The Canaries of Carrow Road - Norwich City FC (FIFA 13)

[southernmetalhead]

Barclays Premier League - Norwich City vs. Liverpool

NORWICH - Norwich City manager southernmetalhead made a change to his Starting XI prior to the matchup with Liverpool at Carrow Road on Saturday. Inserted in were two English youngsters, 23-year-old striker Chris Martin, and 19-year-old midfielder Harry Kane. What resulted turned out to be a stroke of genius on southernmetalhead's part as Martin potted a brace while Kane added the other goal in a Canaries' 3-1 triumph over the struggling Reds.

All would not start well for Norwich City as they found themselves down 1-0 in just the 7th minute when Nuri Sahin dribbled into the box and fired a shot, which happened to deflect perfectly off a Canaries' defender to Fabio Borini. The Italian knew just what to do with it, sending an easy chance into the back of the net by a helpless John Ruddy.

Liverpool continued to attack and Steven Gerrard would come close to doubling the lead in the 11th minute when his long but quality chance from 30 yards out had to be parried over the crossbar by Ruddy.

After such a sluggish start, Norwich City would step up their game and Joao Rojas forced a right footed save by Doni in the 22nd minute which was followed up by a missed chance on a header from Grant Holt. Martin then appeared in the 38th minute with a dangerous 17 yard strike that Doni had to stop with a diving right arm save.

Despite the missed chances, momentum had swung The Canaries way and they broke through in the 42nd minute. Rojas sent a cross into the box that Martin battled Liverpool defender Sebastien Coates for when the ball was knocked to the ground along with Coates. Now alone, Martin sent a shot that Doni made another great right foot save on, but a rebound allowed Martin to follow up with another chance that found goal and evened the score 1-1.

The game would seemed to be headed for a stalemate at the break, but it was not to be as incredibly Norwich City scored again in the 45th minute, shocking Brendan Rodgers' club. Robert Snodgrass had a deceiving 20 yard shot parried away by Doni, but the ball fell to the foot of a waiting Kane who sent a volley past the Brazilian goalkeeper for his first career BPL goal and a 2-1 Canaries' lead.

In the 2nd half an uneventful first 30 minutes gave way to another Norwich City goal in the 75th minute when a Jonathan Howson through ball sliced open The Reds' defense, and Martin chipped his second goal of the game over the left shoulder of Doni to give southernmetalhead's side a vital two goal cushion.

Not giving up, an all out attacking Liverpool forced a Sebastien Bassong giveaway in the 85th minute which left Oussama Assaidi one-on-one with Ruddy, but the Norwich City keeper came up with a save on Assaidi and on a follow-up chip by Borini to preserve a 3-1 win.

Now emerging from the beginning of their Barclays Premier League death march with 4 points from matchups with Newcastle United and Liverpool, up next for Norwich City is a trip to Stamford Bridge and 1st place Chelsea. southernmetalhead's side will look to keep the good results coming as a win versus The Blues would have The Canaries near the very pinnacle of the BPL table.

Sep 29, 2012 - Norwich City vs Liverpool
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Norwich City (3-3-0)	2	1	3
Liverpool (1-3-2)	1	0	1

Goals
LIV - Borini 7'
NOR - C.Martin 42'
NOR - Kane 45'
NOR - C.Martin 75'

Bookings
None

[southernmetalhead]

October 1, 2012

Five Called for International Duty

With the strong play of Norwich City in the 2012-13 Barclays Premier League season, national teams around the globe have begun to take notice of some Canaries' players and sent out invitations to them for their representation. In total, five players for southernmetalhead's side will be leaving from October 5 to 11 for international duty.

Called up for a second time in a little over a month will be midfielder Wesley Hoolahan for the Republic of Ireland, along with defender Russell Martin and midfielder Robert Snodgrass for Scotland.

Joining those three will be defender Sebastien Bassong who has been called to represent Cameroon, and midfielder Joao Rojas who leaves to represent Ecuador.

The players will not miss any BPL time as Norwich City faces Chelsea on October 3 and will not take to the pitch again until October 15 against Manchester United.

[southernmetalhead]

September 26, 2012
Everton 1-0 Newcastle United
Tottenham 3-1 Aston Villa
West Ham 2-2 Arsenal

September 27, 2012
West Brom 0-1 QPR

September 29, 2012
Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea
Everton 2-0 Southampton
Fulham 1-2 Manchester City
Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham
Norwich City 3-1 Liverpool
Reading 0-1 Newcastle United
Stoke City 0-2 Swansea City
Sunderland 1-2 Wigan Athletic

September 30, 2012
Aston Villa 1-0 West Brom

[southernmetalhead]

Barclays Premier League - Chelsea vs. Norwich City

LONDON - Norwich City and Chris Martin made the rest of the Barclays Premier League take notice as The Canaries stunned formerly 1st place Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the back of a Martin hat trick to win 3-0 and propel southernmetalhead's club to 3rd in the BPL table, jumping The Blues and putting themselves just 2 points back of league leaders Manchester United.

The goal scoring opened quick for Norwich City as Martin potted his first of the game just 7 minutes in when after a set up from Joao Rojas, the Englishman sent a 15 yard strike into the right corner of the net by Chelsea goalkeeper Ross Turnbull.

Chelsea responded with chances of their own from Frank Lampard in the 16th minute and Eden Hazard in the 29th minute, but both times Canaries keeper John Ruddy was up for the challenge with spectacular right handed saves.

Norwich City would get a final chance in the 1st half on a Wesley Hoolahan free kick in the 39th minute, but defender Michael Turner's header sailed just over the crossbar.

Feeling the pressure of being down 1-0 at halftime, Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo made two big substitutions going into the 2nd half, replacing Frank Lampard with Juan Mata and Fernando Torres with Karim Benzema as he looked to spark The Blues' offense.

In fact, Chelsea came so very close to tying the game in the 54th minute on a David Luiz header from a corner, but an alert Hoolahan cleared a sure goal off the line from his position at the right post.

Another Chelsea chance followed in the 65th minute from sub Benzema, but the French striker inexplicably missed a chance from 9 yards out, failing to get his shot on target against a relieved Ruddy and Norwich City.

Those misses from Chelsea would be costly, as Norwich City made them pay by doubling the lead in the 78th minute. Anthony Pilkington split David Luiz and Mikel firing a shot from 8 yards out that Turnbull made a right toe save on. Martin followed up with a volley that hit the left post, rolled across the goal line, dinged off the right post, and came back to Martin who this time tucked a shot under Turnbull's right arm for the remarkable 2-0 lead.

From then on it was all Norwich City as a deflated Chelsea side never responded. Two near misses on goals followed for southernmetalhead's side as Grant Holt hit the left post in the 86th minute, and Martin had a goal called back for offside in the 88th minute. Two minutes later though, Martin would get his hat trick as with his back to goal from 8 yards out in the 90th minute, he turned and fired for one final finisher in a game the 23-year-old and Norwich City fans will never forget.

Now sitting in 3rd place with 15 points through 7 games, Norwich City will face a new number one side in Manchester United at Old Trafford on October 15. The Red Devils have 17 points through 7 games, one point ahead of local rivals Manchester City, and will look to hold off an upstart Canaries team looking to make miracles keep happening.

Oct 3, 2012 - Chelsea vs Norwich City
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Chelsea (4-2-1)	0	0	0
Norwich City (4-3-0)	1	2	3

Goals
NOR - C.Martin 7'
NOR - C.Martin 78'
NOR - C.Martin 90'

Bookings
None