Another transfer target not coming to Carrow Road

[Another transfer target not coming to Carrow Road]

Lionel Messi: Forward is not for sale, says Barcelona president

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25912393

[Interesting stats about Ruddy]

I think you’re wrong and Hughton does read the stats and

that’s why Ruddy is always the first player on his team sheet.

 

Unfortunately, convention dictates that this is the

goalkeeper.

[Alan Smith's relegation tips in today's Telegraph]

Not an in- or out-post, just reporting Alan Smith’s

considered view on PL relegation this season, after 22 games. 

 

He sees Palace, Cardiff & Norwich going down.  Commentary on Norwich as follows:

 

Form guide        

Until the victory against Hull City on Saturday, Norwich had

not won since Dec 7 and, despite a substantial summer spending spree, they have

been dropping close to the relegation zone. 

The FA Cup exit to Fulham will at least ensure that manager Chris

Hughton can focus on the main objective.

Why they

will stay up

Norwich arguably need another four victories to survive and

forthcoming home games against Stoke City, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion

represent must-wins for Hughton and his men.

Why they will go down

Norwich’s final two away games are at Manchester United and

Chelsea, and Hughton will not want to ne in a position of needing points from

them.  Five clean sheets all season is also

a grim statistic.

Alan Smith’s

verdict: Down

Ryan Bennett’s late goal to get the better of Hull on

Saturday gave Norwich a much-needed lift. 

Now Hughton needs his strikers to start earning their money.  Gary Hooper apart, it has not been good

enough.  Things could get messy if that

continues.

 

[Is it that bad?]

A fortuitous win against Hull, no matter how bad the

performance, and a good draw against Newcastle will lift the players’ confidence

and I can see our performances improving. 

As you say, brighter days will come.

I think that’s all it will take – they don’t become bad

players overnight. 

[Is it that bad?]

I hope this data is correct, but I believe in the last

two seasons we have got 19 points in the last 17 games.  I think most of us would expect to be safe

this season if we got close to that, especially given the way the first half of

the season has gone.

Moreover, if you look at those last 17 games in each

season, amongst the top clubs we played, or have to play, the following:

 

’11/12   home:   Chelsea (1pt), Man U, Man C, Liverpool,

Everton (1pt)                 Total = 6pts

            Away:   Spurs (3pts), Arsenal (1pt)

 

‘12/13   home:   Spurs (1pt), Everton (3pts)                                                         Total

= 7pts

            Away:   Liverpool, Man U, Arsenal, Man C (3pts)

 

’13/14   Home:  Man C, Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal

            Away:   Man U, Chelsea

 

So this year’s run-in is no worse than previous

years.  At the moment it seems hard to

see where the next win is going to come from but I was feeling as grim about

things around this time last year (or perhaps a bit later, ie Feb/March).

But with this history and nine games (four at home, five

away) against the other ten clubs around us there’s still all to play for,

surely, regardless of other distractions.