Highland Canary

Both Arsenal and Villa will absolutely whip us. So Stoke and Reading increasingly vital games. A defensive mindset and couple of score draws will see us propping up the league.

Yes - there''s a completely different feel to the defeat this season. We travel to Stamford Bridge and expect to lose. The result not significantly different to last season. The manner completely. The team seem to lack organisation and as soon as the equaliser went in belief seemed to evaporate. Yes Chelsea are a top side. But we have deep problems to resolve before Stoke. Arsenal you can discount.

But at least I''ve got a seat on the train this year. We gave them a game last season not this.

Certainly our best player today.

At Fulham Broadway - Chelsea fans we''re talking to are only expecting 5-0.

Do we have a smaller allocation or is the interest just lower this season? Or have Villa re-configured the away seating - unlikely I suspect? Last year on the ballot form we had an option of Upper or Lower tier. I''ve just received my tickets - group 2 - in the lower tier and note that tickets are on general sale but only in theist tier. Does this indicate both a lower location with significantly reduced demand from City fans or is there an alternative explanation?

I won''t clap him. I''m a City fan. But I will respect, thank and admire him as the best City manager for a generation. Which league - if any - would we be playing in today without Paul Lambert?

A very fair reflection Ricardo - two further observations: 1. In the discussion of us having the best owners in football but not having a billionaire benefactor to write a cheque at the end of the season, it calls into question the efficacy of such an ownership structure given the financial imperatives of the PL and the club''s primary strategic objective of remaining in the PL. 2. I thought Hughton was thoughtful, open and reflective. I am not a member of the Hughton out brigade but I was concerned that when he was discussing his willingness as a coach to change systems to me at least he seemed quite uncertain. This may have been due to the presence of a public audience. The positive interpretation is that we have a coach willing to change approach if things are not working. The concern would be if what I perceived as uncertainty is inadvertently communicated to the players.

As Bowkett said last night - it''s just a job for Paul whereas we are Norwich City supporters. Lambert is all about winning football matches. I''m sure in his mind if it helps to create a furore around his departure and help to destabilise one of Villa''s competitors - he way well have taken the opportunity to do so.

No idea about the politics of this board. But maybe the site should be split into discrete sections for the optimists, realists and debates about the inner circle. Then, perhaps, everyone would be happier and nicer to each other.

[quote user="Cantiaci Canary"] It was always going to be a huge challenge without the man who masterminded our meteoric rise and with the funds Hughton has available it isn''t surprising that we are where we are. It isn''t anyones fault we just can''t replicate what Lambert had going here and therefore we might not have enough to keep our heads above the water line in a hugely competitive league. [/quote] Well said Cantiaci - realistically we were never likely to hit the heights of last season as has been borne out by events. See you all at the Forum tomorrow:-)

Best decisions - 1. Holt''s new contract 2. Bassong Worst decisions - 1. Loaning Vaughan with no replacement! 2. Loaning Vaughan even if we had a replacement 3. Failing to sign CMS   I''ve done well and not listed anymore of the less good decisions.

I agree with the OP that we have a better chance of establishing ourselves as a yo-yo club wheb we go down rather than spending several seasons struggling in the Championship, which happened post-2005.

We won''t beat Chelsea or Arsenal - last season I thought we''d give them a game but not this. There was even a few minutes in the Chelsea game and even more minutes in the Arsenal game that you felt something incredible might happen. Not this. Real problem is I can''t see us beating Stoke or Reading either.

Not a gamble from Lambert. Motivator and manager. Just like he did here, Lambert will get the best of Villa''s squad.

No point in rushing him back as we''ll lose the next two regardless. In with a shout of a point against Stoke so hopefully he''ll be available for this one.

Or opinions?

Think we might beat Wigan.

I''ve assumed that both Bassong and Pilkington are still injured otherwise I have both in the team. Think the midfield needs shaking up. Ruddy Garrido - Barnett - R Bennett - R Martin Snodgrass - Tettey - Fox - E Bennett Hoolahan Holt

I agree with Mister Chops. Spurs away was as good as anything last season. Other than that we''ve lacked quality in front of goal - QPR, West Ham, Newcastle - and the less said about Fulham and Liverpool the better. Confidence seems lacking. Can we get more than a point against Stoke? I''m not convinced at the moment.

Spot on Wiz

Is sacking the manager with very limited budget in January post-compensation to Hughton''s team really worth it? We''ll still be short of a striker or two.

We undoubtedly have good support. I think as a club we are constrained certainly by our infrastructure and arguably by our owners. I''m not sure 5 years from now they''ll be any PL clubs of our size without overseas/beneficial owners.

Like the Birmingham fan suggested, unfortunately, Hughton looks like the wrong man for the set of players he''s inherited.

Hindsight not needed to suggest that we need new first choice option(s) up front.