Norwich City FC and Fantasy Football recommendations

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Norwich City are back in the Premier League. After being relegated in the 2013/14 season, they have come back strong and have returned to England’s top flight at the first time of asking. For myself and many others this, in all honesty, did not come as a huge surprise. They were well equipped for the Championship as their big name players remained at the club. Despite a few hiccups in the first half of the season, they attained promotion via the play-offs and deserve to be in the Premier League.

          The Canaries have a solid team that you would tip to stay up this year given the additions they have made and the future ones they may make. One of their most recent summer additions, Youseff Mulumbu, is a quality signing. He has been an unsung hero for West Brom for a number of seasons now, but his hard work has not gone unnoticed. With the likes of Raheem Sterling and Christian Benteke signing for Manchester City and Liverpool respectively, signings like Mulumbu often go unrecognised, but he could prove to be one of the bargains of the summer, especially considering that they acquired him for free. In truth, manager Alex Neil does not have to make a great number of additions to his squad, as he already has a plethora of talent at his disposal. Players such as Cameron Jerome, Nathan Redmond and Alexander Tettey were all superb in the Championship, and will no doubt want to show what they can do in the Premier League. However, it is no secret that adapting to the level required to stay in the top tier of English football is tricky, even when you have only been absent from the league for one season, like Norwich have. It will undoubtedly be a tough season, but Norwich look like a top flight team and have some brilliant players.

          For me, Cameron Jerome is a must in a fantasy team. He netted twenty-one times in all competitions last season, alongside a fair number of assists. He is big, powerful and sure to put defences through their paces. Other Norwich players to also consider would be the likes of Nathan Redmond, who contributes well to general play, along with good pace and skill. With this he is likely to get a number of assists. Michael Turner could also be an option. The towering centre-half is always an aerial threat from corners but may be a risk given the calibre of players he and his defensive team mates will be facing. There are however, a few players from Norwich who I would certainly avoid selecting. While no doubt a solid keeper, John Ruddy will be under a lot of pressure. With newly promoted teams, a lot of the time it is down to the goal keeper to keep their side in the game. While Ruddy is certainly capable of this, he is unlikely to keep many clean sheets and therefore is not a good selection for a fantasy team. Another player to avoid is Louis Grabban. Although he scored a respectable twelve goals last season in all competitions, he may not be played a great deal this season. He may either not be picked or may be sent out on loan at some point, so Jerome would definitely be the better option here. When choosing a squad, look out for those Norwich players, there are a few hidden gems in that side.

Everton v West Brom 2015

          Everton and West Brom both desperately needed the points today. Just one point separated the two sides in the table prior to kick off, and are both dangerously close to the relegation zone. That is what made the game such an important one. The odds were strongly in Everton's favour, with West Brom winning just one of their previous fifteen visits to Goodison Park. However, West Brom could not be under estimated. With Tony Pulis at the helm they are now a far more organised side. The home fans had to be patient with their team. Everyone was expecting the Baggies to travel to Merseyside tonight and be a well disciplined side, and that is exactly what they were.

         As you would expect from Everton, they started off controlling the game and keeping the ball for prolonged periods of time with little pressure from West Brom to close them down. Everton's ever threatening full backs, Coleman and Baines looked keen to get forward on every occasion and were the most threatening players on the pitch in the first half. In the opening ten minutes, West Brom had hardly touched the ball, let alone ventured in to Everton's half. The Toffee's continued to ask questions of West Brom's back line, but as you would expect from a Pulis team, they were resilient, and kept their shape well, rarely making mistakes. Everton turned up the tempo and created a number of chances, but Foster was more than capable of dealing with what was thrown at him. Eventually the pressure payed off. Just a few minutes before half time, Everton were awarded a penalty for a clumsy handball by Lescott. Mirallas stepped up, and rattled the post, much to the frustration of the Everton faithful. The teams went into the break all square.

          The second half continued just as the first had ended. Everton were relentless. There was no patient passing around the back, they drove at West Brom with purpose, and it seemed only a matter of time before Everton claimed the lead they deserved. However, far too often the final ball was simply not good enough from Everton. Despite all of their attacking, Ben Foster always seemed comfortable, and it helped him massively that the defence that stood in front of him was solid. While the fans stuck with Everton for the majority of the match, they became increasingly anxious, almost angry at the fact that their team were not comfortably winning this game. It seemed to just not be Everton's day, regardless of what they threw at West Brom. The game ended with the home fans booing and Roberto Martinez looking very frustrated.
          The West Brom defence could not be breached by Everton today. A point does not really help either side and they both still have a lot of work to do. However this draw is certainly more valuable for West Brom than it is for Everton, as you would expect that come May, West Brom would be in the relegation dog fight, and Everton will have sorted things out. Martinez will certainly see this as two points dropped, but it was a point nonetheless. West Brom showed the sort of fight tonight that Palace did last season under Tony Pulis, and I believe he will guide them to safety. As for Everton, they need to get over this bad spell. They have a lot of games to play, due to their Europa League qualification, and must be more efficient in games such as this, where they really should have bagged all three points.  

Cardiff City, the season so far

          It is fair to say that Cardiff have endured a rather shaky start to their 2014/15 campaign. After being relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season, everyone had high hopes that they would go straight back up. It was all set up to be a successful season with one of Europe's most promising managers, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, at the helm, and a team that had the experience of playing in the Premier League. But unfortunately, due to a number of changes within the club and the on going battle between the fans and the owner for a return to the traditional Cardiff City, the season so far has been one of disappointment.
          After just a few games into his first season in the championship, Solskjaer was sacked. In truth it was a decision that most fans saw coming. The Norwegian had not managed to keep the Bluebirds in the Premier League and failed to deliver in the Championship. Swiftly after that Russell Slade was named Cardiff's new manager. The former Leyton Orient leader continuously emphasises the need for togetherness and hard work within the camp, but this so far, has certainly not been reflected on the pitch.
          Despite a strong start for Slade, results have been going down hill and the defeats are not unlucky ones, they are convincing. Most recently their 5-3 away defeat to Bournemouth and their 3-2 and 4-2 defeats at home to Brentford and Watford respectively. They look fragile and it is clear that the majority of the summer signings have yet to settle. In particular the strikers have been very poor. Adam Le Fondre and Macheda were recruited during the summer and they have both been woeful so far. They look sluggish, are devoid of pace and do not seem to have any sort of a strikers instinct. It seems as though there is still a lot to work on.
          The season has produced a lot of negativity but there are some positives. There are a number of promising youngsters that have made the squad such as, Declan John, Kadeem Harris and Joe Ralls. Surely Slade could consider taking a leaf out of Louis Van Gaal's handbook, and give the youngsters more of a run in the team to give them confidence. It was also give them team some much needed pace in the case of John and Harris. The plays offs or promotion in general looks a long way off but maybe Cardiff fans can find hope in the fact that in recent seasons, there has always been a team that has put together a good run of results leading up to the end of the season, normally resulting in them swooping into the play offs. To repeat, this seems very unlikely with the club like it is at the moment, but there is always a chance that this year that team could be Cardiff.
          Cardiff have a lot of work to do if they are serious about clinching promotion. There does not seem to be much passion in their play and it is frustrating for the supporters who spend their money on tickets to watch them perform well below par, particularly in front of the home fans. It is crucial for the club that they get back to winning ways and show everyone they want a return to the premier league. The cup match later today against Colchester is a crucial one. They must win that game, not only for financial reasons, but also for the sake of the Cardiff faithful.

Everton v Krasnodar Europa League group qualifiers 2014

          Everton have performed well in the Europa League. Before kick-off, they were already guaranteed to progress to the next round of the competition, so there was no pressure on the team to get something from the game.  It was a chance to give their reserve players some game time, a good tactic, as these players are keen to impress and show the manager their worth. As for the Russian side, they have had a dismal European campaign. They sat rock bottom of Group H with not a single win to their name before kick-off, and would remain there if they did not take points from this fixture. However, a win tonight against a weakened Everton side would renew some confidence within the squad.

          Despite neither side having anything to play for in this match, it was a good contest. It was great to see that Roberto Martinez had chosen a lot of young players, a number of them being Everton academy graduates and, despite a few lapses in concentration at the back, they settled into the game well. Garbutt the left back was particularly impressive. He got forward often and was always looking to run at the defence and cause them problems. Despite starting promisingly, there was not a lot of creativity in the final third. On a night that was set for the youngsters of Everton to shine, it was typical that, instead, the visitors had the majority of the chances and just after the half hour mark, Krasnodar took the lead. The game then became a very open affair, as Everton searched hard for an equaliser, and Krasnodar pressed for a second. Everton re-asserted themselves in the game but half time came at the wrong moment for them, as they were just starting to get into a good rhythm. Everton went into half time 1-0 down.

           Roberto Martinez looked increasingly frustrated with his young side. Their passing football was easy on the eye but they lacked any cutting edge and rarely caused the Russian sides defence any difficulties. Everton were finding it hard to cope with Krasnodar, and if the visitors were more clinical with the opportunities presented to them, they could have been three up by the hour mark. The second half lacked the intensity of the first, and the game rather petered out towards the end, with the away side maintaining their advantage, and leaving Goodison park with all three points.

          It was a valiant effort from Everton's youngsters and it was good to see them acquire some match practice. In patches, they played stylish football, but really did not have anyone who looked like they were going to find the net today. Nonetheless, they now have been given a taster of the Europa League and can take many positives from this evenings contest. Krasnodar did well to come to Goodison Park and take all three points today, despite being against a weakened opposition. At least they have now recorded a win in this year's Europa League, despite having been already knocked out of the competition prior to kick-off. Everton can now focus on their domestic campaign. They will feel confident for Monday night's game against QPR as their first team has now had a substantial rest.

Cardiff v Rotherham Preview 2014

          Cardiff have improved in recent weeks. The club seems far more stable than it previously was at the start of the season. The new players have settled in well, and with Russell Slade at the helm, they look well organised. Cardiff's aim is to occupy a spot in the top six by the end of the calendar year, and they are on course to achieve that at the moment. Last weeks win over Watford was a great step forward, despite it not being the most convincing of victories, and it was enjoyable to see that at the end of the game, the manager went over to the fans to celebrate, portraying his passion for the club.

          Rotherham will be a fixture that many fans will expect Cardiff to take all three points from, but the players can not be complacent. Rotherham are hovering just above the relegation zone but that does not mean they are a weak side. Russell Slade knows all about Rotherham having lost to them in the League One Play Off final last year when he was in charge of Leyton Orient, so there is no doubt he will want revenge. Cardiff are unfortunately without Pilkington and Manga who have suffered injuries which rules them out of the game. Both these players are key to Cardiff's side, but given their strength in depth, they should be able to bring in players that can do the job just as well. With the Bluebirds being at home against a team that is likely to be involved in a relegation battle this year, anything less than a win will be disappointing.

          As for Rotherham, they have found life hard in the Championship so far, but should certainly not be under estimated. They have recorded famous wins against the likes of Wolves and Blackburn at the start of the season, but as is the story for many promoted sides, they find it hard to consistently perform at the level required to compete with the teams in this league.

          There is no doubt that Cardiff should win this game. They are more than capable of winning the match comfortably, but it will not come easy. Rotherham are fighting for their place in this league and will not go down without a fight. They know they have a challenge on their hands today, with Cardiff being one of the stronger sides in the Championship, but they will certainly give Russell's Slade's men a run for their money. However, I do believe Cardiff's quality will shine through, and they will record their ninth win of the season. 

Prediction: Cardiff 2-0 Rotherham

Arsenal v Borussia Dortmund preivew 2014

          After back to back defeats in the Premier League, Arsenal will be looking for all three points in tonight's Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund. Where as Dortmund have already secured qualification to the round of 16, it is still possible, however unlikely, that either Anderlecht or Galatasary could over take Arsenal. It would be a major upset, but I am sure the pessimistic Arsenal fans will not be satisfied until qualification has been confirmed. Dortmund are enjoying their time in Champions League. The German giants have been victorious in all four of their games, and have done so in style. They have been almost flawless, scoring 13 goals and conceding just one. Despite them losing a number of big players, they could prove to be a surprise package this year.
          Arsenal have endured a very slow start to their season, and the pressure continues to mount on Arsene Wenger. They have gone into their season with just six first team defenders for four places, which is ludicrous. It has come as no surprise that they are now riddled with many problems, such as having to play Monreal at centre back, where he looks very out of place. To make things worse, Giroud and Wilshere are unavailable for tonight, but they can find solitude in the fact that Koscielny has returned from injury.
          As for Dortmund, they too have had a terrible start to their domestic campaign. They currently sit in 16th position, and are just two points of bottom place. Jurgen Klopp is also going to have to cope without the prolific Marco Reus, who is reportedly out of action, through injury, for the rest of the calendar year. However, Dortmund look like a totally different team in the Champions League. As previously mentioned, they are storming their group,  having won all of their games so far. It is now a case of staying professional and seeing out the rest of their fixtures, which I am sure they will do.
          Despite their problems, Dortmund can always rely on their fans for backing. They are famous for their undying support which is quite the contrast to Arsenal, and I think this will be a key factor in tonight's game. Should Dortmund take the lead, the Arsenal fans will get on the players backs and it will put them under pressure. Along with this, Arsenal have a number of issues at the back that have yet to be resolved. Dortmund have showed they are a team, and do not rely on individual stars, where as Arsenal do to an extent, in the form of Sanchez. I think Arsenal are in for a tough night.

Crystal Palace v Liverpool review 2014

          Both of these teams have not had the greatest of starts to their 2014/15 campaign. Last season, they each performed far better than many expected, with Palace surviving relegation, and Liverpool only a whisker away from claiming the title. On that note, this fixture will bring back bad memories for any Liverpool fan. The comeback from Palace last season left Luis Suarez in tears, along with many of their supporters, which ultimately contributed to Liverpool's season ending on a low. Against all the odds, Palace were exceptional last season, and fully deserve their place in the top flight. However, with the departure of Tony Pulis at the start of season, they may find things a lot more difficult this time around.

          The game could not have got off to a worse start for Neil Warnock's troops. It took just a minute and a half for Liverpool to grab the lead. Lallana played a beautifully weighted, lofted ball over to Lambert, who kept a cool head to slot home past Speroni. Palace responded well and immediately went searching for an equaliser. Eventually their persistence payed off. Yannick Bolasie, undoubtedly Palace's most threatening player in the first half, was given far too much room to release a thunderbolt that rattled the post, which rebounded into the path of Dwight Gayle. He gleefully tapped it past the scrambling Mignolet, to send Selhurst Park into pandemonium. The rest of the half was rather subdued, with few chances created by either team. The two sides went in level at half time.

          Liverpool made offensive changes in the hope of attaining all three points. Borini came on for Lallana to give them more fire power up top. But the substitutions hardly made an impact. Instead, Palace continued their high tempo level of play and looked threatening whenever they ventured into the Liverpool half. They broke Liverpool down through, once again, a piece of individual brilliance from Bolasie down the line. He fired a cross in towards Joe Ledley who side foot finished between the legs of Mignolet. To add insult to injury, Palace went on to get a third and it was the goal of the game. A superb free kick from Mile Jedinak that curled over the wall into the top right hand corner. From then on, it was a case of Palace staying professional and seeing out the game, which they did. Palace lifted themselves to 15th place while Liverpool remain in 12th.

          Liverpool do not look half as good as they did last season, and seem to still be in a period of transition. The new signings do not seem to be making much of an impact, most noticeably Markovic and Balotelli, who have produced thoroughly underwhelming performances when they have been picked. Alarm bells must now be ringing for Brendan Rodgers. His teams morale is shattered, and he has a tough Champions league game in mid week to contend with. As for Palace, they came into this game sitting just one point above bottom side QPR. It was vital they got something from this game and they fought hard to do so. Neil Warnock must also be delighted at the fact that his team do not seem to have lost their fighting spirit that they were famous for under Tony Pulis. Palace were well worth their win today, Liverpool are crumbling.