We’re back to Carrow Road this Saturday for Norwich v Derby. The Rams are in horrible form having lost their last 7 matches, failing to score in 5 of them. They are currently slumped in 22nd place with boss Paul Warne feeling the heat. (EDIT: Now sacked.) Derby did a bit of business in the transfer window picking up two Norwegians - striker, Lars-Jorgen Salvesen and defender, Sondre Langas plus Centre Back, Matt Clarke (again) and Everton teenager Harrison Armstrong coming in on loan. Probably the most significant move was defender Eiran Cashin leaving for Brighton, which may have opened the door for us to get our hands on McConville. Of course, there will be several new faces to see in Norwich shirts this weekend. We could see debuts for new signings – Jurasek, McConville, and Jacob Wright, though with players like Nunez, Slimane and Cordoba coming back from injuries I’d not be surprised to see our new recruits introduced gradually. This will be the last game of Sainz’s ban as well. All in all, following impressive victories over Swansea and Watford, the return of key players plus some exciting new hires, it feels like we’re pointing in the right direction again. Let’s hope we’re still grinning on Saturday night. OTBC
This should be a routine victory for us, and you continue at the helm of the good ship Match Day Thread. Looking forward to seeing Jurasek, and possibly Wright on as a sub. Would not expect McConville to come on with Cordoba likely on the bench as well.
26.7 for the first game, but Hanley and Fassnacht were swiftly dropped out after that for the much younger Doyle and Crnac. Duffy and McLean are a year older now though and Marcondes brings the average up in place of Gibbs
how many times has that been said before and...Along came Norwich to make a depressing Saturday evening! . That said, despite being in the bottom 3 their GD isn't terrible compared to those around, so I'm expecting less 5-0 and more like 2-0/2-1. Hope our new signings can add a bit of bite into midfield and defence!
Yep only one of Derby's recent losses was by more than 1 goal. They're not getting smashed. Hoping Norwich at home have too much for them though.
Which also meant that Brighton could then sell McConville to us. Of the last day signings though, Jacob Wright is the one who could have a major impact, as a Manchester journo points out in the Pinkun: "His strongest position is as a six or an eight. He was very fortunate that when he was in the U16s at City, that was when Ilkay Gundogan was doing his coaching badges and trained the U16s as part of that. There is a nice video of Gundogan coaching Wright and him being picked out as the special one that everything went through. He has taken a lot of lessons from Ilkay and takes what he has in his game - ghosting in the box and carrying the ball at the right time - and applied it to his game. Most players at City are taught to play a number of ways, and the positions are only a starting point for where they end up." That seems to be what JHT is looking for as well.
There is always one who has looked down and seen the proverbial banana skin approaching and this time it is me.
Squad update *Updated after press conference* Cordoba - IN - After missing last weeks game due to oversleeping and missing Fridays team meeting McConville - IN - Could be involved in the squad Jurasek - IN - Finally registered Wright - IN - Should be involved Slimane - IN - Recovered from Ankle injury Nunez - IN - Recovered from hamstring injury That's 3 CMs, 2 CBs and 1 RW to bring into the squad. With 2 games in quick succession this week rotation will be important. Sainz - Suspended - This is game 6/6 Hernandez - OUT - 1 week - Slight knee issue - targeting Hull game Forsyth - OUT - 1-2 weeks - knee injury - Felt pain on return to training Forson - OUT - 1-2 weeks - knee knock - still feeling pain Gibbs - OUT - 3-4 weeks - hamstring injury Springett - OUT - 12 weeks - back injury - re-occurrence Mair - OUT - Returned to the club after breaking his finger. Wright - Described as not a hard tackler but a player that could give us a different option in midfield that we don't currently have. Will try to give him minutes this weekend, not from the start. McConville - Described as a great character and the kind of ball playing CB we were after, also very good in the air.
Travel Info for those going to the game: The A47 will be closed between Honningham and Easton from 8pm Tonight (Friday 7th) to 6am Monday 10th February due to roadworks being done to improve the road. https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/east/a47-north-tuddenham-to-easton-improvements/ Hope you find this info helpful if you are going to the game
