Not a bit, Paul Lambert knows the side strengths and weaknesses and seems to be content to give the majority of last season players the opportunity to prove themselves. We (and I am sure the players) are under no illusion, it's not going to be easy but are going to give it our best shot
Last time we were in the prem we signed the likes of Thomas Helveg (Danish Captain), Matthaus Jonsson (Swedish international), David Bently (Arsenal Show pony), Simon Charlton (Experienced prem campaigner) and Dean Ashton (Who went on to do good things and without his injury would have been an England regular by now). Now, take a look at that list, who of those players went on to be the best player? Answer: Dean Ashton who we signed from Crewe and was totally unproven at Prem level. So, no, I am not worried one little bit
Good point well made! Players will move to a newly promoted team for one of two reasons- 1) they aren't good enough for their current club, but want to stay in the top league or 2) they are too good for their current club and want to play in the premier. With the exception of Vaughan, Lambert is choosing to go for the second category and I back him all the way!
This attitude is what makes him a Lambert signing!http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city-fc/bennett_eager_to_fight_for_norwich_city_place_1_921774?
...and its these skills that make him a premier league signing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekO19WskE4s
Credit where its due Foggo! Its also got me thinking- of our last premier league squad who genuinely looked good enough in that division? For me it was Green, Drury and Ashton (and maybe Francis)- none of whom had any premier league experience.
It is funny, you look at that squad and it was generally the players we had prior to promotion who were the better players (ashton excepted, but he had no prev PL experience). Goes to show how poor Worthy's signings actually were despite us all be very excited when they signed. I remember almost pinching myself when Helveg signed. In my wildest dreams I couldn't have imagined Norwich signing an international captain from a decent footballing nation. As it turned out, he was just here for the money before retiring.... ho hum.
Also, there IS a third reason that players move to a prem club Rubik. A promising and hungry youngster at say Arsenal or Chelsea is going to find it very difficult to break in to the first team. Their standard may make them an automatic starter for anyone other than the top 4 or 5 and so if we get loanees or signings of this ilk I will be equally happy.
from memory, and it's not that good now, two of the greatest factors in norwich getting relegated six years ago were - 1) we didn't score enough goals / have enough strikers, and 2) Poor away tactics meant we didn't win away all season So the above fair points made about Worthington's acquisitions, I think we are better set this time around as i hope (1) is addressed, certainly it looks good on paper and six years ago we didn't sign Ashton until January, and (2) we have addressed over the last couple of seasons.
We didn't score enough goals for a couple of reasons Firstly, it is a team game and we simply weren't good/comitted enough and secondly, despite having the opportunity to sign him in July, Worthy waited until January before signing Ashton who then took a month or so to get up to speed (fitness levels etc). All of this backs up that Ashton (a player with no previous prem experience) was our best player, closely followed by Huckerby and then Francis, Drury, Green etc who were all here already. The signings that were 'premier league quality' and made by Worthy in preperation for the season ahead were pretty much all failures. Bentley, Helveg, Johnsson, Docherty (although in fairness, he proved invaluable at times after we went down), Charlton, Safri (was ok, but never really set the world on fire. Probably the best of a bad bunch). The biggest mistake last time was release Malky and Iwan. 2 HUGE characters in the dressing room. IMO this ripped out the heart of a very good side. So much character was lost. I know Iwan may not have played much, but I would have offered him a 1 year deal if only to keep him around the place. Malky was a better defender than Fleming IMO and so I never understood that one.
Speaking of Malky, apparently Watford have just rejected a bid from Cardiff for his services as manager. I think he's done a decent job with Watford, maybe when he's got even more experience he might one day manage our fine club? I think it's a better approach to doing it that throwing Gunny in at the deep end!
Why would he want to go to Cardiff anyway, they have no players left. Bothroyd, Burke and Chopra have all left and the majority of the other good players are all loaned in. Not sure how much money Cardiff have left but from what I gather, not too much? I had heard that they need to slim down their wage bill. Watford still have a talented squad and likely have some money to spend. Some very good players all available on free transfers (i.e. Earnshaw etc.) I personally think Cardiff may struggle this season.
Totally agree with that and further more, he then went to play on for Watford...in the Premier League and was solid. HUGE MISTAKE losing Malky.
