Match Day Thread Norwich Vs Sunderland

Norwich host Sunderland this weekend with Norwich sitting 7th and Sunderland three places and five points worse off in 10th place. There is potential for Norwich to go into the top six if they win and Hull loose. Who will take the Friendship Trophy?



Norwich will still be without leading scorer Jonathan Rowe and will be looking to get back to winning ways. Sunderland seem to be going through a little slump one more game in their slump then I wish them the best the rest of the season, that is, unless we play them in the playoffs. It seems that they are having the injury crisis we had earlier in the season, here are the details: https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor...uled-out-and-two-doubts-photo-gallery-4532990

Form
Norwich DWWDW
Sunderland LLLWD

Let the battle commence, in a friendly way of course

 

They do have a serious list of injured players. Not sure who of those are 1st team regulars.

 

Jack Clarke being out is surely a big miss for them, he is regarded as their young star much like Rowe is for us but with a few years more experience

 

Yes, Sunderland have 7 definite 'outs' and 2 'doubts' to our two 'outs'. Clarke and Dack are the two 'doubts' are would probably be the biggest misses though the other 7 'outs' must severely limit their options, including substitutions. They've lost their last 3 games and only taken 2 points from their last 5 away games. They are also without a manager at the moment. A loss to us could mean their playoff chase is just about over.

WhoScored's preview:

 

Another quality thread Buddy.
Keep the run going

 

If our players there Sainz has the lowest rating, which I find a bit odd.

 

Sainz has 9 sub appearances, mostly as he recovered from injury, and those drag down his total rating. For his 11 starts he has a rating of 6.95, which is his true rating and shows him to be our fourth highest rated player after Sara, Sargent and Rowe. Amazing that we picked him up on a free transfer, compared to someone like the very pricey Rashica. Just as well as the news from the presser isn't good:

• Onel Hernandez out for the season. Broke his foot in training on Wednesday. Further scans required to assess if surgery required
• Marcelino Nunez (hip) not expected to be back until Rotherham game (March 9). Departed in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw against Blackburn.
• Shane Duffy (calf) will not return until after the upcoming international break after a 'routine' scan earlier this week. Suffered the issue in the second half of the Coventry City win.
• Grant Hanley (shin) fit and available for Sunderland after he went off in the closing stages aginast Rovers
• Jon Rowe ruled out until April at the earliest. No surgery required. Suffered a 'serious' hamstring injury in the final minute of a 2-2 Championship draw at QPR

Our squad is now down to 20 players. Hope we don't come to regret letting Placheta go out on loan.

 

Presumably there would be a signing-on bonus of some kind? Also, 6 months later, I wonder how it looks to him now.

 

I'm sure there was a signing on fee but that's still a bargain deal for a 22 year old attacking player. The injury was a setback but he's now a regular starter and improving his attacking and defensive skills all the time, as Wagner has commented on. I'd guess he's pleased with how things have worked out.

 

Or Idah

 

Does that mean we are now down to just Sainz and Fassnacht as wingers until the end of April?

I know DW has stuck Gibbs on the right wing as a sub a few times but that is not his position.

Could we see Sargent shifted to the right and Van Hooijdonk up top, I personally hope not!

 

Giannoulis is an option on the left, and Stacey on the right. Both have experience in those positions.

 

McCallum might also be moved forward if need be. He's shown some good attacking skills when overlapping from LB.

 

Preston's face off with Hull today is a big game for all three of us. If Preston win it, and we beat Sunderland, all three of us will be on 55 points, with us ahead of the other two on goal difference. If Hull win and we lose to Sunderland, the Tigers will move to within a point of West Brom, six points ahead of Preston and ourselves. Big difference hanging on small margins.

 

The margins narrow from here for what will probably be the last playoff place. A win today is a must. Also important that McLean doesn't get booked or he'll have a two match ban.

 

He's been doing a lot of talking recently .........

 

Finley Welch, Ken Aboh and Pedro Lima were all kept out of the U21's 2-3 loss to Boro last night. Aboh could make his second appearance on the bench while Welch could fill the gap left by Onel's injury and Lima that of Núñez.

 

Is there a point when the slate gets wiped clean? Because if not, you could equally argue he’s better off taking the yellow either this match or even against Middlesbrough so that at least he misses games against the weaker sides. Otherwise it’s pretty likely he’s going to get another one at some point - and I think we will want him for every one of the last eight games or so…

 

Actually I’ve found the answer - he’s got to avoid getting to a total of ten yellow cards for the season during our next four matches, then he’s in the clear until the end of the season (unless he gets to fifteen…)

Stats suggest he’s on eight at the moment now, though, not nine?

 

Who was it against a few years ago that Grant Holt was trying to get himself booked so he could have a ban against a lesser side. The ref knew what he was trying and tried not to book him, until he booted the ball away or something and the ref and Holt both smiling booked him and he was promptly substituted off