Written by billythekid
After witnessing the depressing defeat against Watford a side that was just below us in a relegation spot, our fans must be wondering if it can get any worse. The answer might be answered in our next game when we play in East Anglia against the side that is rock bottom (like our confidence) Norwich City (the Canaries). The Canaries were flying high last season and finished being on top of the Championship tree. This season they have fallen and are on the bottom branch of the Premier League. Norwich City have never really found their place between the Championship and the Premier League. They have flown up and down these two leagues over the last nine seasons like a yo-yo. Norwich C are 6 points adrift of 19th AFCB. This is a must-win game for our team, it would lift some of the pressure off our manager, who has done so much for this club.
Their manager over the last few seasons is the German Daniel Farke. In the January transfer window so far, Norwich have brought in two German midfielders, Lukas Rupp from Hoffenheim with reports in Germany for an initial fee of 500,000 Euros and Ondrej Duda from Hertha Berlin on loan.
Since our 0-0 draw at Dean Court against Norwich City in the Premier League, the Canaries have W 1, D 4, L 8. At Carrow Road they have drawn with three London clubs, Arsenal and Spurs 2-2 and Crystal Palace 1-1. They have lost to Manchester U 1-3, Watford 0-2, Sheffield U and Wolves 1-2. Away they beat Everton 0-2, drawn with Leicester City 1-1. Lost to Brighton 2-0, Southampton 2-1, Aston Villa 1-0 and most recently Manchester United 4-0. So Norwich C have been scoring goals at home and away. In their last two home games, they have scored and conceded 3 goals, both in draws. The Cherries have scored none and conceded 6 in two away defeats.
The last time AFCB played at Carrow Road was our first season in the Premier League, the Cherries lost 3-1. In all our away games against the Canaries AFCB have W 10, D 7, L 12. In all competitions, AFCB have W19, D 16, L 23.
Norwich v AFCB
Norwich Win
Draw
AFCB Win
Norwich C Team News
Teemu Pukki their prolific striker has been out with a slight hamstring strain but will be back on Saturday according to his manager. Also likely to be available is Grant Hanley who has been out ill. Ben Godfrey has been out with a knee injury. Josip Drmic has been out with a thigh injury. Timm Klose is more long term with a knee injury.
Norwich C Player To Watch
Emiliano BuendÃa the Argentine midfield player has 7 assists this season, of which 4 were to Teemu Pukki who has scored 9 and their leading scorer and also has 3 assists. Todd Cantwell another player in midfield with 6 goals.
AFCB Team News
With the return of Nathan Ake and Adam Smith, you would have thought our injury list had decreased. But before the game against Watford we found out our first choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale would be missing through injury. Junior Stanislas who had only just returned after a time out was out injured again. Without any news from the club, our only point of possible information is from the injury website. That indicates the possible availability of three players being available this weekend, Jefferson Lerma who took a knock to the knee during the Watford game, Aaron Ramsdale and missing so far this season our signing from Bristol City Lloyd Kelly. Arnaut Danjuma is a few days behind them, so probably not ready yet, but we have had surprise returns before.
AFCB Player To Watch
We need someone who can get the ball through to feed our forwards and Andrew Surman in midfield, even playing against lesser opposition in Luton Town in the cup game, he made that happen. If chosen, he will be playing against his previous club.
Your say…
NWCherries98 wrote…
I don’t think Norwich are a terrible team by any means; they have the banzai approach we used to have, only they’re not as good. They create chances against most teams, so I can’t imagine we’ll be getting anything from this game unless we sort out the attack. Playing the counterattacking stuff we’ve been attempting this season would probably work tbh, but I’m sick of seeing it now.
What I wouldn’t give for an exciting 4-2 win or something similar. – Join the conversation, click here.
