So out with the old Neil and in with the new Neil at Carrow Road.
The departure of Neil Adams last week came of little surprise to supporters after an abject cup showing at Preston. It was pleasing however, to see Adams go out in an amicable, honourable manner, once he acknowledged that the choppy waters of the Championship left him a in a zone which was too deep for him to continue.
Step forward Alex Neil. The name might not mean a lot to people in Nelson`s quarters, but anyone who pays close attention to football north of the border will be enthused by the Scot`s appointment. Neil has guided Hamilton Academical from the Scottish Championship to the cusp of European qualification.
Ironically, Neil defeated current assistant manager Gary Holt`s Falkirk in last season’s playoffs en route to promotion. It seems that Holt will be kept on as part of his fellow Scotsman`s backroom staff along with the Phelan, the bookmakers favourite and the man I had down as a shoe in for the job.
When looking into Neil`s record as manager, the statistics make impressive reading. With a win percentage of over 50%, Neil`s side had a similar ethos to that of Paul Lambert`s Norwich side, not knowing when you’re beaten and playing with intensity right up until the final whistle.
Neil had the luxury of calling on the one person he trusted most, if all was not going to plan; himself. A tough tackling midfielder by trade, David McNally will certainly be hoping that Neil`s playing mentality can certainly rub off on a Norwich side that has often resembled a team planning their end of season holidays.
Arguably the biggest scalp of the Scot`s managerial tenure to date was leading Hamilton to victory at Celtic Park earlier in the season, their first there since 1936.
The challenge of defeating the seemingly unstoppable force of Eddie Howe`s Bournemouth outfit, would easily emulate the achievement at Celtic in the eyes of all City fans. Although he will not be in the dugout for tomorrow`s clash, there is no doubt that Neil will have some input into the Norwich line-up at The Goldsands when the two teams go head to head.
However, the reeling Phelan will look to show McNally what could have been. The board instead opting to unveil the Scottish steel of Neil, who by his own admission, has found the past few days rather surreal.
Team news
Ryan Bennett could be set to start his first league game since September after coming through 90 minutes during Norwich`s defeat at Preston. There still remain fitness concerns over Alex Tettey
For Bournemouth, Artur Boruc is likely to remain in goal for the Cherries after extending his loan from Southampton. Matt Ritchie, Callum Wilson, Simon Francis, Harry Arter and Tommy Elphick are all expected to return after being rested in the FA Cup.
League Form Guide
LWWDWL
The welcome return to form over the festive period feels a long way away, with dismal showings at Reading and Preston North End confirming that the Canaries need an injection of vigour if they intend on having any chance of returning to the Premier League come May.
WWWWWD
How do you stop a team in Bournemouth`s vein of form? They seem to be the complete package. Unbeaten in their last 14 fixtures and have won six of their past eight home games. It seems like a question of when and not if they will gain promotion to the top flight for the first time in their 125-year history. Hats off to Eddie and the dynasty he has built up on the South coast.
Head to Head
In the corresponding fixture, the teams shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw on a Scorching Saturday in August. Former Cherries’ player Lewis Grabban netted for the Canaries with Grabban`s ready made replacement, Callum Wilson, scoring the equaliser at Carrow Road in a game of few chances.
The last time Bournemouth hosted Norwich in a league fixture was when both teams were in the Third Division South, in February 1960. The game finished goalless
What’s in store this time around?
With Bournemouth`s promotion charge showing no signs of waning, it is going to take a defensive master class from City to pick up points at a ground where so many of our Championship rivals have failed to do so.
In fact the only win that Norwich have managed to register in the previous eight away games was against a woeful Wigan side and I can`t see that record improving tomorrow.
The appointment of Neil could go some way to galvanising a dressing room that`s in dire need of a feel good factor after a couple of dismal showings on their last two outings. However it is hard to see anything other than a home win for Bournemouth at fortress Goldsands once Chris Foy calls time at 5pm.
I`m going for a 3-1 win for Bournemouth with Surman, who will be extra pumped for the game tomorrow, to play an instrumental role in yet another away day reversal for the Canaries.
OTBC
@hawkeyejourno
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