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?

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.”

Our defensive tactic of backing off until we step over the 18-yard line has been obvious since year dot, and our “conceding the most outside of the bottom three” has to have be linked to that earlier stat. No, really. It probably is.

But us scoring a fair few headers? Barmy.

Given that our first choice strikers are ball-in-the-air burly, it shouldn’t be such a surprising point. It just doesn’t seem a very Norwich thing to do. I’m a purist. The ball shouldn’t be allowed over head height unless you’re pinging it right onto the toe of the receiver. Or outside of the boot to someone few expected. Anything else should be banned and should take on the same role in the game as hoofing it out on the full in rugby union. Hoof it away and the intended target has to chase it, it’s a free-kick from where it was initially booted from.

If we score enough headers to stay up- don’t get me wrong- I’d be delighted. Heck, we could stay up because of own goals and I’d still be delighted.

Anyway, tenuously getting back to today’s game, I’m still waiting for us to get back into the flowing football we know and love. I fully expect it to happen today too.

Toon’s barrel-scraping line-up doesn’t make this a gimme. Sure they’ll fade out of the Europe contention soon enough, but being top six mid-December is no easy feat. It’s a tough one to call, that’s for sure.

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?

Yet another plus point is that we’re not the only ones to play them. Stupid as that sounds, it’s worth remembering that most, and quite possibly all teams will suffer at their hands this season. They’re going to run off into the distance without anyone close enough to see the colour of their coattails so I don’t particularly mind shipping goals to them.

It makes Ruddy’s little back-peddling moment a little more bearable. I would love to say at least he’s got his error in in a game we were going to lose anyway, but I fear we’ll see something similar again. I wouldn’t drop him though, destroys keepers does that. I’m not his biggest fan but he makes up for it with at least a couple of very good saves a week. Heck, our back four could even give him a hand every now and then.

But we’re sitting a pretty six points and five goals above the dreaded dotted line, there’s a fair amount of tosh below us and Christmas songs are on the radio. Not too shabby, not too shabby at all.

(Well, apart from Christmas songs of course.)

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.

The caution of goal difference is the equivalent run-out. Let’s not get silly, but we may as well attempt a slug to cow corner. Cricket comparisons done and dusted, don’t you worry.

I genuinely have no idea on how we’re going to line-up at Eastlands or whatever they’re calling it this week, I’ve learned better than to embarrass myself by trying to work it out. But, I never quite feel happy with having Crofts and Johnson on the same pitch. They seem to be after the same job. Plus, it means Fox is dropped.

Blasphemy.

Have one or tother and allow Fox and Patches to pull the strings. Style over substance for me, no matter what.

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.