Norwich City vs AFC Bournemouth (Away) Saturday 19th October

[morty]

Good news that Alex Tettey, Onel, Tim Krul and Vrancic are all back in training, though it remains to be seen if this game comes a bit soon for them. Have seen a few starting to falter and hint that we need to start adapting our game a bit. Personally once we have defenders fit I think we will tighten up a bit, but I don't see us going anywhere and parking buses, Farke will stick to his philosophies.

Saw sneaking hints that Zimbo could be back sooner than expected but wouldn't read much into that just now. No sign of Hanley in training, so assume the side won't look much different from last time out. McClean and Cantwell with drew from internationals, lets hop they were just precautions.

 

[Din]

I actually have a scoop for once, which is that Cantwell personally told me he should be fine for Saturday haha. He came into the cinema I work in during the week so I took the opportunity to have a chat with him. Really nice guy for what it's worth. Certainly went better than the last time I had a chat with a footballer who came into my cinema where I told Trybull that he played well on Saturday even though he was an unused sub for the game

But yeah, getting at least a couple of the injured players back would be a huge boost. Almost certainly too early for Onel and maybe Vrancic too to start, but hopefully Krul, Trybull and Tettey can all play a part.

This is gonna be a really tough game, and it's hard to see us getting anything from it unfortunately. The good news is though I have to miss the 2nd half through work and last time I stopped watching a Norwich game early was when I left at 3-1 down in the 85th minute against Nottingham Forest (also due to work) and we ended up drawing 3-3. So with that in mind I have no doubt we'll put in the best 2nd half performance in our history. But nah in all seriousness if we can get something here and pick up our first away points of the season it'd be a great result and would right some of the wrongs from the Villa game.

Team I'd go for:

Krul
Aarons Amadou Godfrey Lewis
Trybull Tettey
Buendia Roberts Cantwell
Pukki

Subs: McGovern, Byram, McLean, Vrancic, Leitner, Stiepermann, Drmic
​

That's assuming everyone on there is fit at least. I imagine one of Leitner or McLean will probably start, but I just think with our front 4 we have more than enough attacking threat that in games like this away from home we can afford to go with 2 more defensive minded holding midfielders. Plus the lightweight-ness of Leitner and McLean is a big part of why we've shipped so many goals recently. Tettey and Trybull would undoubtedly make us much more solid in that regard, which is something we desperately need to be. I said as well after Villa that Stiepermann needs to be dropped, and I'd still like to see that happen and Roberts given a go.

 

[Number 9]

Not sure if Hanley is fit but surely the argument still stands for Hanley in defence and Amadou +Leitner in midfield.

 

[morty]

Not sure if Hanley is fit but surely the argument still stands for Hanley in defence and Amadou +Leitner in midfield.

Definitely with you on that one.

 

[OldRobert]

Me too, but I doubt Hanley is fit.....................regretfully, no training, no fit.

 

[morty]

Me too, but I doubt Hanley is fit.....................regretfully, no training, no fit.

There was a young centre back on the bench last game. I wonder if Farke will spring a surprise....

 

[Fenway Frank]

There was a young centre back on the bench last game. I wonder if Farke will spring a surprise....

I went to Oxford, he isn’t the answer based on that match

 

[OldRobert]

I went to Oxford, he isn’t the answer based on that match

Down to you then.

 

[GJP]

Don't get beat.

 

[Shyster]

Not sure if Hanley is fit but surely the argument still stands for Hanley in defence and Amadou +Leitner in midfield.

Always pleased to be proved wrong because it seldom if ever happens so comes as a nice surprise when it does, but all I witness when Hanley starts is goals for the opposition.

Yes, we need to field a DM in front of the back four and I'm looking forward to seeing what Amadou can do there, but it has to be a centre-half fielding of either Godfrey, Klose or Zimmermann for that to happen.

Goes without saying that we should've strengthened in defense last summer.

And the season before..

And especially the one before that.

 

[Shyster]

By the way, Godfrey is going to be an outstanding DMC in the future

 

[morty]

Always pleased to be proved wrong because it seldom if ever happens so comes as a nice surprise when it does, but all I witness when Hanley starts is goals for the opposition.

Yes, we need to field a DM in front of the back four and I'm looking forward to seeing what Amadou can do there, but it has to be a centre-half fielding of either Godfrey, Klose or Zimmermann for that to happen.

Goes without saying that we should've strengthened in defense last summer.

And the season before..

And especially the one before that.

I think though, to be fair, looking at the 4 CB's before the season started, Klose, Zimmermann, Godfrey and Hanley, you would be mostly happy with that. First choice pairing would switch between the first three, with Hanley only for dire emergencies. You are always going to struggle to keep 4 CB's, who all expect to be starters, happy. To have two long term injuries to two centre halves really has been pretty unlucky. Things would have been a lot different with Zimbo and big Ben at CB with Amadou in front of them.

 

[Number 9]

Always pleased to be proved wrong because it seldom if ever happens so comes as a nice surprise when it does, but all I witness when Hanley starts is goals for the opposition.

Yes, we need to field a DM in front of the back four and I'm looking forward to seeing what Amadou can do there, but it has to be a centre-half fielding of either Godfrey, Klose or Zimmermann for that to happen.

Goes without saying that we should've strengthened in defense last summer.

And the season before..

And especially the one before that.

I agree that Hanley is not the best player in the Premier League, but if he's the last fit defender, he'll be better with Amadou in front of him.
I just see it being a stronger set up than Amadou in defence with very little screen in front.
We know Farke is unlikely to change much though

 

[dj161]

I just find it bizarre how Amadou looked phenomenal in that role against Man City one of the best teams in the world, but has looked worse than average since then against the likes of Burnley and Villa, the sooner we get some defenders back and can get him into midfield the better, though my gut says he'll be playing there for a few more weeks yet

 

[GJP]

I just find it bizarre how Amadou looked phenomenal in that role against Man City one of the best teams in the world, but has looked worse than average since then against the likes of Burnley and Villa, the sooner we get some defenders back and can get him into midfield the better, though my gut says he'll be playing there for a few more weeks yet

Well it's about teams that have big units upfront and a certain style of play.

 

[dj161]

team news from the press conference

Tim Krul is fit and will play
Kenny McLean, Todd Cantwell and Max Aarons are all fine
Sam Byram has recovered from his ankle injury
Alex Tettey is fit and is ready to play
Onel Hernandez will travel, but isn't ready for a full 90 minutes
Tom Trybull will travel but isn't ready to start
Ben Godfrey had a hernia op but is fit to travel (doesn't say if he's set to start but I hope so)
Grant Hanley has had groin surgery and is out for 7-8 weeks
Jamal Lewis is fine to play
Mario Vrancic is back in team training but is still 2-3 weeks away from returning
Ralf Fahrmann won't travel

looking much more positive than it has for a while, with the exception of Hanley being ruled out for two more months, so it seems it'll be Godfrey and Amadou in the centre until xmas I'd assume, unless Zimbo makes a early return

I'd imagine we'll lineup like this

Krul
Aarons Amadou Godfrey Lewis
Tettey Leitner
Buendia Steipermann Cantwell
Pukki​

subs - McGovern, Byram, Heise, Trybull, McLean, Hernandez, Drmic
maybe Pat Roberts on the bench for Heise, also Srbeny could be on there, we actually have some options now

 

[Fenway Frank]

Patrick Roberts playing in U23’s at West Brom tonight, he’ll be back in Manchester after Christmas won’t he ?

 

[dj161]

it's amazing how we've had so few options the past month or so and he still can't get a game, must be an awful trainer or had some kind of falling out with Farke, Man City paid £12m for him when he was a teenager and he can't get a game for us when we've had 10 players out injured, I'd be amazed if he was with us after the January window

also he was the first player we signed this summer so must of had some plans for him at some point

 

[OldRobert]

Man City would pay £12m for a cleaner, so he's obviously useless.

 

[Din]

To be fair I've been one of those people that has been saying he should come in for Stiepermann for a little while now. However, literally yesterday I had a conversation with someone (the same person who told me that Adam Idah would be involved with the first team this season),and was told that as poorly as Stiepermann has been playing, he will undoubtedly give 100% every week, something that Farke isn't convinced Roberts will do.

Was also told he's not the only one in the squad whose attitude Farke isn't impressed with *cough* Phil Heise *cough*