Binky

[quote user="Pboro_Canary"]I fear he found his level in League 1 and will be no different in the Championship to what he was last time. A good squad player but not a regular starter for me next season.[/quote]Yawn! Same could be said about half our team. Lappin did alright under Grant as I recall - and was MoM in that draw v Ipswich at home under Roeder (when he cleared off the line near the end). He''s certainly taken pressure off Drury too this season.Lappin isn''t quick and doesn''t catch the eye - but he never tired and covered more than his share of the pitch. Lambert played him more often than any other player this last season - so he at least must have been reasonably comfortable with him. Lappin was also one of our top players for "assists". I have no doubt that he can cut it in the Championship - but whether he is a regular will depend on the preferred formation and whether the new arrivals are any better. I sincerely hope they are (as much as like Lappin) but if they are not, Lappin will not let us down.

[quote user="hogesar"]If you think back to our past few seasons in the Championship, most people have been in agreement that games are mostly won or lost in the midfield area. I certainly believe this is the most crucial area of the pitch in any league, as both the defence and the forwards rely on them heavily. The amount of midfielders we have is increasing and the potential signing of Bailey will only add to that. I think you have to consider players who aren''t capable of making the grade THIS season (Sell Tudor Jones, Gill, Loan out Adayemi?) etc. Add to that the potential departure of Russel and whilst we''re still strong in numbers without them, we''re not in a position to complain about the amount of them. I think Lamberts working hard to get every kind of midfielder in, and a passing player such as Fox is in my opinion, a good signing. My personal opinion is that Hughes is a fantastic footballer, but his fitness could be a concern for the following season. If you then take into account a couple of long-term injuries throughout the season then i think you can understand why Lambert is bolstering the midfield area. [:D][/quote]Good post. A weak midfield can make even the best full back look weak under pressure - or leave the best striker chasing fresh air. IMO we never did adequately replace Damien Francis way back when - though Clingan was without doubt a bit of quality in a barren spell. (Fotheringham? Don''t make me laugh). The likes of Gary Holt and Darrel Russell can be useful players but I  hope we have signed someone who can distribute the ball and create some play. Ian Crook the 2nd come on board!

All the people I speak to are keeping the faith and are in no doubt that promotion is going to happen. No-one (rightly or wrongly) doubts that. What is getting to them is the way very poor teams are making us look ordinary and, as you euphemistically put it Beaus - our current "lack of fluidity".

[quote user="First Wizard"][quote user="Alex11ncfc"]Looked today like he wanted to get booked and make sure that he didn''t score, missed too many oppertunities.[/quote]What? This message board has some loonies (including me!) but this has to be the top one.[:S] [/quote]Well I''m another one then Wiz because I agree with Alex. When you''re supposed to be avoiding a yellow card at all costs for team and club they don''t come much more deliberate than a deliberate handball. Not saying he wanted to get sent off - just that it looked like that.  Holt and the team missed Hoolahan yet again. Holt had  plenty of chances and whilst none were absolute sitters, it seemed to me that it was down to him being either just a shade slow each time or his headers lacking accuracy. Yes he was getting a lot of physical from the defender but surely his constant whinging to the ref must distract from his game? Frankly, I don''t think he''s been the same since the last suspension. His contribution this season has been immense but a great captain''s performance yesterday it wasn''t.

[quote user="The Butler"]Thanks Ricardo, first thing match day I look for is your report. I can remember big Ron and his goals. Was far more of an out and out center forward than Holt is. By the way, under your recomendation tried a pint of Peroni (draught) at a pub out in the sticks. Won''t be the last one either[:D] [/quote]Yes - but I seem to recall the season after we had sold him to Southampton (who were in Div 1, the top flight) we had an evening League Cup game against them at Carrow Rd . In a one sided match, Davies picked the ball up deep in his own half, galloped down to the River End and scored.

[quote user="Mister Chops"][quote user="Houston Canary"]No, chops, you blame the keeper for something that was questionable at best. Of the 3 involved, Foster was the least to blame. Doherty started it, and maybe the ref made a bad call, but it would not have been an issue if not for the stupid pass attempt. Does "it was a bad back pass" not imply the back pass was, um, bad? But still, Forster didn''t cover himself in glory by taking the player out, giving a pen away and getting sent off. Thank you for illustrating my point for me. You blame it all on Foster. Ok, the pass was bad, BUT............... Get real.[/quote]Forster made a bodge of his job, having been put into a very difficult situation by a bad Doherty back pass.  Do you understand how more than one person can be at fault?[/quote]Ever think you''re wasting your breath Mr C? Doc''s back pass was a shocker - and in those conditions he knew any back pass risked a goal if it was not absolutely right. It was a big mistake. But Fraser still had the choice of conceding the goal or conceding a penalty and a red card.  Second big mistake.

[quote user="Alf Tupper"][quote user="Row D Seat 7"]I was listening to Talksport on Tuesday. The presenter of the show (Adrian Durham) was talking about players or managers that have one successful spell at a club, then a few years later they go back to that same club and have a less successful spell. Bryan Gunn''s name came up. Someone had text in saying ''Gunn was a good player for Norwich, but got us relegated as manager''. Then the ever so knowledgeable presenter responded with ''Come off it, Norwich were basically already down when Gunn took over''. I e-mailed in and told him that Gunn took over when we were outside the relegation zone. He had half a season to save us. He didn''t read it on-air, but I got a reply saying ''Didn''t realise this''. It annoys me when the National Media/SSN etc etc think they know everything about your club after just glancing at your league position or manager etc. I was glad to put him right.[/quote]   Sorry but anybody with an ounce of sense would agree that Norwich were already deep in the sh_t, without hope and as good as relegated when Gunn took over. We''re going up with Lambert and hopefully Lambert will stay with us. However, the legacy that Gunn inherited was truly rotten to the core. More loanees than contract players (or as near as damnit), the playing staff utterly demoralised, the club without direction and run by imbeciles and so so on and so on. The combined experience of Gunn, Butterworth, Crook and Deehan couldn''t turn it around and IMO nor would anyone else. Our club at that time was like a ship heading for the rocks but the momentum was too great to reverse. My two big criticisms of Gunn are (1) he was completely mad to have taken the job in the first place and (2) Theo Klitis. [/quote]Alf - I''ve nowt better to do so I''ll be the lone supporter for you on this. Gunny may or may never make a good manager but I was totally convinced at the time that GR had wrecked the club and the lack of a decent pool of contracted players was GR''s legacy for whomever took over. Nothing has caused me to change that view and I don''t believe anything ever will - except maybe Huckerby, Hoolahan and Lappin all privately giving me the nod that Roeder was a good manager really. Our position then just outside the relegation zone was not so dissimilar to West Ham''s now - except they still have a half decent squad of contracted players. Without a Grant Holt in the side I''m not even sure Lambert himself would have kept us up but certainly he is probably the man most likely to have done. Now, (tin hat on) - I don''t know for certain that Theo is a useless goalkeeper and arguably, we have a lot to thank him for (and Nelson''s back pass and Doc''s lack of turning speed to counteract Lisbie, that first match of the season).

[quote user="DGC"]I would be truly gutted to see him go. Was pretty much in tears when i knew he was coming back. He was my boyhood hero and an absolute genius with the ball at his feet. The best footballer i have ever seen in a city shirt for me![/quote]Agree 100%. We will be the poorer without him I have no doubt. My all time favourite player - yep even ahead of quality like Sutton, Eadie and Hucks. Importantly he seems to have been content just doing his job in the present set up and doing it well. Great player and a good guy.

[quote user="Smudger"][quote user="monkfish"] I realise Huckerby didn''t play in diamond, but the point is with a left winger and three attackers, we''d be open for the better teams to defend. Take your point about the higher level.  But we''re not in the championship now.  Deal with today first [/quote] So do you feel that Lappin adds anything to the team defensively?  If so then when was the last time you saw him win a full blooded tackle? I am sorry but I can live with those who come up with the 7 assist''s arguement for keeping him in the team, but not those who are claiming that he offers something to the team defensively that we would not get out of playing McNamee there because to me Lappin offers very little to the team defensively. [/quote]Well Smudge me ol'' beautie - jus yew teark a look at yisterday''s goal line clearance agin. If that had a gorn in yew coulda said goodboy to one point nevermoind all three... Certainly I think Lappin is a better defender than Hughes, and obviously McNamee.Think both Smith and Hughes may be better footballers but Lappin not only works hard but has been a very effective member of a complete team. He enjoys his game and I like watching him. Until Lambert decides he''s not worth his place, I''m happy to see him in the starting line up. Oh and while the number of his "assists" may have slowed recently, an assist does depend on someone getting the ball in the net after it''s sent into the box.

[quote user="Bexley"]I think Danny Mills was hugely overated and did very well on hisl imited abilites to get the transfers & wages that he did. We were fortunate to get the initial fee (£400k was it?) + the money from the subsequent sell on clause, that we did IMO. I particularly remember a mauling at Wolves - he was truly atrocious. [/quote]Oh come on - didn''t he play for a certain national side - and in  the 2002 World Cup as well? (According to Wiki he played every minute of England''s 5 matches.) 19 appearances in all. The likes of Haynes and Dublin were let go while still young and the potential harder to spot so more excusable. But Mills is another (thankfully rare) case where the manager gave up on a player rather than try to manage him. Mills is a perfect example of a Norwich cast off coming good. (Not unlike Peter Crouch who was cast off by David O''Leary at Villa and loaned out to Norwich....)

I wanted to like him - because I always like to see wingers play. And Croft could run (when he lost some weight) and sometimes beat his man. But overall he was a miserable failure IMO and should never have been player of the year.Bell gave us far more assists, despite playing on the left wing, when he preferred the right.

[quote user="morty"][quote user="cityangel"]When you get bored and tired of sitting at your pc why don''t you go to bed rather than start silly threads?[/quote]Seriously, when did we get married? [/quote]That''s very good.

[quote user="jed exodous"]Is Lappin good enough for the championship sounds like a whole new thread. didn''t think he was 2 or 3 seasons ago and now with another free kick specialist (rose) in the team will be interesting to see who grabs the ball when theres a free kick 25 yards out.[/quote]I''m one of Lappin''s biggest fans - remember his debut under Grant. Always looked a better footballer to me than Fotheringham (who arrived at the same time) and I was gutted when Roeder dismissed him after (1) a near MoM performance at home to Ipswich (2-2) when he cleared off the line near the end and (2) a poor performance away to Plymouth - along with others - when he was standing in at left back for Drury. But two seasons ago I think he managed 3 goals for City in the championship, despite standing in at LB for a lot of matches. He is easily good enough IMO.However, I would be the first to admit that his real strength, crossing and dead ball situations, has gone off in the past half dozen games or so, At the start of the season he was putting in crosses straight onto Holt''s head - hence he was top "assister" until recently. He still gets good balls in - he was unlucky that Nelson didn''t score from one of his corners last week - but his quality has been erratic and not enough of his shots are on target. That said he had a great game against Brentford - and especially so when he went into the middle when Hughes came on. His tackling and ability to break up attacks and willingness to track back has improved markedly this season to compensate for lack of goals. But goals will come I am sure.The fact is that no-one in the team is playing badly at the moment. And make no mistake, we are a team side at the moment, with everyone pulling their weight. Changing players or system right now would be a risk.

Can''t comment on Archie McCauly - before my time. Ron Saunders did the impossible and the unexpected - and he managed so that ordinary players exceeded far above their own expectations - never mind the fans''!. Not pretty but very effective - at the beginning of the 1971 season we never imagined we could get into the top flight but we did. Lambert shows all the signs of doing the same - and fortunately not in the same style.Bond was certainly a character and brought in some fantastic players - but never thought he could manage them. (McDougall was brilliant for us but an unpleasant influence in the dressing room by all accounts that I have heard). Lambert can certainly manage and pick players - if he stays, he could well become the best manager of all time. But right now I think it''s too early to judge.Stringer stuck it out when his job was being made very difficult by the board and did well in the top flight In comparison the stubborn Worthington lost the plot. Walker''s success will take a while to be equalled IMO though his second coming spoilt his record somewhat. 1. Ron Saunders2. Walker3. Stringer4. Bond

[quote user="SimonOTBC"]I think 30 more points will probably be enough now. [/quote]I think we are at least mathematically safe from relegation now aren''t we? ;)

[quote user="norfolkbroadslim"]Just wondering if anyone here has ever ''invaded the pitch''? Either in a group or on your own?  Under what circumstances, good or bad? If so, did you receive a punishment for your actions? [/quote]At Brisbane Rd 1972 the night we got promoted to the top flight for the very first time (as my signature suggests). Foggo and Graham Paddon (penalty I think) made it 1-2 to City. Very emotional knowingt he lieks of Arsenal, Everton etc would be coming to Carrow Rd for the very first time. I think every City fan in the ground went on the pitch that night. We called for Ron Saunders and he came out and waved to loud cheers. The final match at Watford was abit of an anti-climax - very wet, we didn''t play well and drew 1-1 - though Stringer''s goal did clinch the title, my mates and I stayed put that day. Poor old Watford were relegated to the old third division (ie our present league 1) as a result.

As you say - it is all about picking a bet which offers a bit of value. I see Lappin is a rather mean 4-1 to score anytime - in recent matches you could get odds of 8-1 on both him and Doc.Obviously odds reflect the perceived quality of the opposition. Lappin surely has to score sometime but I fancy we''re more likely to convert some of his corners - so Doc at 5-1 and Whitbread 7-1 look better value to me...

And if the questioned 50 fans - it would only need 1 of them to make up the 2%....Frankly if they were just a bit selective with their sample, I''m surprised it''s not higher than 2%.

[quote user="Beauseant"][quote user="Bethnal Yellow and Green"] He''s fit, just hasn''t had a chance with Drury doing so well at left back. I agree that he should come in, allowing us the leave the midfield alone. When Lappin dropped to left back last night the game turned in Walsall''s favour. Hughes is a good player but without a natural left footed player on the left side of midfield it unbalanced things, and Drury is a much better defender than Lappin. [/quote]   Spot on. Why make two changes when you only have to make one? Our success has been based on consistency of selection and formation. Lappin as the left midfielder becomes even more important as a supplier to the front two with Drury out. [/quote]Agree 100%. And to be fair to Lappin he''s always willing - but it was playing at LB v Plymouth in his second game for Roeder that all his troubles began - and he knows it.

[quote user="morty"][quote user="a man called horse"][quote user="morty"]Sauce?[/quote] sorry cant tell you that ,we will just have to wait and see [/quote]I await with baited breath.[:)][/quote]So will you bait your breath with the sauce? Or will you bate your breath until you hear the source? (Just being piccy ''cos it''s Wednesday). Hope it is cover for Drury. Big fan of Lappin''s but he''s only a temporary solution at best to any problems in that position.

27 today according to the official site. Playing really well right now - thought he was excellent on Saturday and did well in the centre of the field in the second half. Shooting still a disappointment but when one or two long passes didn''t find their man he was quick to track right back and help out. Must be thinking, "what a difference a year makes." No better example of how Lambert is getting not just the best from his players, but some really good performances. Sign of a really good manager.

[quote user="Yellow Rider"][quote user="Panic"] As the UK continues to scrape itself through ''The Recession'', it was announced last week that Man Utd had now racked up debts of £700 Million. That''s right folks, the “Most Successful Club in the World” (sic) are now financially, and to use the correct term, screwed. Somehow selling the world''s most expensive player has done more worse for them than good, as the actual point of the football club (playing football, in case you didn''t know) has been hindered as a result of Ronaldo''s departure. There really must be something wrong with football here when Manchester United, a club who''s name is simply synonymous with success (whether you like it or not), has got itself into a terrible state of affairs where they are generating more column inches in the Financial Times than 4-4-2 Magazine...... I am only 18. As such I have only ever experienced the ''Premier League era''. I have never stood on a terrace and I can''t remember any other team winning the top league apart from Arsenal, Man Utd or Chelsea. When I started to properly watch football, roughly when Norwich got to the Play Off Final, the record English transfer fee was £ 29 000 000, so that''s effectively more than doubled in 9 years. This era of affluence has now crashed down on many clubs (look at the ITV Digital saga, which still rumbles on to this day), so I ask you; can football get out of this? [/quote] Panic, Don''t apologise for being 18!! Your post is extremely sensible and puts many, far more experienced posters on this board to shame..... Problem is many posters on this board want a new ''wealthy owner'', never mind who, never mind the motives just grab the money. And what do these fans want it spent on? Not on paying off debt that''s for sure but to lavish ever more crazy amounts on transfer fees and wages. Well, recent (and current) events may be just proving to everyone that football in this country needs to wake up big style and ''reclaim the game''. It''s rubbish to say that ........''there''s nothing fans can do'' etc. Do you really think that if 75,000 people boycotted Old Trafford that the Glazers would hang around for long?  Of course  not, they would sell up and get the hell out of the UK. Football fans have a choice - either stand up, as one, and end this madness or just do nothing, pay up and shut up like we do now! [/quote]Quite agree Yellow R. We all want success - and you either need to buy in quality players to make it to the top or get lucky with some of the cheaper acquisitions along the way, as well as hanging on to a good manager. The likes of Holt, Martin and Johnson didn''t cost a packet and even if they cannot take us past the championship, I''m happy to see the exciting football with which they provide us most matches. But an overhanging debt burden ties the hands of management more than having no money. Trouble is, when the Prem clubs spend crazy money that they don''t have, it affects our wage levels too.

[quote user="AJ"]He deserves to celebrate more than anyone. He stayed here, stuck to his task, and at the moment is playing bloody well. Worship the King of Spain!![/quote]I like him because he always seems to enjoy his game - but after Roeder''s treatment that''s probably not surprising as he must savour every minute he plays. But it''s Lappin''s birthday next Monday 25th Jan - would be brilliant if he actually got on the score sheet this Saturday.

[quote user="jas the barclay king"]Lets rename the Geoffrey Watling stand because he has passed away then too shall we? Leave the Gunn club name.. its synonymous with the ground a nice testimony to Gunnys legend status he achieved as a player. [/quote]Agreed. What would renaming it achieve exactly? Despite some of the acid n this message board I come across many fans who have a lot of time for Gunn. People will be asking for those within the Hall of Fame to be removed if they ever try management and are unsuccessful. Take care Hucks.

[quote user="Blurboy1980"]If the club does decide to sell Carrow Road if it''s time to expand the stadium for more seats who pay''s for it? The Club or does whoever is the new owner is? [/quote]It would be physically very difficult to increase the seating capacity of the existing ground. The corners have already been infilled. Demolishing an existing stand to build a new stand would probably not be cost effective as they are reasonably new stands anyway. You would need to increase the capacity considerably to give a financial return on the demolition and rebuild costs. A long lease would have to give the club a great deal of control over their existing facilities and whilst it may prohibit structural alterations without the landlord''s consent, this would probably be tempered by a provison that such consent could not be unreasonably refused and alterations which improved the ground''s facilities or income potential, would probably be specifically permitted.I cannot imagine that if a wealthy individual or even an institution purchased the freehold, they would want to get involved in financing further facilities themselves. They would probably see the investment as a simple "secure" long term income investment and provided the club did nothing to risk that investment, there would be no reason to object. Indeed, increasing the ground capacity would probably be seen as making the investment more secure, provided it was not the straw which broke the camel''s (club''s) back.