The Chirp

Are we having one this year or have I missed it? (not that i''d be in it...) It would be a real shame not to have one.

Lakey... straighten your tie lad! You''ll never get on to the Anglia news desk with that shabby appearance.

NOTW is written for the masses and for people who don''t want to have to think or readjust. I was disappointed to read the stuff on Leeds as I know the guys and the reporters and I know they know better... However they have to go with what joe bloggs thinks as they don''t have a clue... Leeds (like it or not) are the story... Leeds are on the way up... the once huge team has started to rise again... It''s a big (but boring to the likes of us) story. I was more disappointed about Greg Gobere''s report on the Norwich game... Again I understand he has to go Everton heavy... I just thought he didn''t give a true reflection of the match... He''s their Championship reporter as well so should know a little better. But the above applies I guess. Very few of the nationals cover the Championship and Lower leagues like the used to and I think that''s a real shame.

I think the op was kidding - trying to get a reaction. Bless him/her. I wouldn''t have minded Platt though... I know this wont be a popular thought but Platt would have been good up top next to Martin or Simeon if Holt was out injured or subbed etc... He won''t score many this season but he does a good job making space for players around him.  

Brian Laws all the way... he''s not had great success as a manager and I feel his style of play will frustrate the fans and the board who were spoiled by the attacking play Owen Coyle introduced to the BNP... sorry... Burnley.

Happy to play in Goal if you don''t have one already. Previously was at fulham as a keeper when I was 17 and have played at borough level as well as for Sutton Utd and Carshalton Athletic and Kingstonian youth teams.Now 27, I play twice a week and injuries permitting I feel I could still hold my own at a fair standard.

It''s got to be Keelan. Another shout for ecen players has to be Erik Fuglestad. Steeno was better but Erik was a tidy player too.

[quote user="morty"][quote user="The Chirp"]he can play centre back. he has before. Personally I think he might be better off there... I don''t know whether he has been able to fulfill his midfield potential because of that knee injury... if that is the case... being a ball playing centre back would make him quite an asset. I reckon he''ll move on, another manager will spot this and he''ll be sold on for quite a few bob. [/quote]Quite a few bob?Really?[/quote]It''s hard to believe... but let me tell you a story.Once upon a time, there was a very up and coming tall welsh midfielder... Let''s call him Owain... He had a lot of potential and ability... that was until that wicked ol mother nature bust his knee so badly that his career went to sleep for a 1000 yrs... (2 years bit who''s counting?). So how will this story end? Well IMO... He needs to go to a forgiving club where he can get a run of games and time to really test that knee. a midtable club in L1 if you will.... There I believe, if OTJ stayed injury free, he could then turn into a decent player more than capable of holding his own for a decent champ club in either midfield or defence. After the mare Norwich suffered at the beginning of last season and the form of our midfield, he didn''t stand a chance. He got good reports from Yeovil where he outshone quite a few opposing midfleilds... (not that it is too difficult in L1).He''s time has been and gone at Norwich - it''s defo not the place for him to kickstart his once budding career... OTJ still has a chance of a Happy ending... he''s not quite on the Jason Jarrett/ Des Hamilton pile of crapness just yet.

he can play centre back. he has before. Personally I think he might be better off there... I don''t know whether he has been able to fulfill his midfield potential because of that knee injury... if that is the case... being a ball playing centre back would make him quite an asset. I reckon he''ll move on, another manager will spot this and he''ll be sold on for quite a few bob.

Angus is doing very well. England have apparently been on the phone to Bryan asking if his son would be interested in choosing them over Scotland. He''s already a good size and by the sounds of things, a chip of the old block. (that''s a good thing in my book)

Norwich stated at the end of the season that any player that signs for the club with now have an extensive medical before they join the club as players have arrived with ongoing issues in the past (Peter Thorne was one of these I believe)It could be a simple case that Jacko had a tweaked knee of whatever so was resting for a couple of days. There was a lot of noise and even a pic of Taiwo''s car in Norwich a month or so back... We''d never be told but it seemed to me that he was on the way but failed the medical... he has after all suffered quite a run of injuries over the past year. For what it is worth I have seen Jacko a few times and I have always marvelled at his pace and direct style. He is the type of player who seems not only hungry to succeed but starved. I think he has all the makings of a decent striker.

Both have the potential to take Glen Johnson''s place in the England team... the issue they have though is getting a chance to play in the Prem. I would love to have them here, for the sake of the future of our England team though, I would love to see players like this given a chance to shine in the prem.

[quote user="CJ"]I am very disappointed at this especially as not convinced Russell Martin is any better at right back. Spillaine looked really useful whilst still young and improving in confidence every game he played and also had the versatility to move inside.I am beginning to get a bit nervous about Lambert now especially if Russell goes too as rumored to Leeds and no Forster loan. None of the signings to date have really inspired ambition rather instead the hope to dig in and stay in the Championship if possible.I really do not want another manager like Roeder a one season wonder. [/quote]wow there cj! don''t ever align Lambert with Roeder! I''m not surprised you''re nervous as a lot of norwich fans seem to have issue with keeping the faith... the boss man has got us up at the first attempt, has so far signed decent players and will no doub wrap up another few decent signings as well... Not inspired by Surman? Ward? are you sure? who did you expect? rodwell and milner? I''m your anyi I think as I am actually quite excited by the new shape of the squad... also excited by Fox... I think he has a lot of talent. - Smith as well.

I agree with the points above. I would add though that Lambo obviously is a fan of German footballs methodology as he''s out on a refresher training course this summer I believe. He certainly has that winning mentality about him that the Germans stereotypically have. I think it was an interview with Holt on MFW where he stated that if Norwich went in at HT one goal down, Lambert''s response was always we''re going to win this game... not guys we can get back into this etc...

[quote user="Barclay hero"]More to the point is he any better than what we already have? And if not would he be happy being on the bench?[/quote] I used to live in Kent so went to watch the Gills a bit. I''ve seen Simeon a few times and I am certain he could be a hit in the Championship. He is fast, has a lot of aggression, an eye for goal and a bit of an attitude... In a way he reminds me a little of Leon McKenzie - The good and the bad sides of him.The boys a winner though and has the potential to play in the Prem... He just needs nurturing.

What about Jimi Hendrix''s Foxy... "You know that you''re a... sweet little mid-field playma-ker..."(ooh...) "FOXY!"(ooh...) "FOXY!"

I''ve got more chance playing for Burnley than Burnley have of signing Forster! It isn''t ging to happen. It''s a nonsense story made up by someone up in Lancs. If you want something to worry about however I would look towards the big...ehem massive hole left by the departure of Paddy Kenny from Sheff Utd. Surely a keeper like Forster will interest the Blades greatly.

He was out on loan last season. I can''t remember where to but he didn''t set the world alight. - I think it was a Greek side.  If he is to follow Cherno Samba (Millwall''s former ''wonder kid'') to Plymouth then i fear for his future in the game!

[quote user="ldnboy"]good news imo, i like him and at least he wont mind sitting on the bench.[/quote]It really wouldn''t surprise me if Skysports got this story right from this thread.

[quote user="Ncfc"][quote user="First Wizard"]At that price I''m glad we didn''t get him.[/quote] He was never going to anything under a million , would rather of had him than Fox and Crofts, one good un over two poor ones anyday.[/quote]That ''good-un'' you''re referring to probably cost over double what we paid for Fox and Crofts and will probably be on over double their wages put together.  It''s pointless saying you would rather Bailey as we can''t afford him! I would rather we signed Simon Kjaer over Elliott Ward but we can''t afford him either! We have to get the bargains in and pick up players who could prove to be the next Nicky Bailey etc...

1.5m we were never in for him. When you consider the likes of West Brom were also involved I think you''ll find his wages around 12k a week. He''s a very decent player but I think there are others out there who could prove to be better players but a fair amount cheaper.We need to be looking to sign a Nicky Bailey when he''s costing 125k from Southend. Hopefully with a chief scout now at Colney we''ll be getting one of these through the door pretty soon. 

Simeon Jackson would also be a good signing. I can''t imagine he''ll be happy playing in League Two again so will no doubt be on the way out of Priestfield. I would imagine Gillingham also need the money to give their new manager a better transfer budget. If Stimson was still there, a move involving Coy McDonald moving the other way on a season long loan would be a likely scenario. (I think they know each other quite well from his time at Dartford)Jackson is a real live wire striker, full of pace and agression... If Lambert added him to our ranks i''d be more than happy. I think Ncfc is totally wrong regarding Sharp not wanting to join a newly promoted side. All three sides that went up last season are biggish clubs with Leeds and Norwich having fan bases most of the Championship can only dream of. Who in his situation (looking for a new club) would not want to sign for a club with 25,000 at every game, a team on the up with arguably the best manager outside the Premier League?You need to remember that Norwich (believe it or not) are a big club. A club with a good history, stadium, fanbase, manager, League One champions, decent players who play attractive football. Most of all you need to remember that people look at Norwich now and see a team that is on the up... some even see us as the dark horses in the championship next season... - maybe they''re swigging back on old grandmas medicine - but if you think that we can''t attract decent players to this club then well...   you''re wrong!

Ebanks-Blake would be a good signing but is on high wages at Wolves... I doubt we could bend our wage structure to accommodate him sadly. The man I would love us to sign as i think he will be a great striker partner to Holt and or Martin would be BILLY SHARP. He made a mistake not coming here before and i think a move for him could be on the cards. He ticks all the boxes, hungry striker with pace, championship experience, a good age, score goals aplenty and wants to join a bigger club than Doncaster. I would say we''re a bigger club and an attractive offer for most players at this level. The only thing that worries me is that Burnley will sign him. - They seem to be after everyone. 

If we were to go down that line of getting in an aged experienced keeper as back up to Forster how about Mark Crossley as a player/gk coach? To me he is technically a very good keeper who has loads of experience and good handling. He was an under-rated keeper in his time at the top and I think he could really help our goalies as well as provide a safe pair of hands when he''s needed. I think his pen saving percentage is still the best there has been.

Like it or not, he was/is a good keeper. However I think there are better keepers out there who I would go for. One was Tom Heaton who has gone to Cardiff. He would have been a good option if we don''t get Forster. As it is, I would happily have Marshall back for a season if he was back up to Forster whilst Rudd and Steer were out on loan.