http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic..._have_been_blown_away_by_alex_neil_1_3968010? Good to hear and certainly evidenced on the pitch.
Feel a bit odd about it. I know Tony quite well so obviously think he's a great guy. However, I can't be alone in thinking Ruddy's probably had his worst season for the club since he arrived? His form has definitely picked up (notably since Bassong's return as he's being shielded better and confidence has returned) but when I read him talk about Parks it struck me as more of a dig at his former coach Dave Watson than fulsome praise of Parks. Perhaps I'm looking too deeply at it!
Sometimes you read player's comments and it is all pap that ends up winding you up. This insight from JR is different and is more of a report of the situation and is very welcome. While accepting the caution from Crowey on another thread, the piece does add to the expectation and fever that is undoubtedly rising within the squad, the club and the City as a whole I would suspect.
As long as the players are focussed – and they appear to be – the fans can get as carried away as they like, so long as they are happy to take the stick they'll inevitably get from some quarters if it goes belly up! Personally, I'm more cautious but I reckon these next two games will decide our fate on one front: win both and I think we'll go up automatically. The momentum and atmosphere created by backing a win at Blackburn up with a derby win would be massive and our fixture list is favourable.
I do agree with your summary Supers. Before the Wolves game the following four fixtures looked to be pretty tough and we were generally thinking that we would happily settle for 7 or 8 points from the 12 available. As we are all guilty of, having taken the first 6 as a maximum, our expectations have immediately risen to 10 points or more. It may be as well to remember the four games as a whole and maybe take a point tonight with good grace although the three on Sunday would tick everybody's box for sure.
I am really impressed with Neil's attitude towards the players - I get the impression he's not quite as grim as Lambert. He's also much more talkative with the media. All round, I'm confident that this ridiculously good early form is NOT just new manager bounce. Though I was slightly disappointed he didn't wave back on Saturday when we all chanted "let's all wave at Neil"... This bit in the article really confused me tough: "Ruddy bids for a fifth clean sheet in Norwich’s last six games at Ewood Park". I just couldn't believe that in our last five games at Ewood we have managed four clean sheets
I think this is where pedants come to the fore with their punctuation Rob. "Ruddy bids for a fifth clean sheet in Norwich's last six games, at Ewood Park". I take it that you were being serious with your remark but to be honest I am not certain now. I could have just made a plank of myself, not for the first time (before anyone says it!).
Having come in a virtual unknown, Neil certainly seems to answering any questions we may have had at first and then again after the Brentford game. Perhaps we needed that to show that he'd out things right after a set-back. He has certainly done that in the last four games. I agree with Supers that these next two games are huge, especially with Wigan and Millwall to follow those. It is a pity about Tony Parks leaving, but perhaps there's a silver lining in that another new man coming in could bring new ideas and experiences for John and Declan.
The slaphead was at myself for not realising immediately that obviously what was meant is as you've clarified with the help of an additional comma! I even went so far as googling Norwich Blackburn match history to check it before working out I was being a pillock
We all make mistakes, Rob. Definitely an 'Eats shoots and leaves' importance of commas moment for Thurnby though! Improvement needed if you want to progress beyond being 'usually right', mate!
No problem with being greedy!!!! I said before last night that I would be happy with 5 points from the games against Blackburn, Ipswich and Wigan and now I want at least 7!!!!!
"The pictures he is trying to paint about what he wants on the pitch are a lot clearer. We know exactly what is required when we go into a game and the jobs he wants us to execute." I think this is pretty telling.
in our promotion season around 1980 we won 15 of the last 17 to pip Leicester, but not sure how many were in a consecutive run. Needless to say which two games did I go to? Yep Luton away and Sheffield Wednesday away, our two defeats! Bugger!
Sorry Rob, you know your slaphead above? It took me a full minute after reading that comment to realise what you had said, talk about dim FFS.
I was at both of them too - but Wednesday away was just fine as it didn't matter on the day Best run was 6! We won 4, then lost to Luton, then won 6, then lost to Sheff Wed Check it out here
