1950, are you saying that because Arsenal, Chelsea and Villa appeared to be better teams than Norwich that means that Sunderland (Without a win and looking like a shambles in defence), WBA (Without a win or even a goal and looking pretty average all across the park) Palace (plenty of endeavour but their squad is clearly not up to PL standard) Newcastle (Who have looked sluggish and ineffective (accept for Ben Arfa)) are also better than us? And Cardiff, though they beat Man City, have very little threat up front. West Ham are basically the same team from last year and I think they haven't nearly strengthened enough. Stoke are doing alright so far but I can't see them getting the goals to worry us. All these teams will be in the same category as us. Personally, I think our squad is now better than most of these teams. I just find it odd that you are being this pessimistic when all the early signs are actually very good for Norwich. Also, you say "Only Fulham are in the mix with us and many others". That just doesn't make sense. How can only Fulham be with us but there are many other teams that are also going to be in the mix. It just feels like your trying your hardest to find the negative side of everything, to the point of incoherence!
I think Demichelis is one of the most overrated centrebacks in Europe. I've never seen him play well yet he had Bayern, Athletico Madrid and now Man City on his CV. Athletico done brilliantly out of that deal, they signed him on a free transfer 3 months ago and got £4 Million without even playing him. I also think Ben Arfa is over rated, he can be brilliant but I find him too inconsistent for my liking. I remember when him and Benzema were coming through the Lyon ranks and they both had massive potential. I don't think either of them have really hit that potential. (Maybe Benzema has come closest) Them two players were mentioned in the thread so thought I would put my opinion in there. Back to topic, I think Palace will have a job staying up, if they signed all of those players right at the start of the window they may have a chance but so many new players at once could be damaging. I also agree Sunderland have a very unbalanced squad. I think Hull, Norwich and Spurs have done the best business this summer.
The comparison I made regarding City and other teams was not really aimed at Supers, who normally takes a realistic view on our chances in the season, or others who take such a realistic view. It was aimed at those who openly or secretly feel that because we have bought a few players we will clearly finish in the top half of the table and even challenge for Europe. I even heard one idiot say on Radio Norfolk that with the signings we have made we should end up in the top 3. He must have been out on day release!! To me success for NCFC is getting into the Premiership and continued success is staying there - unfortunately in the modern game that applies to all Clubs of our size and financial clout. We will never again challenge the likes of Man Utd Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool or even, possibly, Everton. Villa appear to be back on track and I can't see Newcastle failing the same way as they did last year - their squad is quite good - behind the scenes is the problem. That takes care of the top half of the table. I think Palace are doomed and their mad scramble for players will not, IMO, alter that but I thought the same about Blackpool and they nearly got away with it. All the rest are 'in the mix' and could finish anywhere from 10th to 17th without causing a major shock which is why I feel that if 5 of them finish beneath us it will be a good season. As I have said many times in the past I am not being negative - I am being realistic. I would love City to be in Europe next season but no amount of wishing, hoping, praying or blind faith is going to make it happen.
I'm not saying we can get into Europe but our team is clearly much better than last season and I would say it's improved as much, if not more than the other teams in the bracket between say 8th and 17th. We have some real quality players in that team now and I think 10th is very achievable. We're not the finished article yet, neither are many teams in the league. But all the pieces are there and on the showing so far they look far better than last season. We also have Hooper and Pilkington to come back into action! And with Bassong back, we look so much stronger. Positives and negatives. That's what a realist looks at. I haven't seen one positive from you!
sadly, there will always be idiots. strangely, they always seem to make themselves heard on radio phone ins rather than just down the pub! i refuse to believe any serious norwich fan thinks we will finish anywhere higher than 8th but most people understand that everyone else in the league has also improved their squads. it'll be a close division again. i said before the season started we'd finish anywhere between 8th and 16th and i stand by that. if we finish 16th or even 17th, it doesn't necessarily mean we've had a poor season or even gone backwards - ultimately survival is the goal every season.
No positives from me? The last 2 years I have openly said on here that we would be relegated - in fact my conviction on that last year cost me a lot of money at the Bookies. Nowhere this year have I said we will go down - surely thats a positive !!
My hope is that we finish 12th or higher, but as long as we stay up for another season, I'd be over the moon!!! Just hope we don't suffer with injuries to key players such as Ruddy and Pilks (mind you, he's going to have to fight for his place with NR in the team).
in my opinion, if we keep relatively injury-free this season we will have absolutely no problem staying up. we did well last season to stay up without ruddy for much of the season but other than that we've been quite lucky with injuries since we were promoted
