knowhatimean

Sometime I wish our Manager showed a bit more passion for our game. Watching Bentitez last night as Liverpool were pressing for the xtra goal made me realise what we lack in the way of motivation. Also Steve Gerrard - a skipper who leads by example, the way he was stirring his boys on - how often do you see Adam Drury say ANYTHING? No, Worthy needs injecting with some of what other Premiership Managers get - PASSION. We are too nice.

The next two months will tell how much Norwich City Football Club has in the way of ambition to stay in the Premiership. Having worked so hard to get promoted, if results do not continue to go our way and we are embedded in the bottom three, will the Club simply shrug and accept relegation with the dream of parachute payments securing our instant return to the top flight or will they make a determined effort to ensure survival? When I say determined effort, I mean an injection of funds to entice better quality players on short term loans AND a better quality Management Team to coach these players. Other Clubs can do it - why not Norwich City? Yes we know all about the financial situation (at least, what we are told of it) but then do not most Clubs run on overdrafts these days? We should be cementing our position in the Premiership, not surrendering it without a whimper. Our marvellous supporters (for the most part) deserve to be in the Premiership and I hope every effort will be made to preserve our status. I suspect, however, the Board will carry on as their predecessors did in 1995 and settle for what they have now. What a shame - I hope I am wrong!

Disagree with Lawro - this is just the type of match City can win with the odds stacked highly against. I am beating Lawro hands down on his BBC 606 Challenge Lawro competition (no great distinction there) but I predict we will at least draw and possibly might win this game. OTBC

Really going to show my age now - We just lost one - Bernard Robinson, the penalty and long throw in king of his day. My boyhood hero was Noel Kinsey as I used to play in his position and I nearly ran him over once in the city! Also, George Ephgrave, I think he was the tallest keeper we ever had and I remember scoring against him at a fete -he could not get down to the low ones easily. And of course, there are many, many more - I could go on all day.

Funny you should mention Marc Libbra, DD - I was watching some old City videos only yesterday and he was featuring and scored some amazing goals and his flick-ons were described as sublime. Pity he didn''t last! For your collection Rob, how about Jean Yves De Blassis

I Have said all season that the only thing wrong with Gary Holt was Worthy - persistently playing him when he clearly needed a rest, both confidence and fitness wise. He has been a valuable member of the squad and I hope will continue to be so - I join with all other posters wishing him a speedy recovery OTBC

Hi CeliaThere is obvious interest in the suggestion so on behalf of us, will the web team make some approach to the Club please?I am sure we would all appreciate information straight from the horses mouth instead of the usual rumour mill stuff! Agree with NC, better for them to come on to a proper site!OTBC

How many times are we mystified about certain managerial decisions such as team selections, substitutions, transfer talk etc. etc. ?  I wonder if some approach could be made to the Club to ask if a system of feedback could be introduced whereby the Manager or a member of his management team, could come on to the message boards each week and explain the reasons why certain decisions are made.  I am not suggesting that all the things that go on behind the scenes at the Football Club should be made public knowledge but there is always a lot of speculation about certain decisions on these boards which I am sure could be cleared up by a simple explanation. I think it would be a valuable PR exercise and also provide all of us wannabe managers much food for thought. Perhaps the web team could float the idea.  Any support for this suggestion? OTBC  

So sorry to hear the sad news about Bernard - I saw him play many times and used to love the way he took penalties - standing facing opposite to the goal and then swivelling round hitting the ball all in one motion - probably would not be allowed today but was very entertaining to watch.  A brilliant player.

Of course Thomas should be given a chance - you don''t play at a high standard for years and become Captain of your country by being ordinary - he, along with Safri must be given an extended run.  I thought Mulryne was fairly anonymous yesterday and why Bentley in place of Johnson I shall never know. Having said all that, a marvellous point away from home - now lets start winning our home games on a regular basis. OTBC

Yes, what another great point away from home in spite of Worthy ballsing up his team selection once again.  By his own admission (on Sky) he said if we had started playing at 3.00pm instead of 4.00 pm we could easily have won the game, but when are we going to start playing from the kick off and whose job is it to get the players going? - that''s what I would like to know! Rant over - well done boys, anyway! OTBC

No Wiz, even with your spell binding powers you could not make Iwan cut it in the Prem but I''ll tell you something -  I would have him back any day to replace one of our reserve team coaches!!  I think it will happen eventually anyway. OTBC

Susie - Nothing was said about a loan deal but I assume it would be Greeno for Pennant plus cash deal with Bentley remaining on loan as already agreed.  You are right of course, nobody would blame Greeno for wanting a career move and then, why would Worthy buy two international keepers anyway. OTBC

I do hope we can put out a decent team against the Arsnl tommorrow night.  I would like to see the outcasts given a full game and really have a go.  When you think of who we have available we should be able to get a result. How about Ward Brennan Helveg Doc Shackell Safri Holt McVeigh Jarvis Hendo Jonson for starters?  Any other suggestions?   OTBC

My informant tells me that Greeno has bought a house in Herts and that it is a done deal with Arsenal that we get Bentley and Pennant.  The house purchase thing is usually an accurate forecast!! Remember Rivers recently? OTBC

Wiz - I don''t want to upset your spell but I would love it if they came up next year so we could really stuff ''em in the Prem!  Can you fix that please? OTBC for ever

What a relief to get our first win - but for the posters who could not get to the game, please do not get carried away - we have played far better already this season and lost or drawn.  However, while there were still players not on top of their form, the performance was gutsy if nothing else. my assessment of the team for what its worth - Greeno- about usual but he did tend to rush things at times, Drury - as usual some telling tackles but did get caught which led to their goal - seems to have improved going forward but at the expense of some of his good defensive work,  Edworthy - caught out of position several times but did get forward more, Fleming - not up to his usual standard - poor distribution, Charlton - well, we may criticise Worthy for some of his signings but Charlie is a revelation, if only he could distribute a bit more accurately, Mulryne - certainly did not dominate midfield but made a useful contribution and did not waste to many balls.  Francis- really wanted to play and was all over the place and but for Kents would have had a hat-trick today, Bentley - not too convincing and lost it in the second half when we were pressing for goal, Svennson - not as active as of his last few games but still did reasonably well, Mckenzie- if only a few more of the team were as keen as Leon, we would not be in trouble, he just needs a bit of luck with his finishing, Hucks - did his usual but is being marked out of games, thought he looked more dangerous when going thru the middle. All in all, a very exciting game and a happy journey home for a change! OTBC for ever

Given that we are all Norwich City Supporters on this board and that we all want whatever is in the best interests of the Football Club, how much longer does the current regime have to ensure our safety in the Premiership? I, for one would rather have Worthy at the helm of a successful team, but not in the Championship!  Should the situation continue with the Club propping up the league until, say Christmas, Norwich City will have to be like any other Club in the Leagues and find a replacement Management team which, hopefully, will get us out of trouble and secure our place in the Premiership. We will have to say, thank you Nigel for all your hard work for the Club and goodbye.   I sincerely hope that day does not come but realise that the only sentiment in the world of football is success and sacrifices sometimes have to be made for that success..   OTBC  

Sorry Zipper, the Management team are responsible for the coaching and motivation of the players and yes, of course, the players also have a responsibility to perform but those who do not take that responsibility should be replaced until you arrive at a satisfactory formulae, eg a winning team. No we have to be realistic and consider why things are not going well.  Many reasons I believe to be poor team selection, players being played out of position, off form or unfit and a very poor substitution strategy. We must not, however be panicked into buying players who are no better than those already at the Club - we have done enough of that!  We must persevere and get the coaching and motivation right. As for the Worthy out campaign - I for one would be more than happy if keeps his job BUT NOT at the expense of seeing our Club again consigned to the wilderness of the Championship dogfight for I fear it will not be an easy task to get out quickly, parachute payments or not!  We have to act sooner rather than later and I just hope that we do not suffer our usual Christmas & New Year slump this season!

DDIM - I think Campbell and  Zipper have it about right.  Study the videos and see how many goals we have conceded thru our full backs getting sucked out of position.  Having said that, I still feel that their contribution so far has still been valuable but, as we have said many times, they need some good coaching! OTBC

Would it be legal to pipe some crowd chants over the tannoys in the quieter areas of the ground? If not, get a few people to bring some very loud sound equipment and play the songs on that!  Would be better than the pompey bell and drum! OTBC

It is quite clear that Worthy favours Hendo - it is quite apparent when you see them at training.  That being the case, why does Worthy persist in playing the lad when he is clearly not yet ready.  Why on earth does he not send him out on loan to a lower cliub and beef him up a bit.  He is far too lightweight and gets knocked off the ball too easily.  His confidence level must be zero after poor performances and the subsequent critisism in the press and on these boards.  I am sure he doesn''t deserve that and needs to be given a fair chance.  Good luck to the lad. OTBC

Why are you all talking relegation??  If we go down, whoever is the Manager, we will probably be there for another 9 years, or more.  Enough of this defeatist talk and if ensuring our survival in the Premiership is the aim of us all, there is no one person who is above reproach.  We certainly do not want a Manager who is very good at getting us promoted but not so hot at keeping us up.  We must not even contemplate relegation. I vote for DDIM to succeed Worthy with a backing team of 1st Wiz. and Morph!!   OTBC for ever

Agree with much of your post, Morph - except, that is, about the financial prudence.  I well remember a previous fat Chairman who exercised this particular lady and cost us a distinct possibility of winning the title in the inaugral Premiership season!!  He also exercised again her when we were struggling hard to avoid relegation to Div.1, after having tasted probably the most successful period in the Club''s history.  What I am saying is that nothing was ventured then and certainly nothing was gained.  Of course I am not advocating a wholesale spending spree but if our Club is to ever succeed in anything, the Board will have to be adventurous and yes, maybe speculate to accumulate.  I am confident that some of the players are more than capable of performing in this league, given the best coaching available, so I think we should be looking at our Management Team for some improvement. I know I have used more than my share of cliches in this post but unfortunately, I am old enough to remember the dark, dark days of Division III (S) when applying for re-election to the league became reality, so please Board - do the right thing, however drastic, in order to secure our place in the Premiership.  The alternatives do not bear thinking about. OTBC for ever

I agree with Creative Midfielder on this one - I do not feel we should write Hendo off - Like of good wine, he needs to mature and be nurtured and in his case, also feeding up as he is far too lightweight.  As has been said many times before on this Board, he would also benefit from a loan spell in a lower division where he might realise his potential - that is, if he is allowed to play in his preferred position. Give the lad a chance (but not in our team - yet!) OTBC for ever