Morph

Well there''s one managerial possibility out of the way.http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_2794402,00.htmlSky Sports is reporting that Warnock has joined Palace.

There''s always:Byron Glasgow (currently a trainee at Reading)Rob Paris (from Aylesbury)Salvatore Monaco (currently at Catania)I''m sure there''s loads more. Just search on soccerbase.com under players to get some hints.

Best post that I''ve taken the time to read for ages Rossi.It''s a completely uninteresting place to visit these days - the Pink''Un message board. It''s the same old arguments getting rehashed again and again, followed up by the same old vitriol from WO''s a KTFers, alike.This board was once a place for reasoned discussion. Not any more. Just a place for bitter people to air the same views that they''ve aired over the past 12 months or dig out more dodgy rumours or speculation about what''s going on down at Carrow Road.Everyone one of us would do the team more of a favour if we put all our verbal efforts into supporting the team.

Can somebody explain something to me - why do City need a target man? There''s an implication in this that the expected ball to the front man is in the air with a smaller striker acting to feed off the knock downs/ons. Why do City have to play that way? What''s wrong with the ball to strikers on the deck or balls through the defense for strikers to run on to (Earnshaw is a supposed to be quick). Or, God forbid, balls crossed by the wide players from a position beyond the opposition full-back. How many times does Worthy ask his wide men to go past the full back and get to the byline before crossing the ball in? How many strikers do City have on the books? Thorne, Earnshaw, McKenzie, Jarvis, Henderson, Huckerby, McVeigh? Why do they need another one?

Why not play a system that employs wing-backs? Have a central defensive trio of Docherty, Shackell and AN Other (probably Fleming). Then have Drury as LWB, plus AN Other as RWB (Colin, Hughes, Louis-Jean, Spillane). Play three in midfield. Safri being one. Then pick two from Etuhu, Robinson and Hughes. If you want a more attacking midfield choose a roaming third from Huckerby, McVeigh, Henderson or Jarvis. Select two up front from the vast choices that City have for strikers from Earnshaw, McKenzie, McVeigh, Thorne, Huckerby, Henderson and Jarvis. From what little you can gain from a friendly, I think the partnership of McKenzie and Earnshaw looks good, BUT it does require a particular type of service from midfield. That''s either crosses into the box from beyond the opposition full backs or balls ON THE DECK through the oppositions back four. The "hump" doesn''t work with that pairing.

blahblahblah, you make a comment about the starting 11 for Leeds well here''s my comeback. We can''t use any of the pre-season friendlies to guage much at all. However, if they were being used as a way for players to stake claims to places then only the following would make my starting line-up. GK: Gallacher (didn''t see Lewis although he was there) LB: Drury CB: Docherty CB: Shackell RB: ?? LM: ?? - Huckerby is currently favourite but I remain unconvinced on last nights showing, he simply goes missing for too much of the game CM: Safri CM: Robinson - sorry but Etuhu doesn''t do it for me - a big lump of a player whose first touch was awful RM: ?? ST: McKenzie ST: Earnshaw That would leave three positions to fill, although one is likely to be filled by Huckerby. Huckerby and Drury work well together. I''d like to see them acquire two midfield players. One, a decent attacking central midfield player, Etuhu isn''t it. Two, a right sided midfield player. Safri is a Makele type player who is good on the ball but he''s not going to be making those lung busting runs forward. Robinson is a Carrick type of player, always looking for the cutting pass, but again not making those lung busting runs forward like a Gerrard/Lampard style player. The alternative is to play three across the middle with Safri, Robinson and Etuhu. Then play Hucks just in behind the front two but give him license to roam. With McKenzie and Earnshaw up front you need to either play the ball into feet and run off them or you need wide midfield men who are prepared to run in behind the fullbacks. Huckerby does that, but City don''t have a corresponding right side player who does that. Jarvis came on for Huckerby last night and looks a decent player - more convincing than Henderson on last nights showing. If Worthy has to insist on playing strikers wide then why not give Jarvis a go on the right?

Not much of a match to be honest - and yes I was there!!. A first half strike force of Thorne and McVeigh did little to conjure up anything magical - McVeigh seemed to have picked up someone else''s boots because he didn''t look at all comfortable when he did have the ball. Closest to scoring was Shackell who attempted to bundle the ball in from a corner but only managed to get the goalkeeper in the net and the ball over the bar. A lightweight midfield, IMO, with Safri and Etuhu in the middle with Henderson and Huckerby on the flanks. Major difference between the flanks being the support from the fullback. Drury makes good runs past Huckerby creating space for him to run into, whilst Colin made no runs at all beyond Henderson. Changes made at half time saw McKenzie and Earnshaw on as front pairing, with Hughes replacing Henderson and Robinson replacing Safri. A much better front pairing with both causing the defenders havoc with their chasing of the ball. Earnshaws first came from a McKenzie layoff on the edge of the box with Earnie curling the ball adroitly into the top corner. Second goal was a penalty area melee with Earnshaw finding a way to pop the ball in the back of the net. Earnie nearly had a third with a Huckerby run down the left wing and cross only to see Earnie sliding in on his backside unable to get the merest of touches to put it in. Overall, solid at the back - questions still remain over right back position. Midfield is still an area of concern on this showing. Safri is OK, but Etuhu doesn''t have a first touch worth anything and ends up diving in after losing control with the obvious results. Robinson looks a decent enough player with an eye to play a decent ball rather than giving away possession. Out wide, the players on show don''t offer a solution to the right side of midfield. A decent attacking right back may help solve the problem, but Henderson was timid - only once did he actually attempt to go past the left back. Hope it gets better than this in the real matches because the opposition aren''t going to be as poor as Livingston.

I haven''t posted in this forum for months because it''s such a depressing place to come and visit. That said, I felt I had to post just to crow as "Fife Fire" lead the Norwich Hopefuls segment of the premierleague.com fantasy World Cup. Yep, that''s Morph up there looking down at the rest of you (for once).

A slightly different tack on the issue of whether there is something wrong at Carrow Road at the moment. To all the supporters out there that are reading this, ask yourselves this question. Are you getting value for money from your entry money at the moment? And if you are explain why. I realise for many simply seeing the team is enough irrespective of what is happening on the pitch. For others, the entertainment value they are getting for shelling out their hard earned cash is very poor indeed. Where do you stand?

KC, have to agree with your sentiments. I visit the forum less and less these days simply because there is no discussion and I stress discussion. I even have to think twice about trying to start a discussion, there are other boards where you actually get reasoned debate - sadly this is no longer one of them. This message board has become indicative of the club in it''s current state - stale. I would classify myself on the Worthy doubting side of the fence, but when you try to generate discussion on what needs to happen at the club to fix matters there is no reasoned debate. Even the KTFer''s don''t post anymore and I can understand why. The WOer''s that we have have become so vociferous and unreasoned that they leave themselves no room to manoevre and cannot see how anybody can have an opposing view. It''s sad but true.....

Kathy, I think your article is spot on. The big difference between the two sides on Sunday was simple. One team came to do the job they were employed to do, the other team (for the most part) came to make up the numbers. I think in some circles it''s called football. I always thought the general idea behind football was that you passed the ball between you and your team mates trying your damndest to make sure the opposition didn''t get it, with the intention of eventually popping it in the goal that your opponent is defending. I''d like to point out to those City players on Sunday who couldn''t quite work out which was which - your team mates are the ones who were wearing yellow jerseys. And when the players in the blue jerseys have the ball you''re supposed to try and get it back. "load of" since you seem to be happy to knock the words that Kathy had written, would you be prepared to give us your view of what you saw on Sunday please. And perhaps a little insight into why you think this whole thing can be turned around. Perhaps I''ll get out of the shower in the morning and realise it''s all been one horrendously long dream.

Would we seriously have to get somebody in if he were removed? Why not simply appoint a caretaker until the end of the season? If Worthy is forced to leave or resigns, why not let David Williams take the helm and see if he can at least get them playing again.

I have to say that I watched the debacle Sunday, well 90% of it - the 10% I lost to doing the household ironing was more enjoyable. Ignoring that I wanted to post the major observation that I had of the game. Posters have maligned the defense for many of our defeats this season and also maligned the attack for not putting away what few chances they have, but what Sunday''s game really exposed was the lack of quality and effort in midfield. You can''t have a four man midfield where only one of the four turns up to play. I was always under the impression that the midfield is the engine room of your football team - it was when I played there. But what do we see from the current Canaries? 1. When in possession the maxim "pass and move" seems to work well. Just watch the Ipswich youngsters on Saturday and you''ll see what I mean. On the other hand when City had the ball it was very much a case of get rid of it to the front blokes as quick as you can even if it''s an appalling pass forward. What happened to the short pass to one of your team-mates and then move into space to receive the return pass? 2. When NOT in possession, press the opposition. How many times did you see Ipswich with the ball and City players dropping off them and gving them space? One classic example for one of Curries shots, when both Safri and Etuhu (I think) ended up in the six yard box when the Ipswich guy was outside the 18 yard box. Both of these aspects game much from the much vaunted work ethic that Worthy prizes so highly but where were they on Sunday? The engine room needs a major look at with players prepared to work their balls off and players who have the wherewithall to use the ball when they''ve got it. Of those on show only Safri fits the bill and on Sunday even he was a pale imitation of the player on show in the Premiership. If the pros can''t cut it in the side, which they don''t appear to, then drop them and bring in the youngsters who have the hunger to get the job done. Too many journeymen pros in there at the moment who aren''t prepared to do a "hard days work"!!

CityAngel, I don''t want to drive your thread off at a tangent but the fact that lowly Crewe have knocked in three against Reading today just sums up a lot about City''s season. Clearly your experience at the open forum at Sheringham the other night suggest that the board believe that Worthington should be here at least until the end of the season. The big question is would a defeat against Ipswich persuade the fans to voice their discontent in a more forthright manner?

Forget a cease-fire..... How about season long, honest and reasoned debate rather than the pathetic and perpetual mud-slinging that we have had on here for the last 6 months.

If he is available on a free then I would say pick him up. Every time I''ve seen them play up here he''s been a useful right sided player to have in the team. The downside is that he''s 30. So he''s not exactly a young, up and coming prospect. More like another journeyman footballer with a slightly better pedigree. From: http://www.4thegame.com/club/glasgow-celtic-fc/player-profile/3488/didieragathe.html Didier Agathe is the kind of midfielder who likes to get forward, but can also drop back and play a deeper role if required. Since arriving at Parkhead in September 2000, Agathe has played an important part in Celtic''s successes. He played in all of the Champions League matches during the 2001/02 campaign, helped the club win the League on more than one occasion and played a crucial part in getting the Hoops to the UEFA Cup final in 2003. Martin O''Neill opted to play Agathe in an unfamiliar right-back role, which ultimately improved his performances during the 2003/04 campaign.

a1, wasn''t there also a sell-on clause the Crewe put in when we bought him? That would knock the actual money we see from the Ashton sale down a little bit more. From the BBC site: " Norwich have completed the signing of Crewe striker Dean Ashton for a club-record £3m. The England Under-21 striker signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with an option of one further year after passing a medical on Monday. The cost could rise by £500,000 and there is a 20% sell-on fee." So that''s £1.4M of the £7M paid out of the calculations.

I''m sorry but I''m really tired of all the vitriole directed at Ashton. Football is his job. If he wants to take a job that is what he considers to be a better prospect for him personally, what''s wrong with that. Don''t tell me that everyone of those noters who are calling him a judas, wouldn''t jack in their own jobs if somebody came after them with a better deal. Give me a break! Ashton wants the big time and I would suggest that he does not believe that he is going to get the big time at the club in it''s current state. I don''t blame him. He wants to get on. He wants to get into the England setup and staying where he is doesn''t seem like that will happen. None of us had any complaints when he was knocking those goals in against Man U and Newcastle last season. Deano I wish you the best.

Funnily there''s a post on the Pompey message board on rivals.net from a Pompey fan suggesting that Ashton will sign for Wigan on Monday for £7M.

Is it just for today or has the official club notice board been down for a while?

ZLF, have we really short changed our midfield this season in terms of depth and quality? Last season we had: RM: Bentley, Henderson, Jonson CM: Safri, Francis, Holt, Helveg(?) LM: Huckerby, McVeigh, Brennan At the start of this season we had: RM: Marney, Henderson CM: Safri, Hughes LM: Huckerby, McVeigh, Brennan With the loan signings we now have: RM: Henderson CM: Safri, Hughes, Robinson, Etuhu LM: Huckerby, McVeigh, Brennan On that basis a glaring need at the start of the season was a natural right-sided midfield player and cover in the middle. The more glaring need now is a natural right-sided midfield player. Something Worthy hasn''t addressed at all this season preferring to continue with the "third" striker in the right sided midfield role. See when you look at it we''ve not had a ball playing midfield player alongside Safri for the last season and a half. Would you describe Francis as such. By all accounts, Hughes is Holt in all but name. Heart on the sleeve huff and puff but no exceptional ball talent (oh apart from that one pass to Ashton against Palace). Robinson and Etuhu, how do they rate against Francis?

A hearty best wishes to you both. May you both have many happy moments to treasure together - especially those ones where City actually start playing how we all want them to and Nigel Worthington becomes as good as Jose Mourhino.

Having watched the highlights of the Boro V Tottenham game I would have thought Boro would have been interested in a more reliable replacement for Schwarzer. There''s always Villa who don''t exactly have a keeper who sets the world alight in Sorenson.

[quote user="YankeeCanary"]Thank you all for your kind words but, without wishing to be ungracious, I can hardly accept praise. This is the second year I have "borrowed" the sentiments of the author of this wonderful piece, Clement Clarke Moore. When he wrote it over two hundred years ago, being a modest and loving man, he wrote it for his wife and children. It took a friend to submit it to a newspaper some time later. [/quote] Yankee you beat me to the punch. My kids have it amongst their collection of books that come out at this time of the year. That said your plagiarism was more than worth the read.

[quote user="1st Wizard"]In my opinion, Ashton has never been a total ''canary'', his body language always had a ''loaner'' style to it. I''ll say what I always say to players who don''t want to stay at my beloved City: SOD OFF!. [/quote] Sorry Wiz, can''t agree with your sentiments on this one. He is the best striker that we''ve had at the club for a long time. Words about building a team around a good spine (Worthy''s words I believe) seem somewhat mute here. Why did he look so handy in the Premiership - simply because of service. Without that service he has looked an ordinary striker. Who should we blame for the lack of service? I think the words from both Worthy and himself on the Championship suggests that he''s out of the picture. Worthy saying he''s signed a three year extension is just his way of saying you''ve got to pay for the lad. Such a waste of talent from City''s perspective.