Hooleyfan

Seb looked shakey yesterday...didn''t win too much in the air and some of his touches were short or hesitantly executed and because he wasn''t his usual assertive self, relied on putting the ball to Ollsen too often when he was being squeezed putting pressure on his left back as a consequence. He''s going to need another game before we see him at his best but whether that needs to be against Liverpool, I don''t know! Dropping him for the game could also effect his confidence. I feel the Liverpool game is make or break for him?

That''s the second time that Gunn has referred to the ref as "Mike Riley" ...plank!

I hate it when Gunn is part of the BBC Norfolk commentary team

With so many of the old guard gone its inevitable that there will be a power struggle...I think Leroy Fer can be that captain on the pitch but as a new boy he may need a season to settle in. Russel Martin is not guaranteed a place and is too much of a nice guy despite his undoubted intelligence and presence in front of the camera, to be a controlling influence around the squad... particularly with Snodgrass and Pilkington who I would say are the most petulant and have the biggest egos in the squad at the moment. Not forgetting Seb, he does a good job commanding the back line but I wonder what his presence is beyond match day. He appears to have that sense of humour which captains need and I am thinking of the dancing routines which highlight that, but is he sufficiently imposing in his communication in English to tame Snodgrass and others? I don''t know! We need strong leadership and role models to guide our new youngsters such as Redmond and Murphy and I am afraid that emulating the petulance of Snoddy will ruin those youngsters and divide the squad. We''ve had fantastic stability and drive since the coming of Lambert and I can''t think of one player who was prone to tantrums like Snoddy in that time...well perhaps Chris Martin and King of Spain did a little bit, but Snoddy despite his talent and work ethic, needs to reigned in now before his behaviour significantly affects other''s games.

If RvW had been able to stand his ground against Snoddy this debate would not be happening...whatever the outcome of the penalty. The fact is he didn''t and in my opinion whatever his price tag, he''s not ready for the PL, mentally or physically. There is an apparent void at the club at the minute...nobody that has the robustness of character and good humour to keep the squad in check the way Grant Holt could...the guy had the humility to take as good as he got, as well as having all the physical attributes regardless of what has been said about his fitness. Whether Snoddy sees himself as the natural heir to the ''throne'' or not and thus stepped in to state his case by taking the penalty, I am not totally convinced but some would might see it that way...however what is clear is that if Hughton doesn''t assert his authority over the squad soon, this power struggle...or rather this, mass escape from responsibility will be irreversible. What is Calderwood''s influence over the squad? Is he generally liked and respected? We don''t really discuss his influence much here!

We lost a lot more than I think we could appreciate when Holt went...we have a void of legitimate power and leadership at the moment and this is classic ''storming'' whilst the hierarchy establishes itself...question is how damaging is this phase going to be on performances....the introduction of such a lot of new faces needs to be managed skilfully and all we can hope is that Hughton has this in hand. You might think that preseason and tour of the USA would have given them every opportunity but I think that only now this is starting to happen as the serious business of the PL season starts and the real tensions start to materialise.

There is a leadership void on the pitch and in the team, that''s why we''ve got this mess at the moment. Hughton has fudged it by appointing two captains and neither really work. Snodgrass takes advantage of the situation and I agree, bullies his way to the front as dead ball kicker too often but that isnt entirely because of his ego. Ricky is too soft at the moment and a bit of a lightweight...and this worries me. He is not robust enough for the PL...physically or mentally and that was shown today with the penalty...as our record signing I have yet to see anything from him that truly excites me and I am sure some of his team mates feel the same about him. Hughton''s reputation is staked on him so he will persevere with him...and Snoddy will continue to fill the void that the absence of leadership ...and the lack of a centre forward, leaves.

He didn''t get his chance today and won''t get his chance in the future whilst Hughton considers that his reputation rides on £8.5m RvW...the game was crying out for a strong ball carrying forward that can hold off the opposition. RvW is not strong enough to cope with the PL, wants too many touches in front of goal and is not quick enough in his decision making

You can download the apps called Photon or iSwifter that will give your iPad a flash capability. You might have adjust the settings on the app (Photon) for streaming but it''s the only way I can get Canary Player to work on the iPad. Quality of pic is a bit grainy though!

It pays to read the whole article as Alan Grey points out. If you want to take excerpts for the purpose of a creating a sensationalistic post to fill up the time during the silly season that is OP''s prerogative but it doesn''t make for a sustained discussion. Ian Murray was asked for his opinion as someone who has played for our club and north of the border. It was a lightweight article by journalist Mark Armstrong to fill pinkun copy and the point being, would Hooper miss the old firm derbies and the atmosphere of Celtic Park. Undoubtedly he will but don''t forget that he would have played his games at many uncelubrious venues in the SPL . The quality of venues and the crowds in the EPL are so much better overall. The further emotive point which the article provokes thought on for every proud Canary is the comparison between ''Old Firm'' versus ''Old Farm'' and whilst from a City fan''s perspective Old Farm wins every time it is the player''s perspective that is being discussed here and it''s a reasonable call to make. The merits of Ian Murray''s career profile are not in question, rather the choice of interviewee that the journalist in question sought. There were a number of higher profile ex canaries who could have given a perspective on this issue, Sutton or Hartson from a Celtic point of view or Fleck and Chris Woods from Rangers standpoint...but suggest Ian Murray was the best the journo could do at the time.

It is clear that Hooper has made his mind up to go and whether the right deals are on the table for the clubs involved, the bottom line is ultimately he will make sure it is right for him. Classic brinkmanship all round! Celtic will hold out as long as possible hoping they can fuel a few more clubs interest but knowing that they get nothing for him in a year''s time. So it goes on! I don''t think that we have got to the stage where any club has been given permission to speak to the player. Whether we are still interested or not is hard to tell...could these failed bids for other strikers be part of the ''smoke screen'' to retain our upper hand in negotiations giving Celtic the impression we can take him or leave him. It ultimately worries me that little interest is being shown in the player, and yet at the same time gives me hope that McNally is playing a canny long game on this. Hull could not offer enough, QPR could offer more but could they tempt the player and in doing so were they prepared to pay over the odds in personal terms to make up for playing in the second tier. Whether this latest interest from West Ham is a figment of Sky''s imagination is another for the conspiracy theorists, but with Carroll looking likely to miss some part of the season through inevitable injury they clearly need a fall back plan. This one goes right to the wire!

But it''s still QPR at the end of the day and who would want to go there?

Twitter silence from Holty today! ...means he probably isn''t with the squad in Austria ... In contrast Ruddy has just tweeted about preseason training

Has anyone seen a single source from either club confirming this story other than sky sources?.... Has Holty travelled with the squad to Austria?

Despite sky sources suggestions David McNally has just tweeted he hasn''t been in talks with anyone about any player leaving

Despite sky sources suggestions David McNally has just tweeted he hasn''t been in talks with anyone about any player leaving

It''s Nathan Redmond!!!

Putting all the cogent arguments that have been aired on the forum about Holt and Hooper, if its going to be then there couldn''t have been a better arrangement and a better time. Holty gets reunited with his family and gets a shot at the Champions League, I think he deserves that! He''s been brilliant for us in 3 leagues and with career time running out, it''s now or never. Celtic is my SPL team so if he is to go, there couldn''t be a better place personally speaking. Now as for Hooper, Norwich might be a stepping stone but its back to a familiar part of the country being born in Harlow. I think he could form a formidable partnership with RVW...and we could still have a ''GH'' at no. 9

What''s it with Crystal Palace and us and New Year?

Winkel winkel you''re a star You''re a striker yes you are Climbing up the league so high You''re a diamond, you''re on Sky

Wes is shining! His vision and passing stands out

Wes playing so deep, and surrounded by crap ...he''s doing ok but every pass forward he makes no one can hold onto it.

I am currently staying in the hotel, for the first time and whilst I am enjoying the novelty of looking out onto the stadium, this space could be better used...a huge corner fill in enabling a few thousand more spectators to see games live...but I don''t know how the figures stack up!

Make it a City legends v Ipswich has beens and it might be a novelty match of some interest but please save the real fixture for a legitimate fixture, even if it isn''t played again for 10 years

The club wants it and I guess it will happen, but the reason is greed...guaranteed big gate with little else to commend it. The police will be stretched to put the controls in...not helped by the club who will be unwilling to control the ticket sales. If it takes 10 years for this fixture to come up again in the course of legitimate competitions so be it!!! Don''t diminish it for the sake of a quick buck