Match Day Thread Season 2024 - 2025 - Match # 46 - Norwich City Away - au revoir, tschüss, arrivederci & hwyl fawr

Popular wisdom states that what goes up must come down, and so that has proved to be the case for our beloved Cardiff City FC. After 22 years of football in the top 2 divisions we find ourselves with the inauspicious prospect of third tier football next season for the first time since our glorious day out at the Millenium Stadium back on the 25th May 2003 and our 1-0 extra time win against QPR to propel ourselves back into the 2nd tier for the first time in 18 years.

All that is left for us now as we head into our final game of the season is to play for pride and avoid the ignominy of finishing bottom of the pile. In order to avoid such an embarrassment the team will need to beat an out of form Norwich City team on their home patch – if (and it’s a very big if) we manage that, we will still need to hope Plymouth only draw or lose at home to Champions elect Leeds Utd such is the lowliness of our position on this final weekend.



Who Are You?

A bit like ourselves, Norwich have spent the last 14 seasons in the top two divisions since promotion back to this level after a 1 year sojourn back in the 2009-2010 season. Unlike us however, of those 14 seasons, a decent 6 have been spent in the top flight meaning they are better placed than many for the financial turmoil that comes with being in/around the upper reaches of the football ladder.

I think it is safe to say that every Canary, regardless of their overall expectations would agree that their season has not gone at all according to plan, with the sacking of Johannes Hoff Thorup with just 2 games to go encapsulating what has been a miserable finish for the Carrow Road club.

Assistant (and former Arsenal team mate of Rambo) Jack Wilshire has cast aside his perennial crutches to take up the caretaker role until the end of season – once again replicating the path of his former Arsenal midfield colleague (just how many injuries did the pair of them rack up over the years?).

Ere Rambo, I reckon we could do a better job than Arsene - what do you think, fancy it??

The Canaries still boast one of the highest scorers in the division in Borja Sainz who has 17 goals to his name, although he has recently experienced a bit of a dry spell, having not scored since a 2-1 defeat to Bristol City back on the 14th March. His ‘drop off’ of form though has been more than made up for by the Ginger Assassin Josh Sargent, with the USA international bagging 15 league goals this term too.

Croation Ante Crnac is up next with 7 goals and Dane Emiliano Marcondes has hit 5.

They have plenty of experience throughout their team with the likes of Shane Duffy, Kenny McLean, Jack Stacey and Jakob Sorensen within their ranks.


Last Time Out & Form

Last time out saw the Bluebirds snatch an unexpected and dramatic win at the CCS with the Callum’s at the double late on.

City went behind to a screamer of a Sainz goal 7 minutes after half time but fought back to take all 3 points after goals from Robinson on 89 minutes and then O’Dowda on 93 completed an unlikely comeback in what was one of a handful of high points during the season.

Form wise the Canaries (just like West Brom last week) are in worse shape than even we are having picked up a mere 2 points from the last 18 on offer!

Norwich haven’t picked up a win since the end of March (1-0 v West Brom) with that being their sole win in 2 months.

They will however remain a threat as they are still the 2nd highest scorers in the division. Conversely though they also have the 5th worst defence, conceding just 3 goals less than our own porous backline (66 in 45 games).

They aren’t particularly strong at home this season either with just 9 wins on their home turf, but with our dreadful away record it’s hard to see anything other than an entertaining defeat for the Bluebirds.



In, Out Or No Sign Of Them About

Following the devastating draw that condemned us to relegation last weekend, who knows what kind of line-up Rambo will go with?

I imagine he’ll want to go out with bang but just how the players will feel heading into this one is anyone’s guess – I’m pretty sure motivation is going to be hard to come by that’s for sure.

Predicted Starting 11
Horvath
Ng
Fish
Chambers
O’Dowda
Robertson
Rinomhota
Turnbull
Salech
Willock
Ashford

The Odds

Home 4/7 Draw 16/5 Away 4/1

(Odds on? Really????)


Match Day Melody

I’d like to think we’re going out with style

but ultimately we are…

So, one last time……..

Blooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!!!

 

Great finalè BB.

Hope the team can emulate your very high standards.

Thanks for another entertaining season of Matchday Threads.

I hope you can carry on next season with many new teams to get your analytical teeth into.

Have a great summer to recharge your literary batteries.

 

3:00 am pick up, hope I can get some shut eye in the coach.

 

An epilogue to match your excellent literary contributions this season Brizzle. Thank you.

I remember going to the play off final with Rumney. Was it really 2003? He must have been just out of nappies. Time flies, a bit quicker than I would like at my age.

Cant wait for your third division match threads. Hopefully they will offer a bit more optimism.

Enjoy your summer.

 

May see you there. I'll be wearing my new, second strip shirt, I bought for £18.00 in the sale.

 

Thank you Brizzle. An excellent season of pre match reviews. I hope you are willing to continue with these reviews next season. I'm sure we will all learn something.

 

Fantastic review Brizzle to end this harrowing season …….

One wonders what will BB come up with next season; plenty of new opponents to work on there and will we see the return of old or novel features

You’ve set a very high bar BB - but I’m sure you’re up to the challenge

 

Well done Brizzo - and thanks.

I can't see Plymouth beating Leeds, so a win today could avoid us the dubious honour of the wooden spoon - hardly much consolation though.

I'm afraid it's a case of "onwards and downwards" for us. All eyes should be focused on the future and something to cheer after this epic failure.

 

Cardiff City: Horvath, Kpakio, Fish, Chambers, O'Dowda, Ralls (C), Turnbull, Robertson, Ashford, Alves, Salech.

Substitutes: Turner, Daland, Bagan, Lawlor, Perrett, R Colwill, Willock, Nyakuhwa, Simic.

Can't understand starting Alves when he's going back to Leicester after this game

 

I get what you're saying but better him than Colwill or Willock. Good to see other youngsters involved.

 

With nothing at stake, I just think it better to start someone for the experience who's going to be with us next season rather than someone who isn't.

Anyway, on the subject of your post, some on here think we're only going down because Colwiil wasn't played enough........

 

So much for some youngsters getting a start save Kpakio so hope the 4 on the bench get some game time.

Possibly last games for Hovarth & Chambers and as OS stated why bother with Alves?

 

Unless there's some sort of clause in the loan agreement that states he has to start so many games?

If that's the case he can take him off after 10 minutes..........

 

I'm OK with that starting 11. A pity we didn't see it in the last half dozen games.
It would be good to see a couple of youngsters get 20 mins off the bench, including Simic.

 

Listening to the game on radio wales via the satellite box.
Wonder whether BBC Wales will replace outr games with Wrexham's next season.

 

Misguided or what?

 

How about trying to get a good result?

 

Or perhaps not.

1 down and only 10 men on the park as Chambers gets a straight red.

 

2 down after 19 minutes.

Get out the cricket score books.