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And now, from Norwich, it's the quiz of the week..... question 1, just who will make Sabri Lamouchi's starting 11 for game #34 (T minus 13 of our cup finals) and our trek across the country for the delightful visit to Carrow Road and Norwich City away?
One can't help but think of good old Delia Smith when one talks of Norwich, and of course her now infamous , slightly inebriated half time pep talk for the crowd. For those of you who may have somehow missed this enjoy....
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So, that interlude brings us nicely onto round 2 of our quiz, and, as homage to dear old Delia, it's time for Norfolk's answer to Where's Wally... Delia Smith - "Where are you, let's be 'avin you"???
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First one to spot Delia gets an extra bonus point in the Prediction League!
(Disclaimer/Small Print - BrizzleBluebird Publishing Kings Ltd (BB KING for short) has made no effort to engage with FrankFurter GmbH to ratify such a prize and thus any additional point will be at the discretion of the organisers of the Prediction League and as such can be denied application at any point, in fact, he's such a tigh wad when it comes to points being dished out that I'll probably end up with a penalty point being deducted as a result of my impudence. but them's the breaks if so).
So, onto the main feature.... our intrepid Bluebirds travel to Norwich in fine spirits and hoping to ruffle a few Canary feathers. Coming off the back to 2 wins on the bounce confidence is starting to build but an always tough trip lies in wait for our blue clad clan.
Norwich are currently sitting in 9th spot and a whopping 14 points ahead of our boys, but yet there will still be some discontent amongst the Canaries flock given that they were initially one of the pre-season favourites to fly straight back up to the Premier League. Their current position sees them just 1 point outside the play-offs, so their aims may not be done for, but automatic promotion would appear to be beyond their reach now.
Form has been a little patchy under new boss David Wagner so having their top scorer (11 goals) Josh "Ginger" Sargent reportedly injured for this one will be a blow, and some doubts have also been cast over the fitness of the ever reliable Teemu Pukki (we can but hope). Midfielder Kieran Dowell is also ruled out.
Casting our minds back all the way to those heady summer days of July and the first game of the season, you'll recall that the Bluebirds knocked the pre-season favourites off their perch in that opening game at the CCS by a 1-0 scoreline, the goal coming courtesy of Romaine Sawyers.
The game itself was a relatively even affair, with Norwich looking the more comfortable side in possession but not really managing to do an awful lot with it.
The then Canaries boss Dean Smith claimed Sawyer's goal was a pass... I think on the evidence of the game last Friday v Reading, we can beg to differ now.
The game also saw red cards for our Ng Midget in the 73rd minute (Clingo will have palpitations if we get a repeat) and Norwich's Grant Hanley in the 85th minute.
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Lettuce just all believe that Romaine meant this - Just Kos Dean Smith used to manage him, doesn't mean he knows a shot from a pass does it?
Interestingly, last season's corresponding game also saw a red card for Marlon Pack in the 70th minute during a 1-2 defeat at the CCS, the Bluebirds goal coming from Joe Ralls in the 65th minute.
What odds the cards are thrown around like confetti again on Saturday by our former buddy but now baddie James Linnington (please don't let Simpson be playing!!).
Early Bluebirds Team News
We're doomed, doomed I tell you.... Top scorer and probably our most creative forward Callum Robinson is ruled out with a grade 2 hamstring tear, meaning we'll be missing him for at least the next 4 or 5 games.
Robinson's woe is of course potentially someone else's lucky break, but just who will our SAS team trust to try fill the sizeable void?
By my reckoning, the most likely choice will be to bring Rinomhota back in and play 1 of Rino, Wintle or (most likely) Sawyers in the role Robbo had v Reading.
On a slightly brighter note, both Callum O'Dowda and Jaden Phillogene appear to have recovered from the knocks they sustained in last Friday's win over the Royals.
Following several strong showings, the defensive line up should pretty much be unchanged, well, at the least the middle 3 will be, the wing backs are totally up for debate and possible prizes.
Prutton & Co Predict
So, does 2 wins on the bounce make any difference for Sky's crystal ludded duo?? Hell no, of course not!! Davey & Simeon have decreed that the Bluebirds, despite the encouraging wins face too big a task at Carrow Road and will go down 1-0.
The bookies are also once again in tandem with the duo, with the home win overwhelmingly seen as the most likely outcome;
Home Win 7/10 Draw 11/4 Away Win 4/1
Fun Fact
Norwich City Football Club was first formed in 1902 and their nickname was the Norwich Citizens! Their strip was originally not the familiar yellow and green but a proud blue and white just like arch rivals Ipswich Town (and our beloved Bluebirds of course).
They didn't become the Canaries until 1908, so how did the nickname come about?
Apparently, in the 16th century, there was a wave of refugees from the northern lowlands of Europe. They were fleeing religious persecution and became known as the ‘Strangers’. Famed for their weaving skills, they were invited to Norwich, which at the time was crying out for the rejuvenation of textiles industry.
A few families came at first, but soon over a third of Norwich’s population were refugees and it was a trilingual city – French, Dutch and English (might account for the accent too!).
The Strangers brought their pet canaries with them, and over the centuries the birds became synonymous with the city. Then in the early 20th century, Norwich City adopted the canary as their emblem and nickname.
Shame really, as if they'd remained the Citizens, when old gaffer Dean was in charge that would have made him Citizen Smith!!
Sharing The Love
Plenty of names on the list this week as (much to my shame) this wasn't really a feature back when I was just a wee, wet behind the ears scribe way back when.... although both Josh Murphy and Peter Thorne did get a mention.
One absentee from the list is Ebou Adams who actually started his career with the canaries but never made a first team appearance it seems. One wonders if the poor guy may end up suffering the same fate with us at the rate he's going.
I'm going to give a special mention to former Bluebird loanee Leon Barnett who, for my money, was one of the best loan signings we've ever had, especially for such a short period. The impact the guy had on our promotion season, slotting in at the back the way he did to help us achieve that first promotion was fantastic, and for a loan player, his wholehearted commitment was exceptional.
Definitely a few more top names on the list too.
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So, will our Bluebirds tweet us to a victory over the Canaries? Can the City come away from Norwich with the biggest prize since Sale Of The Century?? Will we leave Delia eating humble pie (albeit with a large Chardonnay or two knowing that booze hound)???
All I know is the Bluebirds are flying high and we're on a roll, so let's hope we leave the Canaries seeing Yellow Stars just like Coldplay!!!
Blooooooooobirds!!!
