Got myself the Four Four Two magazine, which has a season preview supplement in it and there is some rather interesting reading on how they think Norwich will do this season. They say the perception is we are a happy-clappy banana-coloured relegation fodder who will roll over at the sight of Rooney and Torres as they walk off the team bus, but the reality is we are a well-organised, physically fit side who will give the premier league their very best shot at playing cultured football the way it should be played. They describe us as a team that plays at a relentless high tempo and any big-time charlies who think they can come to Carrow Road to pick up an easy 3 points should think again (I second that last statement!) Our Key-Player they say will be Wes Hoolahan Their verdict is Paul Lambert + fervent home support + hungry new signings with something to prove at premier league level = Surprise package, and that we will finish in 14th place What do other fans think of what has been said by four-four-two on our premier league chances? I think it is good to see someone is not writing us off as relegation candidates and is taking us seriously for a change. The 3 teams they predict to go down are Wigan (18th) QPR (19th) and Blackburn (20th)
Have to say that that is a very nice surprise! Totally agree with almost everything that has been said, except I don't think Wes will have the same impact as he has in recent years. Elliott Bennett seems to be the one that will be key in our play. I also agree with their predictions for relegation, although Newcastle look as if they may struggle this year.
I agree with their prediction about Hoolahan. This is his big chance of showing the big boys what a talent he is and with the extra time and space you seem to get in the Premier League, he could easily be this season's Charlie Adam. I just hope he carries his form on for the whole season. I think we will finish somewhere between 12th and 17th and hopefully a nice little cup run.
That i believe is a spot on prediction! I would agree with everything there, apart from the key player... Hoolahoop will have a good season but i believe someone else will have that starring role!
In all honesty, I'll be amazed if we finish 14th, sorry guys, but we're going to have Sergio Aguero against us, it doesn't feel right. I do think we can scrape 17th however if things go right for us!
its entirely possible to finish 14th! take out the top 6 teams and we are capable of beating any one of them, certainly at home. this isn't the norwich of old remember - this is the all new, all improved norwich - the norwich which can win away, isn't a push over and play till the final whistle. we have a good chance of staying up. its going to be difficult of course but as i keep reiterating... it is not impossible! its just football.
I hate to be negative, but how can you say we can beat anyone out of the top 6 for certain? I wouldn't back us to beat, for instance Everton. I know we've come on a lot since the start of last season, but I remember going down 3 - 1 to a second string Blackburn Rovers outfit in the Carling Cup with Holt, Jackson, Hoolahan, Ruddy etc all playing for us, and to me it just showed how far away we where from the Premier League at the time, and Blackburn and one of the teams we need to beating. Of course, on the other side of the coin, last season I was backing us for a mid-table finish...
DM You are a negative poster, not that there is anything wrong with that but i would back us to finish mid table if we get our back four playing well. The biggest strength we have is a fantastic strong manager and unity from the top down. Its just a big love in at Carrow rd with no big time egos upsetting the apple cart every 5 minutes. Man City can out spend us in every department but we have hard working players that want to succeed for the club and the fans. That my friends is priceless..
fair point dm, although i would have to argue we too played our reserves that night at blackburn. however, lets be realistic - the premier league is not as strong as it used to be. anyone who thinks it is as strong as it was last time we were there needs their brain examining! not to say its not going to be tough - of course it is. but there is a lot of dross that we need to slightly better to stay up. put it this way, are we, on our day, capable of beating any of everton, sunderland, bolton, newcastle, aston villa, stoke? of course we are! these teams finished mid-table last season but all of them flirted with the bottom three to a degree. its going to be ultra competitive but our chances of finishing at least 17th are good. we are much, much better prepared for it than last time.we also have a different philosophy. we were so negative last time we were there - this time we will attack teams. blackpool proved last year its an approach which can take you a long way. ok, they went down in the end, but it was a matter of fractions. you also seem to have forgotten we have arguably the best young manager in the country to guide us. all the players want to play for him - that will count for a lot. i get the impression, you can't say the same about many professional footballers these days, and would question their commitment... not our lads!
Self belief and confidence off the pitch from Delia and McNally to Lambert the players and our home support make a huge difference . Lambert came in and made me believe my team will score goals and win matches and i haven t seen anything yet to doubt we will continue doing just that.. OTBC
We are capable of beating any team in the premier league in a one off match. We will also get tonked in a couple. Fourteenth seems about right as: Swansea, QPR, Blackburn, Newcastle, Wigan and Wolves are either worse than us or are less united teams. I don't think we are much worse than Bolton, west Brom and Villa either
the league is basically three leagues now. the top moneybags, the wannabe's and the relegation fodder. our aim must be to get maximum points from the latter, take a fair few from the wannabe's and we will also surprise a few of the top teams on occasion. overall it will be our attitude that will keep us safe,combined with playing skill on the pitch.
Picked up my 442 mag today over here in Hong Kong and I am quite intrigued by their assessment. When you look at what we've got - stadium, pitch, team spirit/madupforitplayers, god as a manager, and fans that will fill Carrow Rd and make some noise that i'll hear over here without a telly, I truly hope their prediction comes true. Give me 17th, but I will take 14th like a valentine's card, not often received but they do come once in a while when the stars are shining and the combination of factors is just right. I'm going to stick my next out and have a go at 12th. 4-4-2 go for: 1. Man C 2. Chelsea 3. Man U 4.Liverpool 5. Arsenal 6.Spurs 7. Everton 8.Fulham 9. Stoke 10. Bolton 11. Sunderland 12. West Brom 13. Newcastle 14. Norwich 15. Villa 16. Wolves 17. Swansea 18. Wigan 19.QPR 20. Blackburn
I think we will start alphabetically in 12th and finish safely in 12th too me old prawn cracker eating pal
