Coupled with today’s admission, they’re also sticking by their two *ahem* golden oldies. If they were giving youngsters a good (well, let’s just leave it at a) starting base you could argue their case. Well, if your life depended on it you could. Possibly. At a push.

This is their third season. It’s also Team Lotus-cum-Caterham’s and Virgin Racing-cum-Murussia’s third. Caterham can boast Petrov, the same who finished last season with glimpses of the form he introduced himself with, and Heikki. Williams are no doubt fretting that if Maldonado frequents the wall as regularly as he did last season they’ll be chasing down the soon-to-be departing-Norfolk lot. Fernandes could finish fourth bottom in two seasons in the same year. A handy coup, if so.

Murussia too kept hold of Glock, he will be racing on his tod in between HRT and the rest of the pack until Pic is up to speed. They’ll need to improve their reliability, it’s been an achilles heel that has even provided them with the final two numbers on their cars

HRT on the other hand have two drivers in Karthikeyan and de la Rosa with a combined age of 75. 75. And, Pedro de la Rosa has been handed a two-year contract. At the youthful age of 40. They still don’t have a legal car. If it does pass its next crash test they will have only one official test in Barcelona to get some miles in the car.

But, at least they’ve given themselves some breathing space this time unlike last year, eh?

Leicester used the ball better, we couldn’t string five passes together and everyone appeared to be on their own wavelength. Some could barely be bothered to string together five paces. Morison especially so, he even set the tone early on by firing lazily over the bar when even Barnett would have been annoyed not to at least hit the target.

Could the notable cameo(s) from Wilbraham slip Morison down the pecking order? Unlikely, but if Wilbraham had missed the amount of good chances Morsion has this season we’d never hear the end of it. Wilbraham couldn’t have done any more than he did when he came on. He won nearly every ball with good flick-ons or control, chased defenders down and nearly snatched an equaliser.

This isn’t a knee-jerk overreaction resulting from yesterday. Morison’s first touch is never good, and he’s wasteful both in front of goal and holding the ball up. I never fancy him to slot it home when the ball’s on the floor. In front of goal in the air, yes, he’s a threat. You can make up for your shortcomings by visibly putting in the effort, Jackson and Holt do it but the same could never be said of Morison.

Talking of rubbish first touches, Barnett was equally poor. For me he’s behind Martin as our fifth choice centre-back, and no doubt sixth choice when Bennett properly arrives. Granted, he’s good at getting in the way, but a thinking defender he aint. Maybe we’ve been spoiled by the Zak, Ayala and Ward, but Barnett is truly atrocious with the ball anywhere near his feet. He’s our clumsiest defender too, and we all know we’ve had too many of them the past few years.

But despite all this, we’ll have a changed back four and we’re going to get something against Manyoo.

As pointed out over on Holtamania, a Swansea win puts them above us in the league. And that’s annoying. Mainly, because we will then – however temporarily- lose the ability to counter the sickly love-in for Swansea with a “Yeah but just look at the league table.”

Sure, they play nice football. And sure, their defence is toight like a toiger. But take them out of Wales and they’re a different side. And they seem to forget where the goal is. Arsenal have been chastised for that trait for years, yet Swansea are swooned at for it, which is odd. Especially since that could be their demise, however unlikely that may seem at the minute.

Clean sheets don’t win games. They help, but they can only ensure you don’t lose. Without wanting to state the obvious, goals win games. Even King Kev knows that. Swansea have prettied pundits into a criticism-less trance.

They’re helping me feel even happier about our season though, at the start of this season one of my main aims (aside from the obvious, of course) for Norwich was for Holt to outscore Danny Graham. On track, ish. And maybe even two of our strikers will outscore him.

Yes, yes, I may be a little envious of them. The do play nice football after all. But still. Save a little recognition for us, eh?

For some reason, very few are confident of coming away with too much. Maybe it has something to do with last season, when they didn’t let us play with the ball for any of the 90 minutes.

Me? Well I’d take a point.

Somehow Twitter was awash with bemusement over the Bennett deal. We signed him, Swansea didn’t. We have cover at centre-back and another one on the road back from injury. Loaning him back was a deal-maker. Plus, it keeps him playing a high level of football. The sigh of relief from Elliot Ward was heard across the county.

We shouldn’t forget about Howson either. We’ve added depth to our squad with quality players.

Away from us though, we’re in better shape than those in immediate danger. Wolves brought in Bassong and Bassong alone. Clearly they saw everyone else ignore Spurs’ pleas and replied with a “Go on then, can’t hurt to have him.” Steve Kean’s polishing his “do our best to get out this league” soundbites a bit too early and brought in Bradley Orr. And let Ryan Nelsen go. Ominous for them two.

QPR spent a lot, but still without any semblance of a plan. The seats behind the goals at Loftus Road are going to be taking a pounding, but not as much as their bank balance. Save some money for the F1, eh Tony?

Swansea were unexpectedly quiet, although Graham appears to have noticed where the goal is now. Bolton have put their faith in the talented Ryo Miyaichi but were unceremoniously rejected by Zaha. Just as ominous as Wolves and Blackburn. Wigan held onto Hugo, but will lose him (and Premier League status) for free. Mind= boggled.

So, while there’s no room for complacency, we really have come out of January rather well. The rumours of Rhodes and Snodgrass were wide of the mark, for now at least. Rhodes would have been a curious one anyway since Vaughan is close and all our strikers are in the goals.

We even saw off a cheeky bid from across the border. Although, the bid reeks more of Rangers attempting to show their fans they are active in improving their squad now they have the money from Jelavic. Token gesture.

Our midfield appears to have most corners covered now, we have the bruiser, the maestro, the snapping runner and the string-puller. And one, soon to be two, young’uns out learning their trade. But of course if Howson’s now ex, much rumoured team-mate was interested I’m sure we could make room for him.

This blog was started with the main aim of sarcastically rambling about the goings-on at Carra but it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to fulfill that. Especially when we’re signing excellent young players to add to our good young squad. We’ll plough on nevertheless.

Presumably the only player who won’t be thrilled with the signing of Howson is the unrecognisable Andrew Crofts. He’s found himself on the periphery, enough time to grow some hair no less. An all-action midfielder coming through the doors is only going to knock him down a notch again.

Johnson appears to be Lambert’s go to guy, despite Crofts and Fox seeming to be a better fit. Fox and Howson sounds even better, mind. Johnson battling and presence seemingly makes up for his deficiencies elsewhere. And no doubt one of hits will go in sooner or later. The law of averages rule this universe, you know.

Talking of players being due one, Coventry away seems a long time ago now. There’s a bouncing ball with Fox’s name on it, surely. Then again, that’s exactly what Howson’s here for.

Unfortunately this will fall on many-a deaf ear. Come window-closing time people will be in bits bemoaning the lack of activity. I, and I hope many others would agree, would rather we did just as Lambert is planning. More specifically, not straining the wage budget with players that are no better than what we already have.

Granted, injuries will occur, players will lose form and more options may be handy. But, say we don’t eat a dodgy Spag Bol and lose half the squad. Say the rotation that’s keeping everyone on their toes continues to work but we’ve signed a Djemba-Djemba type player or two. Unnecessary wages spent.

As Sir Paul rightfully acknowledged, it’s only two weeks in. Things may change both here and elsewhere and we may be forced to bring in a body rather than a player. Or a player fitting Lambert’s mould may become available. There’s no telling which might or might not happen.

I’d rather we did January with this rational, reasoned approach instead of throwing darts at the list on *time for usual QPR transfer policy dig* Big Tony‘s wall. Their scatter-gun approach could see them end up with players of different systems, shoehorned into one universal makeshift system.

But at least their January will be exciting, eh? I’d much rather have January with Lambert.

Sure, we were afforded acres of space but we certainly made the most of it. Heck, even Wilbraham looked a threat. I’m sure he must have felt the 22,000 fans willing him to score. Don’t lie, you wanted it to happen too.

Time after time we carved our way into promising positions with Patches O’Hoolahan and Foxy orchestrating things along with the majestic Ayala. *Add your own like a new signing line here.*

We’ve been handed a bit of a dull tie with Baggies away, though. And out of the two impending visits I know which I’d rather we came back victorious from, and that’s the first. But, a trip to the fifth round sounds almost appealing, although anything but a replay will be all right with me.

As for the first game at the Hawthorns, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a very similar side that made the most of a sleepy Burnley XI. Obviously Rudd will drop to the bench, Tierney may make it- however harsh on steady-as-ever Adam Drury Hall of Fame that may be- and Jackson-Holt and Fox-Crofts are wining partnerships for me. The latter’s place is never, ever in doubt in my book. Obviously.

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.

But signing a full-back isn’t the sort of signing that sends shockwaves through our rivals, not that I’m expecting a big name to come through the door and set knees-a-trembling throughout the league. Another striker then? With Vaughan returning we have options.

Midfield is getting crowded but a touch more quality in there wouldn’t go amiss. We’ve got enough centre-backs to ensure everything is all fresh still, chop and change, keep them on their toes. Or for some of them, get them onto their toes.

Lambert’s not wrong when he says they “boys need a hand”, we’re only half way through. Being Lambert, he’s no doubt got players lined up from left-field. Even if he reckons he’s signed all the good players in the lower leagues.

That to me means we’re going to be picking someone out of the depths of the Championship or League One.

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 unwanted injuries. Exaggerating I may be, but you hopefully see my point.

It’s not like we would miss it, cup runs aren’t in Joey Barton’s thesaurus beside the words Norwich City. I promised myself I wouldn’t mention him, I’m sorry. His last mention. I swear. So why not give Rudd, Francomb, Lapps, even the mighty Aaron Wilbra-force a run out.

Yes, yes, I should want Norwich to win every game. But I’d happily sacrifice the cup run if it meant staying in this league. And you would too.

You wouldn’t be forgiven for thinking we’re safe, home and dry. Granted, ten points is a lot, but we’re let’s not count any chickens yet. I won’t be comfortable until it is mathematically impossible to get relegated. We’re only at the halfway point, lest we forget.

Heck, even Wigan seem to have found a bit of fight. Although literally as this sentenced was typed Sunderland doubled their lead. So maybe they’re whimper is petering out again. But it’s January.

Who knows what’s going to be going on by February. QPR may have signed every available professional player by then.

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.

Wolves will be looking at tonight as equally as winnable, and it won’t be a classic. Although, our last meetings certainly were, even Carl Cort scored. From outside the box an’all. But, cagey and sticky could well describe tonight but I’m not going to mention that elusive clean sheet.

Then we entertain Spurs, get in and get out with as little damage done as possible. Fulham and QPR will be firmly in our minds by then anyway. Fulham away from Craven Cottage is a big chance for more points and pre-Supermarket Sweep QPR is too, if it all comes together 9 points from 12 isn’t out of the realms of possibility.

That wouldn’t half set us up nicely for the New Year. The window’s looming too, no doubt Sir Paul has plans up his sleeve. Plus we’re getting some centre-backs back again. Rosy or what.

Of course we could hit a slump through this period and then we’re facing something a little different. Let’s hear it for the Christmas footballing period, eh?