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Leeds United (4-3-3): Meslier; Byram, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Gruev, Kamara, Gray; Summerville, Rutter, Gnonto. Subs: Darlow, Roberts, Cooper, Cresswell, Shackleton, Anthony, James, Piroe, Joseph.
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Charlie Brooker once wrote that, though he didn’t like football, he could find pleasure in it “because all human suffering amuses me”. So we can only assume that, like the rest of us, he takes manic pleasure in the playoff system, specifically instituted to make people ill.
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Leeds must wonder how it came to this. Just a few weeks ago, they were confident of automatic promotion, boasting a stable of varied attacking talents good enough for the Premier League. However to their chagrin – and that of the rest of the division, eager to see them gone at the earliest possible opportunity – they contrived four defeats and a draw from their final six games with even the sole win a struggle. As such , though they might now gather themselves and blow away the opposition … they also look primed to endure devastating heartbreak for our entertainment.
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Except, the playoffs being the playoffs, Norwich – who finished sixth, closer to Millwall in 13th than to Leeds, 17 points in front – finished the season in similarly sketchy form, two draws and a defeat completing their league programme. The side that beat Ipswich a month ago might show … but likewise so might the one that just lost to relegated Birmingham. No one knows anything.
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What we do know, though, is that this will be a lot of extremely intense fun. Norwich know they’ve to go for it and, as the fifth-highest scorers in the division have the wherewithal to force the issue. Leeds, though, have the second-best defence and are themselves the fourth-highest scorers, which is to say getting after them is a dangerous business. So stick with us because, either today or when the teams reconvene on Thursday night, all-consuming misery is imminent.
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Kick-off: 12pm BST
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important events
“I totally agree with lining up players by position!” says Doug French. “Shanghai Kopite here in Malta…and I started Petition against numerical ordering. This issue has been ignored for too long! ”
A heroic work.
I’m really looking forward to seeing what Archie Gray will be like today. OK, some of that is based on the last name, but I like what he’s looked like this season, and if he can adapt to a more attacking role, he could be a key man here. There is a gender.
“Underdogs can be dangerous and intense,” David Wagner told Sky. Meanwhile, Daniel Farke said Leeds’ second win over Norwich this season would make no difference to today’s events. It’s becoming clear, I can tell.
“We are not upset by Bamford’s absence.” David Wood writes. “He’s one of the reasons Leeds are in the play-offs.”
Probably – it’s safe to say his finishing isn’t reliable. But as a focus, I wonder if we’re going to miss out on someone who can play, especially away when we’re under pressure.
Noon is not the time for a soccer game – Especially when it’s hot. I don’t know if it will make any difference, but I’m almost certain that the atmosphere at Elland Road on Thursday night will give Leeds a good result that Norwich won’t get in their lunchtime kick-off.
At Sky Studio, Manager Troy Deeney believes Norwich will not let up and may try to force Leeds to have the ball on the counter. We’ll see, but I don’t know if David Wagner will pass on this opportunity. Especially early on, he’ll want to make his team the protagonist.
Unrelated question: Is it possible to run 5 kilometers in less than 20 minutes without proper athletic ability? Asking my only friend.
So how does this turn out? My feeling is that Norwich are trying to make this a physical battle, trying to get to Leeds early and put pressure on them before they settle down. Leeds, on the other hand, will aim to play in midfield, especially if Rutter is up front, giving them the range to hold onto the ball and convey to their extra class.
And here he is…
Email! “Gordon James Ramsay was born in Johnston, Scotland,” says Andrew Bartlett, and he is right. He was on the Rangers’ books as a youngster. But he still likes to talk about good, honest, classic British food.
Leeds, on the other hand, are fearful for their striker after Patrick Bamford’s knee gives out. As a result, Giorgino Rutter will play centre-forward, while Archie Gray will take over the attacking midfield role, replacing Joel Pirouet, who started last time out.
Otherwise, Norwich will make two changes from the team that lost at St Andrews. Dimitris Giannulis will replace Sam McCullum at left-back. In midfield, Jakob Sorensen was dropped to the bench and Marcelino Nuñez moved from number 10. Jonathan Lowe will make his first start since January in his place.
First of all: Each of these teams would be welcomed in the Premier League for the courtesy of listing members in order of position rather than number. A decent, honest, old-school English football club.
team!
Norwich City (4-2-3-1): gun. Stacey, Duffy, Gibson, Gianoulis. Nuninez, MacLean. Lowe, Sara, Sainz. Sgt. sub: Long, Hanley, Butt, McCallum, Fisher, Sorensen, Welch, Fassnacht, Van Hoydonk.
Leeds United (4-3-3): Meslier. Bayram, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo. Gruev, Kamara, Gray. Somerville, Rutter, Gnont. sub: Darlow, Roberts, Cooper, Cresswell, Shackleton, Anthony, James, Pillow, Joseph.
preamble
Charlie Brooker once wrote that although he didn’t like soccer, he could find joy in it because “all human suffering amuses me.” So we can only assume that he, like the rest of us, is manically enjoying a playoff system designed specifically to make people sick.
Leeds must be wondering how this happened. Just a few weeks ago, they boasted enough consistent and versatile attacking talent for the Premier League to be assured of automatic promotion. But unfortunately for them, and also for the rest of the division who would have liked to see them go at the earliest opportunity, they have contrived four losses and one draw in their last six games, with only one win. Even I struggled. So while they may now join forces to blow away the opposition, they also appear ready to endure devastating heartbreaks for our entertainment.
However, apart from being in the play-offs, Norwich, who finished 6th and are closer to 13th-placed Millwall than Leeds, who are 17 points adrift, finished the season with a similarly rough record of two draws and one loss, and finished the season in the league with a similarly rough record. Finished the war program. The team that beat Ipswich a month ago might show that…but equally so might the team that lost to newly relegated Birmingham. No one knows anything.
But what we do know is that this is going to be some pretty intense fun. Norwich know he has to deliver and he is the fifth highest scorer in the division so he has the means to solve the problem. However, Leeds have the second-best defense and are also the fourth-highest scorers themselves, meaning chasing them is a dangerous task. Stick with us today, or when the teams reconvene Thursday night, as an all-consuming dire situation looms.
Kick-off: 12pm (BST)
