Just seen this on twitter • ‏@Tommy__Shaw 1h if we sign Fabio Quagliarella, the fa might as well just give us the premier league trophy now buh. #ncfc
I'm with you on this 1950 I'm worried that people are naturally assuming RVW, Hooper, Redmond and Fer are going to hit the ground running and be instant successes when the reality is that none of them have previously set foot in the premiership so there has to remain an element of risk with all the summer signings (Garrido the exception I guess)
Good, then, that the first six fixtures (with the possible exception of Spurs, though we've done OK in recent years against them) are not the toughest we'll encounter this season. Their development and 'learning curve' can continue versus Hull, Saints, Villa and Stoke
My glass is overflowing, but 1950canary's point is absolutely valid. We should be looking for no more than comfortable survival, while anticipating the Cup competitions with a frission of excitement. This time last year QPR fans thought Mark Hughes's signings were going to lift them into the top eight, challenging for Europe. How wrong they were. Names on paper are one thing; deeds on the pitch are another.
as i said before the start of last season even, progress in terms of league position will be painfully slow. its not like the lower leagues where you can make quick progress and shoot up the league or even straight through it. no matter how much money is invested in the side each summer, progress will be slow but it should be there. the aim for next season and indeed any season in the future is to stay up - that is the minimum requirement but also the most important one. we won't improve our position every year - there will be dips at times - every club has them. progress may come in another form such as stadium expansion or youth players making the grade. after that, any point improvement on the previous season or a positional lift should be viewed as good progress, likewise a cup run or ultimately, winning something. i think if we can better last seasons point tally of 44 and creep into the top half of the table for the first time since 1994, we should all be absolutely delighted!
I will settle for boring old mid table security without the gnawing fear of the gaping trapdoor this season, along with some better, less fearfull performances and a scattering of exciting results against the top teams to rattle a few of the big boys cages. To my mind that would be a major leap forward, I for one am not anticipating Europe or top 8 any time soon, even with these fabulous new signings! It's also a very good point that building the new guys into an effective team working together will be Hughton's biggest challenge yet. We have got where we have and stayed there thus far by making the most of the team ethic, without that we are but another QPR waiting to happen
I am a bit worried that people are getting a little bit carried away and expecting us to run before we are properly walking (an issue I am also having at home with a beautiful little ten month old daughter of mine ) I read a comment a couple of weeks ago that concerned me slightly. Danny Graham's move to Hull was being discussed and someone (honestly can't remember who) commented that he was someone who "we no longer should be looking at as we've moved on from that quality of player". We have taken enormous strides this summer but let's not kid ourselves that we are now comfortable mid-table side with one eye on the top six, the reality is that our first priority will remain 40 points and the survival that should hopefully bring and that should remain the priority for every season that we remain in the top flight. I'm not being negative at all, I've predicted a top ten finish after all and expect us to be safe, just offering a bit of caution and possible reality check before people go off booking their flights for a Europa Cup campaign or their hotel room for the FA Cup final
40 points will be the aim this season and every season we survive in the premier league after that. even everton say before every season that 40 points is the aim!
This is where my mind is at too. I still expect us to be a bottom half team next year, but I want us to play a more free and confident style of football. I hope we can have a more free scoring style again, and build a bit more reputation for next year and beyond. QPR taught us that signings don't equal success, that's why it's a good idea not to immediately offer them 50k+!
I think our next major goal (let's say the next 2-5) years is to keep slowly adding to the quality of the squad, and hopefully win a cup so we can have a bit of a foray into Europe.
No I won't old mate - I've suffered too many disappointments at Carrow Road in the last 62 years to change a philosophy of ' hope for the best but expect the worst - that way you won't be disappointed ' In this instance I feel that some people are beginning to get carried away and, for once, I fully agree with Supers assessment. Some people think I'm negative - I think I am realistic.
Didn't realise you were a part time online journalist 1950! http://www.givemesport.com/363652-norwich-city-reasons-to-be-less-pessimistic (joking aside, this article is actually a reasonable read)
Staying in the premier league will allow McNally and co to continue their good work and that must be our aim. Imagine what McNally could do with another 3/4/5 summer transfers windows!!! continually including our squad is whats needed and I wouldnt imagine seeing an overhaul like we have this summer anytime soon.
So as not to disappoint KIO and Supers - on with my negative hat - the only problem with that is that continual progress of that nature by Hughton and McNally would not go unnoticed and it is not just players the big boys come after.
That doesn't sound negative at all - I'd much rather have Manchester United chasing our players than Colchester United...
bang on and not negative at all. we can lose players to bigger clubs, we can lose managers... it's how football works, but the day we lose our CEO is the day i will worry
I was meant to have put improving....... at least you all still managed to figure it out If we ever lost McNally now I would be more worried than by any player we could lose. In terms of being an asset to the club he is priceless.
If our chief executive went I would be far from impressed. No offence to Smith & Wynn Jones but in the past they've hired wet blankets who nearly put this club out of business, also their not the most proactive or reactive bunch. Foulger is a businessman who seems to know his stuff and Bowkett comes across as a strong stubborn to the point character, so if anything bad happens like losing our CEO we'd fortunately hire a more capable person then Doomcaster. However that day may never happen and although its an uncertainty I try not to think about it.
