Ramrod

Norwich have reached the doldrums. Dowell for Cantwell, Sorensen for Gilmour and Sargent for Rashica and go to 4 4 2

The difference is: we are IN the game and not chasing it.

The thread title is an oxymoron.

Greeced Lightning!

We certainly need to start with more solid and aggressive players. Williams in. Kenny in. Sorensen in. Sargent in.

That's pretty funny as it Athens.

The commentary on him is moussaka to my ears.

It would be worse if we weren't playing a top side we need to get 3 points from.

Tough for us going from little or no pre season to playing Liverpool. I'm hoping for no injuries above all else, especially Hanley who hasn't played. Team still bedding in. Let's take anything we can glean from this.

In the first instance no one knew. The media did nothing wrong IMHO. The Danish players surrounding him deserve every credit and Schmeichel is an incredible person.

Currently playing for the Swiss. Moenchelgladbach player. Like to see him in yellow & green.

I recall DF talking about stats at the time. As for Dowell I was referring to his direct runs with the ball which really added something. Different players but I just believe Dowell will suit the PL as does Cantwell. For what it's worth I also have high hopes for Sorensen. Thanks for the debate.

Farke reprimanded Buendia and Cantwell then left both out at Bournemouth. Credit to Emi, he took it on board immediately, Todd more slowly. It was great management.

Buendia has been the beating heart of our side this past season, but only after a public reprimand from Daniel Farke who highlighted months of mediocrity (which included being suckered into another red card). Buendia owes everything to Farke's tutorship and, I suspect, the cool head of his Finnish friend and team mate. There was no rush for his services and EPL and similar Clubs will know how Buendia performed in his one EPL season where he consistently lost the ball and allowed dangerous breaks while he sat on the ground, protesting. Buendia has learned and gone to another level. Much of the EPL is physical and mediocre. The greatest players have to work hard, as Buendia has last season otherwise their ability alone isn't enough. I see strong runners like Cantwell and Dowell as more typical of successful EPL players. Buendia has a lot to prove at this level IMHO and he is targeted by streetwise operators. Can we survive without him? Yes, because defensivness is more important ar EPL level and we might find a stronger physical presence, which we desperately need anyway. As much as club and player fell out I would cite an Andy Townshend type as ideal for a replacement or an addition and these players are more widely available for less money. Whatever happens I hope Emi Buendia makes the right choice. I'd like to see him go back to Spain or Italy and he would leave as one of our greatest ever players.

I would judge young Omo on how he dealt with the goal and decision and it appears he has professionally put it behind him. The problem today is Norwich understandably off the boil and Barnsley having to keep the intensity. This is also why we have been taking knocks.

The question should be 'why is it well run and managed clubs stand so little chance upon promotion to a Premier League which has a glass ceiling and clubs annually scraping by because the TV money inflates their size?' Norwich City had a model set up by Ed Balls, an operational ethos set up by Stuart Webber and a playing philosophy set up by Daniel Farke. This is merit. Developing and playing youth is merit. Rehabilitating good players is merit. Buying and adapting unknown foreign players is merit. And finally, a loyal supporter base which, if we had the capacity would far exceed 27k which stayed in place despite setbacks is a major difference to any number of sleeping giants you could name. Personally, I hate the EPL. But if you get promoted it is what you get.

Gibson might have a permanent weakness after his injury, Byram is always likely to break down. Hanley is historically prone to injury and Zim has had a poor run of injuries too. We need another CB and FB. I am not concerned about DM as I believe Sorensen is going to be top drawer. I'd keep young Omo in the squad and give him the game time. If we sell Buendia we need to replace him with physicality. A couple of 6'2" snarling Serbian, for example because we are just too lightweight overall. Not concerned about Pukki and Hugill and note how Hugill came on against Watford and put himself about. We need a bit more of that streetwise attitude.

Norwich have to rediscover their intensity. QPR are a good side That said, QPR cannot make the playoffs so their mindset could go either way. I just hope our boys realise the importance of calling themselves Champions and of taking their form into next season. Let Watford take the honours and they would always regret it as individuals.

'The players are on the pi$$, they think it's all over.....'

I've been saying this and got panned for it. We are way off.

Kenny (Mr. Average) McLean. Gave the ball away repeatedly tonight. Hernandez and Placheta are fast but hopeless. We need some physicality. The last two games are precursors for next season.

This is a prime example of missing your supporters. Home fans would now be driving them on.

This is a very tough game. I'd take a draw right now. We have injuries, suspensions, psychological challenges and a side who will hit us hard on the break. Massive challenge. I'm backing Dowell to be our match winner. It is so tough to get over the line.

It is for you.

I'm no fan of the Premier League for many reasons but it is what you get when you achieve promotion. It is a league rigged by billionaire benefactors. The games are sparse and set up for the sides in lucrative European competition. There is VAR and referees who want to be played to for decisions. If you think this is nonsense then you didn't live through the 1970's when success couldn't just be bought and merit meant something. Norwich were 'done' at Watford in the style of many losses in the EPL. Sucked in and hit on the break. Against Bournemouth, another recently relegated EPL squad we were defeated by tactics, the kind that plays an EPL referee like a harp. This street wise football is something we need to learn fast because the EPL isn't about our kind of beautiful football. It isn't a scalpel it is a blunt instrument. I said after the Huddersfield game that a 2-0 win over Watford would be the greater result. Now a draw would be highly creditable. They will use EPL tactics and it is time we learned to deal with them. Incidentally, why did we stop the possession game after going down to 10? That handed the game to Bournemouth.