GenerationA47

On a free transfer. I''m sure we wouldn''t complain too much we''d signed him! Though presumably he''s on Arse-style wages. The exact figure of which someone will no doubt be able to provide us with!

You shame me, Helsinki. Though it probably takes about the same time between Finland & Norwich as between Reading and ditto, thanks to our convoluted and metrocentric transport system. And probably costs less as well, come to think of it. Good for you, anyway.

John Puddifoot, is that your real name? I knew a guy called that at school: 1990-1, NDHS, 1st Yr. Those were the days (bit of random nostalgia there for you).

Ditto: Selhurst Park. That''s a City jinx, not a GA47 jinx!

Actually Amarillo it''s worse than I originally suggested: if it hadn''t been for all 3 goals we scored, they''d have beaten us 1-0. What an upset that would have been; we ought to be very worried. Now I come to think of it, a lot of our wins, even in competitive matches, have been achieved this way - a blatant and risky over-reliance on scoring more goals than the opposition.

Indeed, I''d even go so far as to say it with some confidence it could well have been approximately 1-1. If it hadn''t been for those two other goals, that is.

Green & Yellow, so you sit on top of the stand and your (name) is Kez. In all seriousness, are you actually a bird? (Excellent way to beat the ticket scarcity - fly in & watch for free. Know any shape-shifting spells, 1stW? It''s the only way I''ll get to watch the canaries at home this season.)

This isn''t the first time you''ve confessed to a spanking wish, Susie B. I''m still mentally smarting from your last threatened assault on my posterior! (see previous thread) I''d quite like Southampton to win it though it''s not going to happen. Similar spirit to our own club, though obviously more established at the (middle of the) top level than us. Chelsea have the theoretical potential to be one of the all-time great teams, and it would be good to see a legendary English team in my lifetime (that''s not Man U), especially as their annoying hanger-on celebrity fans are no longer a factor (Major, Mellor, etc.).

Nowhere - as an exile I''m mainly an away & armchair supporter nowadays, though it pains me to say it. Always went in the snake pit by choice, in the days when you used to be able to get tickets for home games. Cootey is a Bloater.

I sympathise with the safety first point of view and despite standing when possible, can understand that if the rules exist we can''t complain too much unless we actually try to change them. However, in my humble opinion it''s probably safer to stand in seating areas than on terraces, simply because of the freedom of movement the latter allow and thereby encourage. I think if there''s going to be a scenario where safety is compromised it''ll be when too many people are moving around excessively and in excessive large numbers, i.e. down the aisles and stairs. This can''t happen where the seats are, and people are discouraged from pushing those in front by the pointlessness and self-harm of doing so. (However, I am prepared to concede in the light of greater experience. What happened at Villa Park?) On someone else''s point about the ''selfishness'' of standing in blocking others'' views, I haven''t heard this as a complaint before. Surely everyone knows anyway (or it becomes apparent after one visit) which stands are suitable for children, the disabled etc. and which aren''t. For example, if I were a parent I certainly wouldn''t take my child into the Barclay or the Snake Pit (or indeed any away stand) anyway, if only because of the fruity language! That''s what the Family Area (and in practice, at least in the past, the River End too) is for, and long may it provide this option. But you can''t purge the entire ground of traditional football spectating, or you''ll end up with a golf-style crowd. In my view, that is. Still, good to hear people sensibly considering safety issues.

How long before we see the headline "STAND BANNED"...

I suggest that, if you care that much, write to your MP to get Health & Safety legislation changed. If there''s enough national popular and key political support you''re in with a chance. Otherwise you''ll have to put up with the situation as it stands: you can''t really blame the council for enforcing the law (unless it''s a blatant misinterpretation of it). Such is democracy! Personally I prefer to stand up too and do so whenever possible. I would be happy for the rules to be changed but as it turns out I don''t care enough to do anything about it, apart from mentally (& unfairly) calling the stewards all sorts of names when they tell us to sit!

Can''t...(cough)...I can''t...(cough)...(cough). Sorry about that. I was just going to say (cough)...that (cough)...Sorry. I was going to say I can''t (cough)...Sorry, I can''t (cough cough cough). Right. That''s better. As I was saying, (cough cough cough) I can''t remember, what (cough cough)... Sorry. (cough)... What was the Bob Fleming sketch about in the Fast (cough cough cough)...Fast Show? Blast.

1stW, I can only imagine that in a Muslim country like Malaysia, the ''Page 3'' girls would be entirely covered! It would be tasty titillation for textiles fetishists (say that fast 10 times). However, our own Daily Star could certainly take a leaf out of their book in that respect. These tabloids with porn in should be relegated to the top shelf in my opinion. How is it right that a child can have ready access to sexually loaded material as found in the Sun, let alone the Daily Sport? At the same time we''re banned from seeing a mother''s nipple when breastfeeding on a TV advert. Outrageous!

I also posted this link (see thread ''Malaysia Tour'') and was ticked off for being negative (though to be fair I was merely reporting a report!) by someone who was actually over there. They pointed out that the heat and humidity sapped our boys'' strength. This is obviously a fair point. Though it''s interesting that this apparently wasn''t seen as a major factor when Man U, Bimingham and the others have been there in the past. I don''t want to criticise the team needlessly (before the season even begins!) and I won''t do so, but perhaps the Malaysian Star article''s actually a realistic reflection of our comparative standard, that is without Hucks or the promised new signings. It''s usually very difficult to gauge this from the EDP in particular because before EVERY season they raise false hopes by wildly exaggerating our chances, which is similar to what the national press and TV do with England. Everyone not ''in the know'' is always so much more disappointed as a result. However, can''t knock the coverage for being over the top when we are successful, like last season. In those cirumstances you can''t get enough of the hype, the pictures, the commentary, the popularity of the club etc. It was great!

Pretty jealous - sounds like a blast. Did you get to meet the City players? Out of interest, do the local new Canary fans come all the various different communities in Malaysia or one in particular? Keep the green flag flying high!

Great, glad to hear it. Perhaps it was colder & less humid when the other Premiership teams were out there previously.

Note following report on the match from a Malysian paper. Rather different verdict to our own, more obsequious local press! [link]http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/7/18/sports/8467535&sec=sports[/link]

Last time I posted my job on here (it was actually relevant to the subject) it got censored out by the web team! No idea why - it''s perfectly legal. Honest! (At the time I thought it was because Peter didn''t want to get sued by my company for incitement to malingering! but if that were the case he''d be in court full time after this thread...still moderating from his cell of course) Anyway, I won''t repeat it here - just be content to let your imaginations run riot.

Reading. (Plus cycling & watching sport...)

Yo Ama, I too would hate to see us go down the big-business franchise route, as in the major US sports. I would strongly oppose an MK Dons scenario for NCFC, for example, if it came to it and would definitely support the poorer, but purer, local ''Norwich AFC'' equivalent. You''re right in that while one can''t deny the overwhelming reality of the business side of football, the ingrained community and sporting aspects to the game shouldn''t be ignored by the fraternity, including those who make the big decisions. As the system stands, a concentration of too much money & power in a few clubs is squishing that side and also spoiling the competition. Perhaps there should be a transfer fee (incl agents'' fee) cap? Most non-Champions League clubs should agree to it if they know what''s good for them! They could still spend the surplus on their facilities, training, stadia etc. but they''d have to think a lot harder before splashing out like a Roman.

Surely part of the point of the business of professional football is to try to ''buy success'', i.e. get the best players & management on the market that you can afford at the time? This is what Worthie''s attempting to do at the moment, as we''d expect him to do. For pure sport there''s the amateur leagues. With time (several seasons) the components show their true quality or otherwise, since if they don''t work as partof a unit they aren''t worth it. Admittedly Chelsea''s owner is to be criticised for not understanding the game and expecting instant returns, i.e. trying to buy a team by buying individuals, and blaming others (& sacking them) when this isn''t realised overnight. However nothing ventured, nothing gained, and Chelsea just happen to have more spending power than most. That''s not their fans'' or players'' faults, so should we be upset with them? Personally I''d be very happy if Delia''s riches, e.g. her shares in the Catholic Church suddenly quadrupling in value due to the Second Coming, and she was able to put larger sums into the team. Mind you in that case a ''Heaven XI'' would probably be entered into the Premiership competition (with Jesus in goal ,since he saves so many), & having angelic football skills plus having had an eternity to gel as a team, would take maximum points & win every season.

Silver fox, don''t want to be negative & pedantic, but the similarity will only hold if we actually beat those three teams rather than just playing them! Also whereas we''re in a league, the Greeks earned most of those hard games by winning in the first place. However, it''s still a good reminder that even for the league, football''s about more than what''s on paper - and sometimes what''s down on paper about a given team is changed after a few surprises like Greece''s. Let''s hope this will be so after August, and then see if we can keep going well even when we lose the elephant of surprise. Even though we have that trump card it''ll be a mammoth task.

Crop it just above "Own a bit of S-IT " and a bit off the bottom & off the left & Bob''s your uncle.

Hi Peter, Why not use a photo from the blue & white game - a constant reminder of our recent joy and their present hardships, lest we forget.