Evening gents, Just a quick post because these past few weeks has seen the normally balanced and football educated Norwich fans deteriorate, largely, into some over expectant, rose tinted, we have a divine right to survive and over-excited bunch. Similar to your average West Ham fan to be frank! So much in fact that I have to write this. Now, I love this club, I was very proud of our claw back from the brink of hades that was League One and was immensely proud of our performance in the Championship last season. We fully deserved our promotion and anyone who took more than a passing interest in the Championship last season will confirm that. However, whilst I too am embracing the banter and excitement building up to a season in the Premier League and all the glitz and razamatz that goes with it there are far too many people expecting us to stay up easily. I quote some of the recent blogs and posts I've seen from my fellow city fans: John Ruddy - England call up! Lambert - Top 6 Premier League Manager!! Leighton Baines - Would struggle to get into the City side!!! Top 8 finish!!! Whilst I've extrapolated some of the more riddiculous statements to prove my point the "average" city fan is expecting us to do well. Face some serious facts Gentlemen (and ladies), We WILL struggle!! In fact, of the three promoted teams I sense we'll have the hardest job of them all. QPR have deep pockets and a manager who's been there done that. Swansea, ok, they finished below us but even you have to admit that there football is excellent and Swansea is a very, very hard place to go. They will in fact have a nation behind them (every Welshmen and their dog will be roaring those guys on). I am hugely optimistic and hugely excited to see Lambert and McNally do battle in the Prem but I fear its come too early. Here's why; John Ruddy is not a fantastic keeper, he wasn't even amongst the top 6-7 keepers in the Championship and he will significantly struggle in the Premiership! He's a solid enough shot stopper and an agile chap but his positioning, reading of the game and distribution are very poor for the top level. Our defence, with the exception of Martin (who's game incidently will have to change dramatically) will be torn to shreds. Can you seriously expect Whitbred and Ward to cope with the likes of Torres, Tevez, Gian, Rooney, Van Persie, Defoe, Bent.... They will be murdered. Midfield is probably where we have our strongest players and I expect the likes of Fox, Crofts and Surman to do pretty well. However, they be up against the likes of Yaya Toure, Nani, lampard, Fabregas, Nasri, Gerrard... in comparison it's men against boys! Up front we at least will be getting more options, At least half the defences in the Premier League can easily cope with Jackson and Holt who i suspect will struggle to hit double figures next season. Vaughan and Morrison are both good signings and for me are in store for major roles in our season. Now, my comments will annoy many but I'm not knocking us. There are a few components that will dramatically affect our season. Home advantage, fitness, work ethic, tactics and the most important one, that battling team spirit, one for all and all for one style that Lambert seems to demand! I think we have a chance of staying up...JUST, however we need to see some dramatic changes in the back four and in goal if we are to survive along with 11 bravehearts week in week out cheered on by 30,000 city fans!
I don't think most of us doubt it'll be a struggle, if you offered me a dull season, but finishing in 17th position, I'd snap your hand off for it. We don't have that much premier league experience, and after a double promotion some of our players may suddenly find themselves horrendously out of their depths, we'll see, we don't know if their performance has peaked yet! I think optimism is all well and good, but I think we all know deep down it'll be a struggle, probably starting with a 4-0 drubbing by QPR in the opening game of the season, but dear god I hope that one doesn't happen!
Agree: John Ruddy is not as good as everyone thinks and Players such as "Yaya Toure, Nani, lampard, Fabregas, Nasri, Gerrard" will rip us to shreds. However you haven't considered we will be in a relegation scrap. When we play against teams with those sorts of players we will have no pressure on our shoulders as we will expect to be beaten. Any point we take is a point gained, even at home whatever the performance. The most important key elements to have in your team to stay in the premier league is stubbornness, determination and belief. It is the mentality that will keep you in the league and grind out points. We were one of the favourites to go down in the championship, yet we got to the automatics. Its obvious what kind of team lambert's building. It's a team of fighters who will fight for their right to play in the premier league with norwich. Sure it certainly won't be easy and you certainly need a level of skill and technical ability in the premier league but i believe we have that too. Finally the it will be the defence that will determine whether we stay up next season. We saw how dreadful blackpool defended this season. If they would have let in 5 less goals they would have stayed up. i don't see a problem for us scoring goals however. If we are ever going to do make it in the prem, this is the year to do it and I believe Lambert is the best manager we could have for it.
We'll struggle against the big teams as every medium to small prem teams do but we can pick up points against the other teams, we are flush with confidence, lambert will get them wound up so much they will run through Walls to score. Were going to be okay I know, but it will be the dogfight of our recent history I can't wait!
I'm just praying the spirit is retained and Lambert signs some quality, he's been ok in his transfer dealings to date but this is a huge step up. If we are to survive I only expect a handful of players from our championship season to be regulars in the starting 11, R Martin, Crofts, Fox, Surman and Holt. If we already have Morrison and Vaughan in the bag then another 7 players will be heading our way!
Don't fret overrated, and don't let fear, doubt or any other football fan get between you and enjoying next season I want to savour every moment, it's The dream! It's our best team for a generation, out best manager ever (?) it's perfect It's up to them to play, and us to support. It's very simple once it all kicks off.
Accept your concerns, overated, but don't forget it's still only the first week in June - most teams haven't made a single signing yet and we've got two sorted with B Johnson and E Bennett looking set to follow suit. That gives PL ample time to address the defensive frailties before pre-season even starts - and it's a given that he is/will strengthen in that department. Don't forget many transfer targets/agents/club execs are on holiday at the mo - things will move along more quickly when they all return. Personally, despite knowing that it will clearly be a struggle, I'd rather wait until I see the team sheet for the first actual fixture before making too many assumptions - optimistic or doom-laden
They way I see it, it's a case of saying to ourselves; 'Are there 3 teams in the Premier League who are worse than us?' Now, I'd say the teams we would be aiming to finish ahead of are Wolves, Wigan (Nothing terrible about those 2) and Blackburn (Who have only gone downhill since Big Sam's departure) all of which are doable and our 2 Championship rivals. Now if it's true that Swansea have signed Graham then alongside Sinclair that's going to be dangerous, and I dare say they have a better chance of survival than QPR, because Taarabt will struggle against PL sides just like he did against us. So, I'd say we have a chance to finish above some of those sides, but all 5 of those sides will be tough to beat and we have to finish above 3 of them!!! Big ask!
Overated, overpaid, overhere, I think you've rather missed the point of my John Ruddy thread. If you read it back, all will become clear. I wasn't trying to say he's suddenly going to become England number one, though I do think he's a better keeper than you do. My point was simply that because of the number of English keepers plying their trade in the prem, he could have a chance of getting in the squad (ie: third choice). Last season the English keepers who got a regular game were Hart, Green, Robinson, Carson, Foster and Harper, so that's six. Of those, two have fully or semi retired, which leaves us with four. Of those four, Green has made some noises about maybe not playing (though as I said on my thread, he seems to have come around), Harper has never been called up, and (in my oppinion) Carson isn't better than Ruddy. Now, you may dissagree with me about Carson and Ruddy, but the rest is just basic maths. There aren't alot of English keepers playing in the Premier league, and we need three for each squad. So, if Ruddy plays regularly, he could (stress COULD) be in with a chance of a squad call up. That's all. I don't think it's one of what you call "the more riddiculous statements" on here. He will be (if he plays, and assuming Green moves to a Prem club) one of only five available English Premiership goalkeepers. As for the season, I expect us to come straight back down. No other expectation, given where we've come from in the last two years, would be reasonable. But, and it's a really big but, I think we'll give a damn good account of ourselves, and who knows, we might just be able to do it.
As much as I support Ruddy, same as any Norwich player that plays with pride and put's in a decent shift most weeks, that is a somewhat worrying state of affairs for England followers
In my view, Swansea will really struggle next season as their style of football will be worked out very quickly by Premier League defences. If Wigan, as expected, lose a couple of their better players (N'Zogbia, Rodallega(sp), Figueroa and McCarthy) they will struggle to replace them with the same quality of player so I see them struggling as well. As for us, my heart says 10th-14th but my head says 12th-18th. If we get 10 wins and 10 draws we will probably stay up. I think we can do that now and that's without any other new recruits.
As I said on the other thread yesterday, it is astonishing, isn't it? That England should be scartching around for more than a handful of top flight keepers is baffling. Don't expect us to have World class keepers coming out of our ears, but there should be more to selection than who's still available. With respect to all the others, I thank the great football gods the Hart came along when he did.
I don t agree, obviously we will be massive underdogs but as long as we strengthen at the back we will stay up... Stoke, West Brom ? These are the teams to emulate... We have goals in our squad but we can t keep conceding as many as last season.... This is the most confidence i have had in Norwich for 20 years.... We have Unity and a strong leader, these things are priceless.. No money worries, sell out crowds, stadium capacity enlargement..........Its all good
If the spirit remains, and we play as well as we can, I feel we can survive. Of course its not going to be easy, but look at Stoke.
most are under no illusion it's gonna be tough - let the press and bookies say we are favs to go down, no pressure then. what will be the key is how the players and management cope with getting battered by the top clubs having achieved double promotion - they are used to winning most weeks. i don't think we dealt with that well last time in the top flight. let's see if we can keep that no losing back-to-back league games heh!!!
I have to take issue on that one carra, and while it's obvious all three are going to get they're buts kicked this season some what, I think Swansea have what it takes to be the strongest of the group, we are as you know strong on the ball in possession and passing, but we are also strong down the wings, and our squad will be much stronger going into this campaign. It's not just the new signings that we are at, that will make the difference, but we have got one of our best midfieders that has ever put on a Swansea shirt back from long term injury, and boy is he back, watched him in training, and he's awesome, of course I'm referring to our evil genius FERRIE BODDE, our midfield will be up to the riggers of the premiership, with him dictating the midfield, so we will not be so reliant on our wings, which has been the case since his injury under Martinez, can't wait for the first ball to be kicked, and by the way we are in serious talks with Danny Graham, which if the deal goes through will be magic, when you consider his 27 goals alongside Sinclair's 27!.......................... please log in to view this image
I heard a whisper he has no intention of moving to Wales. Probably wrong but would be a shame for you boys. There is enough history and stats about that tell me, teams that go up to the Premier League and play pretty football with inexperienced footballers at that level, more times than not struggle. Good luck.
I think the expansion planned will is like last season, sticking a few extra seats in where possible, maybe squeeze in another 500 if we're lucky?
