It's really nice to read a post like this and Rick's post that followed it. After ten games, we'd all more or less given up, I think, but now we're starting to look at all the possible permutations and who might go on a run and who might implode. We have hope again! Please, please, we beat Palace to keep that hope alive even if Man City and Liverpool stuff us in the following two games.
Considering we lost 5 games in a row in December and we won a couple and are back in the mix, we do have hope! ....it's the hope that gets you.
Idah delivered against Everton, Sargent delivered against Watford, Lees-Melou has upped his game in his last two starts, Williams has come good, and IMO Gilmour had his best game for us against Wolves (although I think Wolves are the kind of opponents who suit him, and I want to see how he does against a bunch of cloggers before I say he's turned a corner.) What I really want now is for Tzolis to suddenly start showing why he was touted as one of the most promising young players in Europe and we really do have a chance of survival.
As far as hope goes, I'm sure I'm no different from everyone else Rick. And I doubt if I'm much different either when it comes to expectation!
Newcastle now unbeaten in 4 games in the league, winning the last two. Definitely looking like for us to escape the drop, we're going to need to drag someone else into the mix.
A win for Norwich vs Palace would have everyone up to 13th (Palace) looking over their shoulders and with some tough games to come, this one really is important. A win could drag several others into the mix. I'm in two minds about Newcastle. On one hand I'd like them to stay in the relegation mix, but if we do end up dropping, I really don't want them in the Champ with us.
Newcastle's win has dragged Everton into the mix and we could be equal on points with them and ahead of Newcastle again if we win tonight. We've won 3 in a row and 4 out of our last 5 which has to have lifted player morale. Newcastle have signed new players who are still settling in but we have key players back from injury who have already settled in and more to come as well. The new manager bounce hasn't materialised so far for Everton and Watford who have 1 point and 2 points in their last 5 games respectively. Brentford and Burnley have 3 and Leeds have 6 like us and Newcastle have 8. A win tonight would take us up to 9 points with 3 straight league wins and 4 wins in a row including the Wolves cup win. With ManCity up next though, tonight's game becomes crucial. Brentford go to ManCity tonight and Leeds travel to Villa so we coul potentially close the gap on them if we win tonight. We also have a game in hand on Brentford. Here's the remaining games table again: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Everton and Watford are both looking terrible, the January window has slammed shut so no buying their way out of trouble. If we better the results of those 2 and Burnley then we still have a chance of survival. Tonight is huge but not quite the 6 pointer Watford was
Yes, huge. If we can win, and with the Newcastle money starting to pay off for them in terms of results, Everton, Leeds and Brentford are definitely dragged into the mix.
Interestingly, Newcastle's last 3 results were Watford at home (1-1), Leeds away (1-0) and Everton at home (3-1). Our last 3 games were West Ham away (0-2), Everton at home (2-1) and Watford away (3-0). We've also won 2 cup games at Charlton and Wolves while they lost 0-1 at home to Cambridge in the 4th round. Not sure there's that much difference, especially if we can win tonight.
I can only see Newcastle escaping the drop now. It's only a matter of having an unlimited amount of cash to throw at it. Whilst that won't guarantee then success at the top it will guarantee you better results than the bottom six. Just about sums up the situation that football has found itself in...makes you want to kick the cat! ( Only kidding)
My nephews support Newcastle, having been born and raised there. They're not convinced that their new signings will save them. Trippier they like, but £30m for Wood they're disgusted by. They did little business in the summer and are trying to catch up now. The current form table speaks volumes: Newcastle are above that with 8 points from the last 5 games and we have 7. Their hardest games come at the end of the season whereas we get through the two hardest in the next week, but at least we have Normann, Gilmour and hopefully Sargent back for those.
What I will concede despite my early reservations is that Dean Smith s doing a very good job. The one that looks catchable is Brentford.
Smith's view after the match with good news about Sargent: https://www.norfolklive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dean-smith-norwich-crystal-palace-6632348 I agree that we defended our area well and forced Palace to try lower percentage chances and that the tactical changes in the second half saved us a point. Would Farke have made those changes? Possibly. Gary Gowers is also worth a read: https://norwichcity.myfootballwrite...-but-a-point-for-city-against-a-silky-palace/
I think it's good that Smith seems to have settled on two tactics, and we've improved at both ends of the pitch as a result. Both still have flaws, and it'll be interesting to see the changes made now we have close to a full complement of midfielders available. The 4-4-2/4-2-4 clearly offers the most attacking threat, but sacrifices the midfield and control. However it's pretty rare to play a 4-4-2 variant at this level with a midfield duo so lacking in defensive ability. McLean/PLM are not players in the same mould as the Fred/McTominay, Ward-Prowse/Romeu, Westwood/Cork pairings used by other teams with similar formations. Of those 8 players, the only two you can imagine being deployed as attacking midfielders are the Norwich duo. Perhaps Normann comes in and helps add some steel, I'd almost be tempted by Normann and Sorensen when fit. Normann needs to be more disciplined with the ball though, ball retention hasn't been his strong point so far in his NCFC career and that 2-man midfield can't afford to be turning possession over cheaply. With the 4-3-3, the problem seems to be that Pukki gets isolated and is less effective. Whilst Idah as the lone striker offers the aerial ability to target but ends up with nobody close to him. I'd be interested to see a slightly more asymmetric 4-3-3 of Rashica, Pukki, Idah, with Idah coming in off the right enough to almost form a more traditional front 2 with Pukki. In midfield, PLM has experience playing a wider, pressing role, so he'd be tasked with covering when Idah is caught central. Overall change would be Placheta/Sargent replaced by Normann, but that would free up a striker at least as a bench option. Good to have options in the squad!
