Can we win thr title without Pukki, Hanley and Gio?

[pete 372]

Gtrant and Teemu took some heavy knocks yesterday and left the pitch limping.  Hope they both recover in time to play Watford.  It didn't look good.  We need another 5 points to guarantee the title, however I don't think Watford will win all their matches so may be fewer.  But if Grant does not recover we shall need to call on Sorensen to fill in at CB the only player with some experience there to fit alongside Omadambile.  Pukki can be replaced with Hugill who will do a job but is not Pukki.  Quintilla will be recalled to play LB.  This defence doesn't seem likely to stem Watfords Sarr who will probably have a field day.  If we lose to Watford they will be 5 points behind.  And we still need to get 5 points without key players.

Gio will be suspended an appeal looks unlikely to succeed.  As the challenge was not violent hoping it may be 2 games and not three.  If 2 this is similar to 2018/9 when Emi was suspended.  Whatever the length of ban we look we might need to field a makeshift defence.

After what could well be an unwelcome Watford victory its on to QPR.  Promoted City becomes a target and with the makeshift back 4 a normal stroll becomes a difficult fixture and not the expected victory.  A loss here and its down to the final two fixtures Reading at home would usually be an expected win but not now, Reading will probably out of the play off picture by now but a City scalp is to be welcomed.  Finally Barnsley charging into the play offs will be a tough nut.

So hoping that we can put out a side to give Watford a game and a win that will avoid any concerns.  If we have to put out makeshift sides with rookie defenders those 5 points may be mighty difficult.  This would be a dismal end to what has been a magnificent season.

 

 

[Move Klose 303]

I do like Sorensen but please lets not put him at LB when we have Quintilla and Mumba fit.

Hanley would be a big loss.

But in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter.

[Branston Pickle 4,152]

Yes, we can - we might actually have enough points already, and would probably only need 1 more win out of the last 4 games.

[lappinitup 629]

14 minutes ago, pete said:

Gtrant and Teemu took some heavy knocks yesterday and left the pitch limping.  Hope they both recover in time to play Watford.  It didn't look good.  We need another 5 points to guarantee the title, however I don't think Watford will win all their matches so may be fewer.  But if Grant does not recover we shall need to call on Sorensen to fill in at CB the only player with some experience there to fit alongside Omadambile.  Pukki can be replaced with Hugill who will do a job but is not Pukki.  Quintilla will be recalled to play LB.  This defence doesn't seem likely to stem Watfords Sarr who will probably have a field day.  If we lose to Watford they will be 5 points behind.  And we still need to get 5 points without key players.

Gio will be suspended an appeal looks unlikely to succeed.  As the challenge was not violent hoping it may be 2 games and not three.  If 2 this is similar to 2018/9 when Emi was suspended.  Whatever the length of ban we look we might need to field a makeshift defence.

After what could well be an unwelcome Watford victory its on to QPR.  Promoted City becomes a target and with the makeshift back 4 a normal stroll becomes a difficult fixture and not the expected victory.  A loss here and its down to the final two fixtures Reading at home would usually be an expected win but not now, Reading will probably out of the play off picture by now but a City scalp is to be welcomed.  Finally Barnsley charging into the play offs will be a tough nut.

So hoping that we can put out a side to give Watford a game and a win that will avoid any concerns.  If we have to put out makeshift sides with rookie defenders those 5 points may be mighty difficult.  This would be a dismal end to what has been a magnificent season.

 

 

Blimey Pete, we'll be lucky to make the play-offs......

[CANARYKING 708]

Switch Aarons and play Mumba, would that work ?

[Petriix 3,222]

1 hour ago, Branston Pickle said:

Yes, we can - we might actually have enough points already, and would probably only need 1 more win out of the last 4 games.

I'm almost certain that Watford won't pass 90 points, and even more certain that we'll pick up at least 5 more. Watford's odds of winning the title are worse now than they were before the weekend. They have to beat us and then overturn a 5 point deficit in 3 games. That's not going to happen.

If you're really worried, go and stick £20 on Watford to win the title. That £660 would definitely soften the blow. You'd probably be able to get more if you bet on the individual matches.

Edited April 18, 2021 by Petriix

[Branston Pickle 4,152]

The thing is, win on Tuesday and the title is ours; draw and Watford must beat all of Millwall, Swansea and Brentford while we get no more than a point out of QPR, Reading and Barnsley; even a defeat needs them to win at least two games out of the three just to overtake us if we lose them.  
Nearly all realistic scenarios see us winning the title, if perhaps later than this week.  But surely the key thing is that we are alone in knowing that we are already promoted. 

[HazzaJet 267]

Am sure we can do it - current 8 point lead at the top, so effectively Watford have to beat us, win their other fixtures, and hope we lose all ours to stand any chance of winning it. Also:

Beat Watford = Won

Draw Watford = 2 points required, just need to make sure that we don’t lose any more than one of our remaining 3 games, or for Watford to fail to win one of their’s

Lose Watford = 5 points required from 3 games, with points Watford drop included

 

Edited April 18, 2021 by HazzaJet

[......and Smith must score. 1,600]

Who cares if anyone’s injured as long as they are fit for the start of next season ?

We’ll almost certainly win the title anyway and if we don’t we are guaranteed promotion which is all that really matters.

[HazzaJet 267]

48 minutes ago, ......and Smith must score. said:

Who cares if anyone’s injured as long as they are fit for the start of next season ?

We’ll almost certainly win the title anyway and if we don’t we are guaranteed promotion which is all that really matters.

Agree with you there. All we were really after this season was promotion, whether it be automatic or via the playoffs. It would be great to win the title again as well but the most important part to it is the promotion. Now the promotion is sealed our target of course is promotion as champions which I think we will achieve considering our current league position, although it won’t matter if we don’t because it wouldn’t make a massive difference, the title just gives the players something else to celebrate

At the end of the day the season targets of all the teams in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tiers are usually either promotion or survival, depending on their strength. In the 2010-11 season our target was originally survival having just bounced back from the 3rd tier, but this changed to promotion once it was clear we were doing surprisingly well

All we want now is for as many as possible players to be match fit for every game next season

Edited April 18, 2021 by HazzaJet

[PurpleCanary 6,391]

Can Pete ever find a silver lining that doesn't have a dirty great pitch-black cloud lurking behind it...

[AJ 1,359]

I seem to remember we beat Man City during an injury crisis. It's funny what can happen when some of the fringe players get a chance to make a name for themselves...

[splendidrush 720]

..... Promoted...... but the pant wetting continues 🙄

[Alex Moss 2,167]

Promotion may be the most important thing for some of you guys, but that is not a universal view for all - some of us believe winning the league, proving we are the best team in league, with a trophy added to the Carrow Rd display cabinet and winners medals for the players and staff is actually ‘what’s important’. That is, after all, what it’s all about as Emi Buendia has said himself only this week. So yes, it does matter, and a limp wristed 2nd place finish right at the death would be very disappointing for some of us and the players. There is no better way to finish a season than as Champions, that’s what it’s all about.

[Canaries north 155]

I have spoken to my Watford friend and he thinks they have similar problems to us. Right back banned, left back pulled out during warm up last game and Chalobah missed the game as well. He has given up on the title and just wants second.