Leg biter

But I''m actually looking forward to the new season starting. I can''t help being excited that Norwich kick off tomorrow, and we get another season which will bring pain, joy, stress, and fun. And hope that we''ll be able to get into the Premiership again - something that some clubs will never achieve. I remember watching Norwich vs Oldham about 15 years ago. The attendence was something like 8,000, and it was pouring with rain. And even that was fun. All the best to Norwich for the new season.

Robert Green? Don''t think he was number one choice when Worthy joined, and he gave him a chance when M******l left. Shackell - given chance, then showed poor form before being dropped. McVeigh - going nowhere under Hamilton, and Worthy got him playing well, and consistently well. Henderson - has improved and seems to actually run forwards rather than backwards when an opposing player comes near him. Kenton - worked well under Worthy before leaving for big money move to the Premiership where he quickly became not that good Worthy has consistenly bought young players. Ashton (Dario Gradi said he''s improved since coming to Norwich), Doherty (improved under Worthy), Colin, Francis, Drury, Mackenzie. Not journeymen Championship players, but young players with ambition. Also loan players - Crouch, Bentley, Davidson, Marney. Also worth pointing out that the Jarvis brothers, Huckerby, Ashton, Green, Mulryne, Hughes and many others say they have signed to work with the manager, and like the way he works. Oh.....but a few rubbish players as well, but let''s gloss over that for now. I''m not saying he''s perfect, but if you look at what Worthy has achieved in building a decent squad, he hasn''t done too bad.

Hmmmm.....two goals scored by midfielders. One after a deft layoff and a dummy, then a 16 yard finish. And a game full of overlapping runs by full back and the midfielders seeing the ball. Where the Luton defence were run ragged by our forwards. And if we were simply playing route one, how could Safri lose possession so often? I thought we played well, Thorne made a big difference as he and Ashton created a big physical threat, allowing Huckerby to run on more often. Hughes was tidy on the right as well. Three other points. Someone said there''s nothing to get excited about, as we won against nine men. Except one was sent off after 90 mins, and the other after the final whistle. We were already 2-0 up when the first one went off. Second, if you''re low on confidence and got the crowd on your back, you''re going to be nervous and hit long balls. After we scored in the third minute (against 11 men) you could see the confidence flood back, and some of the possession football was great. Third, it was easy! Luton were fourth in the table, and we won pretty much at a canter. Sorry, I''m being a bit positive here. Ermmmm......Worthy out! Burley for manager! Get Iwan, Fleck and Newsome back! etc etc 

The team doing badly makes me want to go more rather than less. Show your team you support them in the bad times as well as good. Also, a sense of perspective. We''re doing appallingly badly at the moment, but are still only 8 points off the play offs. Win tomorrow, and we could be mid table (and will leapfrog our blue and white friends for at least one day). I echo the sentiments here. They''re my club, and I will support them no matter what league we''re in and how bad the situation is. Supporting the manager may be a different thing though. At the moment I still think Worthy will turn it around, but it needs to be soon.

Your club is in trouble. You''ve come down from the premiership, and are struggling to make an impression. You''re got talented players, but they''re not performing. You think the manager is good, but the fans are getting on his back, saying he''s not good enough, has lost the plot, and needs to be replaced before things get worse. Do you a) trust your judgement, stick with the manager and give him more time to get things right b) sack the manager, and get someone new in If you go for a), you go up through the play offs, and have a good start to the season in the Premiership. Because you''re West Ham. It''s struck me how us calling for Worthy''s head is similar to the vitriol heaped on Pardew over the last two years before West Ham got back in to the Premiership. Back then everyone thought Pardew didn''t have a clue, was tactically naive, and not big enough to put the Hammers back where they should be. After all, he''d never won anything, and had only had relative success with Reading. I assume those fans are still giving Pardew a hard time now.....much like our fans will give Worthy a hard time if he turns our fortunes round.

If I remember, Worthy said that he will stand up and be counted, but the players need to do it as well. Sounds like he''s happy to take the blame, and numerous players have come out and said we''re not playing well enough at the moment. Are we at the risk of turning into Man Utd fans? We think we should be winning all the time, and if we''re not, then we turn on the club with vitriol. It''s still early, we still have a good team, and if (and it''s a long shot) we can put a run together, we''ll climb up the table quickly.

Peter, if you love Norwich enough to have a season ticket, why are you so loathe to let them make some money?