Highland Canary

Suggest we rotate post-West Brom and give our elite players a couple of weeks off so they''re fit and ready for the Newcastle game which our next important fixture.

Getting into the Christmas spirit!

A point from West Brom followed by three defeats.

Thankfully, I''m not a betting man as I would undoubtedly be somewhat poorer. Off again to West Brom after twice last season, feeling a tad more positive after my arguments have so meticulously dismantled:-) Let''s hope we don''t draw them again in the fourth round away. And, yes, I think we''ll squeeze through at Peterborough.

But we were very much a top half team in 1994 and managed to go down. QPR and Villa will both be mid-table. Sunderland and Newcastle will make it. Reading will go down. Stoke and Fulham as ever will be OK. Leaves the last spots for ourselves Wigan and Soton. If we buy an experienced, quality striker I think we''ll edge out of the bottom three. Failing that my prediction is Wigan and ourselves to join Reading.

I seem to remember that we were around 7th in 1994 but were relegated, a significant contributory factor being the loss of Gunn. With Ruddy out and, our talisman injured, the omens look ominous indeed.

Certainly looked like a ham string from where I was sitting. You could see his frustration as he took the arm band off. Holt is our icon. He has been by far our most influential player for the last three seasons. Without him we have struggled. Unless the board are prepared to invest in a quality, proven striker I can''t see anything except relegation. We''ll lose the next four, probably without scoring - it is critical that Holt''s replacement is in the team for Newcastle.

I think we are, and will continue to be, relegation candidates along with Reading, QPR and, possibly, Wigan.

Earlier in the season my expectation was that Wigan would represent our first win of the season. Clearly, we have performed somewhat better than this and are hanging on my our fingertips. We have in the event outperformed my prediction. However, I think Wigan will win 3-1 tomorrow. We''ve ridden our luck against Sunderland and Swansea over the last two games and the reliance on essentially the same 11 is leading to player fatigue in my opinion. I''m minded to think Reading and QPR will go down with the last relegation place being contested between ourselves and Wigan. Invest in a new striker and this *may help to secure another PL season.

Of course. I''m always concerned. Absolutely, we need to invest in a class, experienced striker to support Holt if we wish to have any chance of playing in the PL this season.

I thought some of the players looked leggy last night, notably Pilkington and Holt. Tierney was constantly put under pressure by Pilkington but acknowledging this the gulf between him and Garrido is significant. The midfield was overrun - Howson is not the answer as a DM - and lacked creativity without Wes. Holt and Morison don''t work in the same team. I hope Hughton''s strategy of same team every week leads to burn out of Holt, Snodgrass and Johnno later in the season. The need for a support striker for Holt is more obvious than ever.

[quote user="Highland Canary"]Swansea 4 Norwich 0[/quote] Well I almost got the Swansea part of the score correct!

Thanks Nutty and Purple. It''s all coming back now!. A few of those players did come through. Loved the Donowa/Channon interactions which were to come! Louie never seemed to cross the ball quite where Channon wanted it

Without wishing to engage, or indeed understand, the disputes which seem to pervade many threads on this forum, I thought the OP was entirely valid, a good news story from our youth team. Hopefully, more supporters will show up for the next round should we drawn at home. Remember watching the Youth Cup final at the Carra back in the early 80s which we won (can''t remember against who now!) would be great if we could repeat this.

Swansea 4 Norwich 0

Holt.

Or even tomorrow. First match I''ll miss this season, 1900 a great effort on a weekday evening.

[quote user="nutty nigel"][quote user="lake district canary"][quote user="Highland Canary"]Southampton 2 Norwich 0[/quote] Ever the optimist, eh, Highland? [:)] [/quote] He''s a lad Lakey.. Highland reckoned in the 10 games starting at home to the Arse we wouldn''t win until Wigan.... Good to have a bit of realism amongst us though[;)] [/quote] Couldn''t have been more wrong! Enjoyed Everton btw. Still can''t escape that overwhelming feeling that things must start to go wrong soon ... After all it''s been three years now. Perhaps i should have spent my formative years in the Barclay!! Still think Soton is a real toughie tonight.

Southampton 2 Norwich 0

Couldn''t see from where we were standing. On MOTD just looked like an air kick to me. Put it liked this - if we were the defending team would have said it was soft! But you take the decisions when you get them...

Holt''s great and is playing well. But what if he gets injured?Our other strikers don''t offer sufficient goals. Signing another striker essential if we want to avoid relegation.

Bassong just over Tetty for me.

But we''re not an established PL team. Finances may imply loans are the only viable strategy. We still need to strengthen our striking options. There is a huge amount of complacency on this board. Will feel much more comfortable if we beat Sunderland and Wigan. 1994/95 should never be forgotten - up there with the worst of my 40 seasons watching City because the outcome seemed so avoidable with a little more (some?) planning/investment.

Snoddy did seem to struggle yesterday but Baines is a top player. We did get a better view in the first half though. Would support EB being given a run. Wes had less of an impact yesterday than recently. His creative ability will be needed over the next four games - would hope for 6 points.

[quote user="NWC"] At one time in the second half they had a free kick in a dangerous area - I think it took about 4 and a half minutes to actually take the free kick - it was farcical (sp) -wall too close, ball not in the right place, shirt pulling, bargeing, ball not in the right place again, linesman wanted a chat, ball still not in the right place, now the wall is too close again, Tetty ran out to block too soon, ball not in the right place, shirt pulling, etc. etc. etc. - I was losing the will to live by this time! (Luckily Baines put the kick over the bar).[/quote] Agree with this! Thought that free kick which was at about 85 mins would end up to be the last kick of the game! Good job it wasn''t. Looked it from where we were standing btw... Should have shown this and Pilkington''s effort on MOTD!