Saturday brings a 3rd round FA Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion which has got Shane Duffy buzzing: "It's a club I love and owe a lot to. They set me up for my career, and it's always nice when you go back to play your old team – but this time, I want Norwich to win. I've got a good connection with that club. The fans have always been really good – they've been respectful and I've been respectful to them. They've seen that I gave everything to the club, and that's what every fan wants. I felt like it was the most successful part of my career.” The seagulls currently sit 10th in the PL with 28 points from 20 games. The last FA Cup game against Brighton occurred in January 2003 with City winning 3-1 at Carrow Road. Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has obviously done his homework: “They try to build up from the back with Doyle and McLean as sixes - both are very good football players. They've clear positioning in the build up, plus in the offensive line they have Sainz. He's a very good one-against-one player. He makes a difference, especially in the Championship. He scores a lot of goals. He makes a lot of assists. So we have to, we have to defend quite good. We have to press intensely, we have to be very compact also in a low block to be ready to defend against them, otherwise they can cause a lot of danger." Hurzeler also revealed that Brighton will be without strikers Joao Pedro and Evan Ferguson and defender Lewis Dunk for the third round clash while City could see Josh Sargent returning to the front line, but that will more likely be from the bench, if at all. More team news once it's available.
Quality thread as usual buddy. It's not going to be easy, depending on what teams are selected. Personally I would go for our strongest team, but I can't see that happening
Below is a link to the team news for Brighton for their FA Cup match against the Canaries on Saturday. Some Key players could be missing for the Seagulls https://www.brightonandhovealbion.c...mft-match-previews-norbha-fa-cup-january-2025
A few players I didn’t see on todays club training video - Gunn, Hanley and Sainz. A few of the younger lads involved, perhaps they will make the squad for this FA cup game.
I understood that Sainz was not intending to contest the charge, which makes the statutory penalty inevitable surely?
Unless some mitigation is involved for not contesting it. I'm pretty sure that if it was a top six team it would be.
I think he confessed but the club were trying to make a case for a reduced amount of games. Silly for doing it for sure, but nothing for their players who were at him all game
Squad update Dobbin - IN - Ready to be part of the squad straight away after loan completed Hills - IN - Recovered from illness Sargent - IN - First steps in road to recovery, should be able to play 15mins from the bench Forsyth – OUT - 1-2 weeks - knee - Had a set back, had an injection Sorensen - OUT - 1-2 weeks calf injury Slimane - OUT - 4-6weeks - Ankle ligaments Gibbs - OUT - 5-6 weeks with a reoccurrence of the hamstring issue that took him out from the start of the season. Fassnacht - SOLD - Completing sale to Young Boys in January 15th Barnes - SOLD - Returned to Burnley January 2nd JHT - Has a heavy cold in the press conference
Could this 6 game ban for Sainz work in our favour? As he will not be able to play for any team in January, and would not be available until February, after the transfer window has shut, and he would be unable to put himself in the Shop window in January with this 6 match ban.
Disappointing that Sainz gets a 6 match ban for Spitting, which although he should never have done, why are some players given 4 match bans for more serious offences such as violent conduct, (eg punchjing an opponent in the face) or a serious foul such as a 2 footed tackle, yet Sainz got 6 for spitting. Surely 3 woiuld have been enough? Maybe he should have punched the Sunderland player in the face because he woiuld have escaped with a shorter ban
Absolutely shameful from Sainz. But credit where it’s due that is a quality apology. There are a good few conservative politicians who could take note.
