If you lose your first game of the new season on the back of a relegation in the previous term, it’s not going to do much for your mood. But on the plus side, we now have 45 opportunities to go and put things right.
With some minor adjustments, I’d still like to think there’s a core of a team here that can potentially still get us promoted back to the top flight at the earliest possible time of asking. Even with the departure of Anthony Pilkington to Cardiff this week, there remains a strong core group who are capable of causing any team problems at this level.
But in order to make a good impression, it’s no secret that Neil Adams will have had a lot to work on over the past week, because the performance away to Wolves had a real lack of spice about it which will have disheartened those who travelled to the West Midlands (not to mention those watching on Sky).
Martin Olsson’s frustration summed the mood up perfectly. We were second best to a lot of balls and it never felt like we got into top gear. Lewis Grabban so nearly had a debut to remember, only to blow his chance against average Wolves goalie Carl Ikeme. Kyle Lafferty looked purposeful when introduced, but Adams should have brought him on earlier. Had he done so, it could’ve been a different story.
With Olsson’s dismissal came the arrival of Javier Garrido to fill that void, and I’m sorry to say it proved to be something of a death sentence. Garrido, who lost his place in the starting 11 last-term, looks a shadow of the sturdy, reliable full-back we initially acquired on loan for the 2012/13 season. Ever since the deal became permanent he hasn’t performed well at all. I don’t think he made a single interception at Molineux, and sure enough he failed to block a cross from Rajiv van La Parra, who duly found the head of David Edwards (who Russell Martin lost the aerial battle with).
Cest la vie.
Garrido will almost certainly start against Watford and if he has any chance of ever reclaiming his spot at left-back, now’s the time while Olsson gets slapped with his suspension. I’m also expecting a front two of Grabban and Lafferty with Hoolahan just behind, while Elliot Bennett and Nathan Redmond cut in from their respective flanks.
Time to kick things off now on the home front, and it’ll be no easy task with Beppe Sannino’s Watford rolling into town.
Team News
Norwich City
– Gary O’Neil is available after missing the last game with a suspension. He’s looking to make it 3 promotions in 4 seasons after previously managing it with West Ham and QPR. Was red-carded in the 2014 Championship playoff final between QPR and Derby but Bobby Zamora’s late goal for the R’s spared his blushes.
– Gary Hooper (calf) and Jonny Howson (knee) miss out due to injury.
– Leroy Fer (hamstring) is a doubt unless he can prove he’s fit enough. He’s behind some of the others due to his World Cup exploits with Holland.
– Martin Olsson is of course suspended after getting sent off against Wolves.
– Lewis Grabban should play in what would be a competitive home debut, ditto Kyle Lafferty who is also looking for a first competitive start.
– Declan Rudd has signed a new three-year contract at Norwich while Anthony Pilkington’s transfer to Cardiff has been confirmed.
Watford
– Lloyd Doyley is struggling with a hamstring problem and will be assessed before the trip.
– Craig Cathcart and Ikechi Anya are both out with knee problems.
– Mathias Ranegie (groin) missed the midweek cup game with Stevenage but has returned to training so may still feature.
– There’s an ongoing transfer saga around prolific frontman Troy Deeney. QPR want him but Harry Redknapp says they aren’t willing to pay what Watford are asking of them. Hull are also rumoured to have placed a bid after they sold Shane Long.
More on the opponent
The Hornets started impressively last week with a dominant 3-0 display over Bolton before grinding their way past Stevenage in the Capital One Cup 1st round. The partnership of in-demand Troy Deeney and Matej Vydra look like a force to be reckoned with as the other ‘yellows’ look to bully their way into promotion contention.
Heurelho Gomes of Spurs fame made his Hornets debut last weekend and was impressive in keeping a clean sheet, but reserve ‘keeper Jonathan Bond also put in a fine shut-out display in the cup, making one fine save from close range in particular.
(Bond save – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjaBG4IRQcY)
There aren’t many links between players who once played for the other, but Keith Andrews once had a 20-game loan spell at Ipswich Town, so he’ll be getting some harsh treatment from the snakepit I should imagine.
Form
Norwich
L – 0-1 v Wolves (A)
D – 2-2 v Celta Vigo (H)
W – 5-1 v OGC Nice (H)
D – 1-1 v SC Bastia (A)
W – 13-0 v Mystery Italian opponents (?!) (A)
Pre-season results were the usual mixed bag, but the actual performances in our last two home games gave me more cause for confidence going into the first league game. But perhaps it’ll be another case of ‘home is where the heart is’ this season with more doom and gloom on our away travels?
Watford
W – 1-0 v Stevenage (A)
W – 3-0 v Bolton Wanderers (H)
D – 2-2 v Udinese (H)
L – 0-1 v Coventry City (A)
W – 5-0 v St Albans (A)
A strong start on the competitive front from Watford who will be looking to push for the top 6 at the very least. Last season they finished 12 points behind the top six, when twelve months prior they made it to the Championship play-off final only to be undone by Crystal Palace and a Kevin Phillips penalty.
Last time they met
– The two sides met at Vicarage Road last season in the third round of the Capital One Cup when City were a Premier League side.
– In what ended up being a great cup tie, Watford built up a 2-0 lead with goals from Javier Acuna and Marco Faraoni before the debuting Josh Murphy smashed home a superb reply from distance before Gary Hooper headed in a 95th minute equaliser to take it to extra-time. Hooper then went on to round the ‘keeper and score the winner to send City through to round 4.
(Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af4s0qjHhJQ)
– This Saturday sees Watford as our first visitors to Carrow Road, and that was also the case in the 2010/11 season, as the Canaries and Hornets kicked off the new campaign in the first league fixture of the campaign on a Friday night.
– Malky Mackay was in charge of the visitors during this period while Norwich had just been promoted from League One under Paul Lambert. Watford were cash-strapped at the time and were tipped as one of the relegation favourites.
– John Eustace gave Watford the lead before Danny Graham doubled the advantage before half-time.
– Andrew Crofts pulled one back after interval, but Graham netted his second to make it 3-1. The Canaries persisted in trying to turn the match around and Michael Nelson scored to make it 3-2, but despite the late flurry it was still Watford who left with the points.
– Mackay was applauded by the City fans as he made his way back from saluting the travelling supporters.
(Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJUyL43hU8Q)
Intriguing Stat
– Norwich are looking for their first competitive win since March 22nd when they beat Sunderland 2-0 in the Premier League. They’ve only picked up a single point since.
What’s in store this time?
Another tough game for sure, and if Deeney and Vydra keep firing on all cylinders then Ruddy is going to be a very busy bee.
OTBC.
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