Match Day Thread Tottenham v Norwich

We go into this way on the back of a 4 game unbeaten run, can we keep the momentum going?

Spurs recent form hasn’t been great, highlighted by an embarrassing loss in the Europa Conference League. Spurs did however beat Brentford by 2 goals to nil on Thursday night after their previous weekends game at Burnley was called off.

No news as yet on whether Norwich’s absentees from Tuesday nights game will be able to return. Normann has been to see a consultant about his pelvic injury but no more information as yet. Rashica sounded more precautionary if anything so hopefully he can return. Cantwell’s covid issues will hopefully be over and he can return to the squad.

The defence is likely to remain the same as Tuesday as will most likely the midfield and Pukki up top. The question marks are really on the wings, for me Tzolis looked good in spells but also very raw at times, if Rashica is fit enough he should come back in. Similarly if Cantwell is fit I believe he comes in for Sargent, although the latters work rate against the ball could be useful with Spurs likely to be playing with wing backs.

Positive vibes!

ON THE BALL CITY!!!

 

Nice one Suffolk and here's hoping yo up can keep your run going!

 

Recent news suggests that both Normann and Rachica will out for Spurs match. Just read it on Newsnow Norwich website as reported in EDP. They are two of our strongest performers in recent matches. A draw would be a good result.

 

Rashica reportedy out for 3-4 weeks!

Normann will most this one but possibly back for the Man Utd game.

Cantwell has submitted a negative covid result and is available again.

 

Yes, missing both again is a blow but at least Normann may be back for ManUtd. Sadly Rashica was just getting into his stride but we still have Dowell and Tzolis and perhaps Cantwell will be on the bench. Given Spurs' strength attacking through the middle, might this be the time to play Sørensen at DM and move Gilmour further forward? Some tough calls for DS.

 

Frustrating regarding Rashica as he was just getting into a real rhythm and I thought he was going to have a match winning performance at some point.

 

When I watched the game V Newcastle when I saw Gilmore I thought wow he's tiny! He's 5 ft 7 in according to wiki, but seemed tiny on the pitch

 

Yep, tough. I wouldn't be surprised to see him try three at the back.

 

Looks about 14yrs old

 

Someone suggested that Kabak could play as a DM which might be more effective against Spurs, although Sørensen could also be used in that role given that he has played as a CB before. It'll be interesting to see what Smith decides.

 

Interesting - is that just a guess based on his quality on the ball? I have checked his online data and it suggests he has played DM only once (in the Bundesliga in 2019 and they lost 6-0!!!)

I would love to see him play a bit more though as I am convinced there is a fairly classy potential gem, but he needs experience and confidence. I also think he was slightly unfairly blamed for some of our defensive frailties (though he was certainly at fault at times).

 

This ^
He was unfortunate in being thrown in at a time when DF appeared more concerned about where our goals were going to come from than how to keep the ball out of our own net. When Kabak and Normann signed we thought that was the defence sorted -- a quality CB with PL experience at Liverpool last season, and a Norwegian international DM filling the hole left by Ollie Skipp. Instead of which we saw both players belting forward at virtually any opportunity with "get forward" clearly imprinted on their minds. As for his being at fault at times, it's not as if the players keeping him out of the team are exactly blameless .........

 

"Belting forward at virtually any opportunity" is way overstating it Robbie. Kabak did make a couple of amazing runs dribbling past opposing defenders and even earning a free-kick on the edge of the area. He was thrown in too quickly though and did make mistakes defensively, but he's a good player and needs more game time to adjust. He's not playing at the moment because we're on a four match unbeaten run and Hanley and Gibson's partnership has been an important part of that, as DS has acknowledged.

At DM, Normann has been our best player since he arrived and differs from Skipp in that he's excellent on both sides of the ball. Skipp was excellent on the defensive side of his role, but far more limited in support of the attack. Skipp would be unlikely to have scored the goal which led us to beat Brentford and begin the unbeaten run we're now on. Normann doesn't 'belt forward', but uses his passing skills to support attacks, create goalscoring chances and scoring himself, all things that Skipp rarely managed, though, like Normann, he is good at breaking up attacks. It would be interesting to see them on opposing sides, but that is not to be.

 

Poetic licence, Rick

 

Hyperbole more like (ie. "obvious and intentional exaggeration")

 

Can be a wonderfully effective figure of speech for anyone with a point to make

 

Transfermarkt suggests that Kabak has been ill for November. I don’t remember that ever being announced? Am I wrong to think he was dropped?

 

Glandular fever, I believe. It was mentioned at one of the press conferences if I remember correctly.

Edit: https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwich-city/illness-keeps-ncfc-defender-out-of-turkey-action-8469894

 

Been in training since Wednesday apparently.

Michael Bailey expects an unchanged starting XI from Newcastle. I guess Sargent makes sense for his work against the ball.

 

It can be in poetry and fiction, but it is simply a distortion of the truth and deliberately misleading when used in analytical discussions. Stick to the facts Robbie.