Assuming that we can take eleven points from our final ten games Swansea need 21 ( 2.1 per game) and Brentford 23 ( 2.3 per game). We are approaching the point where it becomes virtually impossible to be caught by two teams below us.
And Watford have to play both in the last two games of the season. I can see no permutation, short of total catastrophe, where we end in the playoffs.
Last night certainly makes promotion look even more likely and a win tonight would increase that tenfold. Add a win on Saturday at home to Blackburn and we would surely have made promotion a near certainty. Swansea's extra match last week seemed to take a toll last night and they, like Brentford, still have another game in hand to fit in.
Another article on the potential impact Dowell could have in the run in and beyond, summed up by this: "Dowell glides effortlessly with the ball and offers a very attractive option moving forward. He also has a decent strike in his locker, which is key for a successful No.10. When he came on as sub on Sunday just after the hour mark, he showed what he can do and his introduction at Hillsborough coincided with City's huge improvement after a frustrating first half. Dowell looked as if he had lots to prove with a display combining positivity, energy and guile." It would be great if he could get a run of games now to show what he can do. https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/kieran-dowell-can-complete-norwich-city-jigsaw-7825606
Whilst I agree with this. The way we play tires other teams out. Also Dowell came on near to when Rhodes went off, so for me there are other factors in play.
We all know from previous experience that you always have to consider the worst case possible which to us at the minute is two of the three Clubs beneath us winning all of their remaining games. The most any of them can get is 99 points but as they have to play each other only one of them can achieve that so the other Clubs can only get 96 points max. This is not likely to happen but even if it did we could not lose automatic promotion with 97 points which is 6 wins from our last 10 games. Looks easy so why am I still worried?
Well put, NFC. I'm still worried, too. Reading the article yesterday about how many players we could be missing for Preston, makes that one sound like a difficult game. https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/norwich-city-preston-north-end-frustrations-7827114
I think we actually need 98 at the moment, because Watford & Swans can theoretically get 99. However, Watford play Swans, so possibly both of them could get 97 (in which case, depending on goal difference, we might need 98). If there's a clear result, then one of them has only 96, but Brentford could still get to 97. However, it would have to be Swansea who got to 99 because Brentford can only get to 97 if they also beat Watford. I think - if I'm right - that if Watford beat Swansea and then go on to get to 99, then Brentford could only get to 94. Unlike Robbie, I am not very mathematical. Am I correct? (OK, I know it's all irrelevant anyway because the chances of all three teams winning all their remaining matches - other than those against each other - is virtually zero.) This is the kind of pointless speculation you indulge in when your team is top of the league and within touching distance of promotion.
There was a club consultancy with international fan groups today, few interesting bits came out of it: Club will be offering international memberships which make access to games for overseas fans easier. Pre-season will remain in Germany for as long as Farke is manager. IFollow is being ditched after this season, to be replaced with an in-house alternative. New kit supplier next season.
Who is on international duty in the next 10 days or so? From what I know and it may not be the definitive list, the following: Krul (Holand), Aarons (England U21), Hanley (Scotland), Gianouliss (Greece injured?), Skipp (England U21), McClean (Scotland), Pukki (Finland), Placheta (Poland), Hernandez (Cuba) and Sorensen (Denmark).