Cardiff City vs Norwich City e-Football Preview
Article by Colin RoweFollow e-Norwich City on Twitter!
With the international break over league football returns this weekend with a fascinating match-up between two of last seasons relegated Premiership teams.
Both Norwich and Cardiff have enjoyed decent fortunes since returning to the Championship, or at least far better than fellow relegatee Fulham, with both the yellow birds and the bluebirds sitting towards the top of the table and in a good position to push for promotion.
If it needed it, the game also has the added extra spice thanks to Anthony Pilkington facing his old club in his new colours, although it is hard to imagine him getting anything but a warm reception from the travelling Y’Army.
Several Norwich players were on international duty, with Nathan Redmond impressing for the England U21s and Kyle Lafferty scoring for Northern Ireland, but the real good news is it appears all six of City’s international stars came through their games injury free.
However, with this being the first game since the closing of the transfer window, most of the intrigue will focus on which of the new boys will get a game.
Cameron Jerome and Carlos Cuellar are still waiting for a first start while Conor McGrandles, Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe, Jos Hooiveld and Ignasi Miquel will all be putting their case forward for a squad place.
Norwich, in fact most Championship sides, have six games in three weeks so there will be plenty of time for these players to prove they can make the grade in yellow and green.
Injury-wise there is nothing new to report. Gary Hooper and Jonny Howson are on the verge of resuming a full training schedule, while Odjidja-Ofoe, Miquel and Hooiveld all likely to make the trip judging by Neil Adams’ pre-game comments.
Tactically this is a hard game to call as both teams would probably be happy to settle for a draw and Adams in particular will have doubts about changing a strategy, which so far this season has been effective.
If changes do come in the starting line-up expect them to be in the back line with Hooiveld probably first in line for a starting place.
The former Southampton defender was also the player’s representative at the press conference on Thursday, which admittedly this blog has been guilty of reading too much into in the past.
With it being an away game Adams might choose to be cautious and play Lewis Grabban, who is aiming for six goals in six games, as a loan striker, but this remains to be seen.
Last time the Canary’s visited the Cardiff City Stadium they threw away a one goal lead by forgetting to turn up for the first five minutes of the second half, hopefully the result will be different this time around.
Predicted Line-Up: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Hooiveld, Olsson, Johnson, Tettey, Redmond, Hoolahan, Laferty, Grabban
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