' Norwich Fan talking about Cardiff City for Sat's game '
Wed Sep 10, 2014 12:37 pm
Norwich City fan who predicts Lewis Grabban to shine in a Canaries win
Wed Sep 10, 2014
By Matthew Southcombe
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=147027
Tom Forster, Norwich City fan and Canary for as long as he can remember, looks ahead to this weekend's showdown at the Cardiff City Stadium
Lewis Grabban is on fire for Norwich at the moment
Norwich City have enjoyed their start to life back in the Championship, picking up 10 points in their last four games as they head into this weekend's game against Cardiff City.
Both teams were relegated from the Premier League last season and both are bidding to bounce straight back this season, but something has to give this weekend.
WalesOnline caught up with Tom Forster, who is an admin of the relatively new, but popular Norwich Talk forum , to find out what the Canaries are thinking ahead of this weekend's game.
1) Many believe Cardiff have the strongest squad in the Championship. Agree?
I think most of the promotion favourites would probably say this about their team.
If you were to cast an eye over Norwich forums, you'd see plenty of Norwich fans saying much the same about our side. For me, it's a close one, but I wouldn't swap our squad for Cardiff's.
We've kept a large proportion of our Premier League squad and made some decent additions too - if Vadis Odidja Ofoe lives up to the hype amongst our fans, we will have too much for a lot of teams in the league.
2) Cardiff wanted Lewis Grabban in the summer - is he any good?
Lewis Grabban has scored five goals in five games, which is certainly not to be sniffed at. That said, a few questions have been raised about his all round game, but while he's knocking them in it's not really an issue.
Aside from Grabban, our midfield pairing of Alex Tettey and Bradley Johnson have been fantastic (particularly the former) and the battle in midfield could decide the game on Saturday.
Lewis Grabban is one to look out for this weekend
3) Many Cardiff fans view Norwich as the trip from hell. Is it the same for you?
I have been to the Cardiff City Stadium twice, though never as a Norwich fan.
Having spent a little bit of time in Cardiff, I went along a couple of times during the season it opened. I wasn't hugely impressed, I find new stadiums tend to feel a little soulless, but that's probably more my issue than a real comment on the stadium.
That said, a few years in, I dare say it's feeling a little more homely as you build some history and memories there.
Tom is not a fan of the Cardiff City Stadium
4) Of the relegated teams, who will bounce straight back?
I'm going to be confident here and say us. We've taken 10 points from five games against tough opposition that will all be in or around the play offs (the desperately poor Ipswich Town aside) and all the signs point to us being up there come the end of the season.
That said, there's no reason Cardiff can't do it as well; They're ticking along nicely and I'll be surprised if you don't at least make the play offs. Just a token mention for Fulham, I can't even see them making the top half. They've become a total basket case.
Fulham haven't had the best of starts
5) Some Cardiff fans are enjoying the Championship more than the Premier. Are you?
It's hard to argue with it purely from an entertainment point of view, but my issue is when you get fans (not many admittedly) that would rather be here for good.
As a club you want to be the best you can be and in this day in age, for clubs the size of Norwich and Cardiff, that means top half Premier League/Europa League.
That's the dream. To achieve that, you're going to have to spend a few, probably unenjoyable, years scrabbling around for points in the bottom half of the Premier League while you build.
So yes, in the short term it probably is more fun in the Championship, but I'd rather it was a fleeting visit.
6) Finally, let's have your prediction...surely a Cardiff win, right?
Cardiff City 0 - 1 Norwich City
A lot of our fans are seeing this as the first proper test of our abilities. Our away form is still being called into question despite a win against an awful (did I already mention that?) Ipswich side on our last venture from Carrow Road.
Couple that with our poor recent record against Cardiff and we may have a job on our hands getting anything.
Having said that, we must be due some luck against you, given we dominated both games last year and somehow only ended up with one point.
I'll go for 0-1 Norwich with a dodgy Lewis Grabban penalty deciding matters.
Wed Sep 10, 2014
By Matthew Southcombe
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=147027
Tom Forster, Norwich City fan and Canary for as long as he can remember, looks ahead to this weekend's showdown at the Cardiff City Stadium
Lewis Grabban is on fire for Norwich at the moment
Norwich City have enjoyed their start to life back in the Championship, picking up 10 points in their last four games as they head into this weekend's game against Cardiff City.
Both teams were relegated from the Premier League last season and both are bidding to bounce straight back this season, but something has to give this weekend.
WalesOnline caught up with Tom Forster, who is an admin of the relatively new, but popular Norwich Talk forum , to find out what the Canaries are thinking ahead of this weekend's game.
1) Many believe Cardiff have the strongest squad in the Championship. Agree?
I think most of the promotion favourites would probably say this about their team.
If you were to cast an eye over Norwich forums, you'd see plenty of Norwich fans saying much the same about our side. For me, it's a close one, but I wouldn't swap our squad for Cardiff's.
We've kept a large proportion of our Premier League squad and made some decent additions too - if Vadis Odidja Ofoe lives up to the hype amongst our fans, we will have too much for a lot of teams in the league.
2) Cardiff wanted Lewis Grabban in the summer - is he any good?
Lewis Grabban has scored five goals in five games, which is certainly not to be sniffed at. That said, a few questions have been raised about his all round game, but while he's knocking them in it's not really an issue.
Aside from Grabban, our midfield pairing of Alex Tettey and Bradley Johnson have been fantastic (particularly the former) and the battle in midfield could decide the game on Saturday.
Lewis Grabban is one to look out for this weekend
3) Many Cardiff fans view Norwich as the trip from hell. Is it the same for you?
I have been to the Cardiff City Stadium twice, though never as a Norwich fan.
Having spent a little bit of time in Cardiff, I went along a couple of times during the season it opened. I wasn't hugely impressed, I find new stadiums tend to feel a little soulless, but that's probably more my issue than a real comment on the stadium.
That said, a few years in, I dare say it's feeling a little more homely as you build some history and memories there.
Tom is not a fan of the Cardiff City Stadium
4) Of the relegated teams, who will bounce straight back?
I'm going to be confident here and say us. We've taken 10 points from five games against tough opposition that will all be in or around the play offs (the desperately poor Ipswich Town aside) and all the signs point to us being up there come the end of the season.
That said, there's no reason Cardiff can't do it as well; They're ticking along nicely and I'll be surprised if you don't at least make the play offs. Just a token mention for Fulham, I can't even see them making the top half. They've become a total basket case.
Fulham haven't had the best of starts
5) Some Cardiff fans are enjoying the Championship more than the Premier. Are you?
It's hard to argue with it purely from an entertainment point of view, but my issue is when you get fans (not many admittedly) that would rather be here for good.
As a club you want to be the best you can be and in this day in age, for clubs the size of Norwich and Cardiff, that means top half Premier League/Europa League.
That's the dream. To achieve that, you're going to have to spend a few, probably unenjoyable, years scrabbling around for points in the bottom half of the Premier League while you build.
So yes, in the short term it probably is more fun in the Championship, but I'd rather it was a fleeting visit.
6) Finally, let's have your prediction...surely a Cardiff win, right?
Cardiff City 0 - 1 Norwich City
A lot of our fans are seeing this as the first proper test of our abilities. Our away form is still being called into question despite a win against an awful (did I already mention that?) Ipswich side on our last venture from Carrow Road.
Couple that with our poor recent record against Cardiff and we may have a job on our hands getting anything.
Having said that, we must be due some luck against you, given we dominated both games last year and somehow only ended up with one point.
I'll go for 0-1 Norwich with a dodgy Lewis Grabban penalty deciding matters.
Re: ' Norwich Fan talking about Cardiff City for Sat's game
Wed Sep 10, 2014 3:25 pm
Have to agree..close win for the Canaries.
Re: ' Norwich Fan talking about Cardiff City for Sat's game
Wed Sep 10, 2014 6:47 pm
I remember some suggested Ipswich would be up there fighting for play-offs, but I have to agree with the Norwich guy. Ipswich really was terrible in that game, totally dominated by the away team. Gabbidon scored, but didn´t impress me much, to be honest. He had several chances, but really struggled to hit the target. At least in that game, he showed proof of limited technics.
Re: ' Norwich Fan talking about Cardiff City for Sat's game
Wed Sep 10, 2014 6:56 pm
Ipswich and Norwich are trips from hell but when you get there the Norwich and Ipswich are nice grounds to visit and nice places to see but the trip home if you lose is never ending 
Re: ' Norwich Fan talking about Cardiff City for Sat's game
Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:16 pm
' NORWICH CITY SITE '
Essential reading on this weekend's opponents
CARDIFF CITY
Nickname: The Bluebirds
Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
2013/14: 20th (Premier League)
Ground: Cardiff City Stadium
Fastest road route from Carrow Road: 265 miles (4 hours 34 minutes)
THE LOWDOWN
The £5m deadline-day recruit of Bruno Ecuele Manga capped a busy transfer window for Cardiff City as they start the rebuild following relegation from the Premier League.
Manga was one of ten new players signed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer over the summer, with nine heading in the opposite direction and a further six going out on loan.
Despite the upheaval they have made a promising start to life back in the Sky Bet Championship, like the Canaries losing just once up to now, and like City that defeat coming by a single goal away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Respectable draws at Blackburn Rovers and Fulham have backed up home victories over Huddersfield Town and Wigan Athletic, positioning the Bluebirds in ninth place in the table.
Vincent Tan’s rule of the club has generated plenty of success and headlines in recent seasons; a convincing Championship title-winning campaign in 2013 was followed up by a brave battle in the top flight last year but ultimate demotion.
On the honours board, Cardiff City have won the FA Cup (1927), three years after completing their best finish of runners-up in the First Division. More recently, they were beaten by Liverpool in the 2012 League Cup Final.
Their current squad contains three former Norwich players: David Marshall (2007-09), Tom Adeyemi (2008-13) and Anthony Pilkington (2011-14).
THE BOSS
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finally returned to English football in January this year, taking over from Malky Mackay at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The former Manchester United striker’s name had been linked with numerous vacant managerial posts after a successful three-year stint with Molde FK in his native Norway.
The job that brought him to back to these shores was the one to keep the Bluebirds in the Premier League, but despite them eventually finishing bottom in May he continues his union with the Welsh club for the 2014-15 campaign.
“These last few months have been extremely valuable in that I believe I am a far more mature manager as a result of the experience,” he told Wales Online.
Solskjaer made his name as an opportunistic forward for United during 11 years at Old Trafford, in which time he scored 128 goals in all competitions and earned himself the nickname the ‘baby-faced assassin’.
He stayed in Manchester when a knee injury forced his retirement in 2007, becoming manager of the club’s reserve team in 2008.
His move to Molde came on a four-deal in 2011, and he led them to the title in his first season in charge and then completed the defence of it a year later. Further success came with triumph in the Norwegian Cup in 2013 before his switch the Cardiff.
THE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: David Marshall, Simon Moore.
Defenders: John Brayford, Fabio, Juan Cala, Bruno Ecuele Manga, Ben Turner, Declan John, Matthew Connolly, Sean Morrison, Danny Gabbidon.
Midfielders: Peter Whittingham, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Craig Noone, Kim Bo-Kyung, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Aron Gunnarsson, Tom Adeyemi, Anthony Pilkington, Mats Moller Daehli, Joe Ralls, Guido Burgstaller.
Forwards: Kenwyne Jones, Adam le Fondre, Federico Macheda, Javi Guerra, Nicky Maynard, Etien Velikonja.
Essential reading on this weekend's opponents
CARDIFF CITY
Nickname: The Bluebirds
Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
2013/14: 20th (Premier League)
Ground: Cardiff City Stadium
Fastest road route from Carrow Road: 265 miles (4 hours 34 minutes)
THE LOWDOWN
The £5m deadline-day recruit of Bruno Ecuele Manga capped a busy transfer window for Cardiff City as they start the rebuild following relegation from the Premier League.
Manga was one of ten new players signed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer over the summer, with nine heading in the opposite direction and a further six going out on loan.
Despite the upheaval they have made a promising start to life back in the Sky Bet Championship, like the Canaries losing just once up to now, and like City that defeat coming by a single goal away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Respectable draws at Blackburn Rovers and Fulham have backed up home victories over Huddersfield Town and Wigan Athletic, positioning the Bluebirds in ninth place in the table.
Vincent Tan’s rule of the club has generated plenty of success and headlines in recent seasons; a convincing Championship title-winning campaign in 2013 was followed up by a brave battle in the top flight last year but ultimate demotion.
On the honours board, Cardiff City have won the FA Cup (1927), three years after completing their best finish of runners-up in the First Division. More recently, they were beaten by Liverpool in the 2012 League Cup Final.
Their current squad contains three former Norwich players: David Marshall (2007-09), Tom Adeyemi (2008-13) and Anthony Pilkington (2011-14).
THE BOSS
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finally returned to English football in January this year, taking over from Malky Mackay at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The former Manchester United striker’s name had been linked with numerous vacant managerial posts after a successful three-year stint with Molde FK in his native Norway.
The job that brought him to back to these shores was the one to keep the Bluebirds in the Premier League, but despite them eventually finishing bottom in May he continues his union with the Welsh club for the 2014-15 campaign.
“These last few months have been extremely valuable in that I believe I am a far more mature manager as a result of the experience,” he told Wales Online.
Solskjaer made his name as an opportunistic forward for United during 11 years at Old Trafford, in which time he scored 128 goals in all competitions and earned himself the nickname the ‘baby-faced assassin’.
He stayed in Manchester when a knee injury forced his retirement in 2007, becoming manager of the club’s reserve team in 2008.
His move to Molde came on a four-deal in 2011, and he led them to the title in his first season in charge and then completed the defence of it a year later. Further success came with triumph in the Norwegian Cup in 2013 before his switch the Cardiff.
THE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: David Marshall, Simon Moore.
Defenders: John Brayford, Fabio, Juan Cala, Bruno Ecuele Manga, Ben Turner, Declan John, Matthew Connolly, Sean Morrison, Danny Gabbidon.
Midfielders: Peter Whittingham, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Craig Noone, Kim Bo-Kyung, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Aron Gunnarsson, Tom Adeyemi, Anthony Pilkington, Mats Moller Daehli, Joe Ralls, Guido Burgstaller.
Forwards: Kenwyne Jones, Adam le Fondre, Federico Macheda, Javi Guerra, Nicky Maynard, Etien Velikonja.