Congratulations on your DOUBLE PROMOTION, Canaries. Given that Saints have just been promoted from League One, having rattled up a similar tally of points, I was just curious as to what degree you strengthened in the summer prior to your assault on the Championship? Who did you add to your squad? And what level of optimism did you have going into the new season?
We kept the core of our LEague One winning team (Hoolahan and Holt were our key figures in both seasons). We also made some real changes to our squad and some of our new signings were immediately brought in to the first xi. A good proportion of our signings were quality League One players (David Fox, Andrew Crofts and Simeon Jackson) from Colchester; Brighton and Gillingham. We also signed some players who had played fringe roles at a higher level Leon Barnett (West Brom), Elliot Ward (Coverntry) and a midfielder you will probably know all about- Andrew Surman (Wolves). In terms of optimism I think the general feeling was that we had built a good mid-table championship squad and that our primary goal was to steer well clear of any hint of relegation. What has been your approach? This summer our strategy has very firmly been 'buy-the-best-from-the-lower-leagues'.
Cheers ESSGEE Survival to a mid table finish was most of the fans expectations i believe, though there was a little bit of belief of an outside chance with the playoffs! As for our squad strengthening, we got in Surman(wolves), Fox(colchester), Jackson(gillingham), Crofts(brighton), Ward(Free), Ruddy(Everton) in the summer but as the season progressed we also got in Barnett(WBA) Lansbury(arsenal loan) Wilbraham(MK Dons) Pacheco(L'pool Loan) Vokes (wolves loan) so make of it what you will, but there is a mixture of youth, experianced at champ level and and the inexperianced aswell. Though they were all the mould of the type of player lambert looks to aquire, which is exactly what hes done again in this transfer window... Good luck in the coming season saints
We have strengthened, but not by anywhere near the same degree, RT. Jack Cork ( Chelsea ) Has represented England at every level up to U21, and looks to be a decent buy. Steve De Ridder I think he is going to be a replacement winger for when Chamberlain departs. So no real gain there, sadly. Ammar Jemaal Tunisian International Central Defender on his way, I believe. I suspect that is going to be it for now. Cortese has adopted a very steady approach to Saints rehabilitation, and I like his style. We seem to be buying players very carefully, with not only the current task in mind, but whether they will still be of use to us should we progress further. Cortese ( and the Liebherr family ) seem committed to a return to the top flight within 5 years of the takeover. They clearly have the spending power to make it happen, but very sensibly, they are not advertising it. Slowly does it. Will be very happy with mid-table this season. Optimistic. Why wouldn't I be. Saints are currently joint top! With Chamberlain looking likely to leave, it's going to be vital we keep Lallana. GOOD LUCK in the Premiership. Nice to see you back in the top flight. I remember visiting Carrow Road in the 80's, and watching what I think was a 5-5 draw. So easy to lose count / track in such a game.
Thanks, ICHB You certainly did some business in the transfer market. Why wouldn't you - Lambert is a good manager, and one worth trusting with all aspects of the job, I feel. All the best to ya!
I remember 2 games at Carrow road in the 80's, one of them I think you beat us 4-5 and the other being a 4-4 draw. The one you refer to might have been one of these? The other one that stands our was the 2-1 win to us in the FA cup Q-final replay of 1991. A Chris Sutton goal late in the game (might even have been extra time winning it for us after you had 2 sent off. I had gone to the first game at the dell, a 0-0 draw. Cockerill (?) missed the chance of the game right in front of the Norwich fans from 2 yds the ball rebounded off his knee and over the bar. Very relieved!
Funny you mention premier league within 5 years- Norwich were apparently working on a 7 year plan when Lambert took over (1 year league one, 3 yr championship, 1 year premier relegation, 1 year championship then established premier league side). The foreign signings would worry me, but thats probably because Norwich have had such a poor record with foreign players signed from foreign teams! I was hoping Norwich might try to poach Lallana from you, mostly because he scored nearly 20 goals from midfield in my Football Manager game! I think the last time we played against you in the premier league was high scoring- a 2-2 draw or something after an Andy Johnson dive?!? Good luck in the Championship- good to hear you have ambitious but patient owners- that sounds like the perfect combination!
Rubiks, that's palace lol. But it was a high a scoring game last time in the prem between us. 3-3 at st.marys I believe!
Found the game I went to ... Carrow Road, 1989, 4-4. Remember both the Wallace boys playing. Rod scored a brace, as did Paul Rideout. Danny missed a great chance after one of his glorious mazy runs. We were doing the conga in the stands, so we obviously travelled lite that day
ESSGEE, that was muy first ever match at Carrow Rd. I'd recently moved back to Norfolk after spells in Essex, London and Devon. What a stunning 'home debut' and eight goal thriller for me. Icing on the cake had to be Robert Rosario (who struggled to hit a barn door, normally) scored what turned out to be Goal of the Season Season ticket soon followed after that Have a great season in the Championship.
Just found this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r0_Qc_tp74 clearly, this is not the game I was thinking of, the one I mentioned above I think was actually a 4-3 or 5-4 defeat for Norwich where we were 3-1 up. The memory fades over time.... I do remember this one now though. superb match.
That 4-4 game was a belter. I remember Rosie's goal and the dumbfounded nano second of silence before the Barclay went mental "Rosie is back Rosie is back wooo wooo" It was as if he'd been given the grace of Bruce Lee for the afternoon
Wow, KF, that was a trip down memory lane. I think the one you mean was a few years later when Ken Monkou headed the winner in injury time to win Saints the match 5 - 4. Then there's the (1992?) 5th round FA cup replay, Sutton's looping header four minutes from the end of injury time avoiding a penalty shootout. We've had some classics vs S'oton over the years
i remember both those games vividly! rosario's goal was sensational! a 35-yard volley - i believe it won division one goal of the season that year? the 5-4 was an absurd match too - le tissier scored a hattrick i think and ken monkou scored a header in the last minute. i think we'd lost our previous home match 4-3 to qpr so there were certainly goals a-plenty!! i've always thought of the saints as our twin brother in football terms. we do seem to be very similar in stature and history... and of course, we are relegation buddies - lets hope we cut that tie!
