Binky

If Motherwell do have the option to make Lappin''s move a permanent one I think they will do so. Shame in my opinion; a decent player and I would love him to stay with us. Have we sufficient cover on the left now that Pattison has found his touch? The unofficial ''well site''s message board has been complimentary and I think Saturday against Hibs was his first start after a few appearances as sub (Motherwell have had a few games cancelled because of a waterlogged pitch) but he did well apparently, even though he was at left back rather than his preferred midfield role. The offical match report says he got some good crosses and corners in: http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10292,00.html There''s also an interview with him. Ian Murray is also mentioned....

[quote user="Canary Nut"] Can anybody remember: d) The match at Watford at the end of the season we were promoted to the top division for the first time [/quote] Just to be picky - we''d already won promotion for the first time in midweek at Orient, when I think virtually every away fan invaded the pitch calling for Ron Saunders. At Watford we secured the championship - and Watford, who played well and held us to a draw, got relegated: Stringer scored I believe.  

[quote user="nutty nigel"] David Cross was quite possibly the best target man in the country throughout the 70''s. We heard about his signing at a night game I remember Geoff Butler I seem to remember us signing Ken Mallender on the same day? [/quote] Nutty: David Cross: Think the evening game may have been v Burnley who were promotion favourites in the autumn of ''71. It was a lovely balmy evening and the pitch bright emerald in the floodlights. In which case I think we  won 3-0 and never really looked back after that. We were desperate for a striker to be signed and when it was announced everyone standing in the south stand turned and asked "Who?"!! Think it was the next season he and Foggo walloped Blackpool(?). Mallender and Butler - both had a bit of class and were (or should have been) automatic picks for the team. Albert Bennett - big lad in his famous white boots, again seemed to have some quality in those feet and never let us down - but I thought he sometimes lacked a bit of aggression for a top striker - no doubt he was a nicer chap for that! And don''t forget a certain David Stringer from those days: like Mal Lucas, not flash but ever dependable and I recall my mate on the journey home in his Vauxhall Viva often saying: "I thought Stringer had a good game!. That was after we had waxed lyrical over the likes of Kenny Foggo (didn''t we just love him?) and the great Graham Paddon. "Really you know" (as Mr Waller would no doubt have said) - the likes of McDougall, Boyer, Machin et al were lucky to join such a side! By the way, my strongest memory of Curran was at Chelsea in the cup when he fisted the ball into the net when he could so easily have headed it. We lost 0-1 I think.

[quote user="nutty nigel"] After Manning can you remember another lump called Bryan Conlon who we got from Millwall??[/quote] I do - but he didn''t do much did he? (Someone wake me up when we get to 1971 and David Cross -.."from Rochdale, for a club record fee..."!! As Ron Saunders said, "He''ll be all right when we fatten him up a bit.." And he was too!)

[quote user="Stone"][quote user="Graham Humphrey"] I want to know why we''re always so bad with set pieces? The number of corners that don''t beat the first man or go straight to the keeper is shocking and this has been happening for ages - surely it''s something that really needs to be sorted out. [/quote] I started a thread echoing those sentiments and didn''t get one reply! [/quote] I''m biased perhaps - but when he was still with us, I thought Lappin was one of our best men at set pieces. 

(In case no-one else replies): Well yes, and no arrdee. As you say, he wasn''t exactly an ever present was he? My memory''s dim but I remember him for his tackling more than his distribution or his running. I fancy he collected a few bookings. He was playing alongside and over-shadowed by attacking stars like Ken Foggo (also signed from wba). If the stats are true he played just 40 games and never scored. Maybe I''ll ask you in another 37 years time if you remember Simon Lappin (who may yet score more goals than Croft for us this season). Funny how we have favourites amidst the also-rans isn''t it? Talking of favourites, we signed Colin Suggett from wba as well - the likes of Jamie Cureton could do worse than study some of his goals...lovely little player ("Though I know I''m only dreaming, I can''t stop myself from....).

Sorry to be a dissenting voice - but I think both Mr G and Mr A do a good job. Admittedly I may just be comparing with the standard of some of the presenters on "The Home of the Stephen Bumphrey Show" (how I HATE that morning show) but find the balance of play description and comment about right. Mr Waller did all right but got very repetitive ("and it''s yet another very scrappy game" or "..and really you know, you can''t do that when you''re up against this sort of opposition). Radio 5 also has some very opinionated commentators who make out they know more than any of the managers. Bear in mind that on TV it''s easier because much of the play is seen. Try listening to Radio 5 while watching the TV - they also miss out large chunks of potential commentary - it''s impossible to speak fast enough to cover it all.

[quote user="Jim Duffy"]Frankly, its hilarious that so many poeple on this thread are "backing" Brown to do well, and worse still, claiming they "liked him" when he was at NCFC. You all couldnt wait to get rid of him, and for good reason. He was a very, very poor STRIKER [/quote] Sorry to disagree Jim but that''s an exaggeration. Others have said Brown, Strahvka and Lappin were not really given a fair run. Yes, give me the likes of Evans instead of Brown any day (and especially in the past 6 months) but I don''t think Brown was helped by the team in which he played or its manager and coach at the time. Some years back I recall a striker we signed from Wolves getting booed off the field by the Barclay end when substituted in his first season. Didn''t look good at all. But for some reason we persevered with him - God knows why, though even then, like Brown, he was good at holding up the ball. Roberts was his name.....

And just in case - however remote - he fails to score a hatrick on Saturday, can we count up the number of chances he is given, before we write him off? Delighted to have him in the squad and quite a coup at this stage of the season, but am not sure the blame rests entirely with the strikers Evans and Cureton, (Cureton''s sitter against Stoke excepted). They have not had a lot offered from our midfield.

Roeder is an average or maybe above average manager - we could have a lot worse, (and have had!). His ability to bring in loan players when others had failed was a massive plus just when it was needed. The failure not to sign Martin Taylor (yet?) may prove crucial - he looked quality and a fully fledged Canary right from his first game. We don''t know if Roeder can be blamed for not signing him though. Some of his later loans "in and out" have been less convincing - but the decision to let Lappin go was a mistake in my view - he wanted to stay and wanted to play as a passing midfielder - not as a left back where he was asked to play and ultimately judged. Roeder''s contacts are obviously a big asset but he has now got to start the real task of managing and motivating the current squad. That is where Grant failed. A bit of team stability would not go amiss as would some team motivation - saying 15 players are likely for the chop I thought rather unwise. But given the current resources I think we are fortunate to have a Roeder in charge right now. 

Given what happened, playing away from the Prem might be actually welcomed by him. He''s quality - above anyone we have at the moment and he wanted to play for Norwich. If we could only get an attacking midfielder of his quality as well, we''d be well set..

I agree with Stone. In fact I thought the first 20 minutes was very good stuff - good possession and passing (sometimes a bit square) but with little to show for it. Think some of the comments on Croft a bit harsh - not my favourite player and there was no end result (as usual) but the same could be said about a lot of the midfielders and forwards. He did do a lot of running. I didn''t think any player was really bad - most were far worse at Watford (and no doubt at Coventry). For me the weakest man was Camara - he seemed to disrupt our intial passing and possession game by long crossfield passes that more often than not were cut out and collected by the opposition. Even Marshall seemed to be following the "pass it out" rule rather than just hoofing it - perhaps becuase of the wind in the second half especially. In the second half Stoke appeared to have a lot more possession - but our goal was not exactly besieged was it? Roeder is wrong to target another striker until we are creating the chances. A strong  passing midfielder is what we need - mere enthusiasm and running is not enough. But last night was surely a game for Huckerby?

I seem to remember a certain Iwan Roberts having a slow start to his City career....both Strahavka and Brown I thought got little chance to prove their case. Meanwhile midfielder Lappin said he actually wants to play for Norwich again - (though probably not as a left back!).

[quote user="Delias Tasty Nibblets"] It was a corner...a bit harsh I think blaming him for not marking the corner taker... [/quote] Sorry but I agree with Jetstream. Yes it was a corner and Velasco may not have conceded it - but their man got to the byline by waltzing through Velasco. Couldn''t understand those at the beginning of this thread thought him MoM on Tuesday - was surprised he wasn''t subbed then. (Chris Lakey marked him high in the EDP - maybe I''d been watching the wrong player?). Nope!: He may have skill there somewhere but he sure hasn''t got pace.

[quote user="WalthamCanary"][quote user="Binky"] (MoM - Marshall or Dublin surely?) [/quote] Dublin man of the match? Really? He was really off the mark last night, both in attack and defense. [/quote] Compared to some of his performances I don''t disgree. He was on as a striker - but had to do a hell of a lot in defence too. Some are blaming him for the Watford goal but having seen it again, a perfect cross and a perfect high-power strike....not sure many defenders (or strikers) would have got to or stopped that. But he saved our bacon on more than one occasion - especially near the end. I suppose what I was really saying was that there was no-one who stood out as really special - but Dublin, Croft, Pattison, Evans and others did do cover a lot of ground. I was in the main stand near the front and close to Velasco. Too often I thought Croft was having to get back to support him in the first half, rather than the other way around. A different - but not unrelated question - I find it very difficult to decide who is my favourite Norwich player right now. Difficult to choose a loanee because they''ll soon be gone, which leaves..... 

MoM? You are joking?! In a side where no-one really shone I''d say he was in the bottom half - though Chris Lakey also scored him highly. (MoM - Marshall or Dublin surely?).Too slow (certainly in the first half) and twice resorted to obstruction/body checks because he couldn''t win his tackle - or keep up with his opponent. Croft, Pattison and Pearce seemed to be always hovering in support. But in terms of techique - yes, he looked as if he can play a bit. Maybe he just needs a lot more match fitness.

Personally I didn''t think any one player stood out - they all ran around, especially in the second half - but there was little smooth or defence-splitting passing and the ball was in the air far too much. We seem to be becoming a "kick and rush" side. Has Marshall been ordered to boot the ball as far as he can rather than pass it out through the defence? We lost possession immediately more often than not. Thought Pattison did a better job than of late and was more effective than Fotheringham with his passing. The one rating I would diagree with is perhaps Velasco. He looks as if he has (or had) quality in him but he was just far too slow especially in getting back - he was skinned too often and going forward seems to prefer passing square. If he''s to stay then he needs to be quicker. Funny how we all see a different game. (Dublin surely deserves credit - and more seriously, Marshall too - for nearly the best own goal ever?!). Great strike by Cureton though - but did we ever look like scoring apart from that? Wonder if Lappin will play tonight....

Roeder can fight his own corner - can''t believe he will be best pleased with Fotheringham if the report is true. Makes Roeder look weak and will hardly dispose the Board towards Fotheringham in particular. Smacks of Fotheringham wanting a better deal on a new contract (as befits his elevation to captaincy) than he''s likely to get. Afraid I tend to agree with Jim Blair - Fozzie just aint that great! By no means indispensable. Huckerby''s moan was different - he saw decent players like Safri and Etuhu (yep Etuhu) going out and being replaced by secondraters. For the record: Fotheringham started poorly and unfit; had one great game and got injured, worked through his injury and came back a much better player. But captain? Not for me I''m afraid. He''s had some very good games since but also some very ordinary ones - in short a very useful squad player but not indispensable. When he joined there were reports of several clubs - Southampton was one I think - who had turned him down on a free. He is somewhat lucky he wasn''t asked to do a job at full back like poor old Lappin! And why all the stick for the Board? Until someone can prove that they have a queue of millionaires waiting to hand over their dosh and buy the club I shall remain grateful to Delia and her other idiots for the millions they have already invested and rescuing us from the Chase aftermath. Sadly, spending big money is not on the agenda - we should be more worried about the lack of home grown talent coming through - or leaving. Sorry Danny, sorry Joe, sorry Ryan...

[quote user="canaryjock"] ... I suspect Glenn is trying to mould his own team therefore all players brought in by Grant will be under pressure, apart from maybe Dave Marshall who Glenn seems to really like. [/quote] And also presumably Fotheringham Jock? Whilst Fotheringham has improved bigtime from when he first pulled on a Canary shirt, I think Lappin is the far more talented and useful player. Not as strong or boisterous perhaps, but more creative and a much better first touch of the ball. I still need to be convinced about Fozzie and Pattison long term.

"One thing is for sure we won''t soon forget the strike against Cardiff." What about his last minute strike last season against Luton? I have seen several "anti" posts following the news that he was going to Motherwell, which surprised me. I saw him play about 4 or 5 times soon after he joined - he looked a cut above the likes of  Murray and Fotheringham (who admittedly was not fit) especially with his passing ability and one of Grant''s better signings. I think he has quality in him - the ability to do more than run around and make a nuisance of himself (useful though that might be sometimes) - he is a neat and tidy ball player. We don''t have many like him at present - and for Saturday''s match he would make my starting line up. Remember he was asked to fill a hole as left back - whereas he has always said he''s a left sided, left footed midfield player. Roeder has been harsh on him IMHO. (He effectively threw the Plymouth match failures to one side - he can hardly repeat that with the Leicester failures - though Russell and Fotherigham have effectively done that for him). Lappin just was not played as a midfielder by Roeder. At the time it was said that Motherwell have the option to make the transfer permanent in the summer. They play tonight - he has not had more than a substitute''s part so far it seems but it was his cross that made a goal in his first match for them. I get the impression Nigel Worthington does not have a monopoly on stubbornness...

If the players are doing their best - then by definition, they cannot do more. If they''re not then some form of moan is surely in order. Trouble is, only Hucks, Dublin, Taylor (and probably Marshall) IMHO are definitely up to the mark, and they are either out or past their best or both! We still need better players. Admittedly there''s a few bubbling under - Lappin, Chadwick and Strihavka could all come really good in a winning, confident team  - and Roeder''s doing all the right things so far, especially on what could be two vital loan signings. If Taylor is fit for the Coventry match, we''ll win!- that will make the protests irrelevant for a week at least...

I agree with virtually all comments. A good strong midfield helps both the defence and the attack. Russell has unquestionably been one of our best players of late - but that says it all doesn''t it? Can''t fault his work rate and he makes a real nuisance of himself - but he creates very little. For me, our once strong and creative midfield never recovered from the departure of Damien Francis (now at Watford) - or rather, his facial injury in the Premiership (remember that mask?). Safri was the nearest we got to a replacement (did Mr Grant understand the purpose of management?) and our present creative midfield is surely as low as it''s ever been. Etuhu got stick but for me he could sleepwalk into our present team. Oh and let''s not forget Worthington''s failings: Matt Jackson, Edworthy and Stein Nedergaard - all released too soon. Last night the touches and composure of Taylor stood out above everyone else.  A few more like him in the team and we could surely start to hold our own. If not, the prospect is bleak. As for Huckerby''s absence, surely those who question whether he should automaticaly be chosen for the team now have their answer? Cureton is an out and out striker - not a provider. Stay fit Hucks.