HAS pre-season been everything it should have been? PAUL LAMBERT (Norwich): Yes. There have been some small changes that I hope the lads have taken on board but that's all. The squad is as ready as it will ever be for the opening day. I'm sure they will be a credit to themselves at Wigan. BRENDAN RODGERS (Swansea): Yes, as we are now physically and mentally prepared for what lies ahead. We have been to a training camp in Austria and the quality of our opposition has improved with every friendly game. We are ready now for the serious stuff. NEIL WARNOCK (QPR): I don't take too much notice of pre-season. I know that when my lads walk out in front of 19,000 at Loftus Road they will be like matadors. They need adrenaline and atmosphere to perform. Have you worked out the art of survival in the Premier League? LAMBERT: No. I'll probably get the sack after four games! We just have to adjust and settle in as quickly as we can. I can't say it will take 40 points because I don't know how many it will take to stay up - especially after last season when so many were fighting against relegation. RODGERS: Think about it too much and you wouldn't get out of bed. We just need to win games. There will be a lot of adverse situations at times but, if we come good in the end, then that is all what matters. I have not looked at how promoted teams from previous seasons have fared as it appears to get tougher every year. WARNOCK: I don't think anybody can work that out. We don't know who's going to be at the bottom or the top. The bookies are usually correct but what's narrowed in the last few years is that the top teams haven't won so many away from home. They only used to lose four games. United only won four away last term. That shows how close the division is. On their day anyone can beat anyone. IS 17th the best you can hope for? LAMBERT: I'd settle for 17th right now, the whole thing is about surviving in the Premier League to get a foothold and build from there. Stoke is a phenomenal story and Blackpool only just missed out last season. They gave it one hell of a fight. We'll do is everything we can to stay in the league. But you can't compare yourself to any other club. RODGERS: We would certainly take that position now. But the reality is that we want to stay as high as we can in the table. I have not said to the players that I want to finish 17th as I believe we can finish higher than that. WARNOCK: Any club coming up has got to look for stability. WHAT are realistic ambitions? LAMBERT: Just to stay up would be a terrific achievement. Every Norwich fan knows that if we stay in this league, it would surpass everything we've ever done so far in football. RODGERS: There is always excitement about a new league but you will always be unsure until you get that first win. With our philosophy and the way that we work, we can surprise a lot of people. We will be underdogs in every game and without a doubt the miracle would be to stay in the league. We will take it game by game and hopefully do enough to be here this time next year. WARNOCK: We kick off against Bolton who epitomise everything about staying in the Premier League. They are not a massive club but they are well run and have stayed in the division by virtue of shrewd management. HOW vital is it to stay up? LAMBERT: Staying up is crucial. Playing nice football only matters if you're winning. There's no point if you're playing great and getting beat, that's for sure. If we can play the right way, then great. Fantastic football is not going to keep us in the league. RODGERS: It's the ultimate aim and a massive challenge. The promotion has obviously set the club up for many years to come. It's taken us 30 years to get here so let's not put our toe in the water, let's put our foot in. But if you thought too much about what you have to do to survive, you wouldn't get out of bed. WARNOCK: All clubs coming up have got to look to stay in the league and build from there. DO you feel you have the full backing of the board? LAMBERT: The club is a lot more stable than it has been over the past few years and I'm delighted for them. The board has been great. There has been periods that have been difficult, things a lot of clubs go through like relegation. That has been a bit unfair on the club but we have managed to come through that, it was unfair when the club dropped into League One - especially with our fan base. RODGERS: Absolutely. I have signed seven new players and have broken the club's record transfer fee by signing Danny Graham. We were close to going out of business not so long ago and people must remember that. People think the Premier League's heaven but the reality is it's been hell for many clubs who've chased and spent millions. WARNOCK: Did not answer. HOW do you feel about being among the favourites to go down? LAMBERT: I'm not a betting man. I don't know anything about odds except that sometimes you can defy them and that's what we will try to do. I don't have a problem with people saying Norwich are going to go down. That's just somebody's opinion and everybody's entitled to one. It's not my opinion. I can't produce a magic wand; what's going to happen will happen. RODGERS: It's the same for all the promoted clubs. I remember we were tipped to get relegated when I took over here last summer. And we were the bookmakers' favourites to go down again before our shirts had even dried at Wembley! But I am always optimistic in my personal life and I'm never down. But everyone here will fight to prove people wrong. WARNOCK: Did not answer. HOW big is the gap between the Prem and the Championship? LAMBERT: Don't know - I have never been in it. We're going into the unknown. Only one of the squad has Premier League experience. We have to adjust and get a foothold really quickly. How do you know these players already here at Norwich can't play in the Premier League until you give them a chance? RODGERS: The Premier League is improving season on season. It's a huge achievement to arrive in the Premier League but it will be a bigger achievement to stay there. We're going to a whole new level. The first year is massive, we know it will be a rollercoaster. WARNOCK: When I saw the Championship kick-off last week I thought, thank goodness we're not in that. It's so difficult the Championship. I'm not saying the Premier League is easy but it's a different type of pressure. SO just how excited are you all about taking on the big boys? LAMBERT: I am just the same. I haven't looked at the dates when we will be taking on the top teams. It is not going to change me as a person. We have earned the right to play them all so we will give it a go. I am not at all nervous because it is not about me but about the team. Sure, I am looking forward to it all, the atmosphere will be great on the opening day with Norwich taking 4,500 fans up there to Wigan. RODGERS: Very excited as I know this group will be more than good enough. Nobody will give us a chance and that starts with our opening game at Manchester City. We are competing with a club that has trillions and are a million miles away in resources to them and other clubs in this league. But that will not stop us fighting from start to finish. WARNOCK: I'm so excited. It's been a long six weeks but we're really geared up. There's a generation of our fans who've never seen the big boys come to Loftus Road, I'm looking forward to it
Good read there, glad that Rodgers is staying firmly on the ground, to be honest the two are the same, warnock not answering are the board backing you speaks volumes IMO
Good read indeed, must admit Rodgers comes across as a top coach, I'm sure the Irish in him will see us through this baptism of fire! Get stuck in you Mighty Swans, and fear no one........................... please log in to view this image
