Match Day Thread Norwich city v Watford

I imagine Watford will come set up for gaining a point and would hope to steal all three from poaching from our passing errors out of defence. Our best bet is to go out gung-ho and press them hard - it is not a night for caution I believe.

 

So hard to call this one. Hoping for good news from DF re: injuries on the mend and a confident team performance to follow. COYY.

 

https://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/norwich-v-watford-mario-vrancic-preview-1-6361939

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Fantastic news Cromer and we'll get the official update at today's presser!!!

 

Vrančić being available is really good news - apparently he was fit last week but then fell ill. I suspect he'll be on the bench and come on as an impact sub.

 

Hoorah - boy, have we missed him.

 

I think the most heartening comment is from the interview with DF: "The gap to the places you want to be is still not too big. Let's stay positive. We have already had some brilliant results and when we get players back we can add the few per cent."

That's much how I see it -- just a few per cent. That's the difference between the usual smoothly running machine and the current mis-firing one, "just a few per cent". We have been worn down by the weight of the injuries we've suffered. Hopefully we'll be in a position to properly restart our season after the international break.

COYY

 

The Watford game has the potential to kick-start our comeback and a win would restore the buoyant mood through the International break.

 

DF

“In general a much better situation,” Farke begins, Vrancic has been training consistently, not 90 mins but in squad “good to have him at least as an option”.

Connor Southwell@cjsouthwell1902

Hanley should be back after the international break and Zimmermann has returned to team training but both are still out.
Both could be options after the international break. #ncfc

Farke adds that Amadou and Cantwell are also fine for the game, happy with how competitive training is at the moment.

Bit of praise for Tettey’s efforts at centre-back too but stresses that’s not where he’ll continue to play, ideally.

 

Pretty good news all round then Cromer - especially re Hanley and Zimmerman!!

 

More from DF:

"The players have to concentrate really hard on passing, even the easy passes. We need to have more physicality, but it's a fine balance between that and sticking to our game. It's normal for young players to struggle with confidence, but a result would help. You always have to improve the smaller details, and those tough times will come, but I think we have prepared well and can get through them."

Well said that man.

https://amp.sportsmole.co.uk/footba...eally-need-result-against-watford_377843.html

 

We do seem a bit of a soft touch, especially in the middle of the park so hopefully Amadou being fit will mean that Tettey can push up to DM to give the midfield some added steel. Steeps also is a physical presence so I'd like to see him start against the Hornets who are a fairly muscular unit.

 

@marktompkins1: Both sides need to dig deep and find some kind of form before they get separated from the rest of the division.
By only spending 22% of matches in the attacking third of the pitch, Norwich's supply line to Teemu Pukki, who made such an impressive start to the season, has been limited as teams get wise to The Canaries' intentions. Find the Finn and hopefully the goals will come.

But then they'll still have to beat Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster, who was superb against Chelsea last week and nearly scored a late equaliser.
This could be a season-defining match for one of these teams under the Carrow Road lights.

Head-to-head

• Norwich have won three of the past four league meetings.
• Watford haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last 12 away league games against Norwich since a goalless top-flight draw in February 1988.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50258123

[Sorry to copy and paste half the article - and then post a link to the
same article...but it seems to be a trend on here lately! ]

 

Also includes this:

LAWRO'S PREDICTION
They are both desperate for a victory for obvious reasons, but I have a sneaky feeling neither of them will get one.

Prediction: 1-1

What? Not another loss Lawro?

 

Steady on with the content lads

 

If we could win tonight then I don't think that we would be far off course from where I would expect. This is only the third home game this season that I would have expected to win, it's been a tough start.

 

I need to get up at 4am for this and scroll through 300 Chinese channels to watch this one if it's even on.

We better bloody well win .

 

Actually Cromer, we're not THAT far away from Palar53 in 9th (OK it's 9 points/3 wins!!), and I tend to agree with the gist of the MFW article Saint points that I posted yesterday.
Having said that, I'm fully expecting that a fair percentage of the fans/supporters will be getting restless if we don't get all 3 points tonight.

 

It will be interesting to see what the atmosphere is like tonight. I am hoping for a rowdy, positive one but there will be a degree of nervous pensiveness around as well I imagine considering the importance of this game.

COYY.

 

W'happen stat fans?