Norwich City v Brighton(Home) Friday 21st April.

[morty]

​

Norwich City vs Brighton.

Championship Fixture

21st April 2017, Kick Off: 7:45pm

Carrow Road.​

 

[morty]

Hopefully fans can stay classy, and congratulate Chris Hughton on his promotion.

This will be a test, as Brighton can win the league still, so make no mistake, they won't be on the beach.

Will be interesting to see if Wes returns after his stinker last week. Would like to see Dorrans keep his place, he was excellent away at Preston.

 

[morty]

News from the presser - not much!

Tettey fit and back in contention, Klose improving but not ready.

 

[hogesar]

Dorrans should play. One of my favourite players when he's on it actually. 

I'd have Wes in every home game but you could understand if Irvine doesn't want to change it much from Preston.

Saying that I'd like us to actually take control of midfield for once so maybe Tettey / Howson / Dorrans in a 3 whilst losing Wes and deploying a 4-3-2-1....kind of like

 

[morty]

Dorrans was excellent away at Preston. And to be fair to him, Ryan Bennett didn't really do much wrong, so would expect to see him again. Jacob did well too.

Maddison looked lively when he came on, but I didn't see enough of him to judge whether or not he is truly ready. I have heard mixed things from Aberdeen fans.

Some interesting dilemmas for the manager, its a pity we didn't have them all season.

 

[OldRobert]

You were there Morty, I wasn't, but I'd put money on Bennett starting too.

 

[morty]

You were there Morty, I wasn't, but I'd put money on Bennett starting too.

I try not to get caught up in all the scapegoating, and actually judge on what I see with my own eyes. We all know Bennett has his limitations, and who knows, maybe a new manager will get something more out of him? He's a squad filler, and has been for some time now, which can't be easy for a player. 

 

[GJP]

He's a squad filler, and has been for some time now, which can't be easy for a player. 

Beats working for a living.

 

[Fenway Frank]

I may be wrong but can't help feeling that he is happier being a squad player here on 20k a week compared to being a regular at a club like Bristol city on 10-15

 

[ZLF]

Bennett will start,  Dorrans too as he starts packing his bag for Glasgow next season apparently (according to the scottish papers today)  

Hopefully RyBen can go with him,  at his age Bennett is not going to improve,  Having failed to convince 4/5 managers that he is good enough as a starter in the champs and his high wages we should just say thanks and recruit someone who genuinely may improve.   Martin the most likely squad filler of the current CBs for me.

Think a draw is likely,  and a red card.

 

[GJP]

Hopefully RyBen can go with him,  at his age Bennett is not going to improve,  Having failed to convince 4/5 managers that he is good enough as a starter in the champs and his high wages we should just say thanks 

What are we thanking him for? Leaving?

 

[hogesar]

I'd be disappointed to see Dorrans leave and would be sceptical that we could get anyone better at what he does.

 

[morty]

Agree. He is a good option, and I think that our central midfield has got a little bit too comfortable while he was injured. Don't get me wrong, I love Howson, but every player needs someone waiting in the wings to take their place, to just push them on that extra 5%.

 

[GJP]

I like Dorrans but I'm not sure I see him as someone you want as first choice. Great to have in the squad though.

 

[OldRobert]

Team : Ruddy, Pinto, Martin, Bennett, Dijks, Dorrans, Howson, Naismith, Pritchard, Murphy, Oliveira.

Subs: McGovern, Whittaker, Jerome, Hoolahan, Murphy, Tettey, Maddison.

 

[dj161]

strong bench that, plenty of options to change things if we need to, got a good feeling about tonight, gonna go for a 2-1 win for city

 

[Fimbo]

Funny old game. No shots on target but two goals. Like an immaculate conception. We are the special ones. But sadly we were not blessed with a keeper own goal hatrick. Would he have grabbed the ball in celebration?

 

[morty]

I don't even know where to start with this, what an odd game!

Dorrans and Naismith both excellent, Pritchard absolutely ran the show, but it was one of those games where nobody really had a stinker, even Bennett was flawless. You can joke all you like about Brighton had clearly been celebrating all week, but we really did a good job on them, people elsewhere sem to be desperately grasping for negatives, but this was a genuinely good team performance.

And Alan Irvine is really growing on me.

 

[dj161]

Keeping Alan Irvine as part of the backroom team in some capacity certainly seems like the right thing to do, 3 wins from our last 4 and all against top half sides, yes we're playing with no pressure now but credit has to go to him for keeping the players focused when we have nothing to play for, not sure I'd choose him as our permanent manager but would think there is a role here for him, most frustrating thing about this is if we'd got close to the level of the last few games for the majority of the season we'd comfortably be in the top 6

 

[morty]

Apparently the Ipswich fans getting properly upset over this tweet from Bet 365! The "bantz" were terrific last last night, with songs such as "Stockdales on fire, your defence is terrified" and "Oh David Stockdale, he would have scored that"