This has just popped up on the BBC site http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15150832.stm So at the moment we have Rusty, Crofts, Morison, and Jackson who are internationals in their own right. Tierney and Johnson are, if we believe the media, being seriously considered for call ups. Then we have Ruddy and Hoolahan. The way Ruddy is playing at the moment, I don't see how Stockdale, who is playing at a lower level, can be in the squad ahead of him, and I don't think I need to go over Hoolahan being repeatedly over-looked by Trapatoni. When was the last time we had this many actual or realistically potential internationals in our squad?
I know there's the risk they could get injured, but then that could happen in training, in a league match, hell, it could happen in the team hotel at the next away game. But as a Norwich supporter, I'm happy that our players are finally getting some recognition for playing well instead of being over looked because they don't play in London, Manchester or Merseyside
Or look at it the other way they play in a team with some excellent players against other excellent players and it helps them improve their game, boosts their morale and increases their fitness levels - against the possibility of getting injured and if you're going to worry about that then best off not getting out of bed in the mornings...
There is no doubt you have made a good start to the season, you should have beaten Man Utd, and would have deserved it. However are there any concerns with you, that your brand of football , which has taken the division by surprise, might be worked out, and thus losing the surprise element, as it has happened to teams in the past.
i think the big difference between ourselves and say swansea is that we have the ability to mix our game up a bit. if we need to play longer and more direct, we can do it. if we need to play intricate passing around the box, we can do it. if we need to play rough, we can do it. swansea got found out a bit in the championship last year, certainly on their travels, so i'm confident that we out of all three promoted clubs stand the best chance. there are just too many hotheads at qpr for them to have a smooth ride. they may stay up but you need a harmonious squad. both city and swansea will have that. its annoying that we keep getting compared to blackpool... both city and swansea are better teams than they were.
It's a positive for the players that their getting the recognition they deserve. How Hoolahan is constantly not included in the Ireland squad is beyond me when they've used Championship and League One players.
The thing is I don't think we have had a particular "brand of football". In our first five games we had five different starting line-ups and started with formations 4-1-2-1-2, 4-4-2, 3-5-2 and 4-4-1-1. We have since stuck by 4-4-1-1, but at Bolton the emphasis was on wide players getting forward, at home against Sunderland we focussed on quick passing and against Man Utd it was men behind the ball then getting forward at pace. No two games have been the same, which is why opposition managers will never be able to 'work-us-out'. A combination of a tactical genius for a manager and disciplined players willing to carry out his instructions to the letter is the key to our success at the moment.
Now is this the same bradley johnson who was freebie from leeds that we got warned about being absalute useless waste of space and wont have a chance in the premier league!!?? I know its only the provisional squad but still, for a player whos only been at the top level for 5 minutes, he must be doing something very right
It is a strange place to visit sometimes. A few of them are level headed but many are not, those that are not just ridicule anything that is not Leeds. Many are basing their judgement on Johnson's performances for them last season and most have not seen him play this season but are happy to judge all the same. Stands to reason he has come from a big club to a little club so he cannot possibly be any better
thanks for the mocking there thai.... much appreciated . I do think as a whole we are happier with our current midfield. If bradders did sign, then he woulda been back-up, there is no question. But to be fair, we did offer him a contract and we did want him to stay. But clayton is 10x better than johnson and i have seen norwich a couple times this season and johnson did do well.
Just saying how I see it Josh As with most teams I have no axe to grind but many of your guys view Norwich as a 'little club' and have no right to be better than Leeds, that was very evident last season. So, when can we have Clayton then? January perhaps? if he is as good as you say just think what he would be like under Lamberts guidance!
Oh i agree some leeds fans do view it that way but i certainly dont. Every club is where they are for a reason and deserve to be there regardless of what fans think and that is obviously dependant on previous decisions at clubs. That doesnt get away from the point of bradley johnson being considered for england though and i think there are players out there that deserve it more and clayton and even howson is who i think do and thats only because thats who I watch week in week out. And you can never have clayton... he has already said he wants to stay with leeds for a very long time in the midst of plenty of premiership teams rumoured to be interested. Although didnt someone else at leeds say that recently (i.e. gradel)
That sums it up Josh, if Leeds remain where they currently are and Claytons ambitions are not similarly aligned there will only be one outcome unless he really is one of the rare breed of players that do stay with one team for the bulk of their career.
well yes you are right. I cant realistically see leeds staying in the champ for too long but i could see him leaving if we werent showing progress
I also would not expect Leeds to stay in the Championship for too long either as they should be able to attract better players (if KB opens the moth infested wallet of his) but it is not entirely out of the question for it to happen as with any other club. I would imagine if Leeds are not in the PL in the next 2 or 3 seasons at the most, players like Howson, Snodgrass, Gradel, Clayton, Becchio to name a handful will all be on their way or already gone to play at the higher level.
