For all the singing and dancing about Leicester's incredible run last season, who were the teams they beat in their 21 points from nine games? At home: West Ham, Swansea, Newcastle, Southampton and QPR Away: Burnley and West Brom They also drew with Sunderland away and lost to Chelsea. Not a single one of those results in isolation is a shocker. No reason why we can't do something similar, but we simply have to start playing to our level and getting the results we deserve.
Lol, was it the one heaping praise on Delia and Michael I just posted this in reply, but repeat it here in case I don't make it past the MFW mods! Have to agree to a large extent with Smiffy #7 and E J Mason #9. Considering we're the closest club, geographically, to Holland and Belgium, our scouting 'network' (?) should have unearthed a gem or two from there by now. It really is quite pitiful that we appoint a guy who failed to impress while at Burnley, and didn't manage any significant signings while there - what sort of C.V. is that to alert the Norwich board enough to appoint him?
Just checked stream listings for tonight - Hartlepool v Salford City and QPRcelona vs Brighton. I'll certainly be root'n for Hootun in that one
Basically a non-existent one, OCF And this was denied by Burnley quite vehemently after appearing in the tabloid toilet paper, but no smoke without fire...? https://www.clubcall.com/burnley/alleged-email-begged-agents-for-help-1757773.html
Excellent bit of research CR and as you say, if we could play as a team to our ability and everyone puts a decent shift in on the pitch, then there's no reason why we can't emulate what Leicester achieved.
Well, at least we haven't descended to this - http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-united-dodged-fuming-fans-7017819. Couldn't have happened to a 'nicer' team!!!
It'll be wonderful if this does take place - anything to unsettle / destabilise the troops Let's hope there's some truth in the rumour! http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/m...-van-gaal-out-plane-banner-at-norwich-match/?
Hmmm, interesting read, for sure. Just seen this on twitter. Make of it what you will, but I reiterate, don't shoot the messenger, please (Warning - it ain't a pretty read!! ) http://norwichcityrumours.co.uk/
It is interesting, but equally it sounds like it could just as much be a complete load of horseshit. For example, if Bradley Johnson is "owed" a six-figure sum and Norwich are refusing to pay it in breach of contract, then Johnson or his representatives should be suing. I suspect they're not, because I suspect that if there is any truth to the allegation Johnson is not, in fact, owed this money and for some reason Norwich have decided (I doubt it is solely McNally making this decision) that he should not be paid whatever discretionary bonus is supposedly on offer. Might not sound particularly generous to a popular player, but then neither was randomly selling him and given we are almost certainly the weakest club financially all round it is probably prudent. As for the rumour about McNally having a load of agents refuse to deal with him, well that might be true. But equally you could turn the entire conversation on its head - this anonymous guy the poster spoke to... sounds a bit like he could be an agent. Which would make it an agent moaning about a football club director cracking down on agents. And how many times have we seen extensive complaints about how football clubs are in thrall to unscrupulous agents? We get the massive figures they extort from each club published annually (and Norwich have paid quite a bit, so clearly agents are dealing with us). If anything, this sounds to me like you could argue McNally should be applauded for standing up to these leaches. I've no idea about Ricky Martin, but to be honest none of the rumours posted there really hold any water and suggest anything concrete. Sounds to me more like someone with an agenda posted this. People are always looking for someone to blame. Of course, it could all be absolutely on the money. It could well be. But if any of it's true, I suspect even that has been grossly exaggerated . The thing is, we've just been promoted through the play-offs, we're playing in the best league in the world, we're still in the mix after 18 games despite a serious lack of investment, we've got zero external debt (I think the club is actually making profit) and we've spent four of the last five seasons in the PL. Our players' performances (against Watford, Southampton and possibly Newcastle aside) have actually been pretty good and we're playing nice football. Results have not gone in our favour and we haven't had much luck, but there's no indication that the players aren't behind the manager. Does that sound like a club rotten to the core? It doesn't to me. I will be hugely disappointed if we get relegated, but frankly we were justifiably favourites for it at the beginning of the season and actually we've probably improved from there. Anyone who was under the illusion that we should be comfortably midtable by now and pushing for Europe is, well frankly, delusional.
Fair points well made, Rob As I said, I was being a bit of a 'devil's advocate' in posting it at all, as I personally have no agenda against anyone at the club. With respect though, however true your last paragraph is, it has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on whether there's a nasty stench emanating from our boardroom. If there are grains of truth in the article, then we can largely forget the often used excuses about 'out in the sticks', 'isolated' 'no motorway links to anywhere' which are trotted out when players fail / refuse to join NCFC. It could well be agents selfishly advising their players not to come here for the above mentioned financial reasons - which leaves us in deep scheisse!
Yeah I certainly wasn't aiming that at you - thanks for posting the article. It is interesting and an insight, and frankly I don't for a minute think there aren't problems in our boardroom between personalities - I just doubt that there is any nastier stench emanating from our boardroom than there is any other boardroom (or workplace for that matter). There are four things everyone has to experience in life: pain, death, taxes and work politics. As for the agents advising their players not to come here for financial reasons - that's a reality borne of us being the most strapped for cash club in the league. I would partly be quite proud of our club for standing up for them (although I think on balance right now I'd rather we stayed up and just paid them...)
Those of a nervous disposition, look away now... (as of yesterday): please log in to view this image "... Elsewhere in the team, Norwich City boast three players. Included in them is striker Cameron Jerome, who has been particularly guilty of missing some clear-cut opportunities this season. While the likes of Olivier Giroud (9) and Jamie Vardy (7) have missed more than Jerome (6) so far this season, they have all weighed in with meaningful contributions, which Jerome hasn’t. The former Birmingham City striker has only scored two goals in his 16 appearances this season."
Like Rob, I'm deeply sceptical about any validity in the claims. If you look at all the main criticisms and contentions I don't think they can't be shot down with a degree of reason 1/ Whilst McNally may be hindering our transfer activity with prudence as Rob says, if there was any truth in with holding bonuses a public slagging match and lawsuit would inevitably follow, with the agents leaking the info to try and pressure us to pay up. This also would presuppose that the rest of the board agree with conducting affairs in this manner and I don't buy that either. 2/ Agents won't deal with McNally! Realy?! Most agents I'm quite sure would sell their own mother for their own benefit, so if we are offering the biggest transfer fee and wages for any given player then I find it very difficult to believe that they would suddenly find principles in not wanting to deal with him. And again those agents that represented Bradley and any other alleged victims would be frothing at the mouth about it because again they would want their cut. If it were breach of terms they would take us to the cleaners not quitely sulk and resolve not to do business with us again. 3/ as for Ricky Martin, if all of those allegations were true, why has no manager or player shown any objection to him continuing. If a hot young prospect like Josh was wronged in the alleged way, why did not only he, his agent and his family scream blue murder? In an era of player power and in light of this and presumably other allegations from other wronged staff might RM be held to task. May be not publicly (Although with twatter maybe even publicly!) but such a devisive and unpopular charactor would surely be marginalised or gotten rid of? 4/How from conversation from this one man who at least at the moment appears to work for another club in the FL, he can assertain that Lambert is universally popular with everyone he worked with who is still at the club is beyond me! It could of course all be true, but it smells like sour grapes from someone with an axe to grind. Bah!
