So we play the newly promoted Norwich on Tuesday. Undoubtedly a lot will be written about them in the press today. We are all well aware of what they are capable of, their players and their style of play. Much has been written here and elsewhere about what we need to do, the numbers of games left to do it and the various permutations in terms of what those below us need to do to catch us. So I’ll save you my amateur analysis of what is likely to happen, and skip the Alan Partridge jokes and take a different tack that might give us insight into a “family” club of similar size aiming to be sustainable in a world of football gone crazy with money and debt. Q&A: Michael Wynn-Jones (joint majority shareholder) has been kind enough to answer 5 questions we put to him. So hot from his desk... How did they identify Farke as the right man for the job? It was Stewart Webber who found Daniel. He had already done a lot of scouting in Germany (he got Wagner for Huddersfield) Did they ever feel pressure from the fans over their approach that put long term stability over a better shot at Premier League survival last time they were up? We certainly were not aware of any concerted pressure from fans to spend huge amounts of money in the close season. We had done that before with unimpressive results. Would they happy to become a yo-yo club if that safeguards the club and it's finances ? Obviously the best way to safeguard the club’s finances would be to stay in the Premier League. But if it has to be a yo-yo then at least it’a exciting. Is there any consideration being given to modernizing Carrow Road ? At some point we will rebuild the City Stand. But we would need an extended stay in the Premier to do that. In the meantime we have been concentrating on the training ground at Colney [Their published plans for this are impressive to say the least and would put most Premier League teams to shame] Given Brexit what is their likely transfer strategy going to be ? Buy from South America or Africa or try to continue picking up young British players down in the pyramid ? Undoubtedly brexit will affect transfer policies. But we already have been concentrating on building up our Academy and have already produced great players like Maddison, Godfrey, the Murphys. Aarons, Lewis and the new generation coming through. Finally I am going to thank Michael again for his time at this undoubtedly busy time. I found those answers to someone who supports another club very honest and what a good example of owners giving fans honest and straightforward answers to questions. And thanks to my best man, a Norwich fan and all round good guy who organised and arranged the Q+A I’m hoping for a yellow top 2.
We might actually win this. Norwich already up and may be just off it. Watford will be stinging after today and may actually put in a performance worthy of the name. The surface will be good for us and allow us to play a bit. We have to play better though. We're not going to go up, unless there is a big uplift on performance levels. The Luton result has been on the cards for a long time. Now is the time to deliver.
I would guess that just about the best way to win the title would be to smash the team in second to show just how dominant you are in the division. Don't think they'll take their foot off the gas at all, we'll have to put in a hell of a performance to get something on Tuesday.
Yeah, it’s a weird one because given the choice I would’ve always rather have played a promoted Norwich rather than one needing points, but in reality I don’t think it helps us much and could in fact make it even harder. For anyone who subscribed to the logic that Norwich could/would somehow buckle under the pressure of trying to win the title if we got near them, surely that logic has to cut both ways? If they have zero pressure on them it could be harder.
Depends on late kick off result. If Norwich don't win against Bournemouth due to celebrating getting promotion today I reckon they'll make sure they beat us to seal the championship.
Be the sort game we go and draw or win now after today ! Probably need to as cannot see Swansea and Brentford dropping more points ?
I don’t think the fact they’ve clinched promotion will impact their performance today as they will have been preparing for it all week. It is more likely to catch up with them on Tuesday, as long as they don’t lose today, of course. Really a Norwich win today is the best for us as it means Muff will not be able to coast into the play-offs and will have to be up for their game against Brentford.
A Swansea side who contrived to concede 2 goals at home to Wycombe can drop points to anyone! And it doesn’t sound like Brentford were all that versus Millwall.
Yeah agree, but i just think Bournemouth will now have added motivation seeing the top 3 drop points and Norwich may lose a bit of concentration
Fair point - they still know they have to win so will go for it and QPR have a good record v top teams whilst Cardiff can keep out many teams.
I really don't care for football at the moment. Cancelled some work for today. Cancelled some more for Tuesday. I will now feel anxious and tetchy until two hours before kick off and then I will feel distinctly unwell. I'm worn out. Buck up Watford. We need a reaction and fast.
Surface/opposition will probably suit us better than today’s game Still don’t fancy our chances of a win however, draw would be respectable and just hope the other 2 drop points again
It would require a monumental improvement to get anything from this. Incidentally we played Norwich after our other worst game, the infamous Huddersfield stitch-up.
I remember doing the Norwich preview and saying we could grab a point. That was Xisco's first game in charge and we played them off the park. Anyone remember that fantastic Masina tackle to keep us ahead? This is a totally different team and set of circumstances now though. If Norwich are serious about winning the title, beating us will more or less confirm it. Two things are on my mind thinking about this game. We surely cannot play that poorly again, and even more importantly - we have not lost two games in a row all season. A point here would be pretty decent, and if S and B continue to draw, we could get our lead back vs Millwall. This will not be a game we can take lightly though. A Championship table showing the top two sides going head to head is sure to be a spicy affair. I just hope we bring the hot sauce to Carrow Road and not the pizz weak stuff Aldi's sell in the money off isle. 2-2
There’s the solution then. Replace Xisco with some obscure rookie tomorrow, tell him what team to pick & we win 1-0.
Feel more confident for this game than for Luton's. I fear their attack but I rate our midfield with Chalobah, Hughes and Cleverley / Zinckernagel in it. It's easy to forget we won 1-0 v them last time. However, if we play Lazaar then we can forget it.
The problem with that result was it was Munoz first game, in his second game we lost to Swansea. I think it’s hard to extrapolate much out of the result. We certainly can’t rely on the new manager bounce that’s for sure, which is the most likely explanation for that result.
A win for Norwich secures the title (or a draw if they win today). They will be up for it, but hopefully they celebrate a bit too much this weekend.
Well be classic us to go from a hopeless performance against a poor team to a decent one against a tip side.
I don't follow your logic after today, they both should have got 3 pts today, especially being at home.
Maybe just thinking we cannot get so fortunate again if we don't win but maybe we will! I remember West Brom somewhat got over the line despite an average run in due to Brentford messing up.
I would assume Massina would be back if its just an illness. If not then Ngakia at LB, and either Cathcart or Navarro at RB. Id fancy Cleverley to be able to put in a performance at RB. All the options clutching at straws really.
We have the players to replace both of these guys, in Cleverly and Ngakia (Playing RB) because Kiko will be suspended, and we can put Sema in at LB, with Zinc playing wide left.
I'd much rather Ngakia RB and Wilmot LB. Cathcart is too slow for a fullback role, never was even at his peak.
I disagree. Not with the games we've got coming up. A damning indictment on Lazar that people would prefer Sema at LB! Agree that Zinc is not a centre midfielder. He needs to be playing as a '10' or out wide.
