Dronny Canary

Judging by recent performances the Scotland job looks like a real "poisoned chalice".  I suspect that Lambert is smart enough not to go for it so early in his managerial career.  He''d be on a hiding to nothing.  From his point of view it would make more sense to build up his reputation by being successful with us and then eventually on to other things.  He''s still young in management terms and if he wanted the Scotland job badly enough there are bound to be plenty of other opportunities in the future.  The most important thing from our point of view is that the club shows that it will do everything it can to support him to be successful with us - and that''s where problems might occur in the medium to longer term I suspect!

This was one real quality human being that is a real loss to us all.  Although brought up in Norwich I was actually born in Hannover and was over there a fortnight ago to see 96 play Stuttgart.  Robert Enke was playing in that game after being out for several weeks and was his usual quality self.  At the other end that day was that clown Lehman.  You couldn''t find two more different people than Enke and Lehman.  While Lehman has a reputation for being a bit of an arrogant pain in the neck Enke had a justified reputation as a top guy and always extremely sporting.  He was a great technical keeper with excellent positional sense and a fantastic shot stopper. I''d just watched the Hannover match against Hamburg off Sky+ when I heard the news of his suicide and it was just such an enormous shock.  He would almost certainly have been the German keeper in the World Cup and was getting lined up for a possible move to Bayern Munich at the end of the season.  In fact in 2001 he had talks about joining Man Utd. Enke''s problems stemmed from his brief and very troubled stays at Barcelona and then on loan to Fenerbahce.  He had an iffy game for Barcelona on his debut and really got a load of stick from their fans.  In his debut for Fenerbahce his own supporters were so unhappy with him that they lobbed fireworks at him on the pitch.  It was at around this time that his mental problems started apparently.  He was idolised at Hannover and massively respected across Germany, as can be seen from the reaction of the national team and their coaches.  He was a very private man who still did loads of good work for children''s charities. You can only imagine the torment that this poor bloke must have gone through to do what he did. The one thing that we all need to take from this tragic story is the importance of keeping a sense of proportion when criticising sportsmen.  I think that we tend to feel that their ridiculous wages means that they are "fair game" as far as criticism goes but no amount of money can protect you when you get into the vulnerable state that Enke got into.  It perhaps takes a tragedy like this to help us realise that there''s actually a human being behind the shirt. This was one real quality human being that we would all have been enormously proud to have on our team.  Rest in peace Robert. 

[quote user="Bundy"]If any of you had any brains then it''s Otsemobor you should be pointing the finger at....once again. That said, if Doherty hadn''t been so obsessed with wrestling rather than defending, the first goal may have never have happened. [/quote] On tonight''s showing the person most obsessed with wrestling in our box was Holt.  The Doc looked mysteriously out of sorts with very little of the grappling he is famous for.  Thought Askou was patchy tonight but had his good moments as well.  Semmy did quite well going forward but came up short again with his defensive duties.  Can''t see him playing once Spillane is fit.

[quote user="First Wizard"] Totally proud. I will not and cannot accept that Leeds, whilst good, are better than us, furthermore, I''m uttery convinced that we will go up in the top two this season.[Y] [/quote] After the embarrassment of our awful start to the season I feel that I can at least hold my head up at work tomorrow.  I''m proud too Wiz.  Up until now I''ve been really cautious about where will finish at the end the season.  It seems really dumb but after that defeat I''m far more optimistic about where we will finish and I honestly think that top 2 is not out of the question.  We''ve played the top team in the division off the park and been very unlucky to lose.  At the moment I''m gutted but I see nothing but real hope for the next seven months.

4-3 to us or 4-0 if Doc is playing!

Being positive is important but we mustn''t get too carried away.  We''ve strung some good results together recently but with a side relying heavily on young players and pretty thin on quality at the back, the chances of sustaining this all season is unlikely.  The down side of all this optimism is that when we get a few setbacks people start looking for scapegoats and diving back into depression again.  Not long ago we had people on here saying that we had the worst Norwich team in 50 years and were about to disappear into oblivion.  Given the roller-coaster ride we''ve had in recent years and the awful start to the season, I''d just be so delighted to finish in the play-offs.  Anything more than that is a big ask and would represent an unbelievable achievement by Lambert and the team.  I''d be ecstatic if we win on Monday, especially as Leeds are right up there with the scum for me in hate teams, but if we were to be unfortunate enough to lose, how the club and us as supporters react is just as important.  Let''s be positive but let''s not put too much pressure on the team. 

[quote user="The Butler"][quote user="Dronny Canary"] [quote user="Houston Canary"] It''s funny in an odd way (and oh how I wish it was instead funny in a "ha ha" sort of way) how defenders of the Dork say his detractors are know-nothings which implies that they are know-it-alls.  It is hard to believe he was rejecting contract offeres left right and center during his holdout 2 summers ago, and there was even word he was looking at the MLS.  I''ve said it before, and I''ll say it again, nobody outside of the NCFC world seems to rate the guy. Yes, he has done well the last few games, but he has not been on the team for just a few games. He has been with us through 2 relegations.  Now he is shining, so as Butler says, he seems to have found his level.[/quote] I''m a bit confused (not for the first time!).  Is traying to buy a player the only way that a club can show that they "rate" someone?  I''m sure that Lambert "rates" Wayne Rooney but I don''t recall a recent bid for him.  In fact I don''t recall reading of any recent bids for Rooney from anyone so I suppose that this makes him a pathetic liability as well. [/quote] No but he didn''t sit all summer with no contract waiting for someone to come and get him either did he? Blah read my post and stop trying to put words in that I have not written! At the moment he is playing quite well at his now found level. AFTER being dropped by our agreed good new mananger and a boot given to his rear end to get him moving. Crook stated last night that Doc was as good as gone. His effort in the RESERVES coupled with injuries to other players, has given him a chance. He has taken that chance and good for him. He is one of the better CB''s we have at present. That does not make him brilliant, more a statement about what we have been left with. As I said he was bought as a PREM defender. IF he was any good he would have been head hunted a season or three ago, but no one wants him. While he keeps playing to the reasonable standard that he is at present GOOD and lets hope it lasts!   [/quote] Given your comments about Nelson being a better CB than Doherty [:D] and wanting to play Spillane and Nelson ahead of him, just who are these CB''s that Doherty''s better than at the moment - Askou?  Or are you arguing that we should get rid of someone who just about everyone can see is contributing positively to the team at the moment because he isn''t prem standard and because there isn''t a queue of people desparate to grab him from our clutches?  I don''t really care if he stays or goes.  If we can bring someone in for less money who''s better then great as far as I''m concerned.  You just give the impression that you want him out because you don''t like him.  There are plenty of our players that I don''t especially like but I don''t care as long as they are helping get this club back where we belong.   

"he has been playing well recently but he clearly has a technical problem why doesn''t lambert spend time adressing this problem." Do you really believe that Lambert and Culverhouse are not aware enough to see Doc''s weaknesses and smart enough to do something about them?  Perhaps his improved form since coming back into the team are an indication that any problems are already being addressed.  I agree that he does have some problems but so do most of the players on the team of one sort or another, especially the defenders.  What puzzles me is why some people are so obsessed by Doherty and so blind to the mistakes of many of his colleagues.  Doc has cornered the market with his clumsy oaf impersonation but some of his colleagues are less effective at times in a far less obtrusive way.

[quote user="Houston Canary"] It''s funny in an odd way (and oh how I wish it was instead funny in a "ha ha" sort of way) how defenders of the Dork say his detractors are know-nothings which implies that they are know-it-alls.  It is hard to believe he was rejecting contract offeres left right and center during his holdout 2 summers ago, and there was even word he was looking at the MLS.  I''ve said it before, and I''ll say it again, nobody outside of the NCFC world seems to rate the guy. Yes, he has done well the last few games, but he has not been on the team for just a few games. He has been with us through 2 relegations.  Now he is shining, so as Butler says, he seems to have found his level.[/quote] I''m a bit confused (not for the first time!).  Is traying to buy a player the only way that a club can show that they "rate" someone?  I''m sure that Lambert "rates" Wayne Rooney but I don''t recall a recent bid for him.  In fact I don''t recall reading of any recent bids for Rooney from anyone so I suppose that this makes him a pathetic liability as well.

[quote user="nutty nigel"] I guess it''s for the 25th anniversary of that memorable day. I may get the DVD as all I have is the old video and nothing to play it on[~] We used to have the highlights of the semi-final on video too until the wife put an episode of Sons & Daughters over the top of it[:@] Best bits here though[Y] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5FtNnjVwIA     [/quote] Transferred my video highlights of the Semi to DVD, Nutty, to make it a bit harder for the better half to destroy!  The video is probably the most played piece of tape in our house.  Particularly liked some of the "tackles".  These days we would have finished several players short but in those days it was a "man''s game".  Don''t you just love Keith Hackett!?

"Special edition" label in the back?

[quote user="Houston Canary"] [quote user="Dronny Canary"]Is it just me or is it Groundhog Day....again?[/quote] Is it just me, or is it Groundhog Day ......again? [:D] [/quote] Is there an echo in here?[:D]

Is it just me or is it Groundhog Day....again?

[quote user="Norwich"]Dronny - I have said many times he is a decent defender, I am happy for him to be in the starting eleven. I was just stating my annoyance for the bear hugs but I am now realizing that maybe I was wrong. Its not just Doc, I always knew that but I have never seen anyone do it as much as him. That might just be me though.[/quote] To be honest the whole lot of them have been annoying and frustrating at times in the past couple of years, including Doc.  Given that, it can be difficult to accept that the whole team is playing OK at the moment - even Doc!  I suspect I get just as irritated as you but about different things and different players!

[quote user="Thecanaryfan"][quote user="drunkunmunkey"] FL1 CUPS TOTAL Player F Y R P F Y R P F Y R P Grant Holt 29 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 30 3 0 0 Gary Doherty 12 1 0 0 5 0 0 0 17 1 0 0 Simon Lappin 9 3 0 0 7 0 0 0 16 3 0 0 Jens Berthel Askou 10 2 0 1 4 0 0 0 14 2 0 1 He may be a donkey but he doesnt foul as much as Holt! [:D] But thats part of both of their games i guess.[/quote] Holt isnt a defender. He  fouls by trying to score goals not concede. Your point is irrelevent. [/quote] So you''ve not seen him grabbing handfuls of shirts when defending in his own box????

[quote user="Norwich"]I am not saying in the last 4 games, I am just trying to state that he has done enough over the years to scare people when the commentator says "Long ball over the top and Doherty will have to deal with it under the pressure from the attacker"...out comes his bear hug. Thanks for the opinion statement, agree totally. Unfortunately Dronny doesn''t.[/quote] Just to clarify - I have never said that I don''t think that people should be entitled to have opinions, just that it would be nice if yours could be more "enlightened"!  In fact one of the main reasons I come on here is to read other people''s opinions and especially those that are different from mine.  I don''t always agree with what people say but there are plenty of people on here whose opinions I respect.   The particular point that I take issue with is the statement that Doherty "is always a liability".  He may be clumsy, he may occasionally do something daft,  he certainly does at times overdo the grabbing and hugging but he also does a lot of good at the heart of the defence that some people just don''t appreciate.  As for your comments about needing to "wake up" to our weaknesses at the back well I''m afraid that I''ve always been wide awake where this is concerned BUT not all directed at one player.  I have certainly seen plenty of mistakes from Askou, Nelson, Semi et al but we do need to keep a sense of perspective here - what do you expect playing in the 3rd Division? John Terry?  These lads, playing at this level are doing OK.  Having read the wise words of Nutty I''d be interested in whether you have changed your "opinion" that Doc is "always a liability"?  Go on admit it - he''s ugly and sometimes irritating (a bit like me) but he''s not always awful! 

For me Iwan was simply a legend.  Different style, different league, different time so comparison isn''t really possible.  If Holt sticks around he has all the potential to achieve similar if he can produce it when we go up.  More than anything I like his leadership on the field and the professional way he conducts himself off it.  A refreshing change from those that we''ve had inflicted on us over the past couple of years or so. 

[quote user="Jimmy Bone - Superstar"]What do you think we are going to do with Whaley? Wasn''t he meant to be the answer to our wide right problem?[/quote] Meant to be but wasn''t!

[quote user="Norwich"]Dronny - I am afraid to say, yes. He is always a liability as I have said a game will not pass without Doc using his legendary bear hug, so for that reason you cannot help but be nervous when a long ball goes over the top. I am sorry, but no-one can dispute that, surely?[/quote] So to what extent has he been a liability over the past few games?  Having faults doesn''t make him a liability.  The fact that Smith hasn''t got his shooting boots on at the moment doesn''t make him a liability.  The fact that Hoolahoop still goes off wandering when a more direct approach sometimes is really needed doesn''t make him a liability either.  Both of these players have contributed massively over the past few games as has Doc but it''s easy to overlook their faults and concentrate on those of the resident whipping boy.  Askou has already given a penalty away for pulling a shirt in the box and has is also capable of his fair share of holding and grabbing.  That doesn''t make him a bad player or a liability either.  Put all of your prejudice to one side and watch what is actually going on instead of putting Doc under the microscope.  If you do you will find plenty else to moan about if that is your cup of tea.  I just think it''s about time to cut the bloke a bit of slack and let him get on with it, at least while he''s actually playing OK!

[quote user="norfolkchance1"]Why was the two footed lunge on Wes not punished with a red card, at the time it looked bad but on tv even worse, these sort of challenges break legs. The time of it should make no difference if it is a red it is a red no matter what minute it is. Thought ref was poor full stop and his assistant near to us in first half was slow. Sir Alex should try managing at this level then he would have something to moan about.[/quote] Fully agree with all this.  He was poor for both sides and if anything seemed to favour us (but not with this ridiculous decision).  The lad who did it had clearly lost it after not getting a couple of decisions in and around our penalty area but the tackle was a real shocker.  Players like Wes need a bit of protection.  I agree that Wes helped the player by doing what he did to avoid it.  It was also nice to see Wes not making a meal of it by rolling around as if he''d been shot as is often the case.  If he had then the bloke would surely have gone.

Lambert seems keen on rewarding those in possession of the shirt if they''ve done well.  I think that this is important as players know that they will always get treated fairly whoever they are and reputation won''t count for anything.  Because of this I expect him to stick with Forster, who made some good saves yesterday and has kept consecutive clean sheets.  Thought Francomb has a little way to go to be up to a regular spot and could get exposed against a better team than Carlisle.  I expect Lambert to put Semi back in if fit or to play Smith back there for the full game. Hopefully Hughes will be fit to play against Leeds and if so I can see him slotting into midfield if Smith goes to full back.  I suspect Lambert might also change formation against Leeds with Holt up front and Hoolahoop playing behind him with Martin on the right.

[quote user="TIL 1010"] [quote user="paul moy"]Lambert will become a managerial legend at Norwich. He will prove to be better than Worthington...... remember, you heard it here first. [:P] [/quote] Totally and completely agree with PM but i hope Nutty does not read the post as this thread  will turn into fifteen pages and about three hundred posts with Nutty contributing half of them trying to convince us Worthy was better than Lambert will ever be. [/quote] You can''t really compare the two - yet!  Lambert has started well but who knows what will happen over time.  Things went a bit sour at the end but Worthy did succeed in getting us into the top division from a very low point and there were some fabulous times along the way.  I certainly hope that Lambert does prove to be better than Worthy because if he does we will certainly have achieved something to be really proud of and had some great times getting there.

[quote user="I am a Banana"] [quote user="Brendan"]to be honest, i think Nelson is worse than Doc of what i have seen![/quote] nelson has been unlucky, leaves HARLEPOOL and then butterworth leaves !! [/quote] Nelson seems a genuine bloke who tries his best - just seems a bit one dimensional.  I''m not sure that we should really be talking about who''s our worst player, given how we are playing at the moment.  We have some who have got the headlines for one reason or another but, certainly in the last few weeks, everyone who''s played has looked like they are giving their best for the club and that''s good enough for me.  The big difference this season has been the return of teamwork and team spirit and if you''ve got those two things you can achieve things whoever pulls on the shirt - even against the "mighty" Leeds.

[quote user="Norwich"]Dronny Canary - Am I not allowed my own opinion. Christ almighty.[/quote] Christ Almighty, Norwich - Am I not allowed to challenge your opinion?  Do you really stand by your "opinion" that Doherty is "always a liability"?  If so then don''t expect your opinions to be taken seriously by me.

Suddenly everything on here is going right over my head.  I think I''ll go for a lie down.