So after the total non-event of transfer deadline day, I've decided to review our "best" (and I use the term very loosely) eleven. GK: Ruddy - Taking the massive step up from the Championship has clearly been a struggle for him, as he particularly demonstrated during the Chelsea match, giving away a stonewall penalty and knocking Drogba out. RB: Naughton - Another massive step up from a Leicester side (admittedly on loan) which didn't impress in the Championship, he is fast, just like Mr. "Olroight Neeyul woss all this about that Otsemobor", but pace alone won't cut it at this level. CB: Barnett - Injury prone, 50p head, gives away penalties, and slow. Everything you don't want from a CB at this level. CB: Richie De Laet - Or should that be Richie Mis-Take? Not only is his decision making is poor (passing for Chelsea's third goal), he is also a cynic and a cheat, hacking down Di Santo well inside the box. It was clear to see the agony Di Santo was left in after what could have been a career ending tackle. Not a nice player. LB: Tierney - Footballing wise Marc Tierney is actually quite solid, but psychologically I have my doubts. Labeled by many as "Mad" Marc Tierney, I doubt that he is mentally stable enough to handle the big games. Imagine Fergies mind games. RM: Bennett - Taken straight from League One to the Premiership. He's admittedly eager to impress, but is young and inexperienced and likely to crack under the pressure. Give me SWP on £50k a week any day. DM: Johnson - A thug signed from Dirty Leeds on a free. Shoots from everywhere on the pitch wasting valuable opportunities and throwing away possession. LM: Pilkington - Like Bennett, inexperienced and taken straight from League One. Unlike Bennett he came from a side which couldn't even escape the division. Also injury prone. AM: Hoolahan - Will be horrendously exposed at this level. Playing against more intelligent opposition will demonstrate what I knew all along - he's a one trick pony! He can turn the ball all he likes but gets nowhere for it. He's also too short to provide any sort of physical presence. CF: Morison - Has been thrown in at the deep end after impressing as part of a lacklustre Millwall squad. I think he was never part of PL's original plans (a striker with squad number FIVE?!?!?!) but our inability to bring in anyone else means he gets a guaranteed start. CF: Holt - His physical game simply won't cut it. It's all well and good being able to bully Championship defences, but against players the size of Vidic he looks lightweight. Gives away far too many fouls and also has a massive chip on his shoulder, demonstrated by his frankly embarrassing treatment of John Terry. So to summarise, we have been left with the dregs of our Championship squad and a handful of inexperienced players with poor judgment. This is in stark contrast to teams like QPR, who have had the financial backing of a board with the desire to stay up. Never in my time as a Norwich City fan have I been so disillusioned with the total impotence of the board and Paul Lambert, who seem perfectly happy to just enjoy their season in the big time. .... and if you believe that, you'll believe anything! OTBC!
It wasn't until I read the bit about Richie De Laet that it dawned on me that you were not serious Perhaps more seriously, the above is how some misguided fans of other clubs see us
That McNally, what the heck was he doing only giving us the majority of £40mill to spend. What was he doing sacking gunn then hiring the man who beat us 7-1 (cough ipswich cough). Seriously, good post though. Got a bit worried up until Johnson.
You forgot... MGR: Lambert- Never even played in the Premier League, let alone managed in it. Insists on changing his formation on the eve of big games and insists on bringing in British based players on managable wages with no top-flight experience. A poor man's Brendan Rodgers.
Surely you mean a rich man's Brendan Rodgers! Poor old Swans have no money, that's why they had to viciously chase poor 1p5wich for the pittance that they owed for the incomplete Priskin loan!
Pretty much agree with all that, think you were a bit harsh on Holt though as I thought he gave Terry the run-around last week and The Sun agree with me as they gave him Star Man. I think Pilkington is good as well
Hadn't considered that. Bugger! Please accept my apologies if any of the above becomes true, as it's my fault for tempting fate!
It's a spoof article of the type that PC - CanariesSoccer is famous for! Your response had the appearance of taking it seriously
Alas PC - I think you've hit the nail on the head. Not about all the players clearly, because some like Hoolahan are top drawer. The board though have gone into this expecting to be a Championship club next season. Do you think the MK Dons game highlighted a serious problem outside the first XI?
I think that all the MK Dons game highlighted was how much we care about cup competitions this season. I don't think it is coincidence that Norwich, Swansea and QPR ALL got knocked out first game by lower league oposition. I don't really think any of us put too much effort into getting through. And when you say first 11, We've actually used 17 players over our 3 Prem fixtures so far....
Not being pedantic, but 17 is closer to 2 teams than 1. (granted, not much closer). In my eyes, not one of the 17 has been terrible. One or two mistakes that need to be cut out, but in general they have all performed pretty well. I know that we only have 2pts from 3 games which on the face of it does not sound great, but we have been the better side for well over half of the game time so far including a long spell at Stamford Bridge. A win will come soon and when it does I just think we will be properly off and running.
Ahem. My good man it would appear that once again you have failed to see the irony for the irony when it was staring you in the face all along. Come on fella, thought you were quicker than that