Rival Lines
Match Preview: Norwich City v AFCB
Blogger Interview: City of Yellows
Twitter: @Cityofyellows
I had a moment to ask some questions this week of Richard Voisey who runs the City of Yellows blog for Norwich City. Norwich City fans haven't had much to get excited about apart form a home win over Man City but they'll know that Bournemouth are in wretched form and they they have a real possibility of three points that could just give them a last shot at trying to stay up.
CC: As an on looker, it seems that Norwich have some great players but are perhaps just short of one or two top players in defence to make a better fist of the Premier League. But are there bigger problems elsewhere?
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Rather than having any stars or big-time Charlies, Farke created a team that won the Championship. With a low wage bill individually and collectively there is no reason why players should stay.
The squad is made up of youngsters and third division Germans so struggling was pretty much on the cards. We should never have started the season without an additional centre back as three all had long term injuries with Klose, our most experienced lad still yet to be seen.
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COY: Through my eyes, Daniel Farke can do no wrong. He is a genuine gentleman and I am proud to call him our manager. He has overperformed to get us in the Premier League and had a thankless task to keep us here.
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COY: Ipswich beating Accrington Stanley last weekend and halting a fifteen game run without a win. I dread the idea of playing them again next season.
I loathe everything about Manchester United and their plastic fans so it was a double blow last weekend. Only one shot in the first half produced a feeble performance against them. That makes it one win in 17 league attempts.
CC: You have a new signing, Ondre Duja, a Slovakian midfielder on loan, who Farke says might help with some goals and assists. Is it good to get some new players in now?
COY: Most fans including me are surprised with two midfield additions. Farke has up to now always eased new lads the first 11 after a number of weeks at the club. It will be interesting to see if this approach changes due to the current dilemma we find ourselves in. Having said that new faces are vital to freshen up the camp. Why no new defender though?
CC: Have you been surprised at how well Todd Cantwell has played in the Premier League and do you think you'll keep hold of him?
COY: Todd Cantwell was not a first pick throughout last season and required a couple of breaks to refocus. He has chipped in with more goals than expected and linked well with Pukki.
Having said that, he is not the finished article. He has lapses, leaves his full-back exposed on regular occasions when playing wide. He gets knocked off the ball easily and doesn’t get close enough to attackers on the edge of the box thus failing to cut out crosses.
It’s great he is a local lad but I’m not fussed if any player leaves if they don’t want to be at Carrow Road.
CC: Do you think the Bournemouth game is Norwich's last chance to have a real say in whether they can stay up?
COY: Last week was probably the final nail. The form change required to stay up would be incredible rather than possible. If we do win, it would resurrect some hope.
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COY: A traditional yet modern and very tidy yellow and green decked stadium with three decent stands and one, the small Geoffrey Watling stand that is earmarked for development to take the capacity from 27,000 to 30,000 plus. The away fans are housed in the 12,000 South Stand.
There are two-tiered stands behind each goal. The vocal Barclay will produce excellent flag waving before the start and rendition of ‘On the ball City’ the oldest football song in the world!
A full house is expected this weekend as it has been for years, even for our season in League One. Fifteen minutes from Norwich city centre and it’s an impressive range of historic pubs, its Norman Castle and two Cathedrals. A truly fantastic City.
CC: Would you be more concerned if Bournemouth changed manager before the game?
COY: Most clubs benefit from the honeymoon period of a new manager. Watford are a prime example. From what I understand, like City, the Cherries has horrible injury issues.
CC: Which Bournemouth player do you worry about most for this game?
COY: Harry Wilson is class and especially from set-pieces which Norwich has suffered from due to awful zonal marking on a regular basis.
CC: How do you feel the side has been playing at home of late?
COY: If matches lasted just 45 minutes City would be way up the table. 22 home points would have been accumulated. If we concede first, we will lose.
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COY: Grant Hanley limped off and has a cold but should be ok. The other centre back Ben Godfrey is training again after a long break but will not be ready. Timm Klose might be back before the end of the season. Teemu Pukki has a hamstring and damaged toe but should be back in contention.
CC: How do you expect to set up for the game?
COY: The same set up as for every game this season and set up to win the game. One upfront with a number 10. Two wide midfielders and two defensive midfielders. Two centre backs with two attacking wingbacks.
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COY: 1-1 which will be unhelpful for both of us.
CC: And who do you think will end up in the bottom three?
COY: Norwich City, Villa and Bournemouth.
CC: Many thanks to Richard of City of Yellows for writing his answers for this post. It's good to see the dislike of Ipswich Town shows no signs of let up. Neither of these teams wanted to be in their situation at this time of the year but for one of them there could be a last reprieve if they could get three points from this match. There isn't much time left for Norwich to get out of trouble and Bournemouth are going to lose touch with safety if they don't get the win. This game is now the biggest of the season for both teams and I imagine the hopes of our teams survival or not will be made a little clearer after this result.
Do check the recent posts of City of Yellows.
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