Yelverton Yella

This, to me, is an indication as to whether or not McNally and Bowker have the ''cojones'' to cut the (Colmans) mustard.If we are serious about going for promotion this year, we should be moving heaven and earth to keep him. If he goes now, all the doubts about ambition and ''same old, same old'' will resurface and an awful lot of goodwill will instantly evaporate. [:@]

I''m afraid that, in everyone''s best interests, he really should move on. I don''t know whether he has finally ''lost it'' but I just don''t think he can overcome his own over anxiety and the fan''s negativity at Norwich.I would like to see him move on, preferably out of L1, with our good wishes, to a club where he can make a fresh start with no preconceptions. Unfortunately I suspect, while he stays here, because he will be depressed that he is 3rd or 4th choice, his effect on the squad is likely to be negative rather than positive.

Just been thinking about this again. Actually, I think WE can make a huge difference on Saturday.Many of the players will not have played in front of what will almost certainly be a full house of around 25,000 on Saturday. If the atmosphere is tense and edgy and, if ,say, we go a goal behind and sections of the crowd start to get on the backs of certain individuals, you may find players hiding and not wanting the ball in case they make a mistake. (Semi is the perfect example- On Saturday, he was eager for the ball and prepared to run and take on players but we can all remember times when he avoided space and looked like he wanted to get rid of the ball anywhere as soon as he got it!)On the other hand, if we give unconditional support and really roar on the team, I suspect it will be a real inspiration to them and they will crave more.Let''s put all the past divisions behind us and make up our minds to recreate FCR as it used to be- somewhere intimidating to the opposition!

Haven''t seen many people making rash assumptions so far! I think we have all suffered too much over the last few years to be anything other than highly cautious before the season even kicks off.What is refreshing though is for people to be discussing selection and tactical issues with our squad all signed up and playing some part in pre-season rather than speculating about whether we will sign somebody or beg a loan to fill that key position before the season kicks off! (Remember Iverson anybody?)

I would be desperately unhappy if we lost on Saturday because it would deflate the confidence bubble which has been building over the last few weeks.Having said that, these things do happen and it only takes one bad decision (what''s Mr D''Urso doing on Saturday?) or mistake and we could be sitting at the bottom of the table on Saturday night.Onr thing which I would not be doing is calling for Gunn''s head. The worst thing we could do at the moment is to throw everything up in the air again. The players now at the club are Gunn''s and have chosen to stay / come here and work with him and his team and we must allow him space to build momentum.The question of how long we wait if it is all going pear shaped is the really difficult one and, frankly, at the moment, I am not prepared to think about that.....

[quote user="Graham Humphrey"]What puzzles me is that for some reason, a few people seem to think everyone who has serious doubts about Gunn as a manager actually want him to fail just so they can all say "I told you so", which is clearly wide of the mark. I''ve posted quite a few times (mostly around the time he was appointed) on this subject and I''ve been very critical of him as a manager but I''d love it if all those posts were dug up come next May saying how wrong I was as that means we''ve done well.We''ve clearly had a good pre-season and I really enjoyed yesterday''s match, and you can''t fault the way we''ve gone about putting a squad together - certainly it''s been beyond what I was expecting so no complaints on that score yet. But it won''t count for anything if we have a rubbish season. We have to hit the ground running with a win next Saturday. Although I am much more hopeful than I was a few weeks ago I still have reservations - but to be honest, this is the first time in years we''ve got no idea what to expect. We''re in a league with teams and players we know little about, we''ve signed players we mostly know little about, with some new faces on the board and a rookie manager whose only achievement so far is to lead us to a relegation. Anything can happen this year. I''m looking forward to it as it really could all click and work out but by the same token I''m very worried that it could all go to pot very quickly.[/quote]GHThank you for putting this whole debate into perspective. I think many (perhaps even the majority?) of fans think exactly like you. We ended last season in a black depression having surrendered in the last game and could not see anything improving under the current ownership. (Contrary to the idiot ramblings of the chicken, I have never been a ''Deliarite'').I posted early in pre-season about the CEO appointment possibly being the most important signing the club could make and, frankly, I was amazed at the quality of the appointment. The subsequent engagement of Bowker, who had been a fierce critic of the regime, as Chairman was, I believe, another sign (however late) that lessons had been learned.The subsequent signings and the way the pre-season has been handled all exceed my expectations and, I believe, that there ARE grounds for optimism. However, this is Norwich we are talking about and I would echo your sentiments above. Yes, most of us (except for the embittered and rabid minority) will be hoping against hope that our optimism is justified and we gain promotion at the first attempt. If we do, albeit from ''Division 3'', it will be a fine achievement and I will not fail to salute Team Gunn and acknowledge that they have disproved my initial doubts.Oh, and because I am fair minded and not bigoted, I might even reserve a cheer for Delia for,at last, recognising the need to bring in solid, football orientated, professionals!!!

[quote user="St. Cluck"]Thank Christ I''m going away for a few weeks to avoid this juvenile tripe.....It''s already forgotten that we''re in Division Three it seems and come May mid table will be heralded as a success. Delia Smith wins again........   [/quote]Could I be the first to wish you a very happy trip. In fact, why don''t you take a really extended holiday and come back after the season finishes? That way you would be able to criticise the management, Board, players and supporters with the benefit of full 20/20 hindsight and without the inconvenience of watching any football (or is it listening to commentaries?).

[quote user="ref89"]Utter nonsense.  At no point was Hoolahan meant to be there.[/quote]Where?

[quote user="CANARYCHARGE"][quote user="Barclayman (your Carrow Road SuperHero)"]Semmy''s wing play yesterday was superb, pace and creation. He outshone Simon Whaley, despite his winning goal.Were all aware of his defensive frailties, and perhaps he realises this himself. So why not play him as winger with a more solid Right Back behind him?The reason he doesnt attack as regular is because his job is to defend and he knows he''s not the worlds best defender so that may be holding him back? Without the defensive responsibilty of being RB, perhaps we could take the shackles off him and Gunn could say just go and attack, use your pace and dont worry if you lose the ball, just get back and help the RB. I think with whaley you could be shooting your self in the foot! As long as they over lap it should work well, Whaleys crossing was a concern.But the 2 together looked very good![/quote]Agree entirely. This is a partnership that should be nurtured and developed. Perhaps they have struck up an understanding where they will cover each other and this has given Semi the freedom to venture forward. They both have enough pace to zoom up and down from attack to defence should they need to. I can''t imagine there will be many who will keep up with them!

[quote user="First Wizard"]I''ve got caught out so many times following City over the last 52 years, so I''d like to ask all those on here who went to the Wigan game the following questions: 1. Based on a friendly, which isn''t that competitive to be fair, how do you rate City''s performance? marks out of 10 please. 2. Our best and worse players? 3. Gunns performance? 4. Is there real hope for the new season now? Many thanks. [/quote]1. 8/10. Although a friendly, Wigan were not happy to be losing to us and resorted to some meaty challenges out of frustration.2. Hoolahan and Otsemebor stood out. The Otsemebor/ Whaley partnership could be really exciting. Drury looked back to his best and was not out of place playing against Prem players. Nobody played badly and the TEAM (amazing, we have one!) worked hard for each other.Felt very sad for JC. Clearly not going to figure this season and really needs a move to revitalise him.3. Couldn''t really judge Gunn''s performance as substitutions were more about giving people match time rather than tactics. The coaching team seem to have some got some nice partnerships building all over the pitch.4. Given we have (apparently!) decent players as back up to our first team and options to play different styles against different teams, I would have a degree of optimism......however, this is Norwich we are talking about!!! (I actually think we could finish in the top 3, but daren''t admit it!)

[quote user="Legend Iwan"]Him and Whaley clearly get on well and work hard for each other. I wouldn''t want to change that at the moment. [/quote]Agree entirely. I think the Semi / Whaley partnership could be hugely productive for us this season and needs to be nurtured.I also agree about the tactics/ confidence issue. Clearly, Semi needs to be given simple, straightforward, instructions and some reassurance that he is an important part of the team in order to get the best out of him. Let''s not forget he played a handful of games in the prem too so he must have something. Probably no coincidence that he thrived under Dario Gradi at Crewe!

Just back from the game and really really impressed.As others have said, Wes ran the show and looked a class above any other player on the pitch. He must have covered every blade of grass on the pitch, tackled back (not such a good idea when he gave away a goal!!) and appeared from nowhere to steal the ball from the toes of the Wigan players. There is no doubt he is going to be injured this season- if it had been a proper game he would have drawn about three yellow cards from Wigan players who he had embarrassed and who tried to exact revenge!Semi was a revelation- beating players going forward with quick feet, mopping up defensively and trying to prompt attacks whenever he could! I don''t know what''s been said to him but he looked pure class today.Whaley will be a big player for us . Not quite up to pace today but showed enough to impress. Sublime link up play between Wes and Whaley for the winner- these two have quick football brains as well as pace.Defence looked pretty solid although I thought we defended too deep at times and let Wigan stroke the ball around. Just felt sometimes the central midfield went missing but we have time (and cover) to find the right combination of players and tactics.The great thing was, we looked an organised unit and players were prepared to cover back, tackle and throw their bodies in for blocks even though this was just a friendly. The other thing was- you could see that Wigan really didn''t like losing to us- it may only have been a friendly but they were really trying hard to equalise at the end. (BTW, HOW much did they pay for Jason Scotland? Shades of Akinbiyi if you ask me!)A very satisfactory afternoon and another step along the way; certainly won''t have done confidence any harm and I am just beginning to allow a hint of optimism to creep into my mind- roll on next week!Finally, I had  a quiet chuckle to myself having read a post on the Latic''s message board earlier in the week when they had just tonked PNE with ''champagne football'' and were crowing about expecting a top ten finish in the Prem. Somebody asked why they were playing Norwich and the reply was ''Probably a favour from Bruce to an old club of his before he left. Bit pointless really since they''re a rag bag team just thrown together''.......

I hope CUSDP is right that we are about to sign Askou and Maric as I think they would both add strength in depth to the squad.If you believe Colin and the South London Press, Palace are not interested in Maric!"Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock is not expected to offer deals to Goran Maric or Danny Maguire. The pair both played for the Eagles in their opening pre-season friendly on Thursday, with former Barcelona B striker Maric scoring the opening goal in their 4-0 win. But the South London Press understands that Warnock doesn''t believe that Maric, who is set to train with Norwich this week, is the answer to boosting his attacking firepower. Former QPR midfielder Danny Maguire, who spent time training with the Eagles towards the end of last season, looks set to miss out on a deal too as Warnock intends to spend his budget in other areas"

[quote user="St. Cluck"]The so called "Purist Group" was devised following a good long look at the inhabitants of this little forum... and the names I put on the list were the people I felt were the true grassroot supporters this club will ultimately need to survive and prosper .... along with a few more folk of course for whom I didn''t have space to include. I repeat what I have always said... someone who does not have the same love of the City and County itself... the Cathedral... the Castle... the Guildhall .. the Broads... the stunning coastline... the dramatic history and the River Wensum which flows through it''s heart cannot possibly understand what Norwich City Football Club is really about.... and where it''s roots lie. Compared to us PURISTS your support is shallow and unsubstantial and based only on a fraction of the whole. Like your "saviour" before you, you are riding on the back of something which doesn''t now and never could ever belong to you. It''s a birthright which can never be owned by buying a ticket or a handful of Monopoly money club shares. Heritage quite simply is not for sale. Support our club by all means from your far flung destinations.... but unless you were born or have spent much of your childhood growing up here you will never understand the true ethos of NCFC and it''s deep connection with the people of the area. Quite simply you just don''t get it. Sorry... but this is a fact .... and all of the whingeing and whineing you may wish to make will never alter what exists already.........   [/quote]What arrant, pretentious and supercilious nonsense. Despite you resiling every time somebody seriously challenges you, I have little doubt that the above represents your true feelings.I have all the qualifications you describe and can trace my Norfolk ancestry back to Alderman Norman and considerably beyond but I do not harbour any illusions that I am a ''better'', ''purer'' or ''more authentic'' supporter of the football club than somebody who has come from the other side of the world to study at the UEA and fallen in love with the City or the Club. I salute particularly, those who have, for whatever reason, to live away from the area and face long and expensive journeys to support their club.You are sadly mistaken, the Club does not belong to you or me or those who hold a particular qualification by birth or history. In legal terms, of course, it belongs to the shareholders and probably the mortgage lenders/ loan providers; in emotional terms it ''belongs'' to its supporters whether they be class A, card carrying, Norvicensians or ''incomers'' attracted by the ''family'' image and high class catering. Every opinion, unless scurrilous, defamatory or illegal is valid- yes, even yours- it is just that your superiority complex, sarcasm and puerile insults detract from whatever reasoned points you seek to express.By all means laugh at me and claim that I have fallen for your trolling- I really don''t care- but perhaps you should stand back and take a look at how foolish you make yourself look and consider whether you are contributing anything constructive to any of the debate on this board.

[quote user="St. Cluck"]The so called "Purist Group" was devised following a good long look at the inhabitants of this little forum... and the names I put on the list were the people I felt were the true grassroot supporters this club will ultimately need to survive and prosper .... along with a few more folk of course for whom I didn''t have space to include. I repeat what I have always said... someone who does not have the same love of the City and County itself... the Cathedral... the Castle... the Guildhall .. the Broads... the stunning coastline... the dramatic history and the River Wensum which flows through it''s heart cannot possibly understand what Norwich City Football Club is really about.... and where it''s roots lie. Compared to us PURISTS your support is shallow and unsubstantial and based only on a fraction of the whole. Like your "saviour" before you, you are riding on the back of something which doesn''t now and never could ever belong to you. It''s a birthright which can never be owned by buying a ticket or a handful of Monopoly money club shares. Heritage quite simply is not for sale. Support our club by all means from your far flung destinations.... but unless you were born or have spent much of your childhood growing up here you will never understand the true ethos of NCFC and it''s deep connection with the people of the area. Quite simply you just don''t get it. Sorry... but this is a fact .... and all of the whingeing and whineing you may wish to make will never alter what exists already.........   [/quote]What arrant, pretentious and supercilious nonsense. Despite you resiling every time somebody seriously challenges you, I have little doubt that the above represents your true feelings.I have all the qualifications you describe and can trace my Norfolk ancestry back to Alderman Norman and considerably beyond but I do not harbour any illusions that I am a ''better'', ''purer'' or ''more authentic'' supporter of the football club than somebody who has come from the other side of the world to study at the UEA and fallen in love with the City or the Club. I salute particularly, those who have, for whatever reason, to live away from the area and face long and expensive journeys to support their club.You are sadly mistaken, the Club does not belong to you or me. In legal terms, of course, it belongs to the shareholders and probably the mortgage lenders/ loan providers; in emotional terms it ''belongs'' to its supporters whether they be class A, card carrying, Norvicensians or ''incomers'' attracted by the ''family'' image and high class catering. Every opinion, unless scurrilous, defamatory or illegal is valid- yes, even yours- it is just that your superiority complex, sarcasm and puerile insults detract from whatever valid points you seek to express.By all means laugh at me and claim that I have fallen for your trolling- I really don''t care- but perhaps you should stand back and take a look at how foolish you make yourself look and consider whether you are contributing anything constructive to any of the debate on this board.

Didn''t take long, did it!Taken from Dodgy Rumours site:"7 Premier League clubs have enquired about Norwich City''s young midfielder Tom Adeyemi, and he could be leaving for a fee of £400k with incentives and a sell on, with Norwich having the option for him to remain in League One with them for 1 season to get first team football to further his development. Also leaving Norwich is Darel Russell to Burnley for 450k with an extra 150k if they maintain their premier league status." Would be stunned if there is anything in this and completely livid if there was! Let''s bring him on gradually and let him help us get promoted before we even contemplate cashing in!!

[quote user="Tangible Fixed Assets anyone"]ENJOY THE JOE LEWIS DINER COME IN AND GET FED UP! [/quote]Was funny the first time.....[|-)]

Leaving aside the statistics, there can''t be many players that inspire so many positive posts from fans of a club he only played for for one season [:)]http://blueandamber.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=59700

[quote user="KCanary"]Is that a deliberate spelling mistake on the frony cover...''footbal'' [:P][/quote]Is that a deliberate spelling mistake in your post...''frony''?Sorry- couldn''t resist it![:D]

[quote user="Downloads"]Considering he''s played so well its sort of torn me a bit, it looked a straight case of Hughes partnered with OTJ or Gill, now there''s a forth in the mix. The kid is what 17? Maybe with his body still developing and it being a high pressured season with most fans predicting us to go straight back up, maybe he could be the one to come off the bench if a sub is made? And if he continues to impress maybe use him more and more. It''s close though. I''m a believer in if you''re good enough you''re young enough, but have a sort of a Wenger mentality. Giving youngsters a chance but not heaping everything on them. [/quote]The lad has his A2''s to do next year as well! No shortage of pressure then!

[quote user="canary cherub "][quote user="YankeeCanary"] Cherub, your post makes me happier than most I suspect. It has never been important to me who is right or wrong. You have always had the ability to articulate your thoughts very well and now, having allowed yourself to put your bias aside, will undoubtedly provide the more balanced input that you so capably demonstrated in your earlier posting period. Well done. [/quote] I think that''s what is known as "damning with faint praise".  How about allowing yourself to stop putting people down Yankee?  Try treating your fellow posters as equals just for once.   [/quote]YCI normally see you as one of the more balanced posters on here, but I must admit I cringed when I read your post. I''m sure you didn''t mean it but it comes across as really patronising.  [:-*]

[quote user="Downloads"]I don''t think i could forgive them if the signing on fee was a deal breaker. ----- Thanks for the extra news anyway Cam. [/quote]Unless they are asking for silly money, I would be surprised if that was the case. Despite all the unfounded rumours of not being able to bid £100k for players, we seem to have made money available when it was needed.In fact I''m delighted to say we have demonstrated some nous in our transfer dealings so far- not being held to ransom, not being prepared to overpay and walking away from inadequate offers for our players. If the previous CEO had demonstrated similar skills, we might not have ended up where we are now! The Scots are welcome to him.

CT- Will you be altering your sig. and tag line then?

[quote user="Camuldonum"][quote user="Downloads"] lol For real. What if we want to offer him more money and he''s not answering the telephone! [/quote]   He is apparently in Yekaterinburg until Sunday.  Unless you have managed to find another way you''ll have to wait. And if Maric has said yes you will still have to do the international clearance which is a weekend shutdown. International Blazers don''t usually work weekends. [/quote]Just speculation but, is it possible that Maric has said yes to Mr Gunny but hasn''t been able to get hold of his agent to brief him?

I would be devastated if we were to lose Jamie on the eve of the season. Everyone at Norwich has seen how sharp he is in the box- always getting into goal scoring positions and never failing to convert.Fantastic work rate, covers every blade of grass and is surprisingly good in the air for a little fellow.No, there would be mass protests, spells and petitions if anyone suggested we were selling Jamie unless we got what we believe he is worth- say £3m?? (Just in case any Wolves fans or officials venture on here!)  [;)]