MancCanary

Visitor - Good post, representing your club with decency and intelligence there. The overall factor in this Norwich vs Celtic "discussion" is sadly, money. We''re by far a smaller club, with far less honours, and less fans. But, we can pay more, the players can test themselves more, and there''s generally more potential job satisfaction for a footballer by playing for us. Whilst we were in the Premiership, we were a more attractive proposition for footballers than Celtic currently is. Now, I think it''s a much more even deal, but what probably still swings it for players and managers is the fact we''re still close to the lure of the Premiership. One good season with us and suddenly you''re a Premiership player, or manager. Of course, we know that in the Premiership we are a small fish in a big pond, and often managers and players will use us as a stepping stone to get to a bigger club. That''s life. Sadly, it''s the same for Celtic these days. As for the disrespect for the standard of Scottish football from English fans, I think whilst the standard of the SPL is unquestionably lower than the EPL (and that cannot really be argued against), it is just used as a stick to bash with, when people like "Champions" come here to another team''s messageboard in order to argue and throw insults around. I think intelligent English fans know the standard is not that of the conference, or even league 1, but they will say that it is in an argument. I''m glad the Scottish leagues are improving, lets hope it continues as it would be best for everyone in UK football if it does, especially if it means more quality Scottish players playing for Scottish and English clubs. All the best for next season. It''s sad that the Norwich/Celtic family thing has been somewhat ruined!

Correct - Hughton played him as one, stupidly. Actually I think we should never have bought Hooper - not anything personal against that player in particular, but we should''ve bought another big, strong striker like Holt, who can play lone striker when needed (away to Chelsea for example), but then play as part of a two with a player like Wolfswinkel or Hooper. But we bought 2 strikers who can''t play on their own, and can''t hold the ball up. Had we have kept Holt, I''m sure Hooper would''ve scored more and we''d have stayed up. Yes, Lennon did well to qualify for the last 16 twice. But domestically, he''s only won what is it.. 2 out of 7 domestic cups, against very very poor opposition? And his points tallies are quite a way below what O''Neill was managing back then, and that was *with* Rangers still around. He seems a bit of mixed bag - maybe he only really lives for those 6 or so Champions League games each season. One thing''s for sure, if you had any real competition in your league, and somehow finished outside of the Champions League places, he would be gone in a shot.

To "Champions": Saying Lennon is a "Champions League manager" means nothing. The manager of Levski Sofia, the Bulgarian champions in 2005/6, was also a Champions League manager. Do we know who he is? No. Case closed. And not sure why you''re so confident about Lennon not leaving Celtic Park, when you were all saying the same about Hooper last year - But then what happened? And his relative failure in the Premiership only further illustrates how non-competitive your league is. However, and this is to you and all my fellow Norwich fans - I don''t think he will come to us. Not because he wouldn''t come to Norwich, but because we''re not in the Premiership now. Same applies to Malky, and Sherwood. All 3 could well be holding out for a prem club like West Brom or West Ham. Sadly I think we''ll see Zola, Adams, or Clarke take charge. Personally I want Garcia or Rosler. Failing that, Adkins or Howe.

Interesting if it is announced tomorrow - as usually it leaks at least a day beforehand doesn''t it?

[quote user="Yellow Wall"]He was wasted with us yes, but it was not the strikers who did that. He was played in a very restrictive formation which gave him no space to either attack with the ball or play the ball into. He showed early on that he is a very good player and he showed later on his frustration of playing in a system which did not give him the opportunity to progress. As I have said about other players if they leave us, people on this forum will be saying "Why couldn''t he play like that for us?" The answer is that the system we have played all season has made good players into bad ones in people''s eyes.[/quote] I think this is right. We''re already familiar with saying "Why couldn''t he play like that for us?" as Norwich fans.. so get ready to hear that phrase a lot more next season I reckon!

Buh .. yup, me :)

That is the trouble with unregulated web votes. Perhaps it''s Ralph voting for himself!

Interesting to see that out of 1525 votes so far, the majority - 27% - (414) are for Ralf Rangnick! I''d not even seen his name talked about yet. Here''s the various names and how they''re doing so far. No Oscar Garcia I see. Maybe they made this before he left Brighton!: Neil Adams 48 3% Mark Bowen 2 0% Steve Clarke 39 3% Roberto Di M 61 4% Eddie Howe 41 3% Neil Lennon 362 24% Malky Mackay 189 12% David Moyes 43 3% Mike Phelan 46 3% Ralf Rangnick 414 27% Uwe Rosler 63 4% Tim Sherwood 96 6% Neil Warnock 30 2% Zola 33 2% Other 57 4%

Sorry Splutcho, for some reason I thought your 2nd sentence said "I certainly WOULD be thinking about going into next season with him as one of our main FOUR strikers though." - No idea why..!

Same here. He wouldn''t be the first untried 19 yr old striker to do well in the Championship. He looks to have most of the attributes, we''ll just have to hope his finishing is up to scratch.

Like splutcho says, I don''t think we''re significantly better as a prospect for Rosler than his current club. He seems to be enjoying Wigan, he''s been given money, and I don''t see why he''d jump ship to us. Say it was a club like Villa (apologies to touchy fans who that will annoy) or Newcastle coming down - then I''d say he''d think about leaving for one of those. But we''re not quite in that bracket. Almost but not quite!

No, because the most effective way for him to "showcase himself" would be winning games and keeping us up. I think he set up to give us the best chance of doing that, in his opinion. I don''t blame him at all.

One part of his statement I am particularly interested in is this bit regarding a bit of a shake up of the management staff structure: "We’ll strengthen the structure so we’re not at the mercy of a manager on all things to do with our future. We will look at how we can ensure that if we do need to strengthen, then that’s what we do." What are people''s thoughts on the exact meaning of this? To me, the first sentence could be implying that somehow the managers have had too much power (in the board''s eyes). The second sentence to me seems to be implying that the board will now act to sign players, even if the manager doesn''t believe it is necessary. If it does mean what I have suggested it means, does this suggest that McNally/The Board wanted to do things differently in the last transfer window, and weren''t that happy with Hughton''s decisions? McNally has said we got it very wrong in the summer. I think this does suggest that perhaps he could see a problem with the signings - either that we''d signed the wrong players, or that we hadn''t signed enough (perhaps that elusive AM or big striker?).

So there we have it then - Ricky did NOT storm out and drive home - he watched the match with his friends and family in the stands. PS Jimmy - I really hope that happens too, would be great for everyone. It all depends on the new manager and what they want to do. I wonder if the board would have a bit of a say on what happens to RVW too, seeing as he cost so much? Maybe they''ll strongly suggest that we try him again in the champ, or loan him out?

I really don''t think there''s much chance of keeping Ruddy. He has to be playing in the premiership, and I think he will state as much. I''m not expecting an official transfer request, but I would imagine he''ll tell McNally and the new manager that he would like permission to talk to a prem club if they come knocking. He''s done his bit for us - could''ve left last season for chelsea but didn''t. Of course, if he''s feeling brave he could stay with us in the hope that we''ll all be back in the premiership in 12 months time. If he did, it would encourage others to stay too I think.

Can''t argue with that too much, all fairly likely to happen. I don''t think we''ll sell Hooper though. With Becchio seemingly off too, I don''t think we''ll get rid of RVW and Hooper too! Would leave a lot of work and money to be spent on just the strikeforce in the summer. Hooper and Becchio both have excellent championship records, so they should be given a chance in my opinion. Both would be the envy of every championship club, and we shouldn''t let the poorness of our season as a whole affect our judgement of which players will be right for this championship campaign. I really hope Pilks and Hoolahan don''t leave, as they would both be quality in the championship.. but would be surprised if they are here come August.

ncfcstar is right - surely the whole point of the DoF is to take the burdon of recruitment off the manager? And this is what McNally seems to be suggesting the DoF will be for: "He said the first team manager needs to concentrate on first team players and coaching them, and not have other responsibilities like medicine and recruitment, which should be managed elsewhere."

I couldn''t watch the game, but just watched some highlights, and watched Loza''s particular highlight a few times over. He controls it very well, turns the defender, runs at goal and gets a powerful shot (albeit with not much hint of placement!) on target. I have to say, I have never seen RVW do that all season, and that is really saying something. This was more of a Holty move. If anyone wants to see it, I found 6min highlights of the game in HD, here: http://hoofoot.com/?match=Norwich_City_0_-_2_Arsenal_2014_05_11

I have a couple of Preston supporting friends, and they say Rudd is their player of the season. He''s been immense apparently, very commanding and vocal. At 23 I would say he''s ready to be No.1 for us in the championship. I would say there''s an 80% chance of losing Ruddy now, especially if he doesn''t make the england squad. I think it''ll be a mid-table Prem club, and about £7m.

I''m not keen on this idea. I think managers should be in charge of recruitment, because if the DOF overrules them and brings in a player that they do not agree on, then it becomes awkward if the manager doesn''t play the player in question.. and can lead to the manager and DOF falling out. I don''t actually think Hughton got his signings that wrong. They were all decent enough on paper, (not sure about Whittaker) but not signing a Holty replacement and then continuing to play as if he had done, was a huge part of his failure. Hughton would probably make a good DOF.. Hughton in!

@Buh - Good news. I''m surprised that all the players have relegation wage-drop clauses, but glad they do. It means we shouldn''t have to jettison too many to cut the wage bill. But in terms of not having to sell anyone - I would imagine we won''t stand in the way of a decent cash offer for Snodgrass or Ruddy if they ask to leave.

That was meant to be a reply to CanaryOne''s comment of "its not like we are actually bringing in anyone much better is it".

[quote user="CanaryOne"][quote user="skippdogg"][quote user="CanaryOne"][quote user="alex_ncfc"]I don''t see why Adams would find it "tough" to go back to managing the academy. He clearly has had success with them, none with the first team thus far, and also has only been in the job 5 minutes.[/quote]He has said he wants the managers job if he wasnt to get it i would guess he would be off to pastures new .[/quote] What a stupid thing to say. Adams'' career: 4 games of football. 1 point. Mackay''s career: 229 games, 1 playoffs finish, 1 league cup final, and one championship title/1 promotion. No better at all eh? what radio norfolk[/quote]I expect he could find a job somewhere working with youth , somewhere where he hasnt been snubbed . Cannot be very nice being replaced by somebody like McKay its not like we are actually bringing in anyone much better is it .[/quote]

[quote user="Rock The Boat"]Our board likes "cheap". It will be Adams[/quote] Do they? We had to pay considerable compensation to Colchester and to Birmingham for our last 2 managers. Malky would be very cheap - free in fact, but there''s nothing to suggest we wouldn''t pay another club compensation for him if we identified him as the best choice.

I agree with JonnyH - Swansea took the risks in appointing relative unknowns to keep their philosophy going, and it has paid off. Imagine if they''d have appointed a Pulis or Allerdyce after Martinez or Laudrup. They will never do it. And hence they keep the playing squad very stable, and no one is having to un-learn all the footballing lessons they''ve had for a year or so each time a new manager comes in.