I noticed that as well, and completely agree. I think Whitbread's departure was a shock and with Russell Martin he has been our best centre half this season. I think he probably wasn't offered higher contract due to injuries on hindsight, but I think if he remains fit he is a quality centre back. Personally disappointed with Whitbreads departure, Holty's request and Lambert being linked with every club under the sun. It's not been a great week. I just hope we come through it, because you don't want it to become an end of a successful era.
Amen to that Maybe it's a win win situation. He goes, we can buy a younger replacement. He stays, we get another season out of him. He may be like losing two players
Sorry about the idle speculation to anyone it annoys by the way, I'm still in a bit of a state of shock and don't really know what to make of it all
Holt is a good striker but he is quite old to have his first seasons in the prem, if you sold him and got someone like Jay Rodriguez or Jordan Rhodes they would be ones for the future who already show alot of promise and talent.
I think he still has goals in him but it's if he really wants to be here, there is nothing worse then having a angry player who doesn't want to be at their club. I hope it's a wage issue but I'm sure we'll find out at some point, as for the replacement I'd get in Rhodes he reminds me a bit of Holt style wise.
Thing is with selling Holt is we are not just replacing a striker, we are replacing a captain and a talisman too.
Have to say the Whitbread thing Munky posted is the first bit of speculation that I think could possibly have a bit of truth to it. I think probably most expected Zak to be here next season. However, if the rumours of Zak asking for too much are true, then the Club did right to get rid. It's possible team mates could take exception to that. All that said, I'm as sure as I can realistically be that all of this is the work of his agent. Nothing else quite stacks up.
This has got to be a reaction to what he has been offered for next year. How it turns out though I couldn't say, can't see McNally or lambert reacting well to such behaviour. In a negotiation you never reward bad behaviour .... I can see him staying but on the bench a lot next year after we buy a new striker.
This worries me massively, part of the reason we have done so well is down to team spirit, if that's broken we could suffer badly. Holty is a massive character too, this could get worse. Sent from my Android using Tapatalk
Holt's a legend. Players, (and managers) come and go but what that man has contributed to our club is immense. If he's off then I wish him all the best and I hope he goes on to get that England cap that we'd been campaigning for. Plenty more in the Holt tank. He needs to want it though. Anything other than 100% commitment and Lambert will have to let him go.
McNally hasn't said a single word about it and I bet he has been absolutely blitzed with enquiries today. I bet his absolutely fuming.
I mentioned in the other thread this may be a reason, but while the timing certainly coincides with the request it seems unlikely to be a reason. Players do after all leave all the time but the comment on twitter does make you wonder. You would of though he would of accepted it especially as the club have been showing ambition with the January signings etc.
It's possible to look at that situation from another point of view though. It could be that in not breaking the wage structure (if that's what's been asked of the club), it protects that team spirit. Who knows? We're all grasping around in the dark, aren't we? What I'd love to know is, if it is Holt's agent at work, how directly involved was Holt?
The irony here is that if it had been Steve Morison handing in a request - because he's jarred off with people booing him, etc, the ensuing thread would have had about 3 replies. It will all come out 'in the wash' as they say - and I'm prepared to wait until it does before casting any judgements
True, but that's football, if a player wants a transfer request it generally means he no longer wants to play for the club, I'm no expert on Norwich but someone like Holohan could be an oustanding captain if Holt leaves
With regards to the value of any transfer, I don't believe any club would be willing to pay what Norwich will value him at. Thats if the club wants to keep him in which case I think he will remain here for the start of next season. If they want to sell him I don't think anyone would offer more than say 4 million. Mainly due to his age, he has only 1 year of prem experience and he is seen as a bit unfashionable by some. Certainly not the style of footballer that commands high transfer fees rightly or wrongly.
One thing's for certain, whatever lies behind all this, his status at City is secure. Of all the players we've had over the last few years, he is the one we can be absolutely certain that people will be talking of in near mythical status in 30 or 40 years from now. Nothing will ever change what he's done here, and i don't think anything could ever tarnish it. Legend.
This interview with Darren Eadie has just gone up on NewsNow http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/ki...-be-devastating-see-holt-leave-norwich-172450
What, like Andy Carrol you mean? Let's not forget how toon have prospered after they sold him on. Not suggesting Grant would go for anything like £30m but I think it would be a lot higher than £4m