24March1985

Stoke and Lille now interested according to The Scotsman.

Ruddy is quoted as saying he will stay at Norwich, signed a new contract last year, the club gave him his chance etc. In the Express (I know).

I know the chief exec has said our new manager could be someone still in place at another club but I''m not sure how available Rosler would be. But I would certainly put Rosler and Garcia ahead of Zola.

I still think Garcia is a possibility despite yesterday''s result. He did well to get Brighton to the play-offs, he is young and by all accounts wants to leave because he wants to manage a side with more resources.

I have just read comments by Lennon in today''s Scotsman and there is no hint there that he expects to be anywhere other than Celtic Park next season. He says he is tired after a long season that had to begin with Champion''s League qualifying and he wants a rest to re-energise himself. I find that a touch worrying because he manages a team that had won tne title in March, lost only one SPL game and ended up 29 points ahead of the 2nd placed side. So would he really be up to all the rigour and stresses involved in guiding a team to promotion from the Championship?

I know before anyone makes the point that it is the Mail reporting this, but today''s article on the World Cup squad suggests Ruddy will be chosen ahead of Forster. I hope this is the case because it will be an acknowledgement of the fact that Ruddy has faced top class strikers all season which is certainly not the case in the SPL. Selection could also have a beneficial impact on Ruddy''s transfer value if indeed offers come in this summer.

A solid performance from Rudd including some very good, well-judged saves in the second half. The match was worth seeing just for the magnificent goal from Garner - a player I always look out for after his hat trick v Ipswich earlier this year!

I can remember watching MOTD when Holt came on as a substitute. In the analysis Lawrenson commented on how Holt had immediately made his presence felt on the opposition defence. He said it was as if Holt was making the statement "Right, I''m on the pitch now." This is precisely the type of impact we have lacked from the start and from game substitutions. So I agree entirely with the OP. We need a striker who can dominate rather than one who looks as if he can be blown over by a puff of wind.

Apologies if this link has already been posted. Day too short to read through every thread.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2624094/Norwich-face-exodus-Leroy-Fer-Gary-Hooper-Sebastien-Bassong-eyeing-exits-Premier-League-relegation.html

[quote user="Sussexyellow"][quote user="24March1985"]Garcia has, allegedly, been linked to Norwich if Brighton don''t get through the play offs.[/quote] Who set''s up Brighton for 1 - 0 wins, and malky is being dissed!!!![/quote] I am not advocating Garcia just saying his name has been linked to Norwich in recent weeks. But I agree his style could be considered a bit too Hughtonesque. We need to score more than 28 goals next season.

Garcia has, allegedly, been linked to Norwich if Brighton don''t get through the play offs.

II thought that was the case. Not a particularly graceful response to our very good performance.

Did Mourinho shake hands with our manager or did he just stomp off?

Good point about Arsenal having hopefully secured 4th place. But I hope when we play them they have no chance of taking 3rd place - they may want to achieve that to avoid having to take part in the extra games of the CL play-off rounds.

Today''s Daily Mail says Mourinho intends to speak to his board about playing fringe players at Anfield. So he has either given up on the title or is playing some complex mind game. If they win the CL semi-final, I don''t know whether he would use the same tactic to protect players three weeks ahead of a final.

I have now reached the stage this season where I am looking for any straw to clutch. Man U being more focused on a place in the Champions League final than on playing Norwich is my latest very slim straw. So good luck in the quarter finals Moyes and co!

I was, for once, hoping for a Man U win because it means they can now push on for the semi finals. And if they reach that I think our away match is right in the middle of the two ties - so hopefully players would be rested, the only chance of reaching champions league next year would be a distraction etc etc etc.

I hope Hodgson selects JR ahead of Forster and Foster. I know Forster has clocked up 1000+ minutes without conceding but frankly he is not facing the same class of opposition as JR week after week. And Foster seems so susceptible to injury it could be risky having him on the bench if Hart had to go off. As you rightly point out, let''s hope for a run of the Spurs level of performance from JR - starting today.

In today''s Independent on Sunday John Ruddy is quoted as saying he would rather stay up with Norwich than go to the World Cup. Great to see that level of commitment to the club and the team but hopefully he will achieve both. Interesting to also read that in the top flight only Szczesny, Cech and Lloris have more clean sheets than Ruddy.

I think I read somewhere that Holtby is currently on £67,000 a week, Unlikely he would want to step down to our wage levels even if he wants to revive his PL career.

It was a touch tedious to hear our result mentioned at regular intervals throughout the commentary.

It was a great day with a wonderful atmosphere and played at a time when a Wembley final was really a special event. Through all the subsequent  triumphs and promotions, it still remains my happiest Norwich City memory - hence the name I use for my occasional postings.

Thanks. I know Steer went to Cambridge on loan but I think it was only short term. At least he is back...and highly rated

Can someone remind me about who is our #4 goalkeeper? Presumably a suspension for Bunn will mean we need him on the bench''

Getting back to El Ahamadi, he is 4th in the table of fouls conceded so far and has also picked up the most yellow cards - two. And on another topic, the fastest player in the PL clocked at 23.12 mph is Howson.