So Naughton’s not been allowed to stay out to play at Carra past May. It’s safe to say that’s a blow. But, nevertheless, he’s here until the end of the season so it’s not all bad.
It presumably means the money we had intended to put aside for the impressive full-back is now available to be spent elsewhere. On another full-back maybe? With Tierney struggling, Drury being Drury and De Laet being De Laet, we’re a tad thin on the ground. Continue reading
Unless we’ve all forgotten, Norwich have a game to go and lose at the weekend.
Yes, I know it’s nice to matter. It’s nice to be the talk of the town, table and darts but we’ve got a cup to gracefully bow out of.
Let’s be honest, the last thing we need is a cup run getting in the way taking up valuable energy and throwing up Continue reading
What a big few games coming up, eh?
Ignoring Spurs, they’re all very winnable, starting tonight. A good Christmas and we could be almost comfortable going into January. Not that any chickens are being counted or laurels are being rested on, mind. Continue reading
Having a quick nose around the previews of today’s game, one thing from the BBC one stuck out.
Aside from the token patronising head ruffling, the match facts at the bottom surprised me. Not the one that says we’ve allowed the more shots at our goal than everyone but Bolton but that “Norwich have scored the joint-most headed goals in the top division.” Continue reading
One of the best things about the City game is that it’s over. We weren’t expecting anything and we didn’t get anything. It feels odd to be nonplussed by a 5-1 defeat. But, ne’er mind.
Another plus point from it is that we don’t have to visit Maine-Eastlands-Etihad Road again this season, that can wait until next year. Hark at that optimism. Yes, they’re still to come to Carra but half of it is out the way at least, eh? Continue reading
Talk about contrast. QPR followed by Man City, granted they’re both in the money but still. Going from keeping an eye on Shaun Derry to David Silva is the proverbial chalk and cheese.
I quite like going into a game thinking but not worrying, “meh we’re expected to be battered.” I don’t like that we could get battered but because we’ve effectively got a free hit. May as well swing, if we miss there’s no wicket lost. Continue reading
With Coo-Pee-Arr in town, it seems like it could be a good chance to find a bit of rhythm and momentum again. We’ve been playing well in fits and starts, not the flowing destruction of before. Obviously the quality of the opposition has been higher than what the squad Sir Paul’s designed is used to.
Warnock’s lot on the other hand ain’t Arsenal. He seems to have put together a side that is a dead-cert to get you of Division One on Championship Manager 01/02. They are clearly focusing on forming a squad that will keep them up this season – and why shouldn’t they? Whereas we seem to have accrued a squad that will give staying up a good go but if we don’t we’re going to be short odds to return straight away.
QPR will probably stay up, especially as rumour has it they’re in talks with Dale Winton to come in and supervise their January spending spree. Something tells me it won’t be calculated. They’re going at this Premier League lark like the money men they now are and it’s the polar opposite to our approach. They’ll sign enough to stay up.
All this doesn’t mean I’m expecting a walk in the park. Derision of their signings aside, Joey Barton is better than his reputation allows him credit for and him being suspended creates something of a dent for them. SWP has the pace that renders our defence to quivering wrecks, although thankfully his final ball is often a dubious one. Faurlin is arguably better than them both.
We can’t afford the costly errors we’re so fond of either, not against the teams we’re battling with in lower mid-table. Annoying as they may be, I’d rather see them against the likes of Arsenal than provide gifts to immediately around us.
Three points would not only go down well, it feel bit necessary.
The success of an excuse is usually determined by how early you get them in. Wenger’s dropped in a hint at what’s to come if they fall prey to us on Saturday- we only had three players go away to play with the bigger boys, Arsenal had fifteen.
Well, Arsene, who’s fault is that?
This can only mean one thing, send them away empty handed we’ll get as much credit as we normally do. A condescending “Yeah but..” and then they’ll go spouting off about why if it hadn’t have been a full moon last night and the mother-in-law had used goats cheese instead of cheddar on yesterday’s lunch it would have been oh-so different.
Now I’m all for a good excuse, and this is no plead for attention, especially as I fully acknowledge that us slipping under the radar a tad has its benefits. And I’m not for one second saying Saturday’s result is a given, just the other day I incoherently splurged a few hundred words of my uncertainty over which way it will go.
Anyway, I can’t help but feel it could be a return for the dithering De Laet, if only because his pace could be a match for theirs. His banishment to the bench should hopefully have channeled his concentration levels, if he ever manages to keep his head all game he’s a genuine contender for the centre-back berth.
We all know we play better against the bigger teams and despite what they tried to have us believe back in August, Arsenal are still a bigger team. It’s also a game crying out for Fox to control. He should have have space and time to imperiously ping.
And everyone loves to see a good ping.
So it seems Super Chrissy Martin’s fallen off the selection board to a point where he’s available for other teams to select.
I’m sure your mate down the pub’s mother’s friend-from-work’s son’s best mate’s brother knows why that’s so, but it’s a weird one. When The Big Wilba is Continue reading
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to sit down and bore you all with my musings. Luckily for you that little hiatus should be over now. It’s probably not the best weekend to find time to start rabbiting about Norwich though, what with this International break an’all that.
Anyway, we’ll trudge on. And talking of trudging on, that seems to be what we’re doing at the minute. We’re playing well in patches, not the free-flowing slickness Continue reading
