Even Ladbrokes are comparing us to Blackpool! What do YOU think? http://news.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/foo...ckpool-formula-towards-relegation_086068.html
We're much better as a team in my opinion(although I would say that) But the difference is, and always has been, lambert. He'll keep us up because he is legend.
Their season up to Christmas was remarkably similar to ours this time, almost identical actually. However, I think we've got a better all round squad than they had, we're less reliant on one player (Adam), and as Beefy said, we've got Lambert. We'll probably strengthen in January to 'give the lads a hand', and there's already a stronger base to build on than Blackpool had.
1 we're not a one man team who is constantly being linked with a move away to unsettle the side. 2 we have better strength in depth. I don't think we've played our strongest 11 for several games now, just the right ones for the right occasion. I think we're a back-up winger and a reserve goalkeeper light (Rudd's not quite old enough) 3 because of strength in depth we've got several formations to keep surprising people (as said by Surman today)
Whilst I agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly I often wonder what would become of us if anything happened to Wesley! I still think we would have stayed up the year we fell down the Championship trapdoor if he hadn't got injured near the end of the season. So much of our good play goes through him and we look such a more potent attacking unit when he is on the pitch.
"Are we like Blackpool?" No. We're 20 miles from the sea, don't have a pseudo-Eiffel Tower and our Christmas lights aren't a patch on theirs. In fact I can't think of anything we have in common with them ........... and I don't expect that to change!
"In their last six games, they (NCFC) can look forward to fixtures with Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool. Oh my God it's just dawned on me, none of the other sides tipped for the dreaded 'drop' have to play those sides !! We're doomed, I tell you.
Sounds like rubbish to me. Here was Ladbrokes in August: Norwich – 4/7 to be relegated In the last five seasons at least one of the new boys has dropped out of the division and this season it looks like the Canaries will face the drop. Paul Lambert’s side enjoyed back-to-back promotions in the last two seasons but staying in the Premier League at the first time of asking looks beyond them.
I touched on the Blackpool similarity earlier in the week.But my view was that we have their attacking philosophy combined with a touch of the Stoke physicality that seems to upset a lot of teams.We wont need 40 points this season.36 will be enough.
the only parallel between norwich and blackpool is we are both attack-minded. we are better than they were in every single aspect. thats not me being biased or blinkered, its completely obvious to anyone who watches football. thats not to say we won't struggle 2nd half of the season - i think we might - but i find it lazy and frankly insulting that we are being compared to blackpool. everything about norwich city is prepared for top flight football from the top to the bottom of the club. blackpool had absolutely no infrastructure whatsoever. it was brilliant that they made it at all, like a dream, and i was delighted for them as i've had a soft spot for them ever since that great cup tie we had against them a few years ago, but they were never equipped for the premier league and in the end it showed. credit to them - they did incredibly well but its not a comparison worth making for anyone who knows about football
Blackpool had to have a couple of early fixtures changed to away matches as their ground wasn't 'fit for purpose'. Similar to Norwich, then, ours is not fit for purpose - it's nowhere near big enough, and won't be until we accommodate 35,000 every week
One of Blackpool's problems last season was their reserve goalkeeper. He was a clown and cost them so many points. I don't think age would be a problem for Rudd but if he can carry the weight of responsibility if Ruddy is injured or suspended. But if we aim to stay in the Prem then he is going to have to get experience somehow or somewhere.
