ABC (A Basingstoke Canary)

How about Jimmy Bone - (Narborough Bone Mill)

I think the following Lambert statement (as reported by Rick Waghorn) says it all:   “And the beauty for me is that the lads that we’ve identified I’ve seen playing myself, so I know exactly what they’re like. And it’s not as if we’re buying people for £10 million or anything like that.   “These are lads that – in my own opinion – will do fine for us. But I also know that there is a balancing act for January time.”   So, if the manager of the club, who has taken this club from bottom of League 1 (well would have been bottom if Saints didn''t start on -10) straight into the Premiership - not via the play-offs - says in his opinion that these players will do fine for us, then, with all due respects to jamesg, but what makes you consider that your opinion is so significantly superior to that of PL? (Maybe DMcN needs to be made aware of your talents...........or there again, perhaps not!)

There are 2 key factors as to why I feel more convinced about Premiership survival this time around - and they are both to do with PL:   1st - Lambert hasn''t consigned to the scrapheap the key players that helped us get to the Premiership!   2nd - Probably more importantly, I would bet my house that the current group would not capitulate like the last group did at Fulham - it''s not in the make up of any of the current squad to "give up"   What kind of deluded man (mis) management was NW performing by denying Iwan & Malky the right to at least "have a go" in the Premiership - especially after how they performed in getting us there! It left a sour taste in my mouth then - and still does today. Now compare to PL - and every member of his squad would "run through a wall" for him

Classic!   As it''s the Prem - the goalie will be rotated between the 3 of them

The one thing that has struck me about Paul Lambert is that he is a man of his word and NOT a liar! So, when he says that he has never wanted to leave Norwich I tend to believe him. Having just signed a new contract, why would he destroy his credibility by jumping at the first opportunity? Come on guys, lets not be totally stupid about this!

Totally agree with all that''s being said. However, there is another scenario...... with McNally increasing the bid by a small margin implies we are still interested, and whilst everyone is getting excited about this prospect, DM & PL are quietly concluding the business for another gem - and keeping it out of the limelight

Thanks for your responses.   Assuming we have the full complement of 25, and hypothetically (he said touching wood) our 2 centre backs pick up injuries over Xmas, putting them out for a "couple of months", and we then use the January window to get in a couple of loanees. When our 2 CB''s have recovered sufficiently to say go into the reserve team - at what stage do we transition over the nominated 25 man squad from the 2 loanees to the 2 regulars?

I am a bit unsure of the 25 squad ruling. If we join the Premier League Reserves, does that mean that our overall squad still stays at 25? If so, how do we "blood in" youngsters or new talent?

The key player that John has mentioned is Max Gradel - almost a 50% goals to games ratio and the closest thing I''ve seen to Ruel Fox since...... Ruel Fox!   He could well be the inspirational winger we need!

CT - you are correct - as Pete says 99 games   Stats are: 99 games, 56 wins, 23 draws, 20 losses   After tomorrow only the 1st and 2nd column will be affected

You are right - NW failed us. He broke up a TEAM and assembled a group of indiviuals with no clear leader. His grasp on reality disappeared when he effectively told Iwan Roberts he wasn''t "good enough for the Premiership".   RC may well have ripped the heart out of the club, but NW ripped the soul out of it!

How many managers have had the opportunity for their names to become synonymous with their clubs? (For instance - Matt Busby & Alex Fergusson - Man Utd, Bill Shankly & Bob Paisley - Liverpool,  then there is "Old Big ''Ead - Brian Clough - Notts Forest, as well as Alf Ramsey & Bobby Robson - "from a club down the road".) Why would Paul Lambert, who could well be elevated to that position at Norwich - even consider leaving a club that he clearly loves? Who knows, his overall approach to the game might just be the breath of fresh air that the Premiership needs (as opposed to the overpaid, prancing, prima donnas that currently populate the Premiership). He also understands the ethos of the club and is not likely to turn to the TEAM stalwarts that got us to the Premiership and say "thanks for helping to get us to the top - but you''re not good enough, so goodbye" like a certain Irishman did (RC may well have ripped the heart out of the club, but NW ripped the soul out of it!) So, in summary, I have no doubt the Paul Lambert will want to stay - this is his team and he will want to derive the satisfaction of nurturing the success of his proteges.