Lambert said to expect seven new arrivals. Including De Laet on a season-long loan, we now have five. Assuming one is a back up (or first choice) 'keeper, I'd guess at either a versatile defender, who can play accross the back four, or a holding mid, who can help protect the defence. Who they'll be though, I haven't a clue.
You're forgetting that there are currently strong links with Pilkington. I wouldn't be suprised if it ends up being 8 or even 9 newbies including loans.
Good signing, can play both midfield and left back. Strong player too, we've got some powerful players to contend with next season.
Totally agree with you Cromer. A back-up 'keeper will definitely be on the shopping list and hopefully a good centre back to challenge Whitbread, Ward and Barnett. Looking at the season review DVD (a very worth while purchase btw), Ward looked our stand out defender. Very few goals (if any) were attributable to mistakes from him and aerially, he was excellent. I always find it quite surprising that many don't rate him that highly, as he is solid and can play out from the back and has good positional sense. I think we have the got the best 3 centre backs we have had in a very long time, certainly better than what he had last time we were in the Prem. We also have a bunch of lads not afraid to go out and play football, that are used to winning coming from behind, determined and willing to risk their bodies for the cause. All attributes that could give us a much better chance of staying in the Prem this time around. I think we will be a real threat from set plays with the addition of Morison as well. Picking up Holt, Morison, Ward and Barnett (arguably our best headers of the ball) will not be an easy task, imo.
According to this survey, (which gives no idea of numbers polled) it seems by far the majority of fans want to see a new number one at the club before the season starts, rather than back up to Ruddy. http://www.norwich.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=245953
That's fair enough, people are entitled to their opinions. I think it would be harsh on Ruddy, I thought he played well in the majority of games for us last season. I accept he makes some mistakes and they are likely to be punished more in the prem but a top, top 'keeper costs money. I don't think we will go out and throw alot of money around. Say our budget is £2m, will that realistically get us a number one better than Ruddy? I personally have my doubts. I think Lambert will keep faith in him and I don't think he will let us down. I think he is probably as good as Forster. Least not forget some of the saves he made were far more important to our season than the goals that came from his direct mistakes.
NFNO - thank God for a voice of sanity! I'm sick and tired of all the knives thrust at Ruddy! ALL goalkeepers make mistakes, they are, after all, only human, and as you so rightly say, his tremendous saves far outweigh his few errors. Most goals conceded due to error were outfield errors as opposed to GK errors! For goodness sake get off his back
I wasn't on his back at all, merely relating the results of (yet another) meaningless survey. I'd like to have seen Scott Carson come in to challenge / support JR, thus enabling Rudd to get perhaps a full season loan at a top Champ side. Looks like Carson is off to Bursaspor, so that's one option down the swanny.
I didn't mean you, cromer, I meant the nameless voters in VF's survey! We went through all this last year with carrabuh to name but a few For about the first ten or a dozen games he was saying things like, "We'll be fighting off relegation if we don't get a proper keeper!"
You honestly think this is good news? Don't get me wrong I really do hope you do well but Bradley Johnson is not and will never be a Premier League player, and you can hold me to that.
People said Grant Holt wouldn't cut it in the Championship....until a player is given that opportunity, you never know what he is capable of.
I don't mind you even if you are a bit of a tinpot club . Except it looked a lot like Johnson was pushing it at upper NPC level.
Not been bitter about losing Johnson, I'm actually pretty happy he's gone, hopefully Grayson can replace him with a decent player, but he truthfully is kind of...$hit. No seriously, he can't cross, he can barely pass, he has awful tackling ability, he slow as hell. The only good things about him he brings abit of strength to a physically weak Leeds side and he has a decent long shot (as proven by his Arsenal goal). You've made a mistake signing him, he isn't a Premier League player, he's barely a championship plyaer. Trust me by Christmas you'll be kicking you're selves wonder why in hell you signed. Lambert will probably send him out on loan after a couple of dismal premier league performances. This is no lie, towards the middle of last season, Leeds fans were booing him off.
I'd say we just shaded this one. We managed to offload the truly awful Andy Hughes to you guys - for an undisclosed fee and in return, we've now picked up Johnson on a free To be topical, game set and match
That's fair enough, but you never can say what a change of club can do for someone. I can't see that he has been signed for anything but a back-up utility player. He can cover two or three positions which is handy when you are limited to a 25 man squad (other than the U21's). I don't for one second think he is going to come in and be an amazing player but I think he has the desire and determination to run around the pitch trying to get the ball back for our more creative players. He is in that mould that Lambert likes, he obviously thinks he has somthing to offer the squad so I trust him. Again, I point out that the likes of Robbie Savage had good careers in the Premier League without ever being technically gifted. Savage just ran around kicking people and closing down players to stop their passing game - I think that Johnson has that in his locker.
Actually Hughesy's a legend . Came at a really hard time for the club, gave 100% every single game, played anywhere we told him to and was obviously extremely proud to play for Leeds. Not to mention his epic celebrations after our promotion and the dignity with which he handled his transfer to Scunthorpe. Not the best of players but a brilliant bloke. Johnson on the other hand is a better player but won't cut it in the Premiership and will constantly moan if you aren't playing him in at CM.
