ron obvious

Is he not the ideal player to solve the fizzy league/premiership dilemma? I think this is a huge problem for any Championship manager; how do you attract quality players without bankrupting the club, but get players in who will perform at the top level once you''re promoted. I think Norwich have done superbly in getting real quality, such as Hux, Ashton & Safri, while "growing" Green & Shackell. I suspect Colin & Marney will prove to be excellent acquisitions too. You have to be patient. You have to accept some good, solid journeymen players to get you where you want to be. It is financially impossible to build a complete premiership side from scratch. I think Bentley would be another step forward.

Actually, you''re dead right. If he''s got mumps , there''s no way he can play... He''d keep tripping over the wheelbarrow!

Do we know the nature of the altercation between Mr. Worthington & Mr. Shackell? Nothing along the lines of "I''m fed up with covering for that ageing has-been who mouths off at everyone for his own mistakes" was it? I''m getting a touch worried about Worthy. I think he''s done a brilliant job in the transfer market, given the financial constraints etc., but  ... does he analyze videos of the games? Does he have expectations of each player & measure their performance against it? Or is he really an "old school" manager at heart, who relies on gut instinct & a lot of shouting? It''s one thing buying some useful players, but quite another  building a successful team out of them.

Having just read the EDP article, I think you may all be getting upset about nothing. All it appears to be is some hack''s assumption; do we have any reason to believe he is privy to Worthy''s team selection? I wonder if he''s the same journo who produced the awful Look East piece on BBC tonight. All we got was the story of Mr. Norwich''s (aka Mr. Fleming, aka their worst defender) spiritual journey from personal angst to steely-jawed determination for the forthcoming season, nothing about NCFC at all. I have unbridled admiration for Nigel''s managerial abilities, but his persistence with this player (nice bloke though he undoubtedly is) I find inexplicable.

Talking of back-up strikers, there''s a half-decent one who can''t get a game at some Spanish club ... Real something- or- other ... Anyone got 11 million quid? Imagine it though ...

                                                                    GOT ''IM! http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/FirstNewsDetail/0,,10355~693335,00.html

Anybody remember the old Danny Kaye song "Hans Chritian Anderson" ? Could it not be adapted? "Jan Kristi-Aaansen"... Just a thought.

If only we knew where Fleming has stashed the negatives.   What makes it worse. I heard the sheep was REALLY ugly ...

Firstly, sorry about my previous post, a week before the Fulham debacle. I was going to say something rational, but then the red mist descended .....  Anyway, it wasn''t to be. Now sanity(?) has returned, and, with all the inevitable transfer speculation going on, it suddenly occurred to me - what''s the squad worth? AND, how many other fizzy league sides have got that sort of equity?? I reckon other clubs might have a few 1 mil + players, but ... Francis? Green? Hucks? Leon? even Shackell & Safri now. ASHTON????? I''m obviously not saying sell the squad, but it does increase your options. "I''ve been rich & I''ve been poor. Rich is better." Perhaps I''m looking through rose (or yellow & green) tinted glasses - what do you lot reckon?

It has nothing to do with individuals. It must be a complete team performance. There must be no celebration of goals. Pick up the ball, run back to the centre spot & start again. No quarter can be given. No room for the opposition to move, let alone play a decent pass. At the end of the match every player should wake, as if from a dream. And collapse. Only then let the celebration begin. You have the players to do this, as much in their mind as in their ability. The epitome of this is Ashton, but there are enough amongst the team to lift the rest, the doubters. And, yes, Worthington is the man for this job.       AND GOOD SHALL TRIUMPH OVER EVIL                          BELIEVE!!!!

Hope you don''t mind me adding comments from, perhaps, a more disinterested viewpoint. Norwich have been one of my favourite teams for, I don''t know, 20 years or so; you''ve always seemed to turn up interesting players & punch above your weight (in the nicest possible way!). However, whenever I saw you on telly last year I thought " if they go into the premiership with that defence they''ll be marmalised". Apart from anything else, the whole back 4 looked painfully slow. When Malky went I thought Worthy appreciated the problem & expected some major defensive changes... I just CANNOT believe he cannot be seeing the same things that everybody on this board sees, week in, week out, but STILL does nothing. I know his options are limited, but he is guilty of neglect of duty if he''s just throwing up his hands in despair & doing nothing but hope. In a way, the belated inclusion of Shackell shows that things culd have been improved & is an indictment of his lack of Judgement. It''s a real shame, because he seems a smashing bloke - perhaps the pity is he lacks that iron streak you need to get rid of people like Fleming - another nice bloke! Football can be a cruel game in that respect; one day even the God known as Hux will have to go.. sniff In conclusion I just pray that Norwich can re-organise the defence. It''s NOT over yet. But even more I hope that you can do this without losing that essential character of decency that makes me so fond of NFC.

I''ve often seen lol written here , but it''s never happened to me before! Thanks sheded! You''ve obviously studied the Python coaching manual. I''ve fallen off my chair, Brian I''m opening a boutique...

Whoops! Many apologies. Perhaps I''m unconsciously comparing the quest for survival to the exploits of the intrepid explorer? Or perhaps I''m just not paying enough attention.

Having seen Jarvis'' goal on MOTD & bearing in mind the opinion of a lot of posters that Shackleton is a cut above the present defenders, would it be worth trying these 2 in one (or more) of the "hopeless" fixtures (Manure, Arse, Chelski)? It may be a risky strategy, I know - the resultant stuffing could be so traumatising that it damages morale for the winnable games. But then again, it could be more easily ignored because not the strongest team. And we might learn something useful, positive or negative, about said players. I must say, the defence looks desperately in need of some pace, which Shackleton apparently has - did you see Fleming''s despairing lunge at the ball when he realised Campbell had him beaten? Opinions anyone?

Fascinating post. This goes to the heart of what football - in fact all sport - is about. I believe the real "highs" come from the moments when everything connects; a brilliant goal, a fantastic save, a superbly timed tackle etc. Winning at all costs is NOT the point BUT winning enables you to play better teams who will test you more & provide more of those moments. When I used to play (very badly) it was far more satisfying to play out of our skins & lose 1-0 to a much better team than beat the blind school 10-0. Norwich are not the blind school. They are there or thereabouts in the PL. They may go down, but I believe Nigel & co. are looking at a long term future in the PL, which MUST be the ambition of all supporters - or why bother? If you don''t want to stretch yourself I can''t see the point.

There''ve been some posts recently complaining about a) Bellamy''s suspect temperament b) Too much speculation/reported rumpours It strikes me that both attitudes are trying to deny the fundamental reason why we all (?) love soccer. IT''S EXCITING!!!!! Above all, Bellamy is an exciting player. From what I''ve seen of him, he is a genuine, heart-on-sleeve rather naive kind of guy - but I think he really wants the best for his team. His judgement about the way to achieve this may often be wrong, but that''s where a good manager comes in. Imagine 5-4 to Norwich every week! If we DID get him on loan, one thing we''d be able to say at the end of the season... It''s been emotional

Thanks for all the welcome messages. Very kind.I should come clean & say I can''t be considered a proper fan as I don''t go to matches - all my info comes 2nd hand (MOTD etc.), but I REALLY like Norwich; players (always liked Hux),manager, fans, it all feels like a proper club to me.Anyway, I still feel selling Green to strengthen the squad may be the right thing to do - IF a reliable (key word) replacement can be found, even if he doesn''t stop as brilliantly as Green, as long as the defence - now a stronger defence - can feel confident in him.Question. If Sorensen hadn''t made that save, would it have changed the game? Or would Villa have won anyway?Although it''s nice to plan for the future & bring in only young players, you have to have a future first. Bouncing back may not be that easy. Stay up, that''s my tip. Look what Bolton have done with their motley crew!However, I have great confidence in Mr. Worthington. Another tip: don''t believe a word he says until Jan 31st.Yes Dougal, I meant "mad" not "daft". And Mrs. Doyle, will you PLEASE stop swearing at that nice Mr. Royle...

At least 2 big clubs (Arsenal & Liverpol) have got Goalie probs. Norwich have an acknowledgely excellent one - probably the best player in the squad. Could a mutually beneficial deal be done (e.g. Green for Pennant/Henchoz + cash/loan player)? I know this is sacrilege, but, in the cold hard light of day, the leaking of 1 or 2 extra goals could be vastly outweighed by a stronger squad. Not that it''s likely to happen, but Mr. Wenger for one looks a very worried man...