Norwich aren't going to collapse, or even wobble. They're not one of the great promotion sides, and I don't see them doing any better in the PL than last time around without being gutted and serious cash spent, but they are more than worthy champions. Besides they deserve it more than us for the total clusterf*** we were at the start of the season. Half the squad wanting away and training apart, Ivic barely able to name 11 players, being promised a fresh young side then selling 2 of the brightest prospects...
Main leg up I think was they came back for Project Restart planning for the Championship. Played 9, Lost 9, Scored 1. They made zero effort to stay up.
I’m counting Luton as having something to play for with it being a derby. I appreciate it’s questionable, but they still have some motivation that a team either side of them in the table wouldn’t have.
I'm just not sure without fans it being a derby makes a difference. I would imagine for most players from each side it's just another game
I do tend to agree, especially without the fans, it’s just you’d assume their manager might make more of an effort to try and get a result against us compared to their other dead rubber games they’ve got left.
He actually said after their last game that he'd been trying things out and having a bit of a play to see what his squad could do, but that he would revert to type and field his most functional, long-ball specialist stalwarts for the rest of the season with the aim of 'finishing the season with some points' and seeing which of his players were up for it and wanted to be at Luton next season. So, whether that effort actually amounts to anything or not, he does appear to have literally announced his intention to do exactly what you assume.
I doubt they jacked it in completely before then, they picked up a big win against Leicester the same weekend we beat Liverpool, and were only 6 points off safety when the league stopped. I think they did eye up players during that time with half an eye on the Championship, and naturally after a few games of the restart, they could speed up that process though
I wonder what the dynamic will be by then, if they have a chance of automatic promotion, would they feel forced to play them despite not being match sharp? If the play-offs are more likely, would they want to wrap them up in cotton wool, or get them some minutes in the hope of getting them firing for those games? It's not impossible I suppose that their play-off spot won't be secure by then, but of course if so, it'd almost certainly be pond time for us
You'd imagine it'd be similar at most Championship clubs below the promotion race but above the relegation battle, a lot of players without much time left on their deals with the chance of earning a new one either at their current club or elsewhere
If we focus on Norwich and don’t worry about those below us we’re up, if we focus on Norwich we have earlier ko times and can put some sort of mental pressure on them going into these games which would make our game with them very exciting as a potential championship decider. I can see this unfolding and only goal difference between us. Then Watford would do what Watford does best and Norwich bettering our results in the final 3 games. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My Run In Predictions (Updated from #165) Edited 10th April 2021 WATFORD Boro away 1pt - As Predicted Reading home 3pts - As Predicted Luton away 1pt Norwich away 1pt Millwall home 3pts Brentford away 1pt Swansea home 3pts Predicted Total still 13 points SWANSEA PNE home 0pts - Edited Had Predicted 3 points Millwall away 3pts - Edited Had Predicted 1 point Sheff Wed away 3pts Wycombe home 3pts QPR home 3pts Reading away 1pt Derby home 3pts Watford away 0pts Edited Prediction now 16 points BRENTFORD Huddersfield away 1pt - As Predicted Birmingham home 1pt - Edited Had Predicted 3 points PNE away 3pts - Edited Had Predicted 1pt Millwall home 3pts Cardiff home 3pts Bournemouth away 1pt Rotherham home 3pts Watford home 1pt Bristol city away 3pts Edited Prediction now 19 points WATFORD Predicted Total Still 91 points SWANSEA Predicted Now 85 points BRENTFORD Predicted Now 87 points Just as well we won therefore: - THE FUTURE IS STILL BRIGHT THE FUTURE IS STILL YELLOW
Wonder if we will see kick off times moved next week from 3pm as that is when Prince Phillip’s funeral is ?
As it is going to be a small affair and not a huge parade maybe not, but it's a definite possibility me thinks.
I honestly thought Millwall would do us a favour today and against Brentford. How wrong am I. It's in our hands and that's what matters. We've picked up 7 points in the last three without even playing that well. We will have far too much for the Scummers to deal with and then smash the Carrot crunchers midweek.
Agree apparently when the funeral is on it’s a time for national mourning, I would be very surprised if we still have 3pm kickoffs next Saturday!
Well the Royals had a bad day yesterday, maybe we should kick off at 10am score another two quick goals and make sure it is a long mourning for the hatters!
I think if they are played on Saturday they will kick off either at 4pm, a delay and a matter of respect or before but less likely 12am!
My Run In Predictions (Updated from #187) Edited 13th April 2021 WATFORD Boro away 1pt - As Predicted Reading home 3pts - As Predicted Luton away 1pt Norwich away 1pt Millwall home 3pts Brentford away 1pt Swansea home 3pts Predicted Total still 13 points SWANSEA PNE home 0pts - Edited Had Predicted 3 points Millwall away 3pts - Edited Had Predicted 1 point Sheff Wed away 3pts - As Predicted Wycombe home 3pts QPR home 3pts Reading away 1pt Derby home 3pts Watford away 0pts Edited Prediction now 16 points BRENTFORD Huddersfield away 1pt - As Predicted Birmingham home 1pt - Edited Had Predicted 3 points PNE away 3pts - Edited Had Predicted 1pt Millwall home 3pts Cardiff home 3pts Bournemouth away 1pt Rotherham home 3pts Watford home 1pt Bristol city away 3pts Edited Prediction now 19 points WATFORD Predicted Total Still 91 points SWANSEA Predicted still 85 points BRENTFORD Predicted Now 87 points Swansea won 2-0 tonight pity that, however: - THE FUTURE IS STILL BRIGHT THE FUTURE IS STILL YELLOW
I think the last 5 games will be fairly unpredictable for top 6 teams, but it will show which teams have the zest and bottle to finish the job. Norwich will be relaxed against us as job 99pct done, but that can work both ways. It really is about how we play - we can outplay any of them on our day (most days in last couple of months). Next 2 games will tell us a lot....
I certainly hope u r right, but the scummers will be so up for ******* up our promotion chances which is why I'm a little worried
My Run In Predictions (Updated from #187) Edited 17th April 2021 WATFORD Boro away 1pt - As Predicted Reading home 3pts - As Predicted Luton away 0pts - Edited Had Predicted 1pt Norwich away 1pt Millwall home 3pts Brentford away 1pt Swansea home 3pts Edited Prediction Now 12 points SWANSEA PNE home 0pts - Edited Had Predicted 3 points Millwall away 3pts - Edited Had Predicted 1 point Sheff Wed away 3pts - As Predicted Wycombe home 1pt - Edited Had Predicted 3 points QPR home 3pts Reading away 1pt Derby home 3pts Watford away 0pts Edited Prediction Now 14 points BRENTFORD Huddersfield away 1pt - As Predicted Birmingham home 1pt - Edited Had Predicted 3 points PNE away 3pts - Edited Had Predicted 1pt Millwall home 1pt - Edited Had Predicted 3 points Cardiff home 3pts Bournemouth away 1pt Rotherham home 3pts Watford home 1pt Bristol city away 3pts Edited Prediction now 17 points Luckily our result was not the only one I got wrong today and in fact Swansea and Brentford actually dropped more points than us on my prediction table by only drawing instead of winning hence losing 2pts each, because although we lost I had only predicted us to draw so we only lost 1pt . Therefore if I get all of my predictions right from now on we will still finish 2nd. WATFORD Predicted Total Now 90 points SWANSEA Predicted Now 83 points BRENTFORD Predicted Now 85 points