Not sure JR is the kind of keeper SW and DF are looking for - one who plays a sweeper role and plays the ball out to maintain possession. More likely it'd be a young keeper who can adapt and develop within our way of playing. As for Lewis being injured, we have Pinto and Marshall who can cover there. Not ideal, but that could be enough for now. If not, a young LB who, again, could adapt and develop within our way of playing as Lewis and Aarons have.
I think that's a little unfair on Fulham. Fulham do not belong in the same bracket as a Colin side. They also played football in the right way. Whilst I'm very positive about us here and now in the championship, the PL is a different kettle of fish and whilst I believe that we have the right approach to give ourselves a fighting chance in the PL especially as we will go up as the paupers of the division. The odds of survival for us just as for Fulham will be heavily stacked against. As for the youth, that will be a true test, how to transition any into a PL side? Lewis had little competition, Arrons more but they were against Chamionship standard players. When we go up the youth will be competing with PL players. OK they will still be bargain basement by PL standards but webber might be then shopping in the top two tiers in Germany. Unless of course the new rule proposed to limit squads to 12 out of 25 foreign players were to come in to the PL (Currently 17). Then they may be forced into the front line, ready or not. bah!
Yes, I had some misgivings about including Fulham alongside Cardiff so you may well be right. I certainly think that the PL would be as tough or probably tougher than ever but I also feel that the current squad is better than any we've taken up in recent years. Yes it would test the players, especially the youffs, but the way we dominated Cardiff and Bournemouth in the cup gives me hope in that regard. We still have a lot to do to even get there though.
So some interesting changes in the ‘Supercomputer’ predictions for the end of the season and quite a few significant changes from 10 weeks ago. I wonder how much different it will look in another 10 weeks or so??????
That eminent sky sports pundit, David Prutton, is puzzled about us being two points clear at the top of the table: “We’ve got Norwich City two points clear at the top of it (the table) and that, to me, is something of a mystery. For the best part of a year I’ve been struggling to see exactly what Daniel Farke has been doing there but all of a sudden they’re on a roll, they’ve got chemistry in their team and they’re the club to catch (although given that the lead in the Championship has changed hands 15 times already, they shouldn’t be counting their chickens).” I won't quote the article because that's as deep as it goes, but it's symptomatic about our present situation. He doesn't get that it's about a style of play which has allowed us to dominate game after game in what is more than just a good run. He's never heard of our players so we must be ripe for dropping away again soon. That could happen, but I don't think it will. We will lose again, possibly at Swansea or Hull, but I wouldn't bet on it. If anything, we've been better away from home so we should go there full of confidence. We have Hanley and McLean returning from injury to provide additional options, but they have to break into the team first and that isn't going to be easy, as Marshall has found out recently. The next six games to the halfway point provide an opportunity to push our claim further and then we should have a good grasp on our chances overall. I for one look forward to that!
Our next 6 matches to the halfway point, with current table position after: Swansea (a) 8th Hull (a) 22nd Rotherham (h) 19th Bolton (h) 23rd Bristol City (a) 13th Blackburn (a) 9th Swansea and Blackburn away look to be the biggest challenges, but we've only lost once away this season (Sheffield United). Bristol City away could also be tricky, as could breaking down Rotherham and Bolton at home, but a decent haul of points in those 6 matches could see us in a strong position going into the second half of the season.
IMO Rick, we really need to be looking at 10 points from those games as an absolute MINIMUM and to try to stay ahead of the chasing pack. Louis Thompson on the comeback trail - https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/thompson-confident-about-his-city-contribution-1-5784236
Absolutely, JM. We have 7 tough games after Blackburn and need to be good in the standings going into those.
If we can, or have, learn how to break down parked buses in our home games we should be capable of a decent haul of points from those six games, because our away from is excellent and four of those matches are away to teams that almost certainly will attack us, which should play into our hands. Ever the optimist I expect 14 points from these games.
That IS being optimistic!!!! Hanley knows he won’t just ‘walk’ back into the team now that he’s returned to fitness - https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwi...aces-battle-to-make-canaries-return-1-5785947 DF is going to have a real selection headache with both Hanley and McLean fit again. #happydays
Who'd have thought at the start of the season that it would be Hanley fighting for a place in the back line. McLean looked exciting before his injury so could be a real selection headache for DF. A good problem though eh?
As fans we should be optimistic, IMO. We are on more than a good run. We've won the last 5 games and 9 of the last 11 games by dominating the play (home and away). That's rate of 2.27 points per game. If we maintain that over the next 6 games, it would be 13.6 points. While 14 points might be an ideal target, I'm hoping for 12-13 while the teams just behind us take points off each other, as that could put us in a very strong position going into the second half of the season where there will be ups and downs to be sure. A win against Swansea could be critical in that. Here's Swansea's take on us: ://www.swanseacity.com/news/meet-opposition-norwich-city
Where is McLean expected to play? Competition for Stiepermann/Vrancic, a wider role like Hernandez, or deeper like Leitner?
I think the answer is 'any of those', DH. His preference is in the middle, but his strength is in the accuracy of his left foot (though his right isn't bad either). Early in the season he played WR. Hard to say really, except that he adds to DF's options, as does Marshall (WL, WR, LB or RB).
He is quite versatile as to his best position an excellent replacement for last season's No 23. I think his free kick delivery is quite decent too.
A bit of a mixed bag today, as I'd a busy day yesterday When you read that article Rick re Swans view of us, it must be quite scary being an opposition fan, as we don't have a 'weakest link' and TC wasn't even mentioned (nor were GH of KM). IMO, we're now at the point where we can cope with an occasional injury, though if Krul or Lewis were injured/suspended .... So I see MB has been talking to Leitner ahead of the return to league action on Saturday and I must say that he has been a real driving force this season. - City have conceded one goal fewer than they managed after 17 games last season, but it is at the other end where the real difference lies: the Canaries’ tally of 28 goals scored is 12 more than at the same stage of last term. I still say >80 GF is POSSIBLE!!!!
