Pre match Norwich chat

[Cjay]

A solid if slightly flattering win vs Sheffield Wednesday sets us up for our mid week fixture vs Norwich City on Wednesday.

The first of two fixtures this week where in the reverse fixtures we struggled.

In the reverse fixture vs Norwich we laboured to a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road.

However we are a better home side than an away one and crucially Norwich are injury hit.

Jose Cordoba,Marcelino Nunez,Amankwah Forson,Jacob Sorensen,Liam Gibbs,
Gabriel Forsyth and Ben Slimane all definitely out or possibly out. Top scorer and talisman Borja Sainz is serving a suspension for spitting and main striker Josh Sargent has only just returned from groin surgery and was only fit enough for the bench vs Sheffield United.

Furthermore they have lost 2 or 3 other first team members to other teams through transfers this January, not key players clearly but still first team members they haven't got.

Was some confusion why it was so easy for Sheffield United against a side who gave us trouble, they are injury ravaged, had a full back in midfield, a winger as a striker and 6 academy players on the bench.

So bar some sort of recovery miracle we should make as easy work of them as Sheffield United did let's be honest.

However they aren't in dreadful form, before Sheffield United they'd won 3 drawn 1 of the last 4 and the 1 draw was against QPR who have basically been the form side in the league for some time.

In terms of style of play it seems to usually be a 4-3-3 formation.

Not a massive pressing side really.

They are a play out from the back team, possession football, full backs tucking in to create passing lanes all that sort of stuff.

Similar to us really except our full backs push wide.

But Similar philosophy, very few long passes, lots of short passes in tight areas draw the opposition out, and look to switch the ball (most in the league)

Very good when it works, they don't actually have many shots overall, mid table for shots taken, but they create good chances.

Highest shots on target percentage in the league, top 5 for most other things relating to shots, xG , big chances created and they are the Championship's 3rd highest goalscorers.

In reality they should maybe be a bit higher than they are, but they have a problem conceding soft goals (they may have a worse goalie than Mes, certainly underperforming more with a massive 9 more goals conceded than he should).

And that means they have the 7th worst defence in the league

The other issue they have is they have a habit of overplay at the back.

A reluctance to get rid and an occasional struggle to progress the ball can see them get caught.

They've had the 2nd most touches overall after us in the league, but they've had the most touches in their own penalty area and defensive third in the league.

4th for midfield 3rd but 17th for attacking 3rd and 12th for opposition penalty area (the issue is clear).

In terms of key players it's hard with all the injuries to know.

Striker Josh Sargent has been a big miss, 4 goals and 5 assists this season, but he may not even be fit enough to start.

Midfielder Kenny McClean has been a key player with his knowhow and technical ability for a long time for Norwich as well.

But with all the injuries we should be beating them.

However they are capable of giving us problems as they did before, they've taken points off Boro and Blackburn and Sheffield United as well.

A capable team with goals in them, but one prone to carelessness and injury ravaged.

For ourselves will Farke have one eye on the clash with Burnley at the weekend?

He doesn't rotate much but has shown willingness to rotate wingers and with the impressive cameo from Largie could a recall be on the cards?
Sam Byram may provide defensive stability but offensively its lacking, could that and the additional factor of his fragile body see a recall for Junior Firpo?

Will DF be tempted to add more safety in midfield? We looked a bit vulnerable vs Wendies at times so could Gruev return?

Piroe seems a bone of contention for some again, a recall for Mateo Joseph?

[Chilli D]

Boris Sainz is a massive loss for them but his 6 game ban is deserved for spitting at an opponent.
There's no way they will try an outplay us so it's likely to be another game where we have to be patient and not get frustrated.

[Chilli D]

The question is - does DF make changes with one eye on Burnley next Monday or does he start with a similar or same side as yesterday in the hope we can get ahead early so he can make changes at 60 minutes.

[The Subhuman]

Expecting a win. A performance woulld be nice too. A Joseph brace would be the cherry

[The Subhuman]

Meslier
Bogle
Firpo
Tanaka
Rodon
Ampadu
Gnonto
Aaronson
Piroe
Solomon
Ramazani

[Carrick Dave]

Who comes in for Aaronson at 10 if he's unavailable?