The official "Norwich City to 40 points and Premier League safety" thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

Here is the place, to discuss all of Norwich's results this season, on our quest to reach that 40 point mark, and Premier League safety.

It starts on the 18th of August away to Fulham, and finishes away to Man City sometime in May

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Big game for villa on Saturday.
Norwich tails will be up after that result and the fact of lambert.

If we lose this then I struggle to think where our next points will come from.
Sunderland a
Man utd h
Man city a
Arsenal h
Next four games after Norwich.

I fear you lot next Saturday tbh. I hope we can rise to the occasion, but I just have a bad feeling about the whole thing in general.

You could get something from those four games tbf, I mean we got 3 points from Newcastle (a), Liverpool and Arsenal (h) and Chelsea (a). I would have snapped someones hand off at that before that run of games

[Amy]

Phil Dowd has been appointed referee for Aston Villa v Norwich City on 27/10/12.

[spencerclarke]

Not all united fans r hoping you go down. It won't be easy though. Holt will be key for the rest of the season. Great result v arsenal by the way. Best of luck for the rest of the season

[westisbest]

Whats your prediction olly?

1-0 Villa for me, tight game, with few chances

[GSC]

Wards off to Forest

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Whats your prediction olly?

1-0 Villa for me, tight game, with few chances

I have a bad feeling about this. I think Villa will probably win tbh. I would snap your hand off at a point

[Dave.]

You know, if Holt keeps scoring, Norwich will stay up.

[The genius of PBF]

Norwich will be relegated...mark my words

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I will bring this up in May when we are safe then PBF...

[The genius of PBF]

I will bring this up in April when it is mathematically impossible to survive.

[guildfordbat]

Olly - saw end of the first half and all the second on SKY. I thought you went one down when you were on top of the game . Anyway, your boys battled back well.

I do like Holt - he's got a football brain. A couple of decent headers across the face of the goal which was the best option both times given the angle although many other strikers would have tried unsuccessfully for the target.

Probably most importantly, your defence seems to have calmed down and lost its wobbles. None of the three teams which were relegated from the Premier League last season were the lowest goalscorers by any means. However, they were the three teams that conceded the most goals. Perhaps something to keep in mind as you seek to prove The genius of PBF wrong ....

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Olly - saw end of the first half and all the second on SKY. I thought you went one down when you were on top of the game . Anyway, your boys battled back well.

I do like Holt - he's got a football brain. A couple of decent headers across the face of the goal which was the best option both times given the angle although many other strikers would have tried unsuccessfully for the target.

Probably most importantly, your defence seems to have calmed down and lost its wobbles. None of the three teams which were relegated from the Premier League last season were the lowest goalscorers by any means. However, they were the three teams that conceded the most goals. Perhaps something to keep in mind as you seek to prove The genius of PBF wrong ....

Hughton has made a big effort to improve the defence, because the matter of fact was that last year we conceded too many goals. And I think us having the same number of clean sheets after 8 games this season as we did the whole of last year is a sign he is doing that well.

The encouraging thing for me is that we are still creating chances, although we need to start converting them more often. Hoolahan has become a great player for us, although we need more people from midfield to start scoring, the likes of Bennett/Hoolahan/Pilkington etc etc

[Crimey]

I think Norwich will be in a similar position for the next few years as Wigan have been, in which every year they are tipped to go down and every year they just about manage to stay up.

[Duty281]

Norwich will survive, they'll finish around 15th/16th. Unlike most of the other teams in a similar position, Norwich have a quality goalkeeper and a proven goalscorer up front.

[Guest]

Villa at home in the quarters in the League Cup. Good opportunity to make the semis for Norwich.

[The genius of PBF]

I see Norwich fluked a win over spurs...Now spurs know how United feel when they beat us.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Fluked a win? Get over yourself PBF

We beat them when they had the likes of Bale, Dempsey, Lloris, Walker, Dawson playing! We made 10 changes to our team! We beat em with pretty much our reserve side!

Great draw for us Freek! If only you went to Wembley at the semis of the league cup also lol

[westisbest]

Villa at home in the quarters in the League Cup. Good opportunity to make the semis for Norwich.

And for Villa.


I feel this is our year.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Depends how seriously Lambert is taking it. I remember thinking last year was our year in the FA Cup thrn he put out a second string side against Leicester and we lost. So gitted cos we were two games from Wembley

[Smirnoffpriest]

From what I heard it was Villa who fluked a win not Norwich - I'm glad their doing well at the moment and hopefully they'll finish around mid-table or just below...

[westisbest]

Lambert will play similar team to the one that beat Swindon.
Few changes from league team, Given coming in for Guzan, Bannan coming in, Holman on the bench etc.

Not sure how we fluked a win.
Was a hard fought win, Swindon could well have won.

Pleased that Benteke scored a couple, hope now he can push on and bang a few more in.
Only 21.

Starting against Sunderland and our old mate MON.

[Smirnoffpriest]

Yeah that's what I meant West - I heard that it was a hard fought game, Swindon had more possession, either side could have won it and a last minute goal won it for the Prem side over the League 1 side. I was saying it was more fluky than the Norwich win rather than anything else.

[westisbest]

Ah ok.

Thier keeper saved a pen I think. (Norwich).

Be a tough game for us, all of them are for us.

Have to concentrate on the league now till the quarters come around.
Have a tough month ahead.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I must admit I like Benteke and think he is a real prospect!

What are your thoughts on Bent West? I think he just isn't a Lambert type of player, as he doesn't really offer much else apart from goals. I'm glad to see Lambert is still keeping his wits about him, as he dropped Holt at the start of last season and it worked in the end, so he isn't afraid of making the big decisions

[westisbest]

I like Bent.
Frustrating for him not to be starting, new manager comes in and now he's on the bench.

The thing with Benteke is, that Lambert signed him, so I dont think he was ever going to be on the bench for long.

Bent is a decent player, just doesnt run around enough for me. OK not getting great service, but you still need to track back at times.

the 2 of them up front would be interesting.
Lambert has his preference. You never really know what goes on in training etc.

Lambert may feel Benteke looks shaper etc.
If Benteke can carry on to do well, then Bent isnt a bad option to come off the bench, but the longer he's a sub the more frustrated he'll become.
Come january he'll be looking for the exit door.

[Smirnoffpriest]

Yeah it would be a big shame for you if Bent left, and I imagine you'd lose a lot of money you can't afford if he did

[Guest]

Great draw for us Freek! If only you went to Wembley at the semis of the league cup also lol

I love the two legged format myself. There's been some great Semi's in the League Cup over the years because of this.

[The genius of PBF]

Olly

Dempsey, Dawson and Lloris are not first team players...You have to admit they outplayed you and should of won.

Seeing as how Chelsea cheated to win yesterday I will be rooting for Norwich to win the league cup.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I wouldn't say they outplayed us by much PBF, because if they did they would have won.

Lloris is the french captain lol. I don't understand why Spurs signed him just as Freidel was proving himself to be the top keeper he is. Lloris must be getting angry sitting on the bench behind him

[Amy]

How did they outplay us PBF?
Were you there or watch the game to make a true judgment?

[The genius of PBF]

Friedel is getting old and he is slow to come off his line and his reflexes are slow as well.

They signed Lloris because his price was low and none of big clubs were interested in another keeper...Plus they would need one next season as Friedel would be gone so they were planning ahead.

Would you rather you won the league cup and gone down or stay up and win nothing?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Friedel is getting old and he is slow to come off his line and his reflexes are slow as well.

They signed Lloris because his price was low and none of big clubs were interested in another keeper...Plus they would need one next season as Friedel would be gone so they were planning ahead.

Would you rather you won the league cup and gone down or stay up and win nothing?

That is one hell of a dilemma. Because I would love to win something, just so I could be there and celebrate it. But then I wouldnt want to do a Birmingham. I would rather win the league cup and stay up

[The genius of PBF]

Amy

I watched the whole 90 min highlights and I thought Spurs were the better side.

[Amy]

Remember though PBF, there were 10 changes in our team, with most of those playing very limited ammounts of competitive football thus far in the season.

[spencerclarke]

Impressive result today. Not a bad couple of weeks for you guys

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Yes we need to keep this form going for as long as possible. To be honest I dont personally think we are playing that great at the moment but the results are coming and thats what is important

[spencerclarke]

You are tightening up which is the main thing after leaking all those goals early on. Two or three keys players seem to be finding their feet. As a result I feel come may you will have accumulated enough points. Having said that villa were my big tip to go down and they got a massive result yesterday

[guildfordbat]

Olly - not a feast of football yesterday judging by the brief MOTD highlights. However, a valuable result and, as Spencer suggests, your defence is showing increasing signs of getting its house in order.

Also, I understand you wanting 40 points to feel safe but doubt you'll need that many ....

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Olly - not a feast of football yesterday judging by the brief MOTD highlights. However, a valuable result and, as Spencer suggests, your defence is showing increasing signs of getting its house in order.

Also, I understand you wanting 40 points to feel safe but doubt you'll need that many ....

It wasn't the greatest game ever Guildford no, but then I wasn't expecting it to be to be honest. A good win for us indeed, and Hughton seems to have got the defence sorted out. The signings of Garrido, Bassong and Tettey seem to be inspired ones so far.

As for the 40 points, I do understand where you are coming from. It's all relative. Like I said earlier you could lose 5 games in a row and still be outside the relegation zone or you could get 6 points from 9 and be in the relegation zone. Just need to be above 18th come May and we will be in a great position to establish ourselves as a Premier League Club as we will be debt free come that time

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Jacob Butterfield has gone on a one month loan to Bolton.

Good move for him, will allow him to get back into first team football and come back to hopefully try and challenge for a place in the first team

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Norwich City FC ‏@NorwichCityFC
#NCFC XI to play @ReadingFC - Ruddy; Whittaker, Bassong, Turner, Garrido; Johnson, Tettey, Pilkington, Snodgrass; Hoolahan; Holt (c)

Norwich City FC ‏@NorwichCityFC
#NCFC subs - Bunn, Howson, Jackson, Morison, E. Bennett, Tierney, R. Bennett. City are unchanged from the side that beat Stoke

Norwich City FC ‏@NorwichCityFC
.@ReadingFC XI to play #NCFC - Federici, Gunter, Shorey, Leigertwood, Hunt, McAnuff (c), McCleary, Morrison, Tabb, Gorkss, Roberts

Norwich City FC ‏@NorwichCityFC
.@ReadingFC subs - Taylor, Mariappa, Pogrebnyak, Le Fondre, Kebe, Robson-Kanu, Cummings

[guildfordbat]

Olly - I would guess you have mixed feelings after yesterday. Another clean sheet and an away point anywhere aren't to be sneezed at. However, another ''not the greatest game of football ever'' and a chance gone to move further away from the bottom three.

Anyway, a good challenge almost certainly coming up for your defence next week - Man Utd ....

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I will take a point away from home every day of the week guildford to be honest.

4 clean sheets in 11 games now, and the goals will start to come soon. We need the likes of Hoolahan, Snodgrass and Pilkington to start chipping in with goals now.

But yesterday we didn't play our best, but we were solid enough at the back to take a point. Last season if we had played badly in a game like that we probably would have lost due to our defensive issues

[The genius of PBF]

So we are playing Norwich next week?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

You are indeed PBF! And I fully expect you to win also

In other news Chris Martin gone on loan to Swindon. Good riddance

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

So we are playing Norwich next week?

HOW DID THAT GO PBF?

[guildfordbat]

Olly - well, I really didn't see that result coming. There again, neither did you last week!

To be fair, you did say that the likes of Pilkington needed to start chipping in with a few goals - he didn't let you down yesterday, lovely header.

Some good saves from Ruddy but credit to your defence as well for not letting United get that many shots in. From MOTD highlights, the win seemed deserved.

Anyway, 26 more points to reach your target. I know you'll settle for one next week at Goodison ....

[guildfordbat]

Btw, Olly - nothing to do with the football but my daughter commented that, ''Snodgrass is a horrible name.'' Hard to argue with that.

[Guest]

Btw, Olly - nothing to do with the football but my daughter commented that, ''Snodgrass is a horrible name.'' Hard to argue with that.

I agree! It's almost as bad as the name Fleming!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Olly - well, I really didn't see that result coming. There again, neither did you last week!

To be fair, you did say that the likes of Pilkington needed to start chipping in with a few goals - he didn't let you down yesterday, lovely header.

Some good saves from Ruddy but credit to your defence as well for not letting United get that many shots in. From MOTD highlights, the win seemed deserved.

Anyway, 26 more points to reach your target. I know you'll settle for one next week at Goodison ....

I doubt we'll get anything at Goodison next week, especially considering they are coming off a loss! The win was more than deserved, Utd were very bad, but we took advantage well! I love that we can keep clean sheets now!

Btw, Olly - nothing to do with the football but my daughter commented that, ''Snodgrass is a horrible name.'' Hard to argue with that.

You leave Snoddy out of this Guildford

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