Jersey Canary

Thinking of us for next year I think it would benefit us by having money bags QPR get relegated as they won''t be that bad next season if they stay up. Wolves have gone and I would like Wigan to stay up as they might be the whipping boys next season. So that leaves Bolton or Blackburn so I vote for Bolton getting relegated as I don''t like Owen Coyle. Plus Steve Kean has had so much undeserved stick this season it would be good to see him put 2 fingers up to his critics for this season. So that leaves Wigan, Blackburn, Swansea, Villa, Reading plus the play off winners guaranteed to be fighting relegation next season. The bigger the pool is the safer we''ll be as next season will be tougher than this.

Who''s upset? I''m not. I would have been happy with a draw prior to the game. He had his opinion which I shared with you and I had mine. End of. There''s no right or wrong with opinions. I just pointed out his extreme viewpoint.

Fair play as he has seen the error of his ways.

His prediction for today was not only a Spurs win but (I can''t remember his exact phrase) but he said we would lose by several goals! What a c*ck!

Does any one know what is wrong with Whitbread and how long he''s out for/

I honestly thought that since we were last in the Premier League Drury was exposed for one reason or another.  As a result he seemed IMO to lose his confidence and his performances where not up to his usual high standards.I remember watching a game at CR last season and he either started or came on as an early sub and he looked way out of his depth, so to see him play this season at the level he has is astonishing.All credit to Drury and for the backroom team for giving him a second lease of life.

[quote user="Jacko"]Don''t see what Surman has done to warrant such a battering Jersey Canary. As I said on another thread I think he has been one of the better players since Christmas. Hence why Bennett has been kept out of the side. Totally random as well. But we had two lads from Jersey on our table during the Huckerby dinner, the night before we played Swindon in League 1. Was that you by any chance?[/quote] Sorry Jacko, not guilty I''m afriaid! Going back to your point, I am not bandwaggon hopping after 1 bad performance. Hoolahan has given the ball away trying silly things in our third of the pitch several times this season. Bearing in mind he hasn''t scored that many and he hasn''t assisted too many (he did the other day granted) so the net result is he costs us as much as he gives us. Therefore he needs to go and give Howson or someone a go. I would actually consider giving Surman a go at the peak of the diamond to see if he can play there and this will free up some pace on the wings. Russell Martin has been left wanting at RB several times this season, Wigan being one Sunderland another and he has a habit of taking the Cafu thing to heart and try a cheeky one two but fails with the initial pass and puts our defence at risk. I like Martin''s character but he is only good enough to be Naughton''s substitute. Crofts best position IMO is defensive midfield. His performances tailed off IMO when Fox was brought in last season and he was pushed to the right of midfield and he hasn''t been the same since. Therefore he is the natural substitute for Johnson. As for replacements, Snodgrass - He can play on the left or at the tip of the diamond. He seems to have more of an end product than Hoolahan. I like Bennet, he is beginning to be more productive on the wing. Pilks has been a revalation, so it''s not alll doom and gloom. Overall I think Norwich have been brilliant and I am not being negative. I am just stating what I think should be next on King PL''s to do list. OTBC!

The reason I said phase them out over 12 months is becasue you buy replacements for the first team and use Hoolahan, Martin and Surman as squad players.

Last night was confirmation of what I have been saying for months, Hoolahan is not good enough for Norwich as he keeps giving the ball away in silly positions.  It will be interesting to see how many goals he has cost us this season.Same goes for Russell Martin. As good as he has been over the last couple of years and as a good effort was put in at CB, he is another who keeps making silly mistakes that cost goals.As for Crofts, he is not a Premiership player and the jury is still out on Surman.  I would rather see pace in the side than Surman to be honest.So, my solution over the next 12 months or so, sell Hoolahan, Crofts and Surman with Howson, Snodgrass and A.N.Other.Russsell Martin needs to be replaced ASAP by Naughton and bring back Tierney.Apart from that all is fine!What do you think?OTBC

No is the answer!

Do you honestly think that McNally will let Pilkington go for anything less than the absolute maximum price? He''s too shewd to let Pilks go on the cheap.

I can see this being one of our hardest matches so far this season as it''s a bit of a season definer. If we win we''ll be 10 points clear of the bottom which will take some unravelling for Blackburn to overtake us this season. Should we lose we''ll be 4 points off the Blackburn and still in the relegation dogfight. I think it''ll be an edgy 2-1 with Blackburn going 1 up. For all that is said about Blackburn they have not been pasted or seem to be demoralised yet. This will be difficult!

Lappin was too slow for the Championship let alone the Premier League. As for Jackson, he seems to be a learner and it took him 6 months to learn about the Championship and it might take him 6 months to learn about the Premier League. On that basis I would expect him to shine in the latter part of the season.

I would like to see us sell Wilbraham and Surman, send Chris Martin out on loan. This will free up some cash and wages for starters. With that done I would buy McGugan and a big centre forward who is a hybrid of Morison and Holt i.e. Morison''s pace and anticipation, Holts craft and composure in front of goal. Who that person is I am not sure. I have a funny feeling someone link Bentdner would do a job for us as we creat a lot of opportunities and he must come good at some point. I think once he bags a couple he will fly. Admittidly there is not a lot of evidence to back this hunch up though. He scores all the time for Denmark so it''s got to click one day. I am sure Sunderland will want to freshen things up in January and we might be able to buy him off Arsenal at that point.

I see he scored a good goal last night!

Indeed, if McGugan has the hunger to succeed then he would be an excellent purchase to cover Wes and could cover Pilks or Bennett if they get injured as well. Pilks and Bennett can play either wing to McGugan can cover the right wing/midfield.

The point I was making is he''s a good young player who has his best days ahead of him and consistency comes with age.. Secondly it seems like Forest need the money so he''ll cost a lot less than he did in the summer. I thought he would be a good substitute for Hoolahan for when he''s injured etc.

Forest are struggling on the pitch and financially so why not use this situation to get McGugan on the cheap. He''s impressed me when I''ve seen him play last season. What do you think?

I think it will be Ewan as he has just moved back to Norfolk and I can''t see him travelling to Wales every other week to commentate. He has experience, personality and he''s a legend!

To succeed in the Premier League you need pace all over the pitch, therefore it would be unlikely for Chris Martin to play up front with Holt or Morison. I would rather see Martin be groomed as a longer term Hoolahan replacement as Martin can pick a pass, he has a bit of vision, he is strong and has a good shot. He reminds me a bit of a Teddy Sheringham (obviously Martin needs to develope more) but that is where I see Martin''s future longer term.

He''s always been a good player but no chance of coming here as he;s reportedly on £50k p/w.

It''s all irrelevant really as Lambert has dismissed getting Pacheco. If I had a choice it would be Lansbury as he seems more robust for Premier League football but with similar vision and passing skills.

Does this mean a job for Ewan?!!

I think you''ll find that he will stay faithfull to most of the team that finished in the first team last season and gradually over time drop them for the newies as and when appropriate. This is what he did last season. So to kick off with I would expect the team to start as follow: 1. Ruddy 2. Martin 3. Tierney 4. Whitbread 5. Barnett 6. Fox 7. Crofts 8. Surman 9. Hoolahan 10. Jackson 11. Holt Subs: Morison, Vaughan, Bennett, Ward, De Laet, Johnson, As part of the team evolvement/rotation I would expect Vaughan to replace Jackson, Morison to rotate with Holt, Bennett with Hoolahan, Johnson for Surman, Johnson for Croft, Croft for Fox (depending on who we are playing) I would assume that we will go for a tighter diamond away from home as Surman is not great at defending so Johnson will come in. Ward will come in as an injury/suspension replacement as will De Laet. I would expect us to sign Forster at some stage so I would put him on the bench initially and then he will take over after 10 games or so.

I would take Maik Taylor as cover for Ruddy but that''s about it.