****The Official Lapps Match Thread v PNE (A/L) ****

[chicken 3,004]

Videos:

Articles:
The Pink'Un has it's usual presser coverage article here.
Canaries.co.uk have the clubs official build up piece here.
Preston have their own pre match piece here. They also have info for away fans which may be useful to our traveling fans. 

Ins, out's, shake em all abouts:
Norwich: Our injury list is somewhat static at the moment with Rowe and Byram still out, though Ramsey will take no further part in our season and there is doubt that Hayden will play much further part either. Gibson is also injured and will be back in training next week. Mair and Tomkinson have been sent out on loan. Youngster Hills (CB) can be seen in training with the first team squad so it may well be that the away fans get to see a debut. Cantwell is also not available as he has been allowed to speak to other clubs. 
Preston: Preston could hand an immediate debut to Liam Delap (son of Rory), who was signed due to Jakobsen suffering a knee injury that is due to keep him out for a considerable length of time. Whiteman and one time NCFC loanee Ched Evans are expected to return after being rested for the FA cup... I am sure our away fans will let Mr Evans know what they think of him! Other injury absentees for Preston - Riis, Parrott, Maguire. 

A little bit of kntowledge:
Preston were founded in 1880 and like many of the clubs down the football league, they were originally a cricket club. As such they have actually been playing at Deepdale since 1875, just that the first sport played by the club featured bat, ball and wicket (no, not the Ewok). That means that Deepdale is now the oldest ground in terms of continuous use by a club.

Much like we have seen with other long standing clubs who were founder members of the football league, their heyday appears to have been up until the 1960's, where before they had solid runs in the old Division One, or 1st tier of the English game. At the end of the 1960-61 season they were relegated to the old Division 2, or 2nd tier, and from then onwards, they would never grace England's top tier again. They spent the 60's in Division 2, dipped to Div 3 for the first season of the 1970's and then bounced between Div 2 and 3 until the 1980-81 season when they were relegated to the 4th tier of English football, the old Division 4.

As such they have progressed to flit between extended spells between the Championship and League One (division 1, prior to rebranding) since the millennium.

Preston and Norwich have played each other (according to their website) 57 times in their history. Preston have won 18 of those fixtures, with stalemates occurring 18 times and Norwich claiming the remaining 21 games as victories. Although I am sure many will not want to remember, our last fixture was a victory to them at Carrow Road in October this season, with Preston coming out as 3-2 winners away from home.

Rays Funds for the Community Sports Foundation:

Nutty has his PUPs thread up and running as usual. Please do go and take a look and take part in all of the fun.
 

Edited January 14, 2023 by chicken

[The Real Buh 3,663]

Wouldn’t it be mad if we scored today lads?

[Capt. Pants 4,782]

1 minute ago, The Real Buh said:

Wouldn’t it be mad if we scored today lads?

Especially from a corner 

[The Real Buh 3,663]

Just now, Capt. Pants said:

Especially from a corner 

Be quiet! You madman 🤣

[Mr Angry 1,813]

On my way from Liverpool, was expecting rain after yesterday’s weather forecast but it’s bright sunshine at the moment 😎

[Van wink 2,994]

Lads just getting off the coach

[cambridgeshire canary 7,585]

52 minutes ago, Capt. Pants said:

Especially from a corner 

Imagine the betting odds..

[keelansgrandad 6,680]

57 minutes ago, Capt. Pants said:

Especially from a corner 

If we don't, I am waiting for the headline Russell Leaves

[cambridgeshire canary 7,585]

[cambridgeshire canary 7,585]

Dowell and Krul..  Sorry Wagner but

Edited January 14, 2023 by cambridgeshire canary

[CANARYKING 694]

What’s Gunn done wrong ?

[ron obvious 1,661]

Wow! Some real aggression in that training video. Loved the tussle between Teemu & Jacob. Great stuff!

[keelansgrandad 6,680]

Diamond?

[Van wink 2,994]

Hope Dowell has a good game. 

[The Real Buh 3,663]

I mean, what more can you do with this squad?

might as well put this team out and see what they do I guess. Roll the dice again and hope it inadvertently clicks.

[Herman 10,960]

Dowell just behind Pukki and Sarge. I like the idea, just need Dowell to step.

[Van wink 2,994]

Just now, keelansgrandad said:

Diamond?

Not starting

[Van wink 2,994]

1 minute ago, CANARYKING said:

What’s Gunn done wrong ?

Krul in for the last minute headed goal from a corner

[ron obvious 1,661]

Depends how we set up, but you can make a case for Dowell as being one of our few creators. Not sure why Tim for Angus though.

[Van wink 2,994]

Just now, ron obvious said:

Depends how we set up, but you can make a case for Dowell as being one of our few creators. Not sure why Tim for Angus though.

Hoping Dowell will click and provide the sort of service Pukki needs

[The Real Buh 3,663]

Just now, ron obvious said:

Depends how we set up, but you can make a case for Dowell as being one of our few creators. Not sure why Tim for Angus though.

Dowell is one of our most creative players and that really hurts.

[Robert N. LiM 5,755]

I love our weekly game of Guess the Formation. I guess it's a diamond, but not sure how much I fancy Sara and Onel as the 'wide' players in that diamond. Could be a 4-3-3 with Kenny Dowell Sara in midfield and Sarg Pukki Onel up top, but that looks weak for different reasons. Yikes.

However, sue me but I'm happy to see Dowell back and I guess Pukki is too

Krul's return is very surprising

[Satriales 884]

1 minute ago, ron obvious said:

Depends how we set up, but you can make a case for Dowell as being one of our few creators. Not sure why Tim for Angus though.

100% agree on this. Obviously Wagner hasnt seen our recent games where Gunn has been pretty much our strongest player.

[lake district canary 4,724]

That team is only going to work if we are high up the pitch a lot of the time. Dowell is not a good tracker back, he is just not sharp enough with his slightly languid style so can see us getting turned over on the break quite easily. Hernandez and Sargent going to have to do a lot of running back to compensate.....

 

 

[GodlyOtsemobor 2,784]

I can't understand dropping Gunn.. 🤷 that's the thing about having two genuinely good Keepers I guess. 

[alex_ncfc 686]

Glad to see Krul back, fully deserved IMO 👍🏻

[Creedence Clearwater Couto 1,470]

I can see why Krul is back in. Wagner wants the experience and leadership qualities. As good as Gunn seems to have been, the team’s performances have been poor since he came in for Krul.

[ron obvious 1,661]

Rotherham doing us a favour at the mo 😀

[Creedence Clearwater Couto 1,470]

Glad to see Dowell in, but McLean and Sara will be overrun I fear.

[lake district canary 4,724]

Gunn is sharper playing the ball out and I have more confidence in that, but Krul is maybe a better organiser and presence for the defence, so maybe that is the reason forthe change.