Norwich City v Barnsley
January 16, 2009
Norwich City v Barnsley (17th January 2009 @ 3pm)
Well as predicted last weekend’s weather caused a bit of trouble with the fixtures and our selection failed to make an appearance, lets hope with the warmer weather this week that it won’t be a problem. Looking down this weekend’s list of fixtures, a few jumped out as a bit of value but we’ve plumped for the game that sees Norwich in 21st take on Barnsley currently in 16th position.
A run of 1 win in 7 games including losing their last 3 saw Glenn Roeder lose his job as Norwich manager this week, many names already being touted about but it seems Aidy Boothroyd is quietly fancied to get the job. They say bad things happen in three’s so after Leroy Lita’s recall to Reading, being knocked out of the cup by Charlton and Roeder losing his job many Norwich fans will hope that’s the end of their miserable run. They currently sit one place above the relegation zone and are only out of the drop zone on goals difference, looking at their bare form they have lost their last 3 and only 1 win in 7 games it doesn’t fill you with much confidence but most of their defeats this season have been by the odd goal and this includes their last three league games. At Carrow Road they fare not bad having won 5 drawn 3 and lost 5 and always get a respectable home following including the lovely Delia!
Barnsley lie in 16th and 6 points above the relegation zone. Simon Davey’s side include stalwarts such as Darren Moore, Rob Kozluk and Jon Macken but also includes the likes of De Silva, Diego Leon, Mounis El Haimour and Marciano Van Homoet and I think its safe to say those boys weren’t born in Barnsley. Whilst some of the names in their squad aren’t easily recognisable the tykes are having a steady season and with only 2 defeats in their last 6 games are in pretty steady form, however an away record of 8 defeats in 11 games so far this season scoring only 10 goals in the process doesn’t inspire me with much confidence.
Norwich have this week recalled last season’s top scorer Jamie Cureton from his loan spell at Barnsley and which ever two out of Arturo Lupoli, Jamie Cureton or Carl Cort play against Barnsley it’s fair to say they possess a likely goal threat. Jonathan Grounds has arrived on loan from Middlesbrough and it’s likely that he’ll be paired with Gary Docherty in the heart of the City defence, if he can help shore up the back I would expect Norwich to start climbing the table. Im not at all impressed with Barnsley’s away form and take the Norwich lads to pose a likely goal threat and therefore I take the home team to prevail. Shop around for the best price but Stanjames’s 6/5 about a home win will do for us.
Norwich City to beat Barnsley
1pt win @ 6/5
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Just For Fun: One from each division
Chelsea to beat stoke
Huddersfield to beat swindon
Morecambe to beat Gillingham
Treble pays 5.09/1 with Stanjames
