Fact - We have a far better squad than Town Fact - We have momentum Fact - We have won the last three derbies Fact - 1p5wich haven't beaten us since 2009 Fact - We have far more skilful players than Town Fact - We have a young ambitious manager with tactical nous Fact - 1p5wich are managed by a dinosaur with prehistoric tactics Fact - We are at playing at home So why after a great away win at Watford yesterday, am I nervous about next Sunday's match ? It just doesn't make sense ............................................. does it? please log in to view this image
As JR says though, it's also a fact that the derby is played on grass (well, or in the air depending on who has possession....) Over 90 minutes, and anything can happen. We might have a lot going for us, but I expect the game to be anything but plain sailing.
I have no worries about Town. Regardless of position they are the poorest side in the top 10 and are getting found out. They will capitulate because they have no quality to fall back on. I suspect their goals are about to dry up
Don't want to be too cocky about it as that can backfire on us. They are above us (for now) so they up there for a reason, I'm expecting end to end game but because of our recent run it has made me feel a bit more positive we will get the win.
I think I've just followed you on twitter! Your link took me to an error page but I'm fairly sure I found you!
I don't want to rake over old ground, but for several reasons, we underperformed in the first half of the season, and that is the only reason they are above us. Now we are performing they will soon take their rightful place - beneath us.
Yeah we could of pulled of a good lead when we were top, but as you say we underperformed. I have no doubt we'll finish above them, I just don't want to jinx it lol.
If we win this league (or even just go up in the autos) I think I'll almost feel grateful to Adams for our poor run of form... It brought us Neil! I will defend Adams hard about what he did for us, because there is no doubt in my mind that he worked to the best of his ability and you only have to look at Fulham or Cardiff to see how bad it could have been, but there is no doubt Adams wasn't up to the managerial task and it would have been very ugly in the Prem if we'd scraped promotion under him (which would undoubtedly have been largely due to the quality and strength in depth of our squad as opposed to his management).
I fear it will be ugly regardless of the manager in the PL next season should promotion be achieved. Thinking about our away results against the teams that have occupied the top six places for most of the season so far in the championship, how likely is it that Norwich would win away at four, draw one and lose one against the top six in the PL
First season in the Prem we won't be aiming to get 13 points in away games against the top six! That can be our long-term ambition... Personally, I think there's an awful lot of dross in the Premier League. Every team from 13th down in the current table could well deserve to go down. They need to have a one-off season where six teams are relegated! I see no reason at all why we couldn't survive comfortably all being well.
It's phrases such as "survive comfortably" that are accurate but dispiriting- that's all we can hope for survival. I'm enjoying this season, far more than any of the recent forays in the PL.
Corrected that for you! Look at Swansea and Southampton. Both of them were better suited to the PL than we went up four years ago - Swansea because a gradual build-up meant they were able to capitalise, Southampton because they have a fantastic academy which brings in huge revenue. Now, after a couple of seasons in the PL, neither have any concerns about relegation and both can aim to win things. If we get promoted we will be much better placed than we were under Lambert. The entire club has been reformed from the inside carefully using the PL money from the previous three seasons (for which I think a lot of people may prefer to overlook Hughton's sterling work, but undoubtedly he played a massive part). Our academy, though nowhere near Southampton's levels, is substantially better, our scouting network and support staff are all miles better. And even our team is, man-for-man better bar one or two individuals, certainly much more strength in depth. I struggle to locate a single thing that isn't better about our club (with the massive caveat of IF we get promoted) other than perhaps the team spirit.
I think we had plenty to have stayed up last season, everything was in place to progress apart from the manager.
Agreed. And if we go back up we've been very fortunate that all we will have lost is: One season in the Prem Snodgrass And, of course, the manager... And a season in the champ might turn out to be just the tonic we needed to refresh team and fan spirit. Losing Snodders, though he was our best player,, rebalanced the team IMO
