OPPO VIEW: NCFC

A long midweek trip to Carrow Road... just perfect! We spoke to the lads from the Beyond the Barclay Podcast to discuss their somewhat mixed season, how they think this match will go and what's gone wrong for them in 2025.

With six games left Norwich are 11th in the Championship, sat on 52 points. You're eight points off play-offs, is that still the aim at this late stage?

The play-off dream for Norwich is over for this season, we’ve been too inconsistent all year showing some occasional flashes of brilliance but too many poor results. Especially away from home. We’ve really struggled with injuries. But in honesty, I’d always seen this year as a transitional one anyway.

What are your thoughts on manager Johannes Hoff Thorup?

As above, he's shown signs of brilliance in his football but is probably working with players that he doesn’t want/need currently in his setup. He still needs a few transfer windows to get his own men in and have a group of players who trust what he is trying to achieve.

Borja Sainz is your (and the division's) top scorer with 17 goals. What can we expect from him?

He has gone off the boil a bit recently, after having a purple patch from September to December. Since his six match ban for spitting at Chris Mepham he hasn’t really been the same player, I felt he didn’t really fit into the manager's system early on but he works hard coming off the left wing... although he can be petulant sometimes. I think he’ll move on in this summer.

Other than Sainz, who are some of your best players?

Josh Sargent is the obvious choice. Despite being out injured for a third of the season he’s still scored a fair few goals. In some quarters he is seen as the best striker in the Championship. Emiliano Marcondes, who came in on a free transfer, has also looked good.

Which Sunderland player worries you the most?

Wilson Isidor looks like a solid centre forward. You also can't ignore the hype around Jobe Bellingham!

What’s your score prediction for the game? Goalscorers?

2-2: A Josh Sargent double on our end.

Where do you predict both sides to finish this season?

Sunderland as they are, 12th-14th for Norwich.

Finally, where should the travelling Sunderland fans visit for a pre-match pint?

The Coach And Horses is a good pub, a five minute walk from Norwich train station, they have their own brewery and do good food. The pub is open to away fans.