Who will replace Chopra? Norwich match preview

Last updated : 20 October 2006 By Michael Morris
Missing
City's leading scorer has picked up 5 yellow cards and has been issued with a one match ban. The question now is who will replace him?

One option is to move Paul Parry from the midfield to replace Chopra and then bring in either Malvin Kamara or Willo Flood to cover Parry's position. It's a sensible option but it means changing the dynamic of the team. Last week we were without Kevin McNaughton, Jones brought in a replacement full back and the team dynamic did not change and with James Chambers in the side we have won both our games.

So if Dave Jones is thinking the same way who will come off the bench to replace Chopra?

Personally I'd give Luigi Glombard a go. He's the quicker of the strikers we keep on the bench. Kevin Campbell is the other option or could Andrea Ferretti come from outside the current 16 to make a name for himself?

Ultimately it's down to Dave Jones to decide and he's not done too bad so far in selecting his teams this season.

Speaking ahead of the game Dave Jones has made it clear that it's Michael Chopra's own fault he's not flying to Norfolk with the rest of the team. Two of Chopra's bookings have been for dissent. Jones will not stop his players from tackling and running the risk of getting yellow carded but he is not impressed when players are booked needlessly.

"If you are getting booked for dissent, then that's the biggest crime you can do as a player. They are worthless bookings. You're just picking up points for no reason whatsoever.

"If you shout at the referee or show dissent to the linesman, he's never going to change his mind, so you're always going to get points for that," said Jones.

"We've basically stopped that in this club. But, if the referee's booked him for a tackle, then I'm not going to stop my players from tackling people, no way.I can't stop people tackling or being aggressive in the way they play because that's part of it.

"What I can stop is the stupid bookings for things like dissent. It's Michael's problem because he's the one who picked up the five bookings and he's the one who's going to miss the Norwich game."

City go into the game 6 points clear at the top of the table and looking for a 6th straight victory. It won't be easy, traditionally we've been poor at Carrow Rd, only one win ever in the history of the fixtures between the clubs. We also face a side with a new manager. Peter Grant started his new job last Monday and within 48 hours had taken 3 points from Birmingham at St Andrews.

Muted celebration
With our top scorer missing there will be plenty of attention on the leagues leading scorer. Robert Earnshaw has cracked in 9 league goals this season. The last time he faced City was at Ninian Park at the end of last season and of course he popped up to score the only goal of the game to give Norwich an away win.

There are 10 Championship games on Saturday with one on Sunday and one on Monday. The Black Country derby between WBA and Wolves is on Sunday with Coventry v Colchester on Monday. Saturday's fixtures are

DerbyvBirmingham15.00
LeicestervC.Palace15.00
Luton TownvLeeds Utd15.00
NorwichvCardiff City15.00
PlymouthvBurnley15.00
Preston NEvHull City15.00
Sheff WedsvQPR15.00
SouthamptonvStoke City15.00
SouthendvIpswich15.00
SunderlandvBarnsley15.00