Kick off Saturday 18th October 2021 15:00 Head to head Games won: 42 Games drawn: 29 Games lost: 31 Biggest margin 6-1 win 1984 The last time Norwich came back from a goal down to win in the Premier League . A run of 42 games going back to 2016 . A monkey we need to remove from our back if we have any serious ambitions of staying in this league. So here we are again back at Carrow Road in front of a full house. Not the best start to the season but improvements over the last 2 games that were decided by very fine margins . I have stats regarding our form in the Premier league and current run of results but I won't depress everyone with that again . Watford started the season with a 3-2 win against Villa but have lost the last 3 games failing to score so it could be a cagey game with 2 misfiring teams. Much has been talked about the long awaited centre back and defensive minded midfielder positions . Turkish International Kabak and Norwegian International Normann will possibly be getting their debuts in the yellow and green this Saturday, after joining us on loan with the option to buy before the transfer window recently slammed shut. USA International forward Sargent was not available for the trip to Arsenal but may be in the squad , Giannoulis another that missed out with Injury. Greek team mate Tzolis played the first half and seems to have come through unscathed. There will be lots of tough decisions for Farke as he tries to find his best combination for this unforgiving league, as Omobamidele was excellent on his first premier league start as was the young on loan Manchester United left back Williams. Tzolis showed that he can get back and defend too which is promising and will be battling with Cantwell for those wide positions along with Dowell who started last game. I also expect Rashica to start as he was brilliant when he came on and perhaps Idah will get more than a few minutes at the end to see what he can do as Pukki looks a bit out of sorts. Ironically Watford was one of two games I was entrusted to write match day threads last season and I get them again , but hopefully we rill get a result and get this season going as we sit bottom without a point. I would like to see a line up similar to this Watford set up like this last game against Wolves, I'm not being disrespectful but I don't recognise many of their players other than Sissoko but I'm assuming they are mainly big physical lumps that like to get stuck in . So we will have to match them at the less glamorous side of the game , it would probably suit Idah and try to get crosses In , which is not our usual game .
That 2016 game was the last time we've taken a point off Watford, which doesn't bode well. Watford have lined up so far in a 4-3-3 which looks similar to Farke's new formation, with defensively capable and physical midfielders. If we're going to match them up formation-wise, we can't afford to have that midfield overpowered. Surely Normann and Gilmour have to come into the side?
As soon as the fixtures came out this looked like a crunch game for us, and results haven't changed that perception. It's far too early in the season to say that failing to win dooms us, but it is important that there are at least signs that we have learned how to cope with this kind of hardened, streetwise, physical team who can churn out results even if they don't look pleasing on the eye. Last time round, we got almost zero points from the likes of this kind of opponent, and Watford doubled us last year in the Champs. We can't just be lightweight and pretty again; we must have some steel in there. Good post to set up the thread, Duncan. Really hoping you get the chance to make another one next week.
Yes, very good match thread post , Dunc. Also hoping you get the chance to make another next week. We need a run of results to get over our tough start. I'd choose the same line-up, perhaps, but Lees-Melou might be a better choice than Gilmour for the physicality of Watford and I'd stick to the 4-3-3 formation with McLean helping Williams cope with the dangerous Sarr. With the likes of Tzolis, Sargent, Idah, Rupp, Sørensen, Gibson and Kabak, DF has a quality bench to draw on as well. OTBC!
I saw a funny comment after the Arsenal loss. Comparing us to the Invincibles where they went a season without losing but in reverse The Vincibles an entire season without a win. Relying on points against Watford is not usually very likely in recent memory.
Watford have committed more fouls than any other Premier League side this season (53). Might swing it for Dowell to start again.
Sorry Frustration For Farke The Canaries’ boss, Daniel Farke, has lost all of his four league meetings with Watford. It’s the German’s worst loss rate (100%) against a single opponent in English league football https://www.watfordfc.com/news/stats-buzz-norwich-in-numbers This is uncomfortable reading
Yes, four losses out of four meetings, against three different Watford managers as well. And if we lose this time, there won't even be Troy Deeney to blame
We must have 100% loss rates against one or two other clubs under Farke? Chelsea and Arsenal? I guess maybe haven’t played them four times though. EDIT: no, I couldn’t be more wrong. Lost three drawn one against Arsenal (three PL games and a League Cup match). Lost two and drawn two against Chelsea (though the two draws count as an overall loss as we went out in the FA Cup on penalties). We have however played three, lost three against Liverpool.
Chelsea and Arsenal didn't get relegated ergo we played Watford in both divisions losing all of them. We didn't get the chance to play Chelsea or Arsenal last season. There are other teams like Liverpool who he has a 100% loss rate but not as many times as Watford.
https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/important-update-on-covid-19-certification Worth a read if you are attending Saturday
Those seem to be very reasonable measures by the PL with a variety of ways to meet the criteria. This is not the government, but the PL's measures to insure fans can attend matches. Does anybody really want to go back to empty stadium football matches?
Thanks for this Bure. I'm heading up Saturday and hadn't seen this. More than happy to provide what's required - even if it is only voluntary. I definitely want to keep attending games and if this means we can, then I'm hopeful people will be happy to comply.
I had my second vaccination in March and booking my booster shot next month . I won't really feel safe around the double vaccinated until everyone else has their boosters too .