Norwich City at home match thread

[Jerseybean]

Twenty two-thousand-plus supporters will make their way through the turnstiles in BS3 as we aim to extend our unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions.

Quiz question… which member of the England World Cup winning team made 200+ appearances for Norwich City?

Back in September we lost 3-2 at Carrow Road, https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/highlights-norwich-city-3-2-bristol-city/

A result that left us in 7th place and them 2nd in the table. Ahead of this game they are six points ahead of us.

Section 82 have organised a display to welcome back the Ashton Gate Eight, who 41 years ago made remarkable personal sacrifices that kept our club alive. This will coincide with a planned minute’s applause in the 8th minute (7:00-7:59 on the scoreboard).

An interesting look back at encounters between us and them: https://norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com/2023/02/09/we-meet-again-bristol-city-4/

They have bounced between the Premiership and Championship for the last few seasons. Since being relegated from the Premiership in 1994/95, they has been promoted a total of five times (2003/04, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2014/15, 2018/19) and relegated six times (1994/95, 2004/05, 2008/09, 2013/14, 2015/16, 2019/20), including one season (2009/10) spent in the third tier.

Norwich City F.C. was formed following a meeting at the Criterion Cafe in Norwich on 17 June 1902 by a group of friends led by two former Norwich CEYMS players, and played their first competitive match against Harwich and Parkeston, at Newmarket Road on 6 September 1902. Here’s a link to a brief history: https://the-football-archive.com/2020/03/29/norwich-city-a-brief-history/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwich_City_F.C.

Our record over the years isn’t impressive we’ve won 20, drawn 18 and lost 37.

Interesting to look at our team sheet (see photo) when we played them away just two years ago with Holden in charge, really illustrates how much NP has changed things.

They’ve scored eight goals in their last two away matches although their confidence would have been shaken with a 3-0 home loss to Burnley at the weekend, two of those goals coming from corners. Krul's distribution didn’t  help either. Their fans have consistently bemoaned the fact this season that ‘He never seems to throw the ball to colleagues in decent positions.’

Here’s what their manager had to say: https://www.norfolklive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wagner-burnley-norwich-bristol-city-8115869

Dean Smith was their head coach. He put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year contract when Daniel Farke was sacked and assistant head coach Craig Shakespeare joined with him. NP worked with CS at Leicester and Watford. Prior to this appointment Smith was manager of Aston Villa. He was sacked in December https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64017762

He was succeeded by David Wagner. The 51-year-old German, best known for his success with Huddersfield Town, signed a 12-month rolling contract with the club.

Famous fans include Hugh Jackman, Stephen Fry, Jake Humphrey, Simon Thomas, Ed Balls and Philip Pullman.

Their biggest victory in the league was a 10–2 win against Coventry City in the Division Three (South) in 1930. Their heaviest defeat in the league was 10–2 against Swindon Town in 1908 in the Southern Football League.

On deadline day they signed 19-year-old Brazilian winger Marquinhos on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season.

Rob Newman, Timm Klose and Chris Martin played for both teams.

We will be missing Naismith, Conway and Kane. Harry Cornick and Anis Mehmeti may get to make their home debuts.

NP pre-match:

 

RA pre-match:

 

Officials - ref Christopher Kavanagh, he became a Select Group 1 referee for the 2017/18 season after working his way up the football pyramid. The Manchester-born referee started officiating in 1998 as a 13-year-old, plying his trade in local football, before being promoted to take charge of matches in the National League in 2012. Kavanagh refereed in the Football League regularly from the 2014/15 season and in 2016/17 he was the man in the middle on 27 occasions for the EFL Championship campaign. Prior to his promotion to Select Group 1 status, Kavanagh made his Premier League debut in April 2017 as West Bromwich Albion lost to Southampton 1-0 at The Hawthorns, while he has been fourth official in the top flight on a number of occasions.

He will be assisted by Craig Taylor and Sam Lewis, the fourth official is Sam Allison.

The Delia effect

Delia Smith is a majority shareholding in Norwich City, with her husband. Both Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones were season ticket holders at Norwich and were invited to invest in the club, which had fallen on hard times. In February 2005, Smith attracted attention during the half-time break of a home match against Manchester City. At the time Norwich were fighting an ultimately unsuccessful battle against relegation from the Premier League, and to rally the crowd, Smith grabbed the microphone from the club announcer on the pitch and said: "A message for the best football supporters in the world: we need a 12th man here. Where are you? Where are you? Let's be 'avin' you! Come on!" Norwich lost the match 3–2. Smith denied suggestions in the media that she had been drunk while delivering the speech though she did concede that "maybe in the heat of the moment I didn't choose the best words".

An interesting insight into where Norwich are at the moment: https://www.pinkun.com/news/23303799.norwich-city-mike-taylor-canaries-fan-column/

I reached out to a Norwich fan for his perspective on their season, thank you FeedtheWolf, who had this to say….

So here we are; it's February already, and despite Dean Smith's best attempts to snip the string on our yo-yo, we're still part of the seething mass of clubs fighting for the playoffs while Burnley and Sheffield United seemingly stroll to the automatic places.

First, a little context: having cantered to the title in our two previous second-tier seasons, the sense of expectation was keenly felt among Norwich fans – although nobody had seen much on the pitch to suggest that we'd be cruising to a hat-trick of Championship trophies.

Dean Smith had been brought in to try and make us tougher to beat; for all Daniel Farke's strengths (and there were many), his insistence on playing out from the back got us found out horribly in the top flight. We were too often bullied and often hopelessly outplayed, and most fans accepted that it was probably time to roll the dice despite Farke being possibly the most popular manager we've ever had.

Suffice it to say that Smith's 'new manager bounce' was similar to dropping a blancmange; a couple of gutsy victories, followed by an ever-expanding ugly mess on the floor of the Premier League. A lot of fans were thoroughly fed up with Smith and his football even before our fate was sealed; some (myself included) felt we at least owed him a summer window to remould the squad into something that could compete for promotion.

On paper, it seemed our squad was good enough to be in the hunt for the automatic places. As well as adding unknown quantities in Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara and Chilean playmaker Marcelino Nunez, we looked to have finally filled the glaring gap in the defensive midfield by signing Isaac Hayden on loan from Newcastle for the season.

Despite an inauspicious start, with defeats at Cardiff and Hull sandwiched by a home draw with Wigan, we soon started grinding out results. Six wins on the spin, including an entertaining 3-2 win over the Robins, propelled us up the table – but even then, we weren't dominating matches. Josh Sargent, who looked woefully out of his depth in the Prem, scored six in six and appeared to be a totally new player; with the talismanic Teemu Pukki also fit and firing again, things looked good... at least on the surface.

But still, there was a nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right. We didn't seem to have any discernible style of play; we made a token effort to tippy-tap it around the back four for a bit, before losing interest and hitting an aimless long ball (or, at best, a targeted channel ball). Results turned. After a decent 1-0 win at Blackpool at the start of October, the wheels started to fall off. Consecutive home defeats to Preston and Luton, coupled with a meek 2-1 surrender at Watford, showed us how far we were from truly competing this season.

We papered over the cracks with a deceptively uninspiring 3-1 win over Stoke, performed much better in a 0-0 home draw with QPR, snuck a 2-1 win at Rotherham... and then things got ugly. In our last match before the World Cup break, we threw away a lead to lose 2-1 at home to Middlesbrough, leaving us on the worst form of the slew of clubs all scrapping for the top six. The atmosphere inside Carrow Road was filthy, and the fans gave Smith pelters long before the final whistle.

It seemed like the natural time to make a change, but the powers-that-be stuck with their man. In our first game back we got a 1-0 win at Swansea (Pukki scored in the first minute, then we got absolutely battered for the remaining 89 and somehow clung on). A 2-0 reverse at home to Blackburn was followed by Smith's nadir (and, mercifully, his final stand) on Boxing Day.

In a relatively even game away to Luton, we conceded on the hour before equalising shortly afterwards (Pukki, naturally). Luton were then reduced to 10 men but still managed to get a last-minute winner. The writing was on the wall (when both sets of fans are singing 'you're getting sacked in the morning', you're probably toast), and Smith finally got his marching orders.

After a couple of home games under a caretaker duo (one point gained, negligible improvement), we appointed the affable German-American David Wagner, who had previously got Huddersfield promoted to the Premier League alongside our director of football Stuart Webber. A safe bet for Webber, sure, but Wagner was (and is) committed to the brave, front-foot football that had been so sadly lacking for the previous year-and-a-bit.

After losing at home to Blackburn (again!) in the FA Cup in his first match in charge, this time we saw a proper bounce. We demolished Preston 4-0 away in a scarcely believable display of attacking intent, before going 3-0 up inside 20 minutes at Coventry the following weekend. Ten minutes later it was 3-2, but we steadied the ship and finished strongly to get a 4-2 win.

Last week's humbling by Vincent Kompany's magnificent Burnley side was every bit as one-sided as the scoreline suggested, although the nature of the three goals was concerning (one goalkeeping howler, the other two straight from corners). It's very early days under Wagner, but the feel-good factor appears to be back, and there's a real intent to press the opposition high, take risks and entertain the fans.

As for the personnel: in goal, Tim Krul is looking increasingly error-prone, and an injury to Angus Gunn is probably the only thing keeping him in the team at the moment.

Our back four is likely to be (right to left): Max Aarons (reliable as ever, lucky to still have him), Grant Hanley (captain, deceptively fast, quality at this level), Andrew Omobamidele (young Irish centre-back, has looked incredibly mature but having a bit of a dip in form recently), and Dimi Giannoulis (loves getting forward, iffy defensively, seems to make at least one horrendous mistake every game at the moment).

In midfield, with Isaac Hayden still injured (it seems we signed a player with only one knee) and talented box-to-boxer Liam Gibbs strangely out of favour, we'll go with Kenny McLean in the more defensive role (tireless worker, great team player, bizarrely underrated by many Norwich fans), probably alongside our Brazilian enigma Gabriel Sara (clearly talented but infuriatingly inconsistent).

With the Todd Cantwell circus finally rolling out of town, the attacking midfield positions will likely be taken by Kieran Dowell (perennial underachiever who has looked excellent since Wagner arrived), Josh Sargent in the '10' role (a real handful, excellent presence and work rate, finishing much improved), and then possibly Onel Hernández on the other side (a wild card with strength and pace, but wildly fluctuating end product).

And, up top, the phenomenal Teemu Pukki. Guaranteed 10 goals a season in the Prem, even when we're total crap, and scores for fun in this league. The most natural finisher I've seen in 35 years of following The Canaries. Runs his heart out every week, chases lost causes, never complains... just an all-around good egg. A magnificent egg, in fact. A golden egg. And, thanks to that synopsis, guaranteed to miss three open goals on Saturday.

On the bench we'll probably have Nunez (unless he starts in place of Onel), plus Marquinhos (an attacking Brazilian we've recently signed on loan from Arsenal), the ever-industrious Adam Idah, and probably Christos Tzolis (recently recalled from a loan in the Eredivisie and still very much an unknown quantity).

Overall, I'd expect us to get into the top six, although whether promotion is possible (or even desirable, given our current squad) is a moot point. I'd expect it to be a free-flowing, high-octane game on Saturday, so I'm predicting a 2-2 draw.

Oh yeah, and did I mention that we're on the brink of a possible takeover, with the American owner of the Milwaukee Brewers seemingly about to make a play for Delia and hubby's majority shareholding? https://www.pinkun.com/news/23168388.norwich-city-special-report-mark-attanasio-milwaukee-brewers/

It's never boring...

The answer…..Martin Peters

 

[KnowleUtd City]

Thanks Jerseybean, It has the makings of a cracker, Sargeant & Pukki will be tricky for us to keep under control, lets hope we are smiling at 5pm! COYR

[pongo88]

Thanks @Jerseybean .  Your efforts are always good but this was Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Edited February 10, 2023 by pongo88

[Red-Robbo]

I like teams who play lots of tippy-tappy passes in their own box. 

Providing it's not us!

Thanx for adding that really interesting Norwich fan analysis, @Jerseybean

TBH I'd take his 2-2 scoreline happily. 

[Homer Simpson]

Media team strike again.

[bcfc01]

21 minutes ago, Homer Simpson said:

Media team strike again.

He's back !!

Not really, mores the pity.

That is really poor, an article from 5 years ago...

Edited February 10, 2023 by bcfc01

[City oz]

1 hour ago, Jerseybean said:

Twenty two-thousand-plus supporters will make their way through the turnstiles in BS3 as we aim to extend our unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions.

Quiz question… which member of the England World Cup winning team made 200+ appearances for Norwich City?

Back in September we lost 3-2 at Carrow Road, https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/highlights-norwich-city-3-2-bristol-city/

A result that left us in 7th place and them 2nd in the table. Ahead of this game they are six points ahead of us.

Section 82 have organised a display to welcome back the Ashton Gate Eight, who 41 years ago made remarkable personal sacrifices that kept our club alive. This will coincide with a planned minute’s applause in the 8th minute (7:00-7:59 on the scoreboard).

An interesting look back at encounters between us and them: https://norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com/2023/02/09/we-meet-again-bristol-city-4/

They have bounced between the Premiership and Championship for the last few seasons. Since being relegated from the Premiership in 1994/95, they has been promoted a total of five times (2003/04, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2014/15, 2018/19) and relegated six times (1994/95, 2004/05, 2008/09, 2013/14, 2015/16, 2019/20), including one season (2009/10) spent in the third tier.

Norwich City F.C. was formed following a meeting at the Criterion Cafe in Norwich on 17 June 1902 by a group of friends led by two former Norwich CEYMS players, and played their first competitive match against Harwich and Parkeston, at Newmarket Road on 6 September 1902. Here’s a link to a brief history: https://the-football-archive.com/2020/03/29/norwich-city-a-brief-history/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwich_City_F.C.

Our record over the years isn’t impressive we’ve won 20, drawn 18 and lost 37.

Interesting to look at our team sheet (see photo) when we played them away just two years ago with Holden in charge, really illustrates how much NP has changed things.

They’ve scored eight goals in their last two away matches although their confidence would have been shaken with a 3-0 home loss to Burnley at the weekend, two of those goals coming from corners. Krul's distribution didn’t  help either. Their fans have consistently bemoaned the fact this season that ‘He never seems to throw the ball to colleagues in decent positions.’

Here’s what their manager had to say: https://www.norfolklive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wagner-burnley-norwich-bristol-city-8115869

Dean Smith was their head coach. He put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year contract when Daniel Farke was sacked and assistant head coach Craig Shakespeare joined with him. NP worked with CS at Leicester and Watford. Prior to this appointment Smith was manager of Aston Villa. He was sacked in December https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64017762

He was succeeded by David Wagner. The 51-year-old German, best known for his success with Huddersfield Town, signed a 12-month rolling contract with the club.

Famous fans include Hugh Jackman, Stephen Fry, Jake Humphrey, Simon Thomas, Ed Balls and Philip Pullman.

Their biggest victory in the league was a 10–2 win against Coventry City in the Division Three (South) in 1930. Their heaviest defeat in the league was 10–2 against Swindon Town in 1908 in the Southern Football League.

On deadline day they signed 19-year-old Brazilian winger Marquinhos on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season.

Rob Newman, Timm Klose and Chris Martin played for both teams.

We will be missing Naismith, Conway and Kane. Harry Cornick and Anis Mehmeti may get to make their home debuts.

NP pre-match:

 

RA pre-match:

 

Officials - ref Christopher Kavanagh, he became a Select Group 1 referee for the 2017/18 season after working his way up the football pyramid. The Manchester-born referee started officiating in 1998 as a 13-year-old, plying his trade in local football, before being promoted to take charge of matches in the National League in 2012. Kavanagh refereed in the Football League regularly from the 2014/15 season and in 2016/17 he was the man in the middle on 27 occasions for the EFL Championship campaign. Prior to his promotion to Select Group 1 status, Kavanagh made his Premier League debut in April 2017 as West Bromwich Albion lost to Southampton 1-0 at The Hawthorns, while he has been fourth official in the top flight on a number of occasions.

He will be assisted by Craig Taylor and Sam Lewis, the fourth official is Sam Allison.

The Delia effect

Delia Smith is a majority shareholding in Norwich City, with her husband. Both Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones were season ticket holders at Norwich and were invited to invest in the club, which had fallen on hard times. In February 2005, Smith attracted attention during the half-time break of a home match against Manchester City. At the time Norwich were fighting an ultimately unsuccessful battle against relegation from the Premier League, and to rally the crowd, Smith grabbed the microphone from the club announcer on the pitch and said: "A message for the best football supporters in the world: we need a 12th man here. Where are you? Where are you? Let's be 'avin' you! Come on!" Norwich lost the match 3–2. Smith denied suggestions in the media that she had been drunk while delivering the speech though she did concede that "maybe in the heat of the moment I didn't choose the best words".

An interesting insight into where Norwich are at the moment: https://www.pinkun.com/news/23303799.norwich-city-mike-taylor-canaries-fan-column/

I reached out to a Norwich fan for his perspective on their season, thank you FeedtheWolf, who had this to say….

So here we are; it's February already, and despite Dean Smith's best attempts to snip the string on our yo-yo, we're still part of the seething mass of clubs fighting for the playoffs while Burnley and Sheffield United seemingly stroll to the automatic places.

First, a little context: having cantered to the title in our two previous second-tier seasons, the sense of expectation was keenly felt among Norwich fans – although nobody had seen much on the pitch to suggest that we'd be cruising to a hat-trick of Championship trophies.

Dean Smith had been brought in to try and make us tougher to beat; for all Daniel Farke's strengths (and there were many), his insistence on playing out from the back got us found out horribly in the top flight. We were too often bullied and often hopelessly outplayed, and most fans accepted that it was probably time to roll the dice despite Farke being possibly the most popular manager we've ever had.

Suffice it to say that Smith's 'new manager bounce' was similar to dropping a blancmange; a couple of gutsy victories, followed by an ever-expanding ugly mess on the floor of the Premier League. A lot of fans were thoroughly fed up with Smith and his football even before our fate was sealed; some (myself included) felt we at least owed him a summer window to remould the squad into something that could compete for promotion.

On paper, it seemed our squad was good enough to be in the hunt for the automatic places. As well as adding unknown quantities in Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara and Chilean playmaker Marcelino Nunez, we looked to have finally filled the glaring gap in the defensive midfield by signing Isaac Hayden on loan from Newcastle for the season.

Despite an inauspicious start, with defeats at Cardiff and Hull sandwiched by a home draw with Wigan, we soon started grinding out results. Six wins on the spin, including an entertaining 3-2 win over the Robins, propelled us up the table – but even then, we weren't dominating matches. Josh Sargent, who looked woefully out of his depth in the Prem, scored six in six and appeared to be a totally new player; with the talismanic Teemu Pukki also fit and firing again, things looked good... at least on the surface.

But still, there was a nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right. We didn't seem to have any discernible style of play; we made a token effort to tippy-tap it around the back four for a bit, before losing interest and hitting an aimless long ball (or, at best, a targeted channel ball). Results turned. After a decent 1-0 win at Blackpool at the start of October, the wheels started to fall off. Consecutive home defeats to Preston and Luton, coupled with a meek 2-1 surrender at Watford, showed us how far we were from truly competing this season.

We papered over the cracks with a deceptively uninspiring 3-1 win over Stoke, performed much better in a 0-0 home draw with QPR, snuck a 2-1 win at Rotherham... and then things got ugly. In our last match before the World Cup break, we threw away a lead to lose 2-1 at home to Middlesbrough, leaving us on the worst form of the slew of clubs all scrapping for the top six. The atmosphere inside Carrow Road was filthy, and the fans gave Smith pelters long before the final whistle.

It seemed like the natural time to make a change, but the powers-that-be stuck with their man. In our first game back we got a 1-0 win at Swansea (Pukki scored in the first minute, then we got absolutely battered for the remaining 89 and somehow clung on). A 2-0 reverse at home to Blackburn was followed by Smith's nadir (and, mercifully, his final stand) on Boxing Day.

In a relatively even game away to Luton, we conceded on the hour before equalising shortly afterwards (Pukki, naturally). Luton were then reduced to 10 men but still managed to get a last-minute winner. The writing was on the wall (when both sets of fans are singing 'you're getting sacked in the morning', you're probably toast), and Smith finally got his marching orders.

After a couple of home games under a caretaker duo (one point gained, negligible improvement), we appointed the affable German-American David Wagner, who had previously got Huddersfield promoted to the Premier League alongside our director of football Stuart Webber. A safe bet for Webber, sure, but Wagner was (and is) committed to the brave, front-foot football that had been so sadly lacking for the previous year-and-a-bit.

After losing at home to Blackburn (again!) in the FA Cup in his first match in charge, this time we saw a proper bounce. We demolished Preston 4-0 away in a scarcely believable display of attacking intent, before going 3-0 up inside 20 minutes at Coventry the following weekend. Ten minutes later it was 3-2, but we steadied the ship and finished strongly to get a 4-2 win.

Last week's humbling by Vincent Kompany's magnificent Burnley side was every bit as one-sided as the scoreline suggested, although the nature of the three goals was concerning (one goalkeeping howler, the other two straight from corners). It's very early days under Wagner, but the feel-good factor appears to be back, and there's a real intent to press the opposition high, take risks and entertain the fans.

As for the personnel: in goal, Tim Krul is looking increasingly error-prone, and an injury to Angus Gunn is probably the only thing keeping him in the team at the moment.

Our back four is likely to be (right to left): Max Aarons (reliable as ever, lucky to still have him), Grant Hanley (captain, deceptively fast, quality at this level), Andrew Omobamidele (young Irish centre-back, has looked incredibly mature but having a bit of a dip in form recently), and Dimi Giannoulis (loves getting forward, iffy defensively, seems to make at least one horrendous mistake every game at the moment).

In midfield, with Isaac Hayden still injured (it seems we signed a player with only one knee) and talented box-to-boxer Liam Gibbs strangely out of favour, we'll go with Kenny McLean in the more defensive role (tireless worker, great team player, bizarrely underrated by many Norwich fans), probably alongside our Brazilian enigma Gabriel Sara (clearly talented but infuriatingly inconsistent).

With the Todd Cantwell circus finally rolling out of town, the attacking midfield positions will likely be taken by Kieran Dowell (perennial underachiever who has looked excellent since Wagner arrived), Josh Sargent in the '10' role (a real handful, excellent presence and work rate, finishing much improved), and then possibly Onel Hernández on the other side (a wild card with strength and pace, but wildly fluctuating end product).

And, up top, the phenomenal Teemu Pukki. Guaranteed 10 goals a season in the Prem, even when we're total crap, and scores for fun in this league. The most natural finisher I've seen in 35 years of following The Canaries. Runs his heart out every week, chases lost causes, never complains... just an all-around good egg. A magnificent egg, in fact. A golden egg. And, thanks to that synopsis, guaranteed to miss three open goals on Saturday.

On the bench we'll probably have Nunez (unless he starts in place of Onel), plus Marquinhos (an attacking Brazilian we've recently signed on loan from Arsenal), the ever-industrious Adam Idah, and probably Christos Tzolis (recently recalled from a loan in the Eredivisie and still very much an unknown quantity).

Overall, I'd expect us to get into the top six, although whether promotion is possible (or even desirable, given our current squad) is a moot point. I'd expect it to be a free-flowing, high-octane game on Saturday, so I'm predicting a 2-2 draw.

Oh yeah, and did I mention that we're on the brink of a possible takeover, with the American owner of the Milwaukee Brewers seemingly about to make a play for Delia and hubby's majority shareholding? https://www.pinkun.com/news/23168388.norwich-city-special-report-mark-attanasio-milwaukee-brewers/

It's never boring...

The answer…..Martin Peters

 

Great post. What is your score prediction.

[Scrumpty]

Martin Peters

[bcfc01]

I'm predicting 2-2  at 12/1.

 

[RedinSpain]

Excellent summary thanks and a very balanced and interesting report from the Norwich fan

2-2 and a very entertaining game

[WWred]

I know we can be a fickle bunch but a couple of good results and better performances really does renew your optimism doesn't it!

 

so 1-2 Norwich

[ScottishRed]

I will be more than happy with a point.

[bcfc01]

14 minutes ago, ScottishRed said:

I will be more than happy with a point.

Ditto.

And a win against Wigan would be a good overall return.

[Jerseybean]

2 hours ago, City oz said:

Great post. What is your score prediction.

I used to be indecisive now I just can’t make mind up! Somebody will win 2-1 or it could be a draw what you going for City Oz? 

[ExiledAjax]

1 hour ago, Jerseybean said:

I used to be indecisive now I just can’t make mind up! Somebody will win 2-1 or it could be a draw what you going for City Oz? 

It's an intriguing one for sure. I always assume Pukki will score against us - he's got 4 goals in 4 games against us, including 2 in the 3-2 loss earlier this season that the Norwich fan mentions. Naismith was in central defence that game, and obviously that will be a little different this time around. If I remember correctly then Omadimbele was decent in that game as well and I think generally they'll be tough.

Having said all that there are some differences as well. I presume we will be setting out in our new 433/4231 formation. Of our starting XI in that game we're without Naismith and Conway, and Dasilva and Weimann will probably not start, so we will be quite different from the what we saw a few months ago. Norwich are obviously under new management, and have been playing a pretty orthodox 433 recently. So it will be two teams lining up in similar formations rather than the 4231 v 532 that we saw at Carrow Road.

It was an entertaining game in September, and I think it should be tomorrow as well.

6 hours ago, Jerseybean said:

Dimi Giannoulis (loves getting forward, iffy defensively, seems to make at least one horrendous mistake every game at the moment).

This line from the Norwich fan excites me. Get a frantic Sykes backed up by Tanner running down our right and put this guy under pressure and we could see some joy. We've scored a lot of goals from low crosses/cut-backs from the channel and byeline so I should think there will be opportunities to do exactly that tomorrow.

Ultimately Norwich are dangerous going forward, but also fragile at the back. 34 conceded in the league this season, so there are vulnerabilites that our new direct style could exploit.

I wouldn't be surprised if saw another 3-2 to be honest...wouldn't want to bet in who's favour though.

[cityexile]

Tough one. Fancied them for the play offs and been a little short of that. May still come through. Yes, tonked by Burnley last week but partly self inflicted. Previous two game sthey went and scored four at Preston and Coventry so far from push overs, and with their wage bill they shouldn't be.

Most unlikely result ought to be 0-0. Would take anything that sees the unbeaten run continue. Looking forward to it and fully expect the match to be much easier on the eye than last weekend's.

[CanaryCouple]

1 hour ago, ExiledAjax said:

It's an intriguing one for sure. I always assume Pukki will score against us - he's got 4 goals in 4 games against us, including 2 in the 3-2 loss earlier this season that the Norwich fan mentions. Naismith was in central defence that game, and obviously that will be a little different this time around. If I remember correctly then Omadimbele was decent in that game as well and I think generally they'll be tough.

Having said all that there are some differences as well. I presume we will be setting out in our new 433/4231 formation. Of our starting XI in that game we're without Naismith and Conway, and Dasilva and Weimann will probably not start, so we will be quite different from the what we saw a few months ago. Norwich are obviously under new management, and have been playing a pretty orthodox 433 recently. So it will be two teams lining up in similar formations rather than the 4231 v 532 that we saw at Carrow Road.

It was an entertaining game in September, and I think it should be tomorrow as well.

This line from the Norwich fan excites me. Get a frantic Sykes backed up by Tanner running down our right and put this guy under pressure and we could see some joy. We've scored a lot of goals from low crosses/cut-backs from the channel and byeline so I should think there will be opportunities to do exactly that tomorrow.

Ultimately Norwich are dangerous going forward, but also fragile at the back. 34 conceded in the league this season, so there are vulnerabilites that our new direct style could exploit.

I wouldn't be surprised if saw another 3-2 to be honest...wouldn't want to bet in who's favour though.

We're definitely vulnerable down the left. Since Wagner took over it has looked more like 4231 than 433 though, but as we don't have a specialist DM (McLean playing there currently) I worry about Scott running the game. If you can stop the supply to Pukki you could get a lot of joy.

[22A]

From the Norwich forum; https://forum.pinkun.com/index.php?/topic/151398-local-info-for-all-those-heading-to-bristol-on-saturday/

Good train times to Parson street from London and the North departing Bristol temple meads 13:26pm 13:55pm and 14:26pm. If you board at Parson Street,you can avoid the ticket gates/barriers at Bristol temple Meads

having a brilliant time in Brizzle. Apparently the go-to pre-match pub for away fans is Bedminster Cricket Club, there's a big group of Irish Canaries coming over for the game so we're going to go and have a drink with them there. Sounds like a good turnout, more than 2,300 tickets sold.

[cidered abroad]

5 hours ago, bcfc01 said:

Ditto.

And a win against Wigan would be a good overall return.

Two home wins in four days would be even better!

[ExiledAjax]

1 hour ago, CanaryCouple said:

We're definitely vulnerable down the left. Since Wagner took over it has looked more like 4231 than 433 though, but as we don't have a specialist DM (McLean playing there currently) I worry about Scott running the game. If you can stop the supply to Pukki you could get a lot of joy.

Our midfield 3 is likely to be Scott, Matty James and Joe Williams, with Scott playing further forward than the other two. Kal Naismith was playing as one of the two but is injured so Williams will likely replace him. We'll then likely have Sykes, Wells and Bell as the front 3. 

The 433 we switched to at the turn of the year has been effective in recent weeks. Fast both in passing speed and in player pace. The weakness is in the accuracy of passing, especially in the final 3rd. Sykes especially is energetic, direct, and fun but doesn't always find the final pass. When it works our strikers, like Pukki, are clinical finishers, but like you it's all about supply.

How has Krul been this season?

Edited February 10, 2023 by ExiledAjax

[CanaryCouple]

Krul has largely been our backup, Angus Gunn had been playing well but Wagner put Krul in. He made an absolute howler against Burnley and is generally looking very shaky. Poor distribution, but good communication and command of the area. Would expect Gunn to be straight back in once he recovers from his injury, but he's definitely out for tomorrow.

[ExiledAjax]

17 minutes ago, CanaryCouple said:

Krul has largely been our backup, Angus Gunn had been playing well but Wagner put Krul in. He made an absolute howler against Burnley and is generally looking very shaky. Poor distribution, but good communication and command of the area. Would expect Gunn to be straight back in once he recovers from his injury, but he's definitely out for tomorrow.

Ha thanks. But please stop now. You're getting me all optimistic and hopeful.

[Offside]

I’m predicting a score draw. And that would be a decent enough result. I’m looking forward to the game, our recent form has been so much better.

[ralphindevon]

With a big crowd expected it’d be nice to treat the occasional or even new fan attending to a nice home win.

So often over the years we get a bit of a run going, get a bigger crowd and the game is a let down.

I’m predicting our unbeaten run will continue with a 3-1 victory and an ever improving atmosphere. 

[Jerseybean]

Just watched Brum dominate and beat WBA, it’s an omen, an away team in yellow and greeen pushing for the play-offs well beaten…….

[Loosey Boy]

2 minutes ago, Jerseybean said:

Just watched Brum dominate and beat WBA, it’s an omen, an away team in yellow and greeen pushing for the play-offs well beaten…….

Hope you are right @Jerseybean

[Lew-T]

Pukki and Sargent worry me a bit. Both very good players at this level, the movement and pace will be a real test for our lot.

[Jerseybean]

AG8 Events for Saturday - 1pm - 6 of the Ashton Gate 8 walking concourse and fan village - 2:45pm - Take seats to show appreciation to the Ashton Gate 8 - 3:08pm (8:01.. 8:02.. 8:59 on Matchday Clock) - A minutes applause

 

 

[Jerseybean]

Programme: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/captain-weimann-in-the-robins-online-programme/

[CanaryCouple]

Just wanted to add – I saw that you're planning a minute's applause from 7:00-7:59 for the Ashton Gate Eight.

At our last couple of games we have had a minute's applause from 8:00-8.59 for a young fan named Amber Sheehy, who tragically died recently just hours short of her ninth birthday.

Appreciate it's a bit late notice now, but if you see us cheering especially loudly just afterwards you'll know why. Coventry fans joined in with us at our last away game and made it an incredibly emotional experience for Amber's family, who were in the crowd.

https://www.ambersarmy.org.uk/

[pillred]

1 hour ago, Jerseybean said:

AG8 Events for Saturday - 1pm - 6 of the Ashton Gate 8 walking concourse and fan village - 2:45pm - Take seats to show appreciation to the Ashton Gate 8 - 3:08pm (8:01.. 8:02.. 8:59 on Matchday Clock) - A minutes applause

 

 

That conflicts with the OP is it 7:01 to 7:59 or 8:01 to 8:59 for the applause? I would have thought the former being the actual 8th minute.

[City oz]

13 hours ago, Jerseybean said:

I used to be indecisive now I just can’t make mind up! Somebody will win 2-1 or it could be a draw what you going for City Oz? 

I see us Robins scoring 3. I see the Canaries scoring at least 2. Might be 3-3.

[Red Army 75]

Another tough fixture. Norwich very decent side especially away from home of late. Two home fixtures if we can pick 4 or more points will be more than happy. COYR Let’s be avin you 

[BS3City]

Haven't looked forward to a home game with such anticipation for a while. Great opportunity to help Norwich end their "yo-yo" existence, with a big, up for it crowd, exciting young home grown players to watch, us playing well with great team spirit, and a good excuse to have a few cheeky ciders!

Slightly disappointed that Naismith isn't available, but I'm hoping we have enough in the tank to get past 'em. Here's to three points...

COYR!!!!!

[old_eastender]

1 hour ago, BS3City said:

Haven't looked forward to a home game with such anticipation for a while. Great opportunity to help Norwich end their "yo-yo" existence, with a big, up for it crowd, exciting young home grown players to watch, us playing well with great team spirit, and a good excuse to have a few cheeky ciders!

Slightly disappointed that Naismith isn't available, but I'm hoping we have enough in the tank to get past 'em. Here's to three points...

COYR!!!!!

With Naismith out, we need Williams & James to be on it. They have not looked that great played together from the start before, so lets hope they can both be on good form today.

[Son of Fred]

10 minutes ago, old_eastender said:

With Naismith out, we need Williams & James to be on it. They have not looked that great played together from the start before, so lets hope they can both be on good form today.

Yes,, they will need to get it going together today - if it's not clicking for them options from the bench will be limited.

For me,, King coming on should be "emergency use only"...option would be for Scott to drop back in & either Weimann or Cornick advanced.

Edited February 11, 2023 by Son of Fred

[eardun]

In today’s programme is this pic of an old City programme from the match Norwich in Oct 1947 (we won 6-0, our best win v Norwich). I found it interesting that the kick off time was 3.15pm - anyone know if that was that the usual KO time back in the day? 

[MC RISK77]

29 minutes ago, old_eastender said:

With Naismith out, we need Williams & James to be on it. They have not looked that great played together from the start before, so lets hope they can both be on good form today.

Have missed this but how long is Naismith out for?

 

thanks

[cidered abroad]

37 minutes ago, eardun said:

In today’s programme is this pic of an old City programme from the match Norwich in Oct 1947 (we won 6-0, our best win v Norwich). I found it interesting that the kick off time was 3.15pm - anyone know if that was that the usual KO time back in the day? 

Wow, even before my first match although I was alive then.

As for kick off time, I don't remember any after 1951 at 3-15 but as all industry worked a five and half day week with Saturday finishing around noon to 1pm, it was a help to those to have lunch and get to ground before kick-off.

Midweek games were usually played on "Early closing day" for shops. Different in all towns and cities. Bristol was a Wednesday which is why there was a local "Wednesday League" mostly of teams of male shopworkers.

From my early away games after I left school, Southend was a Monday and I think Nottingham was a Thursday.

Floodlights first allowed for league games in 1956 (I think) against Fulham.

Edited February 11, 2023 by cidered abroad

[Davefevs]

55 minutes ago, old_eastender said:

With Naismith out, we need Williams & James to be on it. They have not looked that great played together from the start before, so lets hope they can both be on good form today.

Imho they have, they were part of a pairing at the latter part / back end of last season when we put good results and performances together.  Williams should be right up for this, getting possession of the shirt back due to Naismith injury.

It will mean we play a bit different, but basically it’ll be “get it and give it to Alex Scott”.  He can spray a pass, although not quite to the extent of Naismith, but he’s quicker over the ground though.

[pongo88]

40 minutes ago, eardun said:

In today’s programme is this pic of an old City programme from the match Norwich in Oct 1947 (we won 6-0, our best win v Norwich). I found it interesting that the kick off time was 3.15pm - anyone know if that was that the usual KO time back in the day? 

No floodlights in those days so it would have been a bit gloomy towards the end of the match it the weather was overcast. Footballers were tough in those days. Playing on a mud bath of a pitch with footballs like medicine balls and in the dark 

[mozo]

Is Scott definitely fit today? He didn't seem to be in the training video (or was he?!)

[Davefevs]

Just now, mozo said:

Is Scott definitely fit today? He didn't seem to be in the training video (or was he?!)

He was away giving evidence against Ched Evans

Edited February 11, 2023 by Davefevs

[mozo]

Just now, Davefevs said:

He was away giving evidence against Ched Evans

Thanks chief 

Looking forward to seeing him today.

[Davefevs]

2 minutes ago, mozo said:

Thanks chief 

Looking forward to seeing him today.

Sorry, that was me trying to be funny….I’ve no idea why he wasn’t in training.

[Davefevs]

Is it just me, but…

…wouldn’t it be more polite to say “please can I have your shirt”?

To me it just reads a bit rude.

[RUSSEL85]

Big Crowd and a tough game, they have some real quality and Pukki tends to score against us. I would happily take a draw and move on to keep the run going.

[mozo]

5 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Sorry, that was me trying to be funny….I’ve no idea why he wasn’t in training.

Then, sorry that was me being a dumbass and not getting the joke 

I hope he plays, but Williams shooting looked good in the drills...

[!james]

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Is it just me, but…

…wouldn’t it be more polite to say “please can I have your shirt”?

To me it just reads a bit rude.

Deserves a lifetime ban in all honesty. 

[bcfc01]

Right, off to get the bus (bloody CAZ).

Hoping for a good entertaining game with a few goals.

2-2 with Bell and Scott scoring - that'll do for me after the three points at PNE and with Wigan next.

Nine undefeated after today I hope, good little run.

 

 

[Homer Simpson]

35 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Is it just me, but…

…wouldn’t it be more polite to say “please can I have your shirt”?

To me it just reads a bit rude.

Was the father in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase?

[RedHienz]

Keep thinking it will be close, however 2 -1 City. 

Bell and Atkinson.

Norwich are a tough team so need a performance from everyone. 

[Davefevs]

8 minutes ago, RedHienz said:

Keep thinking it will be close, however 2 -1 City. 

Bell and Atkinson.

Norwich are a tough team so need a performance from everyone. 

I want Nahki to score to get into double figures.  He’s been so good this season.

[Galley is our king]

1 hour ago, eardun said:

In today’s programme is this pic of an old City programme from the match Norwich in Oct 1947 (we won 6-0, our best win v Norwich). I found it interesting that the kick off time was 3.15pm - anyone know if that was that the usual KO time back in the day? 

Bloody sky I expect......

[The Dolman Pragmatist]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Is it just me, but…

…wouldn’t it be more polite to say “please can I have your shirt”?

To me it just reads a bit rude.

Come on Dave, he has said “please”!

[Jerseybean]

13 hours ago, CanaryCouple said:

Just wanted to add – I saw that you're planning a minute's applause from 7:00-7:59 for the Ashton Gate Eight.

At our last couple of games we have had a minute's applause from 8:00-8.59 for a young fan named Amber Sheehy, who tragically died recently just hours short of her ninth birthday.

Appreciate it's a bit late notice now, but if you see us cheering especially loudly just afterwards you'll know why. Coventry fans joined in with us at our last away game and made it an incredibly emotional experience for Amber's family, who were in the crowd.

https://www.ambersarmy.org.uk/

FtW There’s some confusion about timing with us on FB (as per the match day opening thread) it says 7:01-7:59 but elsewhere it says - 3:08pm (8:01.. 8:02.. 8:59 on Matchday Clock) - A minutes applause

[Nugget]

Keeping an eye out for some interesting guests today 

[Major Isewater]

3 minutes ago, Nugget said:

Keeping an eye out for some interesting guests today 

[adamski]

I’d just like to apologise to everyone. My daughter has never seen the City win in 15 years..I have, in recent years discouraged her from attending. She has just texted me to say she is going with friends. I have offered her £100 to stay in the centre and enjoy herself instead of coming to the gate….alas she has declined my offer

[eardun]

2 hours ago, pongo88 said:

No floodlights in those days so it would have been a bit gloomy towards the end of the match it the weather was overcast. Footballers were tough in those days. Playing on a mud bath of a pitch with footballs like medicine balls and in the dark 

Yes which was why I was surprised that KO was even later than 3pm. Think @cidered abroadhas nailed it above though - a bit later KO time gave more time for Sat morning workers to get to the match. 

[RedHienz]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

I want Nahki to score to get into double figures.  He’s been so good this season.

The work rate and willing running he has put in certainly deserves it.

Testament to how hard he worked initially to get back into the team.

 

[downendcity]

17 hours ago, ExiledAjax said:

Ha thanks. But please stop now. You're getting me all optimistic and hopeful.

You're not a Bristolian then Ajax? 

[CodeRed]

24 minutes ago, adamski said:

I’d just like to apologise to everyone. My daughter has never seen the City win in 15 years..I have, in recent years discouraged her from attending. She has just texted me to say she is going with friends. I have offered her £100 to stay in the centre and enjoy herself instead of coming to the gate….alas she has declined my offer

I'm not going today though so can you pay me the £100 instead? I'll pm you my account and sort code.

Cheers bud  

[The Fat Controller]

38 minutes ago, adamski said:

I’d just like to apologise to everyone. My daughter has never seen the City win in 15 years..I have, in recent years discouraged her from attending. She has just texted me to say she is going with friends. I have offered her £100 to stay in the centre and enjoy herself instead of coming to the gate….alas she has declined my offer

Yeah, but has she ever seen a penalty?

[Jerseybean]

Here’s our line up COYR

[Roadrunner]

4 minutes ago, sinenomine said:

Yeah, but has she ever seen a penalty?

I saw a piece on the internet the other day. The New York Times had a article on Citys penalty misfortunes.

[And Its Smith]

Big game for Williams. Play well and he will keep his place and could get a run in the side. 

[old_eastender]

3 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Imho they have, they were part of a pairing at the latter part / back end of last season when we put good results and performances together.  Williams should be right up for this, getting possession of the shirt back due to Naismith injury.

It will mean we play a bit different, but basically it’ll be “get it and give it to Alex Scott”.  He can spray a pass, although not quite to the extent of Naismith, but he’s quicker over the ground though.

hmmm, the thing is Williams likes getting forward and then if a move breaks down we only have the fairly slow James as cover for the back four, so for me for it to work, Williams has to be more defensive minded. :Like you say "give it to Alex Scott" and keep position.

[EstoniaTallinnRed]

5 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

What's the likelihood of a stream today? 

Found this, if it will work is any ones guess https://www.scorebat.com/bristol-city-vs-norwich-city-live-stream/

[1891 B.C. Sweden]

Come On You Reds!!!