East Rider

It would not surprise me to hear they have messed it up, not sure how they are doing really. However, if the last decade or so is anything to go by I seriously doubt they will protest. They seem to accept some dire dross down there without complaint, not sure why.

That man is on fire and it's great news for us. His confidence must be sky high, just keep injury free please.

Agreed also. The referee should have got a grip of the game earlier and it may have prevented the poor foul on CZ. He was beginning to look back to his immense best. However, they had a game plan and had Pukki in their pockets the whole game, and it worked. Again a few of our players appear off their game even possible 'start struck' with the experience at times. As a result those who we know can destroy teams are playing within themselves, time will change this.....hopefully

It's the support and local employees I feel particularly sorry for.

From the BBC website:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49451896 Bury have been expelled by the English Football League after a takeover bid from C&N Sporting Risk collapsed. Inevitable but a real shame in the end.

Nothing quite says Norwich City are back in the big time, as impressive as this.

Didn't hear his latest match punditry, but I genuinely do like his co-commentating on the radio. And he is usually quite complementary about us.

Whilst they should do well now at their own level of football, I can still see it going wrong for them and not making the top two.

Chelsea had players not normally in their first starting 11 trying to impress the manager yesterday. Players who would in all honesty get into out team and many others in the PL. Overall, apart from a few lower than expected performances from some of our team I felt we performed well against them in the heat, and on another day we may have come away with a point. However, they were the better team for most of that game. Onwards and upwards.

No idea, but i'll start with one from the Gunn Club. An individual who takes an unhealthy delight in being a divisive mickey taking prat when talking about a young lad from Norfolk playing very well, in the PL. As Herman said, he is deep undercover. He must be very proud.

He had probably his best game for us last week and you know it! Which only points to the fact that you are a bin dipper in disguise and a grade A C0(k to boot? Now do us all a favour and s0d off back to your own sh1te team positioned down the end of our sewer pipe at portaloo road.

I presume this is a bit tongue in cheek? He obviously made mistakes last season as we lost 6 games. but to suggest he made loads of mistakes is somewhat disingenuous and misleading. We were predicted to finish mid table with what can only be described as a scratch team. The way he has stuck to his principles and the development shown in what is probably the best team I have seen since the mid / late 70s means he, at this moment deserves all the plaudits he receives. This is not 'gushing on', and my eyes and brains are perfectly functional. From German 3rd tier to English 1st tier in 3 seasons as a manager is stunning!

Indeed he did. I remember seeing him play. However for me I would look at either Kevin Keelan or Chris Woods in goal. Bellamy or Darren Eadie would be interesting to see in this team set up as well.

It wouldn't surprise me if they come here with a plan to go at us like an express train for the first 20/25 minutes hoping, with their understandable quality to be 1 or 2 up by then. After that they could settle down, stifle us and quieten an expected lively crowd. Here's hoping we can keep them out for the start of the game then impose ourselves. Either way we are going to have to be on our A game for this. More like us v Newcastle, less like Liverpool will do.

Exactly this and no more. He like other managers (Bond / Walker) jumped ship at the first opportunity and other successful managers/head coaches at Carrow Road will probably do the same. PL is a man living on borrowed (or engineered cleverly by him) time at that dump and yes they may get promotion this season (I personally doubt by being top two) but they are hamstrung for many years to come. This season is purely the start of their next level of decline following the last 17-20 years. Occasional forays into the glamour of the championship then ultimately slipping back down to their level. Agent Lambert may be very subtle in his work down there, but he isn't half effective in they way he serves it up.

Personally I can see Grant Hanley improving match by match. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that GH keeps the shirt for quite a while, and if he does it means we are playing well and getting results. Win, win.

GH will probably start on Saturday and why not? He is a strong leader in our pack and we will need this when they begin their inevitable onslaught towards our goal come 12.30pm. If, Emi Buendia and Marco S can recover some more of their form from last season and if, our home support doesn't waver we may, possibly have a chance this early in the season. Make no mistake this is a must win game for Frank Lampard's Chelsea and he will have them fired up to the max against a team he will see as much inferior. Just hope we can hold on for the first 25 mins then assert ourselves on the game. Either way it is going to be a great match. Keep the noise coming from the stands, no matter what the score and who knows what we could achieve.

Spot on. As I mentioned in another thread, some of our team are going to be targeted by various teams around us and this is where I believe VAR may be our friend as the season progresses. Emi Buendia, when up to full speed will stand out again, much as he did last season. I can't wait for him to return to his all attitude, swaggering best for us however, that is when he will start drawing the rough treatment.

I agree, no point being disparaging against sides similar to us fighting for early footholds. Sheff Utd were one of, if not the best side to come to CR last season and have that momentum just like us. Whilst I feel our football is probably more pleasing on the eye, few teams will get a decent result at Bramall lane this season with their loud support behind them, much like ourselves.

VAR should be our friend this season and I remain convinced it will be. However, wait for the refs who will not review / change opinion when the opportunity arises for the smaller teams against the big boys.

Thought he played well yesterday and was pleased for him. I could see him keeping that shirt for a while. He does not get bullied and puts himself about on the pitch.

Start of every season there are usually many empty seats. However, yesterday appeared very few. Surprised season ticket holders (two near me) who can not go to premiership games, can't not pass on the tickets. I believe there is even a charity fund raising option available.

The group of Newcastle fans I overheard afterwards and spoke to were offensively critical of their team saying they were destined for the championship, and when I suggested it was only two games into the season, they suggested we were Fu(&!ng $h14 as well! I duly wished them a fond farewell and good luck for season. That or Fu(& Off , cant quite recall now.

I saw a lot of the 92/93 team and many seasons either side. This team has 3 or at a push possibly 4 better players but we are playing in a far far better league. Who knows where we will end up, but both the first games are good indications of our worth. That said, yesterday did not surprise me at all, despite the usual self important pre match cr4p from Newcastle fans (there will be plenty of other teams supporters to do the same and end up with egg on their faces) they were fortunate to get away from CR with it only 3-1. Leitner was definitely destined for this league and he and Tom Trybull together, were superb for this match.

Any time available to discuss just how good we were / are on the ball will be taken up by the 'ribbing' of Alan Shearer and his beloved team. Apart from the cursory quip regarding how we deserved the points I suspect glowing comments will be in short supply.