Hey guys, you'll know I'm a Reading fan, but we've been linking up with Sunderland and Liverpool fans on Royals Rendezvous of late to do match previews and a league placings game too. I thought you might be interested in a pre-match assessment by 'Wolfy', RR's own resident Liverpool fan ... any comments back (sociable please!) I'd happily hand back to him, if reproducible! ----------------------------------------------------- Match: Sunderland v Norwich Date: 17th March 2013 Time: 13:30 Competition: Premier League Form: Sunderland - LDLLL Norwich - DLWDD Last meeting: Norwich 2-1 Sunderland Both these sides aren't safe from relegation yet but Norwich are already on 33 points and should have enough stay up. Games like this are the perfect chance to secure their survival, it's winnable and they should play positive, even though a loss could be slightly damaging with Wigan away next up in a couple of weeks. Norwich's biggest problem is goals, their leading scorer is just 5 goals and that needs to improve next season should they stay up. I mean, they do have a decent squad but it still lacks a bit of quality. They could do with 3 new first team players, one back, one midfield and one goal scoring striker. I guess they hoped Becchio would be the solution but he hasn't hit the ground running since his move from Championship side Leeds. If they had scored that last minute penalty against Southampton last week they would have all but secured their survival with Southampton losing a point too. They don't have too many players that they can say are real-real quality but at the same time they do have a team suited to a bottom half of the table prem side. They really do need to improve after coming out after half time because they've scored just once in the opening 15 mins of the second half. I really would like to hear thoughts of Norwich fans. I know they are happy to be away from the drop zone thanks to some crazy results like beating Arsenal and Man United but are they optimistic for the end of season or future with the current squad? I expected Sunderland to get beat last week, but it still doesn't mean that game wasn't important because it was. With Man Utd after this game, they really need 3 points or they will be sucked right back into the relegation fight. I think they are already in it but if they get a win here, they could be at least 8 points clear of the bottom 3. Again, they have the likes of Adam Johnson and Steven Fletcher who are too good to be involved in this, even the keeper Mingolet. They go to Chelsea and Newcastle after these two games and it doesn't look bright with many expecting probably 3 losses in the next 4 games. They have to show the same desire which propelled them from the relegation zone. If they can, they should pick up about 5-6 points from these games, then they are safe, no matter what anyone else does in my mind. If they go down with 35-36 points, I'll be surprised considering how many teams could be involved. Fletcher has scored Sunderland's first goal 7 times and I back him to do the same again, but can they hold on to a lead and avenge the 2-1 defeat earlier in the season? The home side has won 6 of the last 7 meetings when these sides face off, so it's good luck to be at home in this fixture, but I think both these sides are playing poorly and it won't be a great game to watch. Norwich would be the happier of the two with a 1-1. @LFCWolfy
History of the fixture suggest a home win, form and logic suggests a low-quality draw so we're bound to nick a 4-3 win. Take the point about our lack of depth and quality but the league table does not lie - for the past two seasons we have been a mid table team. Whether we finish top or bottom half will depend on the next 9 matches which look to be relatively soft with a couple of exceptions. Like most NCFc fans I think that this season has been a bit of a grind lit up by some cracking wins against Man U/Arsenal/Everton and a brilliant game against Swansea and I am hopeful that when we stay up some of the cash will be used to buy a couple of higher grade players and generally improve the quality of the first XI.
Cheers Daib0, I think everyone is too busy being annoyed at each other right now to comment. Unless Sunderland have something on their board, shall we make this the match day thread?
It's going to be bland. So bland I would assume the BBC already have it pencilled in for last on MOTD. The only hope for excitement IMO is through Adam Johnson, Stephane Sessegnon, or Steven Fletcher. I can't see where a Norwich goal would even think about coming from... maybe B. Jonno will finally get lucky that being said, either 0-0 or an absolute rout either way. Lest we forget, this fixture last year could have been optimistically described as 'turgid', I'm not sure the ball ever moved faster than 8mph
Starting-11: Bunn; R.Martin (C), Bassong, Turner, Garrido; Johnson, Howson, E.Bennett, Snodgrass, Hoolahan; Kamara Subs: Camp; Whittaker, Holt, Jackson, Fox, Becchio, R.Bennett. Clearly Hughton has realised Hoolahan is wasted out wide, which is good. As #BHW said on twitter, Kamara is probably tasked with running the defence ragged for the first hour or so, before Holt comes on. Hopefully Kamara's pace means Sunderland can't take a high line, giving Wes some room to create in. Disappointed to see Howson still preferred to Fox after last week, he needs to redeem himself this afternoon.
Bennett's probable position on the left wing is troubling me. I know Snoddy prefers playing on the right but Bennett is so ineffective when he plays on the left. Please can we swap them?
I'm a bit nervous and excited for this match, I just hope we'll put in a good performance and more importantly, don't lose. CH Changing things a bit is a brave move, hope it pays off.
