Out to 6/1 joint second favourites with Watford, Derby now clear favourites at 11/5 Time to stick a few more quid on us methinks, some of my winnings from Rusty's goal last night perhaps
Promotion odds are these today: Derby 11/10,City 15/8,Wtaford,Boro9/4,Wolves7/2,Forest 9/2. With almost a third of the season gone there really are no clues to the outcome with early favourites Derby and Forest both losing at home and the top ten covered by just five points.Just two games could see all the positions reversed.
I think that's right, CT. Forest seem to be fading, so I'd say that the top two places are a fight between Derby, ourselves, Watford and Boro and I still fancy our chances out of that group. I still think Wolves are on a promotion bounce that will fade over the season and Bournemouth will also fade as injuries occur.
The very minimum i would accept from our boys this season would be the play offs. I am yet to go to the new Wembley and missed out last time at Cardiff so that could be a terrific day out. Top 2 would be the target obviously but it doesn't matter as long as we bounce back.
It's interesting that Lambert's Championship team were on exactly the same points after 14 games and drew all of their next 4 games and still went on to gain automatic promotion. One or two wins can make a big difference the way this league is going, but staying in touch is important.
Any team that has a good run from now until the new year is likely to have opened a sizable gap to third place. I just hope that it is us. We certainly have the attributes to be that team, we just have to find the net more often. Our game with Derbyshire on th 20th Dec could be crucial to us. I hope a striker is being looked for, on loan initially with a permanent move in January.
Very fair comment Rick and I agree totally, it is all about keeping in touch, particularly when our strikers appear to have mislaid their scoring boots. Surely they will come good and our better strength in depth will help in the second half of the season when injuries mount up.
Frustrating that our injuries tend to come together, as with both Wes and Odjidja-Ofoe both out at the same time. I wonder if that means a 4-4-2 on Friday.
It's amazing how a win can move things along somehow. Have we found an effective midfield combination now in Howson, O'Neil and Tettey? I think so, and so does Mick Dennis: http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter...-a-midfield-combo-that-may-be-the-way-ahead/? O'Neil is at the heart of that combination with a cool head, effective passing and an excellent reading of the game.
He agrees that Hoolahan getting a knock was a blessing in disguise. We should stick to the same 11 against Boro.
Pretty much sums up my feelings re Wes - I think opposition managers have worked out how to nullify him and he gives the ball away too often on a dangerous position for my liking.
let's not forget that hoolahan actually started the season very well playing behind grabban . it was when adams decided to shift him out wide that his form went to pieces. i'd rather have a fit hoolahan available to us than have him sidelined through injury
I am surprised to learn that Mick Denis is in fact Rick Waghorn, River End. But it is an excellent article with good logic. Hopefully the next two matches will cement the midfield trio as certain starters. Johnson appeared to be very irresponsible when he replaced O'Neill. He was obviously bought on to add to defensive stability but went all out to make an impression on Adams. He probably succeeded, but not in the way he intended.
Sorry about that GE, but I'd read the article by Mick before that and failed to check. What I like about O'Neil is his confidence on the ball and good decision-making. He rarely needs a second touch and seems to always know where to pass. His set-piece deliveries are also excellent, including that corner perfectly placed for Jerome to rise and attack for the second goal. He also reads the game well and has a good link-up with both Howson and Tettey, which all but disappeared when Johnson came on. I also agree completely with what he had to say in the Pink'un: “I think the key thing is here we are creating a lot more chances and playing well and we have a lot more pace and attacking threat in wide areas, which is vital in this league. The main thing to understand is how easy it is for the media and fans to get hung up on results solely and to feel we are not doing as well as we could. That hasn’t been the case. We have been the better team in the vast majority of matches this season.”
10/1 to be champions (in from 14/1 yesterday). Six points off the top. Wes back from injury. Just sayin' (won't be 10/1 for long after we destroy Derby next week - we can still piss this league, grab those odds while you can!)
Ha, just checked with my local bookies and we're now 3 - 1 to be promoted!!!! Might be worth a punt to win can get 12-1!!!
Hey JWM, your mob are punching above their weight, and all credit to them, but we have just arrived at the arena and warming up nicely to go head to head with the big hitters.