Now I might get a severe bombardment of abuse for this but with everything aside from the past up until this point I am of the view that of our squad I believe that about 14 of our that are going to be good enough for next year and out of them, 5 maybe 6 will be good enough to be in the starting eleven. This is no knee jerk reaction, this has been obvious for a long time. Well for me anyway, and this summer could be the most important 2 - 3 months of lamberts tenure and of the recent history of our club. I know that we aren't going to bring in 10 players and that would not be the right thing to do but some serious investment will be needed in that time and to bring in 5 or 6 quality players who can walk straight in to the starting XI from next season. If you have a look at the wolves side that came up to the one that went down and there is not much difference which does concern me for next season because if we become to sentimental towards the players that have done so well to get us where we are then we won't be here beyond next season. Please take the yellow and green tinted, sentimental glasses off and take a realistic view of the squad for not what they've done but what will need to be done from next season and onwards
I'd say thats a pretty fair assessment, and although he won't say it I'm sure Lambert will have a similar view. I expect maybe another 6/7 arrivals and all those who come in will be seen as good enough to start and improve the team. There is certainly room for improvement and sadly sentiment can't come into the equation when deciding who to keep. However those who do leave I'm sure will be remembered fondly by the fans for what they have done.
Exactly, i have time for every single one of the players who have played there part in the last couple of seasons but in a way I think next season will have to be a new beginning in a way. But the players that replace whoever MUST be better than any of the players in the squad atm.
Well said that man! Paul Lambert will not be ruled by sentiment, that's what makes him a good manager, he will also do his best to make sure those that leave will get the best possible deal, not only for Norwich, but for the players themselves! Very, very much IPLWT
Agreed, I feel that is one of the things players respect the most about Lambert, the fact he has their best interests at heart. For example Nelson was excellent for us but deemed to not fit the team for the championship so Lambert engineered him a move away so he could get game time. Then later gave him a reference for a team in Scotland (who I have forgotten) for which Nelson was very grateful and only had positive words for Lambert and the club.
Agreed Holty - having just witnessed what is our poorest home performance of the season it is clear that we need at least 6 or 7 new faces who will supplement those already here who will form the nucleus of the squad. Alas that may mean no place for Chris Martin, Crofts, Drury, Ward, Barnett, Lapps, Alby and maybe one or two others but the team needs some serious investment if we are to compete next year - I am sure Lambert and McInally know that and will have no beef in cutting out who they no longer see as fit to serve. We will acknowledge and be grateful for the role all those who leave have had in our success getting us to where we are but at the same time also acknowledging the fact that the team needs rebuilding in almost every area and cash needs to be found to make it so. It will be an interesting summer.
This is all true , no room for sentiment Assuming our finances are much better now, we need more investment than last close season to remain competitive
Do people feel the new financial fair play rules will fall in our favour? Or really make little to no difference?
Agree. However some of these issues have been being raised over the last few weeks but there are a lot of yellow and green tinted glasses about not recognising our glaring weaknesses. I know Carrabuh has some diverse views but some of his views are worth reading again. Not saying I agree with everything but for me young and hungry will only get you so far and Ithink some on the pitch today have come as far as we can. We need a little more quality now, which may sometimes come from lower leagues but perhaps we need to look at other sources. The defence is tripe at the moment conceding far too many. As you say Boots hopefully Lambert (if he is still here) will sort it. But why tinker so often without good reason and why no Holt??
The Admiral went to Scunthorpe first, hardly got a game and then swiftly moved up north to Kilmarnock where he recently won the cup For me we've looked vulnerable ever since Whitbred and Ayala have been out, Ward just isn't good enough at this level and today he was embarrassing to be honest. Fox had an absolute howler as well, but I guess we already know that.
I said as much on the match day thread so you will not get an argument from me. Some serious changes have to happen for us to survive another season in the top division. Don't ask me where to start as I am not totally sure, I feel in midfield we cover most of the bases but there is always room for improvement. We do need to address the strikers, not sure if we MUST buy or we should play 4-4-2 more frequently and have Holt + another each week, we have Jackson & Vaughan who are both quick and can finish. No issue with the goal keepers, all three are up to the job. The defence is the hardest bit to address in my opinion. That has to be sorted out but again I am not sure how we are likely to address that. The problem is, as I see it, is the current transfer policy. Something I touched on a couple of weeks ago. It is all well and good signing young, energetic, hungry players but to have the whole back line of them is not going to be enough. Perhaps the 'lack of experience' thing that we were very quick to dismiss is now beginning to show. There must be 'older & wiser' players without inflated ego's available somewhere, and if it is a case of not bringing in an 'ego' that could potentially disrupt the rest of the team, then these are the players we need to get. As things stand today, I am worried about the next two games & next season. Forgetting the sentiment is right, it's all about surviving now and hopefully one day push on to better things.
We were poor in defence yesterday, ward wanted too much time on the ball and was caught out twice. The fact he was captain yesterday made me wonder whether Lambert had already decided to offer him a new deal, although that performance was enough to make anyone think twice. I think lambert will be reluctant to change too much too quick as I honestly feel it was team spirit that got us this far - too much disruption can affect that. 5/6 overall I think. I think we need some pace and skill in attack, someone that can make something out of nothing but, that comes at a premium. Defence is a must improve area however, I don't see a lot that could add from thenlower leagues other than maybe mariappa...? I think we have really missed tierney. Domestic players I'd be interested in are: Rhodes, Rodriguez, Mariappa, Gunter, Snodgrass, Whittingham, Tomkins, Joe Bennett, Ben Turner. I'm sure lambert will have his eye on one or two foreign players and I'm sure we will have been scouting further afield this season. Players out of contract (bit misleading as includes loans coming to an end) but best I could find, http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/spieler/vertragsende/basics.html
There have been plenty of sides who have come up from the championship and done better than expected first year and struggled second time round mainly through lack of investment in the teams.Stoke,Wigan. & Bolton all flourished with the same reinvesting policy and became fixtures,I hope you can learn the lessons of the past and thrive.The premier league is a better league with Norwich in it
IMO, we have played solidly all season and only once got a pounding (Man City away), but then we played Leicester in the FA Cup. Since then, something seems different.
Thank you for your kind words! The one thing we can ALL count on at Norwich, is that we have a manager who will recognise all areas that need attention, and a list of players that he thinks can come and "give the lads a hand," and a CEO who will try very hard to do all the deals for us! Good luck tomorrow (Monday) night!
