Do you believe that korey could play a part in this season for us, OR could he be a future 1st teamer? I believe he has what it takes to play at the top level and would like to see him involved more when he comes back from his loan at barnsley! I think lambert could nurture him into a top midfielder and be better than most midfielders at the club atm.
That's a tough question. For me, Korey has been an integral part of our promotion pushes (not very often you hear that said), I think he has more than enough potential to become a top quality midfielder, but I don't know if he'll get the chance. I guess that's the way the Premier League is, quality players don't get the chance to prove their worth, and clubs resort to signing lads from foreign clubs who've been given the chance to improve in weaker leagues. Will he be a top quality midfielder - Yes. Will it be with us - Doubt it.
I just think that before looking elsewhere for a player of equal potential that would obviousley cost a bit, i just believe that lambert could get that potential out of before its too late and hes off loaded else where. Loans do seem to motivate a player and bring the best out of a player and hes obviousley trying to prove to lambert what he has to offer and if he carries on from how he starter then he may have a part to play before the end of the season, and hopefully win lambert over and keep him on.
Ironically, I said to some mates tonight, I believe he could and would have done a far better job than Crofts in our midweek Sunderland fixture. We'll never know, but he's never let the club or his manager down and Crofts on Wednesday was like watching us being down to ten men
To be fair to crofts, no one on that pitch looked like the player they did the game they previousley played. I do think smith is better than crofts and for such a young lad he has bags of potential... unfortunetly hes had a couple of injuries thats holted his progress over that last season and a half.
Wasn't it Lambert himself that said he could turn out to be a fantastic defender. His build is similar to Naughton and he has the ability to get up and down the pitch. Perhaps Lambert saw this as his long term position! I think he could do an excellent job there, although saying that perhaps strikers would pull out to his side to get a distinct height advantage on cross field balls. It's an interesting one for sure.
Saying that if i remember i think lambert played korey at RB in the league one season quite alot before the arrival of rusty. I do think he will be best in the midfield area, but where... god knows!!?? This loan stint he's on could determin wether he has a future at norwich i believe...
Crofts is good enough at PL level, WHEN he is played in the correct position, namely not against pace as the sole right midfielder frequently facing a wing-back and 2 left midfielders, and in the diamond he was dragged out of position and over-run, not his fault, but the tactics. Place him as we know in defensive midfield and he is a rock, he isn't a welsh international out of fluke, he is quality.
SMITH will get his chance. Lamberts stuck by what he said and gave those involved in promotion a chance.
There's an interesting interview with Korey on the Barnsley Player part of their offy website. The interviewer, who is obviously a Barnsley FC employee, says to Korey that he understands Norwich sees him as a player for the future. Korey is his usual bashful self. I wondered if the interviewer had been told to say that to dampen the enthusiasm of the fans, who are already wanting him signed on a permanent. The commentary of his game on Tuesday talks about his showing premier league class; there's an amazing defence splitting through pass, (a bit like Lansbury's for Holt against 1p5wich), which had them drooling. I like Korey; if Lambert asked him to run to Newcastle and back for him he would do it with a smile on his face. He's also classy, still improving and ours. And I hope he's not for sale.
The thing with Korey is that there's been no real stagnation in his improvement. Often when young players come through, you can see the level they'll play at. They're just a bit short on the required quality. With Korey, we've been able to see him improve, and a spell in the championship will only do him good. He's been unlucky this season with injury, and without it I think he'd have figured for us. The biggest issue for him at City for next season though, given the size of our squad now, and improvements Lambert will want to make, may be making the 25 man cut (should we stay up).
Yeah, 2 assists on Tuesday and a motm perfomance. Have a look at the highlights on the bbc website...
Exile: he's only 21 so he won't count in the 25. More important, I think, is whether he's likely to play in the first team alongside the players Lambert will bring in. Would make a good reserve captain, but that might not be enough for him. Perhaps we'll do what Chelsea did with Bertrand a few seasons ago and loan him out on long loans for a few seasons until he was ready.
Ah, it's age 21 and under, is it? I thought it was just those under 21 that were excluded from the 25, meaning at 21 he'd be included. You could be right about the Bertrand comparison, a full season at Championship would benefit him hugely, and hopefully us too!
