Match Day Thread Norwich Vs Luton, Sat 6th Mar @ 15:00

Will the hatters be mad after a game with the Canaries or will they clip the Canary's wings for the third time this season?

Form:
Norwich WWWWW
Luton WWDLL

Norwich are currently first after five straight wins including Brentford in midweek. Luton are sitting mid table after a couple of wins of their own most recently against Nottingham Forrest.

The history of the games between these two is Norwich 29 wins 19 draws and 28 defeats. The first match was played in November 1920 and of course Luton stopped Norwich's 1959 cup run and who were then beaten in the final by Nottingham Forrest. In 2008-09 Luton were docked a massive 30 points before the season began for financial irregularities and Norwich were one of the only clubs who said they would help them out who sent them a couple of players on loan. The last three games have gone to Luton, but hopefully a near full strength Norwich can get a win on Saturday.

Okay we have won a little more recently than this game, but you forget what a good side we were early 90s! Enjoy, this blast from the past, Luton's keeper played a blinder and they still lost!

 

We are due a comfortable win, and this I believe will be the one.
After being the unfortunate Match Day Thread incumbent in both our defeats to
The Hatters this season I WANT REVENGE.

 

Norwich So 12 games to go and we have averaged well over 2 points per game (2 points per game + 5, 1 up from last week or 2.15/game if you prefer). We sit comfortable at the top of the league and the early concerns some posters had that we might get relegated to League 1, at the start of the season seem unbelievable now. We have now amassed enough points to make relegation a mathematical impossibility, without some sort of points deduction imposed by the league. Maybe playing behind closed doors has helped us, by preventing the fans nervousness and negativity, particularly in the first few months of the season having a impact on the players in games. We are 19 points above 7th, a spot currently filled by Barnsley, who are second in the form table over the last 6 games with a maximum 18 points. We are top by virtue of goal difference. We are 10 points above a play off place and many commentators & pundits already have us promoted. Compliancy could be an issue, but with DF a the helm there's little doubt that players feet will remain firmly nailed to the ground. An outsider looking at our next game against Luton on Saturday, KO 3pm, would expect us to be confident of getting a result, but for us we know playing Luton is never straightforward. Our next 5 games after Luton are Sheffield Wednesday (Away), Chris Hughton's Nottingham Forest (Away), Blackburn Rovers (Home), Preston North End (Away) & Huddersfield (Home). Over the last 10 years the average number of points to win the Championship is 92.9, win our next 6 games and we're virtually there and won't have to worry about the tougher games at the end of the season.

Brentford despite losing to us remain in 2nd and 10 points behind. Brentford who at one point looked, along with Swansea, as our many competitor for the title have died away. Brentford are 17th in the form table with 6 points from the last 6 games. Like us their next 6 games look winnable, starting with Rotherham at home, KO 3pm Saturday followed by Blackburn Rovers (H), Derby (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Huddersfield (A) & Birmingham City (H).

Watford who beat Wycombe 2 nil on Wednesday (Same result as our game) remain in third with 63 point, the same as Brentford, missing out on 2nd place on goal difference (Brentford GD 25 / Watford GD 21). Watford are 4th in the form table with 15 points from 6 and have a home fixture against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, KO 12.30. There following 5 games are Cardiff City (A), Rotherham (A), Birmingham City (H), Sheffield Wednesday (H) & Middlesbrough (A). The Cardiff (8th) & Middlesbrough (9th) games could be tough and see them dropping points.

Swansea remain in 4th, with 62 points, despite having just managed to beat Stoke with a last minute penalty in the 90 +6 minute of the game. Steve Cooper before the game highlighted mental and physical fatigue as an issue for his team and the 2 games they have in hand will only make this worse. They are currently 11 points behind us, even if they win both games in hand they would still be 5 points behind us and only 2 points above Brentford & Watford. They are 6th in the form table with 12 points from the last 6 and have a tricky game at home to 9th place Middlesbrough on Saturday, KO 3pm, followed by Blackburn Rovers (A), Luton (A), Bournemouth (A), Cardiff (H) & Birmingham City (A). The Middlesbrough, Bournemouth and Cardiff games all look difficult and I can see them dropping further behind us and the chasing pack

Reading remain in 5th having beat Blackburn Rover at home at the weekend. A result that ended a run of 3 straight home defeats. They sit 12th in the form table with 9 points from a possible 18. They play tonight away to Huddersfield, KO 7.45 before games against Sheffield Wednesday (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Birmingham City (A), QPR (H) & last but not least a tough game against Barnsley (A).

Bournemouth sit in 6th place 1 point ahead of Barnsley who have got 18 form the last 6 and have a game in hand. The Cherries are 8th in the form table with 10 from a possible 18. They just managed to win their last games against a resurgent Bristol City 2 - 1 with a goal in the 88th minute. They along with Watford have been charged by the FA as a result of the melee between the 2 teams players. They play away at Preston NE on Saturday, KO 3pm. Their next 5 league games are Barnsley (H), Swansea (H), Middlesbrough (H), Blackburn Rovers (A) & Coventry (H). In amongst these games they also have a home FA Cup game against their near neighbours, Southampton.

Swansea and Bournemouth look to have the toughest set of games over the next month and I can see both teams dropping points falling down the table, Bournemouth in particular look at a strong risk of falling out of the top 6 and being replaced by Barnsley.

Along with most pundits I can't see us not finishing in the top 2, but am slightly less confident of us winning the league at this stage (along came Norwich syndrome), although if I was a betting man my money would be firmly on us. If things go to form / plan over the next 6 games I think we will still be well ahead of our rivals and not have to worry about the much more challenging games at the end of the season. So at this time I still think there is a 99.999999 % chance of us finishing in the top 6, a 90 % chance of us finishing in the top 2 (up 15 from last post) and a 80% chance of us winning the league (Up 20 from last post).

 

What do you do for the other 23hr55min of the day after finishing this short resume?

 

Updated the opening post and posted on the Luton board (not that there has been anyone there for years it seems) to see if they want to join us for the thread.

 

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The Pink Un
DF pleased to see Nyland featuring today for the U23s, "it will be good for his confidence." Also positive to see Stiepermann playing and scoring today as he builds up his match fitness.

 

3rd time lucky

 

Yeah we did Luton quite the favour with loans and now look how they've paid us back since!

 

Still a more than fair exchange -- for Lewis and Aarons!

 

But we paid agreed fees for both and Luton has benefited from a sell on fee for Lewis and can expect an even bigger one for Aarons sometime soon.

Here's WhoScored's preview of the game. I don't know why they've included Placheta, as Onel is more likely to play if Cantwell can't start.

 

I will look out for signs our players might be getting tired after a gruelling schedule. I hope and expect clever substitutions in this game!

 

Indeed, but they came to us when they could have gone elsewhere to further their football education (and before the Webber/Farke era too). Without any insider information, it looks as if there is a good relationship there, built up over time, and mutually beneficial to both clubs. We have a similar relationship with Spurs.

 

The Spurs relationship goes way back as we fed off their academy releases like Crook, Mulryne and McVeigh in the same manner we acquired Josh Martin from Arsenal. Now we're recruiting younger players to oversee their development.

 

Mine is 23:00.... I'm going to be asleep, I hope if the baby allows me haha

 

Rupp gets his chance to shine. If not, I guess Farke may try Dowell.

 

Agree. Mario looked tired in the second half and he can still come on as super sub if needed. Rupp deserves his chance. Todd was always going to come back if fit and Onel can inject pace from the bench if needed.