Europe_93

I''m with you by & large Braintree, and I had the pleasure of a few of them screaming in my face back on a Monday night in 93, as I walked down Portman Rd in Norwich shirt. I''m sure if an Ipswich fan walked down carrow r&d in his colours on Sunday there would be one or two of our fans screaming at them. Seems to me like one remaining form of discrimination that is acceptable to most, sadly. I''d rather judge people by there actions, than there colours, but not adverse to some banter.

B: Hughton had a very good opportunity in the premiership, that he did not maximise. Neil has pretty much exceeded expectations, in a short space of time in the championship. You are not comparing apples with apples, and not even the same starting position, but I see Neil as having a positive effect on the long / medium term future of the team (as opposed to Hughton), and this is more important than a single result. So - how is my brain wired?

I agree, we should not get over confident, but Ipswich fans are afraid, I think their players will be too, which bodes well. Blackburn is a very tricky fixture though, it would put huge pressure on the other clubs if we win.

If the manager leaves when the club is 7th in the league because expectation is not being met, then the minimum the new manager will be tasked with is the play-offs. IMO top 2 is a realistic possibility, 10 points off Ipswich and still to play them at home, with (in most people''s opinion) a better squad. I actually think we will go up via the play offs this season, we are long overdue a trip to Wembley :-)

Crabby Canary: I think Ince earned his right to manage a club the size of Blackburn with what he achieved up to that point mainly at MK. I would say his mistake was to take over Blackburn when they were 13th in the Premier League, i.e. realistically how much more could he achieve? I also feel that Ferguson labelled him as a big time charlie, and this has stuck with him as much as anything else he has achieved. I agree that Neil appears a far more grounded personality than Ince, lets hope that he is in a premiership job shorter into his managerial career than Ince was, next season would be good :-)

Hughton''s philosophy (IMHO) was to try and keep possession of the football, Adam''s approach is much more to make chances when we are in possession. Hughton''s tactic was flawed because although he had this approach he predominantly played midfielders to break up play (and protect the back 4) rather than retain the ball (i.e. Johnson / Tettey preferred to Fox / Hoolahan). Snodrass is another example, he doesn''t necessarily have the pace to get up and support on the break, hence his value in the current set up would be diminished somewhat.

I take your point relating to Adams but I think Ince is a bad example, he did a couple of years before going to Blackburn albeit the best part of it in League 2

At this moment in time, I don''t believe he would, unless someone made him an offer that was way too good to turn down :-) Norwich is his club, he knows the players, including what is coming up in the youth and he is in the best place possible for him to learn what managing a first team is all about. If he stepped up to the Premier League, other fans would question his appointment and would very quickly turn if things didn''t work out right. However, if Everton / Spurs / .... offered a 5 year deal at 3 times his salary, sure he would be tempted, but even that wouldn''t be a given.

We have lost Ricky, Leroy Fer, Snodgrass & Pilkington, Bassong has been marginalised and Hooper has still to feature. So not all, but a big chunk, of last summer''s investment yet to make a contribution. However, we still could field 2 teams, either one of which would be the envy of most in this division, and potentially we will add to that before the transfer window closes. With all these losses and only a couple of additions, it does however seem that a team has been re-built. Players sharing responsibility, a team ethos and improving performance levels, albeit at a lower standard. I wonder how much this has to do with more perceived parity among the squad (i.e. in terms of wages)? To date we have taken 9/12 points, a ratio of 8/12 over 46 games is likely required, so we are on track at a very early stage, things currently look bright but have achieved nothing yet. I am heartily encouraged by a good early foundation for a long hard season. I think Neil Adam''s is building a team with flexibility in mind, and while the Tettey, Johnson & Hoolihan triangle is key at the moment, while we are getting a foothold in the division I think this will evolve over the season. The immediate goal is promotion but we should also look to create / evolve into a team that could play in the premiership. For me, that is about having quality defenders that don''t require 2 holding midfielders to protect them, which will in turn allow us an added threat going forward.

Next England

I agree, I quite like him. He was given an open goal to criticise Rooney at one point and he side stepped it well. Good on him.

3-2 head Italy, heart England.

What about Fash - thought he was an amateur boxing champion? Seem to remember him putting Norman Hunter out of the game at Ashton Gate when we relegated Bristol City, think he also dropped someone in training while at Forest.

I''m not big on loan players but I wonder if Adams fancies taking Nathan Ake for a year.

Players aren''t that easily bought hamster, it''s cakes they want not cards!!!

Somewhat satisfied The boards handling of it has been poor and ver frustrating. It is up there with sherry speech and Colchester debacle, yet there is still opportunity to haul themselves out if: 1: They make a strong statement as to why events unfolded like they did. 2: they buy & sell well backing the manager 3: Neil delivers

The delay in manager (Lennon or otherwise) I suspect is due to the Director of Football position. Most managers aren''t keen on this, let alone when they don''t know who it is yet.

Interesting question jimmy, and I always welcome a different perspective even if I don''t always agree with it. In this case he seems to know more about us than I know about the :-)

The fact that the DoF has not been announced suggests this is the key issue. I reckon we had previously lined up Lennon, but he is concerned about the Director of Football coming in and what influence this may have. Malky will be back stop, that would explain his coy interview last week. If Malky takes WBA (or another role) in the meantime, step forward Neil Adams. This strikes me as complex enough to take a few extra days, especially given the board has come out and stated its preferred structure, it will be embarrassing for them to back track. This would explain why the betting is how it is too.

[quote user="Twenty Eight Goals"]I guess Moyes to Celtic would be good for him. At last he gets his hands on some silverware. Even he couldn''t F**k that one up...could he?[/quote] Be so ironic to see moyes in Europe but nou Man U

Posters have only been concerned with who it will be for the last week, McNally & co will have been looking (interviewing even) since hughton''s was sacked, our focus has been elsewhere that is how the board have kept it quiet.

If there is a Norwich way, other fans would be able to define what way that it is (I.e. Swansea, arsenal, barca, ...). I agree with purple canary, throughout the 80''s & mid 90''s you could have made a case for the Norwich way, but not over the last 20 years. It just says the board didn''t like the way hughton''s played, an attempt to disassociate themselves and lacking a little dignity in my view. If they didn''t like it they should of acted sooner, not like it changed over 2 years.

I love the fact they are my club, and that I feel entwined in a good part of its history. I hate the fact that we don''t compete at the top table

I don''t think it will be Adam''s - as much as anything I think a team of people are required and even if his coaching abilities are trusted I''m not sure he offers this? I doubt it is Lennon, Celtic would have been screaming all over the press. I think the board may fear he would use us as a stepping stone, maybe Sherwood falls under this category too. I would say Malky or Di Matteo, I don''t think the board will be sentimental, they also employed Hughton with the aim of club stability and having a manager in place for a long period. I would take Di Matteo, not sure if he will take us?

I reckon ruddy, bassong, pilkington, garrido, yobo & elmander will go, with a few others not far behind dependent on the manager.