Tomorrow evening sees us travel to the league leaders and I feel anything other than a win and we can accept that a belated push for a play-off place is out of our reach, unless several of the teams ahead of us self destruct. Updates from Colney - DF: "Moritz and Timm are both available for tomorrow. We have to be careful with the lads' load and will make decisions." On new lads “they’re pretty close to the starting line-up, also Mario Vrancic” so DF happy he has the options needed to rotate “without losing our focus”. "Our young players will grow from the experience. It wasn't our best performance but we have the feeling we are heading in the right direction." Back on Ipswich, lessons learned, spoke with Jamal Lewis about giving away a ‘naive’ free-kick in the lead up to Town’s goal (from which the corner was then won, I think?) but DF ‘totally content’ with the progress Jamal is making & his overall performance. On Grant Hanley’s form: “Grant is an outstanding character, really a leader for us, I’m totally content with his performances.” Adds that still young (relatively, 26, off the top of my head) and can keep developing his game. The 2-0 home defeat is the only game a team was ‘much better’ than #NCFC but DF feels his team have developed since then, kept lots of clean sheets away from home, “we are looking forward to this game”. “There is no pressure on us”, if they lose, they learn, but expects his team to give a ‘totally committed’ display at Molineux. Sounds like Srbeny may get his chance, DF liked his body language on Sunday. More updates - GH: "The goal is a bit of a blur. It's not a position I'm used to being in! I just tried to keep it in then get it into the box." "We've been good away from home this year. We've been solid and organised. We'll play our game and look for a positive result." We don't look at the table. We're on a good run which we need to keep going so won't look too far ahead." “Something we’ve spoken about, that we need goals from all around the park.” Says he and Zimmermann hoping to chip in, (NOTE General - NOT 'Chip INN!!!) helps take pressure off the front players. Humble about his part in the equaliser. "All the lads are working together. We have a great team spirit." Sky preview Leo Bonatini and Romain Saiss could both be back in the Wolves team for the visit of Norwich. Both players were included on the bench against Preston on Saturday following injury and came on as late substitutes towards the end of the 1-1 draw at Deepdale. Saiss, along with Ruben Neves, is just one yellow card away from a two-game suspension for accumulating 10 cautions. Fit-again captain Ivo Pinto looks likely to return to the Norwich starting line-up. The defender has recovered from a knee problem he sustained when getting out of his car and was an unused substitute for the derby draw with Ipswich on Sunday. New boys Onel Hernandez and Dennis Srbeny are also pushing for their first starts while on-loan Tottenham midfielder Marcus Edwards (back) may also be in contention for a belated debut. Wolves' only home defeat in their last 15 matches against Norwich at Molineux in all competitions was in the most recent meeting last season, losing 2-1. The Canaries haven't lost back to back league games against Wolves since September 2007. Wolves have lost only one of their last 18 Championship matches (W13 D4), although that defeat came at Molineux against Nottingham Forest in January. After losing four consecutive away league matches, Norwich are unbeaten in their last five on the road (W3 D2).
A rather clever pun from DDF (especially in 'Great British Festival Winter' week) - 'New boys eagerly waiting as City put down their tasty Suffolk bitter to search for underdog spirit at Wolves'
Whilst this game in earnest is a must win to maintain any slight lingering hopes of reaching the playoffs, I think we must give some of the newbies a try, if not for experience, then to give some of the others a rest or maybe because they could do a job others are failing. Nelson for all his endeavour is fairing no better than CJ before him. Will Sir Benny do any better? Its the sytem what's broke, isn't it? I guess we can hope that Srbeny has been bought with our style in mind and will be a better fit than either Nelson and CJ who have been inherited. Josh also looks like he could use a break, so maybe we can see what Hernandez can do and even Edwards with a little time off the bench? As its away from home, I feel strangely positive, Wolves can be great but equally this is the championship and they have had and will have some off days like everyone else so if we keep it tight, which we know we can do, perhaps sneek a goal, probably Maddison and from range. 1-0 City, Skybet have that at 12-1, with Maddison as scorer, 80-1. Pretty tempted by that. Bah!
Great post General and let's hope we DO get to see more than a cameo from Srbeny and Hernandez, as Murphy hasn't played particularly for a few weeks now.
I'd be amazed if the play offs were ever really in DF or SW's thoughts this season. After such radical changes in the summer, I'd suggest the aim was solidity and consolidation - both of which have been achieved to an impressive degree so now is the time accept a mid-table finish but start to integrate Hernandez, Srbeny, and fringe players who may well be the future of NCFC next season and beyond. That's the way forward in our remaining games. Imho, of course edit - though when I see 'contributions' like this, I do sometimes wonder why I bother forming an opinion at all
Difficult one to call. Our away form is probably one of the best in the Championship but this is Wolves who have beaten us at home already. Would like to believe that we could get at least a draw, but a home win is more likely. Can’t see us getting the 6th spot until we start to score more goals which has been the main problem for most of this season. Farke has still not addressed this problem so I doubt if things will improve. Double Bah! (sorry GM)
I'd give Hernandez a start - Basil has got to score at some juncture eh ? Tonight would be a good place to start.
I'd just like to see DF make a substitution early enough in the game to make a difference. Must be time to give Josh and Basil a rest.
I was at Binion's Horseshoe one time and lost 7 hands of black jack in a row (I can be very patient up to a point.) With heart ruling head and thinking there was no way I would lose eight in a row, I pushed in my remaining chips and emptied my wallet for the 8th hand. I lost - and went home broke. I don't think DF will sit Ollie against Wolves, but if he doesn't score I expect a change on Saturday.
I agree Cromer. It's hard not to hope for a play-off place but with all of the changes this season (half the squad now) it was never going to be. I call it 'restructuring' rather than consolation, but it's certainly aimed at next season rather than this. The sooner we get the new players integrated into the squad the better so I'd hope for at least 30 minutes from Hernandez and Srbeny tonight and Saturday as well. That may depend on how the match goes. If we play like we did against Arsenal and Chelsea we can make it difficult for Wolves, but surely fresh legs up front would help that.
Consolidation, as in getting existing and new players to gel, integrate, think and apply the gaffer's game plan etc. They certainly appear to all be using the same hymn-sheet in recent games
Good point Cromer. Consolation tends to be used to imply settling for survival but your meaning is much more positive.
Consolation is a towering Timm Klose header in the 95th minute, leaving a stream of blue clad fans trickling out of the ground totally and utterly crestfallen
