Jarroldstander

Look forward to reading any books with a Norwich City theme - my second book is a novel with a Norwich City theme which some of you may be interested in: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Memorabilia-Nick-Richards/sim/1907652922/2

My thoughts and observations on tonight''s match from my seat in the Jarrold Stand: http://nick-sportsjunkie.blogspot.com/2011/09/norwich-2-sunderland-1-ten-things-we.html

Gary Rowell?

Thanks for everyone who read and commented so positively on my blog post after the Stoke game. Just back from Stamford Bridge - here''s my ten things we now know from this afternoon. http://nick-sportsjunkie.blogspot.com/2011/08/chelsea-3-norwich-1-ten-things-we-now.html

Check out my new blog after every Norwich City game I go to this season - not just a boring match report, but ten observations that I made during today''s game. Let me know what you think and be sure to follow me on Twitter @nicksportjunkie http://nick-sportsjunkie.blogspot.com/2011/08/norwich-1-stoke-1-ten-things-we-now.html

Paul - I''m in Bury too and up for away games in the coming season. Follow me on Twitter if yr on there: @nicksportjunkie

Francomb played right back in the first half and got forward loads down the right. I thought it was Russell Martin at first, he did exactly what Russell does week in week out. Looked strong on the ball. Adeyemi was busy in midfield early on, good to see him in a City shirt again and he had a couple of shots. Didn''t take much notice of Brindley but Dawkin did well down the left in the second half and put in some great crosses. One of them from the left hit the post/bar though I think it was meant as a cross. Not sure which of them will make the 25 man squad, though I suspect there may be a place for Francomb.

I thought he was the best player on show in the second half. He''s got a bit of midfield steel in the Huddlestone/Essien mould. He was taking pot shots every time he got on the ball. Of all the new signings he stood out. I know it''s only one game and against Gorleston but didn''t think much of Morison. Bennett looks like he''s got plenty of pace and De Laet didn''t have much to do. Vaughan looked bright when he came on, but Johnson looks like being more than just a squad player. I can see us playing Fox and Johnson as holding midfielders in away games, particularly against the bigger clubs.

Thank you for your reply my friend, will try and get some before the big match. Will be great to see City in action again - seems like ages since Coventry at Carrow Road!

Apologies if this has already been posted - does anyone know how to get them? Had a look online and is it really just two shops in Gorleston that are selling them? Does anyone know if you can pay on the gate or get them some other way?

I got my shirt yesterday, generally happy with it - I''ve put a detailed review and some pics of it on my blog for anyone who hasn''t got it yet and wants to know a bit more about it! http://nick-sportsjunkie.blogspot.com/2011/07/ive-got-new-errea-norwich-city-home.html

[quote user="Good Evening Neil"]If (or when) Grant scores this season, he will have scored in the main 4 leagues in consecutive seasons (League 2 - Prem). There can''t be many players who have done that? [/quote] You beat me to it! I was writing a blog post about the rise of Jackson and Holt and their incredible rise. Amazing to think that if the pair appear against every one fo the 19 Premier League teams this season they could have faced around 85% of the teams in the league in just four seasons. If any picture sums up their incredible rise it''s this one on my blog: http://nick-sportsjunkie.blogspot.com/2011/06/remarkable-rise-of-grant-holt-and.html

I''ve looked at the history of our opening day fixtures on my blog and history says it''ll be a trip to Goodison Park. Click the link for our full record on the opening day in the top flight - we''ve actually won more than we''ve lost! http://tinyurl.com/66xdnwe  

[quote user="Beauseant"]Enjoy it mate. I was fortunate enough to go to Man Utd V Benfica at Wembley in 68, which was sensational, and then Ajax v Panathanaikos, which wasn''t a great game, but showcased Cruyff in his pomp. Tickets were a bit cheaper though![/quote] Beauseant - can you remember how you got tickets for those games? Just curious as to how it worked back then.

[quote user="jas the barclay king"]Yes.. the "champions" league.. a competition you can enter by not being a champion, where the scummiest of all Egnlish football teams are going gto be in the final, The competition thats putting the death knell into the game in this country as the premier league do what they can to ensure it remains a closed shop. if the final was say, in Belgium, how many of you would have gone? B*****ks to the champions league and manchester united.. im a norwich city fan and dont care who wins in Europe... what do we, as a club, get out of it? [/quote]   Funny you mention Belgium, I started this season watching Anderlecht the week before we played Watford. I personally love the Champions League as a bit of escapism from watching Norwich, I doubt we''ll ever get to play in it, but the chance to watch two of Europe''s best teams at Wembley is something I''m up for seeing as it might not come back to this country for another 10-15 years or so. Norwich are always first for me, but I love European football and try and fit in a couple of games on the continent every season. But I couldn''t give a stuff about England and wouldn''t be bothered if I didn''t ever watch them play again. We don''t get anything out of it but as Fulham, Stoke and Birmingham have proved in recent seasons it is possible for us to get into the Europa League and I for one would go to every single away game if we did.

[quote user="Ben "]I wish I was going! Have a good time, i''m sure it will be a great experience. Just out of interest how much did you pay for your ticket? As I heard they were £200+ face value.[/quote] Cheers Ben, ticket was a staggering £225 plus £26 (£26!) booking fee. Cheapest tickets were £150. That''s about half my season ticket for next season.

Yeah I agree Ginger Pele. They put 11,000 tickets up for neutral English fans in February in a ballot. Sometimes it pays to be a fan of a (then) non Premier League team. I can''t imagine a Chelsea/Arsenal/Tottenham/Man United fan applying for a ticket and then wanting to go to the final if their team didn''t get there. I never thought I''d get one but got lucky and can''t wait. I do think it''s wrong that I, as a Norwich fan, am able to ago ahead of thousands of Man United and Barcelona fans, but the ticket came with loads of warnings about reselling them, so I''ll just have to go and enjoy it. Will have a City shirt on though, and only supporting Man United as their fans seem to like to wear Norwich City scarfs!  

You''d really swap those for a Champions League final ticket? I''ll think about it. Will let you know on Sunday morning!  

Just wondered if any City fans on here are going to Wembley on Saturday? I got a ticket in the ballot, never thought I would get one but got lucky. Really looking forward to it, wondered if I am representing all the City fans all by myself or if anyone else if going. Planning to wear a City shirt and yellow and green scarf and am supporting Man United.

As a rough rule we need to win one game per calender month next season to stay up and draw another. If we were to lose 19 games and win/draw the other half we could pick up 39 points which would only send us down in a season like the one just gone. Ten games should take us to mid October so I''d say if haven''t got 12 points in the bag by then we''re likely to be in for a real relegation fight. We need to be on about 22 points at the turn of the year.

[quote user="crabbycanary"]Stephen Bywater or Kelvin Davis - experienced keepers they may be, but both complete ****s. Any outfield player over 30 who isn''t already here. Jermaine Defoe - wrong character to have around this team imo (ditto Jay Bothroyd) Kris Boyd - doesn''t offer enough, most of the time I''m sure I''ll think of some more - thats just off the top of my head. Anyone else got any stand outs?[/quote]   Crabbycanary - I made a list a couple of weeks ago just after we got promotion on my blog: http://nick-sportsjunkie.blogspot.com/2011/05/ten-players-i-hope-paul-lambert-doesnt.html I think we''re both thinking along the same lines!

Been on Cabbage three times in 25 years of supporting Norwich to Sheffield Weds twice and WBA. I did have an incident on the first game of 2010 when I cut it up on the way to Wycombe at a roundabout as I was heading the wrong way. The Cabbage driver was not impressed! Last time I went on there was around 1999 and two fans behind me had an actual fight. Only on Cabbage!  

I''m still in a bit of a daze 15 days on that we''re in the Premier League and have tried to get my head around just what Paul Lambert has achieved and I''ve come up with the best solution in my opinion. I''ve cast my mind back to August 8, 2009 and the day of the 7-1 loss to his Colchester side and I''ve taken a look at what his starting XI towards the end of this season were doing that day. Of course Wes and Holt were in the Norwich team that day and Fox and Tierney were at Colchester. But the side that Lambert would probably call his best starting line up at the moment were mostly plying their trade in League One two seasons ago. Only two were in the Championship and only one was in the Premier League. Here''s what City''s current best eleven were doing at the start of last season: http://tinyurl.com/5rem39m  

Indy Bones, you''ve got it spot on. Russ is a great player, I''m a huge fan but he''s not good enough for England. Excellent career choice to play for Scotland and good luck to him. I think he''ll surprise one or two people in the Prem next season but if he turns out to be just an average Premier League defender then that''s a massive rise for a player who nobody seemed to want 18 months ago.  

I think you''re right there Hazzajet, we''re better off taking the cream of the Championship/League One with us into the top flight. Most of the players on my original list are in their early 30s but we''ve seen so many sides the same size as Norwich getting promoted and then bulking out their squad with out of contract Premier League players who are often treading water at bigger clubs. I''m sure Danny Graham would jump at the chance at a shot in the top flight with Norwich and I''d love him to come and join us especially compared to some big time Charlie.