good luck for the coming season - hope all your team come down with a bad case of something nasty Sunday morning but then make a miraculous recovery by Tuesday.
Isn't Etherington injured? Certainly hope so, not in a vindictive way. Pennant is a real handful though, good luck Tierney.
Yeh - Etherington has damaged his shoulder and is a major doubt for tonight Delap / Woodgate and Pennant also have minor knocks and are unlikely to be risked before our match Sunday.
Can't wait for the game...... thought we looked quite shaky at the back against Wigan so wouldn't be suprised if Stoke score... I think we'll score a couple though so agree with Rubik's Tube's prediction: 2-1 norwich! (and Holt to open his Premier League account!)
