So then...Do we save Norwood for the Pork?

[Foody]

The biggest remaining games are:

1) Leeds (away)
2) West Brom (away)
3) Bristol (Home)

These are the games that will be pivotal in pushing for promotion. For Wednesday beating us is the only thing left in their season. For us it's another chance to get 3 points towards promotion, it's no more important than Ipswich at home...... I say this now but I'll be bricking it in 2 weeks.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

He plays v WBA no brainer, bigger question will be who plays up front, I suspect Billy/Madine.

Think as much as we can we’ll revert back to the team we started at Villa.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Think as much as we can we’ll revert back to the team we started at Villa.

agree with front 2 as above but we don't know whether JOC and George are close or not. I don't think he'd risk either of them unless they're 100% ready to go, Bash returns obviously.

 

[originaltrueblade]

Norwood will fool us all he might not get booked again this season

 

[LoughboroBlade]

agree with front 2 as above but we don't know whether JOC and George are close or not. I don't think he'd risk either of them unless they're 100% ready to go, Bash returns obviously.

That’s why I qualified it with “as much as we can” Where it’s a matter of choice rather than enforced decisions, I think we’ll be seeing the Villa choices – the main choices tbh just being Madine starting with Sharp and Dowell in for Duffy.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Norwood will fool us all he might not get booked again this season

Definitely a tongue in cheek remark

 

[Ricky]

agree with front 2 as above but we don't know whether JOC and George are close or not. I don't think he'd risk either of them unless they're 100% ready to go, Bash returns obviously.

It's bloody important that O'Connell's back for West Brom. If he can play without risking injury too much then he should start. Has Wilder said anything about his chances of playing?

Baldock would also be hugely preferable to Freeman for this one, at least it sounds like he has a chance.

 

[Killamarshblades]

Anyone know what the cut-off rule is for bookings? I've read it on here somewhere before but I can't for the life of me find it.

Its after 37 fixtures

 

[PokerBlade]

Brentford (home) on 12th March is our 37th game so after this one.

He's almost certainly getting a suspension then. Can't justify losing him for an extra game on top of that.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Genuinely, if it meant us going on to get the results that lead to us going up - I’d take a pumping at the sty.

WBA result will have a much bigger impact on our season.

I’d take big fat Bruce mooning the away end in the centre circle if we went up.

 

[SwissBlade]

I agree re the forwards. For me though at the moment I think madine and sharp. Not because didzy has been poor, just because madine has made a big impact and I think we look more dangerous with him on. Especially now he's off the mark with a couple of goals as well.

I'm inclined to agree on starting Madine and Billy.

The impact of Madine as you say has been huge. That first game (away at Swansea wasn't it?) where we went direct with Madine on worried me slightly, but we did the same when Hanson joined. Out of option, go long.

However, since then i think the way we play has remained the same, but tweaked. Madine is such a handful. He's hard to defend as he poses a goal scoring and physical threat on the ground and in the air. It seems that teams focus on him and it relieves the likes of Billy, McG and Hogan of that physical duty.

So whilst we don't play differently, opposition sides seem to "shit it" (FIFA approved technical terminology) against Madine

With Hogan, McG and probably Duffy (Dowell suits away games better) on the bench we have great options

 

[Edinblade]

Norwood should get booked at WBA. He then misses two games against bottom clubs, we’re more than capable of beating with or without him. We defo want him for Leeds and Bristol.

 

[Trafford]

Then whisper gently in his ear: "Listen cunt, no silly bookings".

This would only address half of the problem. He does pick up too many "silly bookings" but he also hasn't got a clue how to tackle properly, which accounts for the other half. He's been very fortunate to avoid a red on at least a couple of occasions this season, not through a churlish 2nd challenge but because his natural instinct is to tackle and he does it so badly.

 

[Iceybabey]

Coutts and Dowell will start against Brom.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Coutts and Dowell will start against Brom.

Coutts is playing tonight so I doubt it.

 

[Topplayersleave]

Both games are equally important. Three points on offer for both.

I know this won't be a popular view on here with many but we've got a bigger fish to fry this season than just worrying about beating them.

Personally I'd take losing at the Sty and being promoted as opposed to the opposite. Therefore just pick the strongest available team for the next game.

Exactly
If we were given the choice of winning one and losing one I'd take a victory at West Brom all day long

We have moved on from them so much it's unbelievable, they are rivals in a geographically sense only.
But they are not our footballing rivals at this moment in time

 

[Topplayersleave]

The booking he picked up against Reading was bloody stupid. After only 10 mins or so, ahead and he has no chance of winning the ball... and it was on the half way line.

Ridiculous.

Almost all of his bookings are stupid though
He's not known for his tacking, he's not an up and at 'em, stick your foot in and win the ball back type of midfielder
He gets booked for daft trips and blocks but hardly ever for a crunching tackle

 

[Iceybabey]

Coutts is playing tonight so I doubt it.

Just seen it now on Instagram.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

We need to be at full strength for WBA. We could get by with our “second string” against our porcine “friends”

 

[ChemEngBlade]

West Brom is a tougher & bigger game than the Pigs game is. We'll need our best team on the field to beat WBA, I don't think we do to beat Wednesday so for me, Norwood simply has to start on Saturday

 

[Foody]

Strange how everyone is just assuming Norwood will be booked vs West Brom. He's had 9 yellows in about 30 games, so roughly 1/3. Fingers crossed he avoids it and gets booked v pigs; missing Brentford and Rotherham.

 

[Kev Gee]

No. Wba is more important.

You should always play the best team you have available

 

[BushBlade]

Strange how everyone is just assuming Norwood will be booked vs West Brom. He's had 9 yellows in about 30 games, so roughly 1/3. Fingers crossed he avoids it and gets booked v pigs; missing Brentford and Rotherham.

Livermore and Barry though, ex PL, know how to buy a foul. It’s going to be ultra competitive in centre mid. He’ll do well not to get a card.

 

[Foody]

Livermore and Barry though, ex PL, know how to buy a foul. It’s going to be ultra competitive in centre mid. He’ll do well not to get a card.

True. Doesn't always follow though; he didn't get booked at high flying Norwich, or away at villa, yet did at home to Reading. Either way he plays V WBA

 

[BushBlade]

True. Doesn't always follow though; he didn't get booked at high flying Norwich, or away at villa, yet did at home to Reading. Either way he plays V WBA

Oh yeah, definitely, it’s a six pointer.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

The biggest remaining games are:

1) Leeds (away)
2) West Brom (away)
3) Bristol (Home)

These are the games that will be pivotal in pushing for promotion. For Wednesday beating us is the only thing left in their season. For us it's another chance to get 3 points towards promotion, it's no more important than Ipswich at home...... I say this now but I'll be bricking it in 2 weeks.

If we could beat those 3 at the expense of losing to the pigs i would take that.

 

[Foody]

If we could beat those 3 at the expense of losing to the pigs i would take that.

100%! I've just said exactly that to a pig mate, he thinks I'm just playing it down. Pushing for autos is what matters, not city pride

 

[Pedro Verde]

Plays against WBA but if he makes it to 65 minutes without a booking, gerrimsubbed if the scoreline permits.

Which scoreline would that be 3-0 up with 30 mins to play mmmmm

 

[Iceybabey]

Bash in midfield against pigs if Norwood picks up a yellow Satdeh neyt.

 

[bromtom]

Which scoreline would that be 3-0 up with 30 mins to play mmmmm

If we plan to concede one every 3 minutes or so, he can go off at 10-0.