Saints vs Norwich - Wednesday 1945

[SuperSAINT]

Nice to be back home - Really tricky game, IMO.

[Toussaint]

The atmosphere should be good.

[Lighthouse]

After the trip to CR we bemoaned our side getting beaten by a crap team in the relegation zone. With hindsight, that game was basically the start of an absolutely monstrous run of form from them, which would comfortably have them in the playoffs extrapolated over the whole season. Won’t be easy.

 

[markr27]

Can probably forsee Edozie coming in for one of Jander or Bragg - but no-one else sticks out based on today - maybe Fellows for Matsuki if he's knackered?

[Turkish]

Since I predicted we’d never lose again we are unbeaten. 

[SuperSAINT]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

After the trip to CR we bemoaned our side getting beaten by a crap team in the relegation zone. With hindsight, that game was basically the start of an absolutely monstrous run of form from them, which would comfortably have them in the playoffs extrapolated over the whole season. Won’t be easy.

 

I looked up their recent form earlier - it’s absolutely mental isn’t it?

[Saint Fan CaM]

If ever there was a must win game it’s this one - it’s the chance to really show our credentials to mount a serious challenge for the play-off places. Lose or even draw and it could put a big dent in those ambitions. The injuries are mounting and I think it’ll be too much. 1-1.

[skintsaint]

13 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

The injuries are mounting and I think it’ll be too much. 1-1.

They got a couple of injuries today, and apparently 2nd half PNE were the dominant team going off their forums. Think we will win 2-0.

[Vancouver Saint]

Should be a really good game. They' are on an amazing run of form but so are we. We have the best home form atm - they are 4th in away form. Althought this has a draw written all over it, I think we'll reverse the score from the away fixture: 2-1  to the Saints. 

[sfc4prem]

Seem to have kept a few clean sheets along the way. It'll be a tough game, but I said West Brom would be a walkover, and that I was worried for today's game - look how they panned out.

Basically, I can't predict football games for toffee.

[Football Special]

19 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

Seem to have kept a few clean sheets along the way. It'll be a tough game, but I said West Brom would be a walkover, and that I was worried for today's game - look how they panned out.

Basically, I can't predict football games for toffee.

It will be a tough game, from what I've seen of Norwich recently they're very steady defensively, get the ball forward quickly when attacking on the break, won 9 of last 11. Big challenge , going to need to take our chances. 

Massive game 

[Saint86]

Hard game this one. Win it and i think play offs are ours.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

I have booked in a win for this one, so I don't have to put up with my dad's smugness.

[SouthWalesSaints]

Still loads of tickets available for the Norwich game. 
You’d think after not playing at home for ages and the form we’re in it’d go close to selling out. 
 

I’d bring Edozie in for Bragg and stick with that. Matsuki is starting to add numbers to his industrious work rate. Assist 👀 and a goal today. 

[SaintBobby]

They are on a run of great form...but generally against poorer teams.

[Harry_SFC]

I would play the same side as yesterday but bring Edozie in for Bragg or Jander. 

[SuperSAINT]

10 hours ago, skintsaint said:

They got a couple of injuries today, and apparently 2nd half PNE were the dominant team going off their forums. Think we will win 2-0.

They had about 400 injuries in the last game and still gave us a good going over.

[Football Special]

8 hours ago, SaintBobby said:

They are on a run of great form...but generally against poorer teams.

I think that is too simple to write it off as against poorer teams, they've beaten Coventry and Wrexham, this is a really hard game. 

[SuperSAINT]

Just now, Football Special said:

I think that is too simple to write it off as against poorer teams, they've beaten Coventry and Wrexham, this is a really hard game. 

Impressive from Preston. 

[Football Special]

Just now, SuperSAINT said:

Impressive from Preston. 

Yeah they should be sponsored by Jet2 holidays as looks like they've been on the beach for a while 

[Football Special]

8 hours ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

Still loads of tickets available for the Norwich game. 
You’d think after not playing at home for ages and the form we’re in it’d go close to selling out. 
 

I’d bring Edozie in for Bragg and stick with that. Matsuki is starting to add numbers to his industrious work rate. Assist 👀 and a goal today. 

Yeah doesn't look like the recent form has captured the imagination of the fan base just yet, always quite a few season ticket seats left empty for midweek games as well. Norwich not bringing many about 600 sold so far so that corner will look sparse. Perhaps everyone's saving themselves for Saturday where we get a more convenient 3pm kick off vs Oxford who have already sold out their 3,008 allocation. 

We're definitely going to need Edozie for some creativity, is the Norwich player who injured him two seasons ago still playing for them? 

No news on whether we'll see Scienza, Stewart, Wellington or Robinson this side of the international break? Would be good to have Mccarthy back as well just in case he's needed 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

13 minutes ago, Football Special said:

I think that is too simple to write it off as against poorer teams, they've beaten Coventry and Wrexham, this is a really hard game. 

That they've now just hit mid table, in 12th, shows you how dire it was looking before Clement took over. It's been a great run of form to drag themselves out of where WBA and Leicester find themselves. And, as your table shows, it's had to be over a prolonged period, just to get this far.

 

[Oisin]

Given their form, this might just be our toughest game in the run-in. I’d actually be ok with a point but obviously we need to target all 3. I think the fact they’re playing well will mean they attack a bit making it more open which will suit us. Our nemesis is the low block.

Hoping we revert to the usual formation with Scienza, Edozie or Fellows replacing a midfielder from yesterday’s team. The result will depend on taking any chances so let’s hope our finishing is on form

4 points minimum ahead of the break and hopefully that gives Stewart, Scienza, Wellington and Robinson time to recover and return. Our squad depth is an asset compared to the competition; be great to start the run in with a full bill of health and either in the top 6 or within a point or 2

[Football Special]

46 minutes ago, Oisin said:

Given their form, this might just be our toughest game in the run-in. I’d actually be ok with a point but obviously we need to target all 3. I think the fact they’re playing well will mean they attack a bit making it more open which will suit us. Our nemesis is the low block.

Hoping we revert to the usual formation with Scienza, Edozie or Fellows replacing a midfielder from yesterday’s team. The result will depend on taking any chances so let’s hope our finishing is on form

4 points minimum ahead of the break and hopefully that gives Stewart, Scienza, Wellington and Robinson time to recover and return. Our squad depth is an asset compared to the competition; be great to start the run in with a full bill of health and either in the top 6 or within a point or 2

Clement is a pragmatic manager, if he thinks a low block parking the bus is the way to beat us then I expect they'll approach the game that way, especially if they have injuries (noticed someone else mentioned that, no idea how many are out) both teams also will have an eye on the following Saturday fixture a few days later in using their squads.