20/21 Matchday Thread

[That Fat Centre Half]

A couple of changes for us as Cantwell returns to replace Hernandez on the left wing and Rupp takes Vrancic's place in the number 10 slot, no doubt to give the latter a long-overdue rest (as he looked dead on his feet in midweek).

Certainly a bold move from Luton to play without a proper defensive midfielder against the full brunt of our attacking front three. Going to be a good few goals in this one, that's for sure.

We don’t really do goals away from home so if there’s more than 1 goal in it for us I’ll be surprised! On paper it certainly looks a different approach to what we normally take away from home.

Interested to see how it plays out in practice.

 

[BelizeHatter]

I think hes expecting a hatful for them.

 

[Super_horns]

Got over the line after a close 2nd half having not gained that 2nd goal which meant Forest were always in the game.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Oh to have a striker like Pukki...

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Not played badly but just Norwich are a step above us - which is kind of what I expected. If Collins scored his chance at 0-0 then maybe different but Pukki has shown him how it’s done

 

[oakroader]

Oh to have a proper pucker pukki...

 

[BelizeHatter]

Or a Cantwell......a Buendia...... a Rupp......

 

[Kenneth E End]

Having Cantwell at this level is just stupid.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

3-0, not really much to pick at in that performance really just Norwich were the better side which I don’t think there is any surprise or shame in. Had a few moments early that if they go in it might be different but not to be.

 

[thewwfc]

yeah, when we just played Norwich, I thought our only chance would be a) if they don't turn up or b) if we just spoil enough to put them off their game. Neither of these happened and we got well beaten.

Speaking of getting well beaten, another defeat for us where we were just feeding off scraps attacking wise. Rotherham, Luton or Swansea looking like the likely contenders to send us down.

 

[Atavistic]

Things continuing to tick over very nicely for us, and at this point I'd like to see us aim for 100 points just to cap off this truly impressive season.

Meanwhile, I see Swansea got another very questionable last minute penalty to beat Middlesbrough, as well as Boro having what looked like a perfectly good goal disallowed. They're certainly getting the rub of the green as of late.

 

[BelizeHatter]

.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Long may the Swansea luck continue. No threat whatsoever to Norwich.......but id love to keep our' friends down the road' in this League for next season, now we are almost surely safe.

 

[Craig]

Had enough of this shite....

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Things continuing to tick over very nicely for us, and at this point I'd like to see us aim for 100 points just to cap off this truly impressive season.

Meanwhile, I see Swansea got another very questionable last minute penalty to beat Middlesbrough, as well as Boro having what looked like a perfectly good goal disallowed. They're certainly getting the rub of the green as of late.

Thought it was a penalty to be fair. Not seen the disallowed goal though.

 

[SF_]

Didn't watch our game, sounds like Bournemouth controlled the first half and we had the better of the second.
Can't grumble with a point, still think Bournemouth will click, even with Woodgate in charge, their squad is too good.

Rumours on our forum that Alex Neil might leave in the summer, mutual agreement, i'd probably stick £20 on us going down next season.

 

[Atavistic]

Two dropped points for Swansea last night means that, even if they win their other game in hand, we'll maintain a 7 point lead at the top of the table.

I'm curious to see over the next few games how Swansea fare, to see how they get on without constantly being gifted penalties every week. Are they good enough to go the distance and maintain 2nd place despite the chase of Watford and Brentford, or will their luck run out? As long as it's not Watford finishing second (because really, who wants two of the three relegated sides finishing as the top two), I'm not too fussed which of Swansea and Brentford pulls off second.

It's going to be an interesting promotion race in this home stretch.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Why are you even considering others. Go on yr hols Obv Champions let alone auto promotion. Grind results thru your rough patch and swamp everyone when in form. Worthy Champs

 

[SF_]

Yeah, Norwich this season could be the most routine, effortless return to the Premier League ever.

 

[Atavistic]

Honestly, it's precisely because we're more or less there already that I'm thinking about who I want to join us because we need a set of rivals that gives us the best possible chance of actually surviving for more than 12 months in the top flight for once.

So, the primary reason I want Brentford up instead of Watford is I think Brentford will be less threatening at Premier League level than Watford will be, as Brentford's approach feels reminiscent of our promotion two seasons ago: they're fairly gung ho in attack and weak at the back, and like us they will probably be punished by the quality of Premier League attacks, whereas Watford have that know-how and Premier League quality players. Oh, and also way more money to work with than either us or Brentford would do.

Besides, there's only so many variations of "Norwich won comfortably" I can write at weekends, so gotta find something else to write about instead. Maybe instead about just why things have gone so well after the disaster that was last season.

 

[Super_horns]

We would need to spend quite a bit of money if we did go go up but fair point in we might have more funds.

 

[SF_]

Wycombe away, they physically bullied us in the 2-2 at Deepdale and although it was 90% a second string from us in the cup, it was men against toddlers.

Need to really step up and compete in this one or else I think we'll get turned over, having some mobility and physicality up top in Evans gives me some hope though. Perfect game for Huntington so i'd keep the back four as it is, same team but Gordon over Barkhuizen hopefully.

Ivsersen
Van Den Berg, Huntington, Storey, Cunningham
Browne, Whiteman
Sinclair, Johnson, Gordon
Evans​

 

[BelizeHatter]

Second of the back to back games versus a top 3 side, also in the top 3 form table.

However a big difference in Swansea i feel than Norwich. Swansea been winning but unconvincing by a lot of reports, so i have some hope here versus the zero i had against Norwich. A good display and play some football would be nice as we try and become estabilshed. A loss isnt the end of the world either in terms of helping keep the Yellow Bellies down too. ;-)

 

[Atavistic]

Idah will miss Sunday's game against Wednesday with a hernia injury, while Gibson is a doubt with hamstring problems. Feel sorry for Idah that he keeps picking up these little knocks that are stalling his development, while Gibson's has probably come because of how quickly he came back from his other recent injury. Will be Zimmermann deputising again if Gibson does miss out, but that's definitely somewhere we need to get another recruit for next season (as Zimmermann is our only genuine centre back cover and he is nowhere near Premier League quality).

Expecting another simple win on Sunday, as Wednesday are really struggling and are very low on confidence, even with the new manager coming on. Could see it being another narrow victory, though, as I fully expect them to just lump all ten men behind the ball to try and nick a point.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

On TV and a kick off that isnt 3pm or 745, against a decent Swansea side. Not expecting much I have to say given any one of those usually means we dont put in a performance! Would be pretty pleased with a point from this one and go into the game with Coventry with some positive momentum rather than off 2 defeats, albeint against 2 of the best teams in the league.

We have had a bit of a rest given the Rotherham game got postponed which I think would be pretty useful as a few were looking a bit leggy (Dewsbury-Hall the notable one) and we had some injuries piling up a bit especially in defensive areas (Lockyer, Bradley, Rea). Hope to see at least some of those back in although those who have replaced them have done admirably all things considered.

Lets hope we are a bit careful around the box given the propensity for Swansea to win some, shall we say questionable penalties over recent weeks.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Lets hope we are a bit careful around the box given the propensity for Swansea to win some, shall we say questionable penalties over recent weeks.

Just say it how it is - it is 4 out of 4. I've not seen all of them, but seemingly very soft.

 

[Super_horns]

Then Brentford got one last night and we had a lot of penalties earlier in the season.

Maybe we just scream louder and go down easily?

 

[Atavistic]

We had a lot earlier in the season as well, which I think is in part because we'd get into the box so often that there'd be more opportunities for players to be fouled and go down. Of course, I'm sure opposition fans at the time would have called several dives or soft, such is the way it goes. Though nothing like the ridiculous ones Swansea are being gifted as of late.

 

[oakroader]

they say Swansea has more divers than Acapulco...

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

5 changes for us from last weeks game against Norwich, but only Rea of the players who i mentioned above in the squad and him only on the bench. Looks to be a 433/451 with Naismith and Pearson continuing there partnership at centre half. I do worry as I did last week that without Rea that will get exposed, neither Pelly or Tunnicliffe are particularly disciplined as screening midfield players and are of the more box to box variety.

Big game for Bree who comes back in, simply has to start showing some of the form he had toward the end of last season otherwise i think NJ is going to rapidly lose confidence in him.