Just seen the Zimbo news, and that Rupp is out for 2 games minimum. With the internationals not returning until late we are struggling for CB and CM. Sorensen has to start but will it be CM or CB. Will Hanley be ready start. We could potentially see a back line of Quintilla Sorensen Omobamidele Mumba, with Tettey and Vrancic sitting in front. Cantwell should be fine as he had little minutes while away so he could join Dowell and Buendia with Hugill up top. Could be a very interesting selection for this one. I’d rather see Sorensen at the back than Tettey for this one unfortunately as I’d love him to have his chance in midfield.
So my team would be: Krul Mumba Omobamidele Sorensen Quintilla Tettey Vrancic Buendia Dowell Cantwell Hugill would be a very inexperienced defence but I’d rather have Sorensen’s match experience from this season back there as Tettey hasn’t played much. McLean didn’t play a huge amount for Scotland though and Pukki was rested for Wednesdays match so depends how they come back.
If this were a Football Manager save for me I’d right this game off in our position, play the players that have been at Conley and not risk any injuries to those that have been away so that they are ready to go for the following games.
Agree about Sorensen. He's probably the safest bet. We need someone reliable to pass the ball from the back. Although I wouldn't be too surprised if DF started Tettey. Let's get Auto's wrapped up first, then give O'deli some senior playing time.
I don't think Hanley had a hard game last night and with our injury crisis I suspect that if he is uninjured he will play even though it will be his 5th game in 13 days. The fixture list is absolutely ridiculous.
It is very ironic that all our internationals seem too have returned uninjured but those left behind are not so lucky.
Norwich 8 games left to play and we're on 83 points, having averaged well over 2 points per game (2 points per game + 7, 1 down from last week or 2.18/game if you prefer). Whilst it was disappointing to drop 2 points against Blackburn, it's worth reminding ourselves that was the only 2 points we've missed out on in the last 10 games. More concerning was the injury to Gibson, that will put him out for the rest of the season. Yesterdays news of Zimmermann's injury, which is likely to also put him out for the rest of the season, leaves us with just 1 experienced, established CB, Hanley. Fortunately Hanley has performed incredibly well this season and returns from international duty with Scotland having performed well, particularly in the game against Austria, where he scored with a crucial header. Surprisingly all of our players seem to be returning from the international break uninjured, albeit some will be fatigued. Most pundits already have us promoted and most people think it would take a major disaster for us not to be in the PL next season, however an injury to Hanley could leave us flying by the seat of our pants for the remainder of the season. We need Tettey, Sorensen or Omobamidele to step up to the plate and there are reasons to be optimistic, hopefully between the 3 of them and Hanley, along with the continued great form of Skipp & McLean, we can see out the remainder of the season. However the more 'glass half empty of us' will have a few nervous weeks. Few people would bet against us getting promoted and the bookmakers look to have taken the view it's a done deal. I'm still struggling to see a scenario where we don't get promoted, however I'm a little less confident of us finishing top than I was before the Gibson injury. We are 24 points above Bournemouth (who are in 7th place, but have a game in hand) and top of the form table with 16 points from the last 6 games and on a 10 game unbeaten run. We are still on course to break a couple of club records Most wins in a season, currently 29 (League 1 - 2009/10) / Most league points, Currently 95 (League 1 - 2009/10). Having had so many players involved in the international fixtures certainly means that we will be going into the game against PNE less prepared than we would want, but on the other hand the situation does reinforce how far we have come as a club in recent years. PNE are 20th in the form table with 4 points from the last 6 and are still in the mix for a relegation place. They sacked Alex Neil, after they lost their last game to Luton, but have decided to promote Frankie McAvoy to head coach for the rest of the season. McAvoy has had plenty of time during the international break to prepare his players for this game, however his appointment will hopefully lessen the effect of the new manager bounce. PNE with AN in charge had all the hallmarks of an 'along came Norwich' scenario. A win today will certainly steady the ship. Our next 5 games are Huddersfield (Home), Derby (A), Bournemouth (H), Watford (H) and QPR (A) . 4 wins from these and the PNE game would put us on 95 points and almost certainly see us promoted, if one of those wins was the Watford game then that would make us finishing top much more likely. Indeed the league and the auto spots could pretty much be decided by the Watford game. Watford have 75 points and are still the only team that I think have a realistic chance of finishing above us. As well as being 2nd in the league they are also 2nd in the form table with 15 points from 6 and have a home fixture at 3pm today against against Sheffield Wednesday (21st in the form table with 4 from 6 same as PNE) having eased past Birmingham 3 nil in their last game. It's difficult to envisage anything other than a Watford win, but there is a slight hope, Sheffield Wednesday as a result of a points deduction find themselves in the relegation battle and have improved since Darren Moore was appointed. They recently performed well against us and followed that with a draw against Huddersfield and a win against Barnsley. Can Jordan Rhodes who has scored 3 goals in the last 3 games help us out. Watford's following 5 games are Middlesbrough (A), Reading (H), Luton (A), us & Milwall (H). As well as the game against us, the Middlesbrough & Reading fixtures look tricky for them. Swansea sit in 3rd with 69 points having lost 1 nil to Cardiff in their last game and 3 nil to Bournemouth the game before. They are 14 points behind us although they still have a game in hand. They are 10th in the form table having only gained 10 points from the last 6 games. Swansea have injury concerns over Ayew & Hourihane arguably their 2 most influential players and neither of who have been able to train this week. They are away to Birmingham today who are 15th in the form table with 7 points from the last 6, 8pm KO. Birmingham are fighting to avoid relegation and have had a tough run of fixtures, however they did beat Reading 2 - 1 recently, so there is hope that they could help us out. Swansea's following 5 games are Preston North End (H), Millwall (A), Wycombe (H), QPR (H) & Reading (A). On paper Swansea's run of 6 games looks easier than ours or Watford's, but I'm still struggling to see how they can force their way into the top 2. Brentford are 4th with 68 points and a game in hand. They sit 5th in the form table with 11 points from the last 6 and have drawn their last 2 games, against Derby & Forrest. Brentford play Huddersfield on Saturday, KO 12.30. Brentford's next 5 games are Birmingham City (H), Preston North End (A), Milwall (H), Cardiff (H) & Bournemouth (A). Barnsley are 5th with 64 point. They have done well in recent weeks although they will be disappoint to lose their last game against Sheffield Wednesday 2 - 1, a game in which Jordan Rhodes got a brace. They are 3rd in the form table 13 points from the last 6 games. Barnsley's influential captain Alex Mowatt received a red card in the game against Wycombe but this was overturned on appeal. They are at home to Reading today in the 5.30 KO. Their following 5 games are Luton (A), Middlesbrough (H), Coventry (A), Huddersfield (A) & Rotherham. Reading fill the last playoff spot and have 62 points having only managed to draw against QPR in their last game. They have struggled in recent weeks and are 6th in the form table with 11 points from 6, however they have only taken 2 points from their last 3 games. They are in danger of failing out of the top 6, if Bournemouth (who have a game in hand) can beat Middlesbrough and they lose to Barnsley today they will drop out of the top 6. Their bubble looks to have burst and they have a tough run of games coming up, Derby (H), Watford (A), Cardiff (A), Luton (A) & Swansea (H). Our hope must be that they don't fold and can get something from the Watford & Swansea games.
The stats look promising especially as the 3 teams who have a realistic chance of getting above us have to play each other. The glass half empty brigade, of which I am the founder member, look at 4 of our remaining fixtures and think ' difficult', look at our selection problems today and think ' banana skin' and look at the possibility of Hanley picking up a knock and think ' crisis'. Mrs 1950 has already ordered extra toilet rolls!!!
I notice ifollow and EFL have once again renaged on their agreement with free access to the game for season ticket holders. Apparently they have deemed this to be a weekend game????? Once again, **** on the fans and screw us for another £10
Omo.... gets his first start, Sorensen at DM with Kenny, Mumba at RB. Interesting selection. Quintilla gets a rare start.
We'll call him Andy Great opportunity for Andrew Omobamidele the young 18 year old Irish International to start his career . Hope he plays a blinder today . So many changes it will be interesting to see how they gel .
Aarons and Skipp missing after international duty. At least Farke has readymade excuses! Interesting that Tettey doesn't get the nod in either role, I wonder what that says about his future.
The agreement was for all home games and midweek away games,but not weekend away games Is Friday the weekend??? Not in my world.