So… crunch time is almost upon us.
Forty-six games. Lots of angst. Lots of shouting. Even more disagreeing. But now it’s history. What’s done is done. All that’s been and gone matters not a single iota.
Two games.
A chance for this group to become heroes. To write their own little piece of Norwich City history.
We could be on the cusp of something great or, equally, could be about to flunk. In which case, it could be the last we see of some of our brightest lights. Tis the starkest of forks in the road.
But which fork will Wagner and his men take?
The answer is none of us know, but still it felt like the perfect time to gauge the view of some of the MFW team. Here’s what they think will transpire over the next two-and-a-half weeks:
Andy Head:
I’d be more optimistic if the away leg was first. As it is, even if we were to somehow contain Crysencio Summerville and Dan James from skipping through those channels between the full-backs and centre-backs that we struggle to defend, and come away with a slender lead at Carrow Road, I fear for us at Elland Road.
Wagner has one plan against good teams away from home and it’s consistent with the tactical approach of Field Marshall Haig in WW1. Entrench yourself and, on the odd occasion, move incredibly slowly towards the enemy hoping they don’t notice you or pick you off like cannon fodder. I’ve yet to see it be anything other than soul-destroying and calamitous, so I don’t see us emerging from The Big Push unfortunately.
Will Grant:
I wish I could go into this game with high levels of optimism but this game worries me. We’re not in the greatest form and Leeds pose an abundance of threat in wide areas. If we look at the home game against them, they can play slightly more tentatively due to the options of Summerville and James in transition. If we are to be successful in the home leg, Marcelino Nunez has to be deployed deeper. His presence in deep areas makes us a much better side, with his technical quality setting the standards in possession. As well as Nunez, Josh Sargent has to be at his best level. His impact since January has been the main factor for our resurgence but in recent weeks, he’s been slightly loose in the final third, which has led to more turnovers. Sargent needs a positive two weeks if we’re going to get promoted.
As for Sunday, I expect it to be an exciting game – similar to the one earlier in the season. However, with quality being key in these tight games, Leeds have slightly more – especially in attacking areas. Although it would be ideal for City to take a lead into the second leg, the most important thing is for them to stay in this two-legged tie. With Elland Road being an unpredictable ground, coupled with Leeds losing their last two at home, I wouldn’t put it past City Norwich to get a result there. However, I feel the damage will be done in the home leg. Despite the barminess of the playoffs, quality is usually the big winner.
Home Leg: 1-3 Leeds
Away Leg: 2-2 Draw
Aggregate: 3-5 Leeds
Stewart Lewis:
“I don’t predict the future”, said a famous man, “and I never will”.
The only thing dafter than predicting the result of a football match is predicting one involving Norwich. And the only thing dafter than that is predicting a playoff game involving Norwich.
So here goes. First leg: Norwich 2, Leeds 1. Second leg: Leeds 2, Norwich 2. It’s been said that I’m an optimist…
Kathy Blake:
At the risk of annoying fellow MFW writers, I am not filled with either enthusiasm or confidence about these play-offs. I have a feeling of foreboding and suspect Wagner will go ultra-defensive in the first leg like he did against Southampton earlier in the season. I believe he’ll obsess about Leeds not scoring, which I can only see ending one way.
Daniel Farke mostly got the ‘big games’ right when he was here and I can see this continuing on Sunday. I know he is under a lot of pressure following their recent run and the current feeling among a lot of Leeds fans is that he should go. This is something he’s not used to but I think he will still set his team out to play fast attacking football and I can see us conceding. If we go up there with a draw or one goal either way, I can see the Elland Road crowd pulling them over the line.
Please let me be wrong.
Norwich 0 Leeds 0
Leeds 2 Norwich 0
Mick Dennis:
We know Daniel Farke won’t compromise his style. We know David Wagner is more flexible and pragmatic. We know we have to make the Carra rock. We know Leeds fans give up on their boys and stomp out of the ground in numbers if things look bad … I know that if I was any good at predicting scores I wouldn’t have needed to work so blooming hard for so many years.
First leg:
Norwich 3 Leeds 2
Second leg:
Leeds 1 Norwich 0
(Norwich win on penalties as Angus excels).
Steve Cook:
Ahead of the season, I had no hope of reaching the playoffs, so credit to the club for the achievement. However, the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this group does little to inspire genuine belief ahead of two (hopefully three) massive fixtures. Watching Wagner’s cautious and passive approach against the league’s ‘big boys’ has felt like adopting the brace position on a failing aircraft and waiting for the inevitable. With the individual talent in our squad, we’ll always have a puncher’s chance against superior opposition but only if we’re prepared to actually throw some punches.
Prediction: Southampton beat Leeds at Wembley.
Gary Gowers:
To have made the playoffs, given what transpired in the first half of the season, is quite the achievement. But it’s because we know all too well the huge gulf between the best level and worst level of this team that I fear for us over two legs against Leeds. Consistency across both games will be key, and such is the disparity between our home and away form, I’m not sure they have back-to-back good performances in them.
Perversely, a first-leg defeat would at least mean Wagner had to unleash in the second leg, but a narrow win at Carrow Road would likely mean an attempt to shut up shop at Elland Road. Either way, I can see Leeds’ extra quality tilting it in their favour over 180 minutes. I, of course, hope to be proved wrong.
Norwich 2 Leeds 1
Leeds 2 Norwich 0
James Colman:
For Sunday, I think Wagner will revert to Sara in the number 10 role, Fassnacht wide right and Nunez/Mclean as the double pivot. Much like the Elland Road game, City will be bright, attacking yet for all their endeavours they won’t score against one of the meanest defences in the league. (Why couldn’t Farke manage that when he was at City?).
The away leg will be similarly frustrating but with City content to soak up pressure, trying but failing to hit Leeds on the break. Despite defensive resolve, City will lapse and Leeds will nick it 1-0, then go on to beat Southampton in the Play-Off final.
Pessimistic head on – without Barnes, it seems Sargent is only 25% of the player he is when paired with the wily veteran. Without the pair, we haven’t shone in the last two games. Optimistic head on – I have been hopelessly wrong in my pre-season predictions – let’s hope the same is true here!
Gary Field:
If you’re seeking to predict the outcome of Sunday’s game, based purely on this season’s stats, my advice would be, don’t! The contrast between Leeds and City is stark – Leeds, 90 points to City’s 73, goals scored, Leeds 81 to City’s 79, goals conceded, just 43 compared to City’s 64. Even the head-to-head records are in favour of the opposition – Leeds winning both games, 3-2 at Carrow Road, last October, and 1-0 at Elland Road in January.
If you’re looking for positives, perhaps more surprising is that City accumulated 49 home points this season, more than the 48 in our 2020-21 Championship title-winning season, and matching the 49 points earned in 2018-19.
While all those stats count for nothing during the forthcoming playoffs, City’s current home form is, arguably, unparalleled in recent seasons. So, here’s hoping we approach the game with a positive mindset. Who knows. If we do, we might match our two previous playoff home results – both 3-1 wins. That would be quite something to take to Elland Road four days later.
Ed Couzens-Lake:
I remember posting something on Twitter at the start of the year that stated ‘…can we stop talking about the play offs now?’ Arse duly bitten. With a team that misfires like the engine on an old Triumph Stag, occasionally growling and magnificent but, more often than not, wheezing, choking and turning over to no effect, we’ve made sixth. The question is, will the old girl fire herself up one more time for Leeds? Because Wembley is an absolute lottery. The FA Cup Final could be Manchester United vs Swaffham… and you wouldn’t bet entirely against a major upset and the old trophy heading to Old Trafford.
So, Leeds. They can be breathtaking, high octane and terrifying, fast to break and tumbling forward like an alabaster avalanche, sweeping all and sundry away. Or they can be brittle and wrought with nerves, mistakes in every single one of them and a crowd that doesn’t know the meaning of the word prisoner. Their fans will be wondering which Leeds United will turn up. We’re all wondering what Norwich City will turn up. It could be one of the most topsy-turvy and unpredictable playoff semi-finals yet.
It’ll be cagey at Carra’. Someone will get a late goal, someone will get a red card. Elland Road? Littered with goals.
Norwich City 1 Leeds United 1
Leeds United 2 Norwich City 2
Penalties……and don’t even ask….
Please let us have your predictions in the comments below…
OTBC
I am not at all optimistic so I’m going for a humbling, and slightly humiliating, 5-1 aggregate defeat.
My prediction is Wagner will set us up not to lose. We’ll draw at home, and then get thumped at Elland Road.
I’l be there Sunday mind, backing the team and hoping that (as is often the case) I’m very wrong!
Interesting, I see that rare commodity that evaded us yellas for most of the season is still quite away from landing in big quantities of course I mean confidence, there even appears to be a small amount of real interest in the Canary Nation
I was talking with my son, I asked him the question, would you feel any more confident, if Farke was with City and Wagner managing Leeds…. He said of course no contest.
I believe there lies the major problem, in winning this semi-final, I do believe our players can go toe to toe with anyone in the league, they never bother me as much as the coach does. And that is both coaches, the one picking the team and tactics and the one we all believe he will park across the back line. With two good wide players up against us, he will need two coaches across the back line, from wing to wing.
Unless we go up North, being 2 or 3 behind, expect to see two of Sanders fleet.
Home 2-1
Away 2-0
Leeds through 3-2
So according to some reporter in Yorkshire called Hayes, Leeds will have to break their Play-Off ducks as they have an extremely poor record when involved in said games so is it an ACN moment.
City blow hot and cold mainly due to the Wagner tactics and crazy substitutions which haven’t worked most of the time yet when they do we get unexpected results.
Could we see a Sargent/Hooijdonk front pairing something DF wouldn’t expect ?
All to play for and nothing to lose if Wagner goes full tilt at Leeds.
Home 2-1
Away 2-0
Leeds to lose final to Southampton
I will predict that if Farke is in the Championship next season Leeds will walk the league with record points but would the 49ers give him time
Alex, just remind me what scoreline i gave you for the first leg .
Oh well time for a 5-0 home win then. ( You read it here first).
🤣🤣🤣
Worth a fiver if you’re a gambler
This tie against Leeds is exactly why we should have made a greater effort to hold 5th. Even assuming we can get a result on Sunday, I would be much more confident going to St Marys rather Elland Road for the return.
I think we can beat Leeds over 2 legs, whether we will or not is another matter.
Slightly off topic, but DW seems very relaxed this week. I wonder if he knows something we don’t.
Breaking News
Duffy spent the night in the Wymondham Police Hotel after a DD accident outside a local watering hole that could upset Wagners plans as the club says they are looking into the circumstances.
He was Drunk with 1o2 recorded on the breathalyser couldn’t he afford a taxi home bloody fool.
In the lead-up to Norwich’s biggest game of the season so far, Shane Duffy decides to drive while drunk, predictably is involved in an accident, and gets arrested.
Those of us who have lost family and friends to drink-drivers will not care if he never plays for the club again.
Passionate as I am about City, I am even more passionate about the many victims maimed or killed by drunk drivers every year.
Long time no see. Most important first, RIP Martin. Of course knowing that is going to happen affected my participation + Pukki leaving Norwich. Right now when im writing, it still feels strange to write.
I have seen Leeds playing this season several times. The reason why I have watched their games is Glen Kamara and also Viasat/viaplay have shown plenty of Leeds games. Leeds were marching towards direct promotion, but international break changed all. Club fans do not really understand the physical and mental loads those games can bring to players. Basically the feeling is that a player has betrayed the whole country, the amount of hate they can get is massive and will follow them sometimes for the rest of their lives. Knowing that english club football fans are not so interested in how the England national team do, only makes the understanding gap even larger.
Wales lost their dreams like we know in the most heartbreaking way. Finland was abysmal again and mr Kanerva will be sacked soon because its the only solution. Because its Finland and different sports national team coaches are now chatting and giving their perspectives to “help” each other, good tips can easily have opposite results to some. Finland was forced to play the after Wales game by uefa against another loser Estonia in Helsinki. Estonia let all their top players leave back to their clubs, Kanerva forced everyone to at least travel to Finland to completely meaningless game which also both teams did not want to play and fans did not want to see playing. The so-called unity idea comes from icehockey national team which has plenty of player material to choose from so individualistic players are always “injured” when they choose. Jere Uronen left the national team after the Wales game, all others traveled. Kamara was one the only ones who didnt had to play at all, but he got the flu from there. The weather was colder and different than it was in England. Kamara then went back to Leeds and Farke forced Kamara to play against Hull. When someone is playing injured or sick there are obvious risks. Something has happened between him and Farke. Leeds form has dropped and Farke played him only obvious punishment minutes just before the full time. Kamara started basically all games when their results were very good. Kamara played about 60 min vs Soton, their playing looked to be better balanced than in their last games before. I have no idea if Farke is going to play Kamara against Norwich. Overall I would say that transfer to Leeds has been good or ok for him. He needed a kick start in his career and the idea of course was getting promoted which is now very uncertain.
Leeds plays a 4-2-3-1 system on paper and like you know Farke keeps his system no matter what. I would drop left back Firpo, because he is bad at defending and attacks too much. If you play 4 at the back, both wing backs have to be able to defend also. Its possible they play Archie Gray, to me he looks like a player which Leeds wants very much to be a top player. I see him as a huge risk and if he plays its sure your coaching stuff will target him. You have wingers which actually Farke does not know so well and Sargent as a striker who has the ability to cause all kinds of chaos.
I dont predict outcomes. I believe its either tight or Norwich destroys Leeds in the first game. Its not impossible that Farke has lost their dressing room, so Leeds can also be really bad. Good luck guys!
1×2, first up thanks for your kind thoughts about our friend Martin.
Then it’s clear you don’t really know what’s going to happen in this 2 leg interview to play at wembley. Am I right that you see scenarios where either team can go through.
Thirdly don’t stay away for so long .
Bernard, exactly. Leeds are for sure favorites because of their league position and individual player qualities. The difference between players is not that big as the media believe and Leeds form has been abysmal. Can they turn that? That is the main question. Scenario where Norwich gets a good start and takes a lead and after that Leeds playing collapses, players start arguing with each other and so on…..A few months ago I would have seen this game very difficult to Norwich. Right now I would call Leeds as Manchester United of the Premier League.
Thanks gor remembering Martin P.
I think that come Sunday city could be well put of the game if Wagner tries and defend.
Maybe he will have more success if Webber joins him soon now that his unfortunate injury stopped him climbing Everest.
As I said earlier possibly a second season promotion for the Loiners of Leeds.
Farke tends to fall out with players and want to cast them aside instead of resolving the situation. When he has a bit of success I get the feeling his ego gets out of control and causes bad feelings in the dressing room. I wonder how he would deal with Duffy?
Hopefully this will be in our favour but with all the absentees and the predictable tactics I can’t see it
If you’ve read the thread, you will have seen I asked AlexB to out me with the score I called for the first leg .
I called 5-0 to the canaries in an email exchange. .
Yes Bernard, but what’s the full-time score?
COYYs !!
There is an ex Norwich academy player Alfie Cicale who plays now in Finland. He has started really well and has been in headlines here too. His club is VPS (Vaasa). VPS has 4 wins and 1 draw and are league leaders. VPS has now played an incredible 22 games in a row without losing. They play today in Kuopio against Kups and in the next round they have away game vs HJK. VPS also participates in the UEFA conference league, so Cicale will get right away also european cup games experiences.
Cicale has played as a wing in 3-4-3 formation. He is technically good, has pace and prefers to challenge opponents defenders. During the 5 league games so far he has 1 goal and 3 assists which is an incredibly good outcome. This is not that simple, HJK for example has in their squad Luke Plange ( Crystal Palace loan), Brooklyn Lyons-Foster (Spurs academy ex captain) and here are more and more british players now. VPS sold after last season their striker Peter Michael to romanian club. Lets say that VPS wins the league, he would get a lot of european cup experiences starting from champions league qualifications. On the other hand with his playing now he will get offers from bigger leagues for sure.
I assume that some of you here know the player?
We are not the same team with Barnes as we have no one who can play his role.
Sargent looks lost without him on the pitch, I’d be interested to know how many of his goals have been scored when partnered with Barnes.
As for Duffy, words fail me…… Sack him now, what on earth is he playing at
Canaries vs The Baggies in the Final
It will all come down to one thing. Can the Leopard change its spots?
DF will play his way or the highway and rely on the fact he has a better all round squad.
If DW tries to play EITHER game trying to hold on to a slender lead, we are going to get beat and if that happens it will reinforce the feeling that, while he has done magnificently to get us into the top six he is also the reason we are not in the top three.
2-0 at home
1-1 at Leeds if they score first
COYY