Pasted hair

In recent weeks a real whirlwind of discontent has been audible in the streets, bars and possibly most vociferously in the Cyberspace of Norfolk.

The optimism that flooded into Norfolk like a North Sea surge in the midst of that ten game unbeaten run has quickly drained away, leaving many calling into question the Manager?s ability and also the systems he employs and the style that we play.

Whether this criticism is founded or fair is debatable. We are certainly more resolute this season; we are harder to break down and subsequently harder to beat and although detractors point out the fact that we have taken a few thumpings, I can?t see how anyone can suggest that the recruitment of Messrs Bassong, Turner, Whittaker and Garrido have done anything but strengthen us defensively.

Indeed Sebastien Bassong has been nothing short of a revelation, looking every part the international Centre Half that he is. I?ve been fortunate to see some decent central defenders wear the canary yellow and I would definitely put him in the upper echelons with the likes of Linighan, Bruce and Watson.

This defensive strengthening, he has signed two goalkeepers and Alexander Tettey too, makes me wonder about what he inherited from the Messiah.

Our big signings in January last year were Ryan Bennett and Jonny Howson. It was alleged that we broke our transfer record to sign Bennett and, if we?re honest, he?s done little to justify that tag so far, though he is young. Howson, despite flashes of ability has been a major disappointment. The word in the eye of the whirlwind is that we are playing him out of position, not playing to his strengths, well I?m struggling to work out where his best position is. The only thing I?m sure of is that it definitely isn?t in the starting XI. David Fox is another used sparingly this season and at various times there have been people clamouring for him to come into the side, put his foot on the ball, dictate play ? each time he has been given an opportunity, he has failed.

I suppose the point that I?m making is that I think we have a competitive first XI but the squad inherited by Hughton was sparse on quality.

He inherited two young inexperienced goalkeepers, Marc Tierney as our only established Left Back, a fistful of midfielders and a Forward roster that read Holt, Morison, Jackson, Martin. Criticism has been levelled that we didn?t improve that forward line earlier and that Harry Kane was a panic signing. Maybe that is fair, with Morison being woefully out of form, we were short of options, a fact not helped by Harry Kane getting injured ? he will always be a ?we?ll never know? signing but ultimately I suppose he?ll be regarded as a flop.

What does seem clear is that Hughton quickly identified that it was defensively that we were seriously lacking. It?s also clear that he has made good signings. Bassong, Turner and Garrido are all better than what we had and Whittaker has done well enough to keep Russell Martin very much on his toes too.

As I mentioned previously, I think Hughton knows our first choice team is difficult to beat. However, I think a lot of the criticism levelled at him comes about because of the personnel of that XI. It?s certain that Grant Holt has sacrificed himself at times for the good of the team, it?s also fair to say that some of his goal threat has been nullified by playing up front alone. The thing is that Norwich play their best when Holt and Hoolahan are on the pitch. To facilitate that we have to shore up the midfield, that means sacrificing the second striker and playing the two holding players. Luckily those two are Johnson and Tettey who have both been a huge part of what we?ve done well this season. It?s no coincidence that the formation that Hughton has settled upon incorporates Wes Hoolahan. Paul Lambert did the same thing when he played the diamond in the beginning. Both managers have developed systems to allow them to play their most influential player.

This may well change though; maybe not the formation, but the identity of our most influential player. Robert Snodgrass has been sensational. I just hope we can keep hold of him.


With regard to the discontent, I think that the problem lies in what the fans see as excitement. Like it or not, the fans have been spoiled at Carrow Road for the last three and a half seasons. Following our brief sojourn with what Crack Addicts call ?rock bottom? and that rude awakening at the hands of Colchester, we have been treated to a period of continual success that just doesn?t fit with being a Norwich fan. From hammering teams so regularly in League One that the crowd was often stifled by a cocky stench of expectation, the sustained promotion push of our Championship season, culminating with the fans running around the Fratton Park pitch, Russell Martin in his pants and a certain blonde fan losing her mobile phone. To the first season back in the Premiership, where every point was greeted and welcomed onto the board, where the race to the line of safety was enthralling and exciting. Securing our status was the only target, securing the financial future and thereby the footballing future of our club.

And so on to season 2 of life in the Premiership. What now the expectation? Well, for the board, they made it clear that it was once again all about survival; taking the club to a debt free position, a position of relative strength in the modern game, a position that we can solidly build from.

Chris Hughton has achieved that, he achieved it by setting us up not to lose, making us difficult to beat. He has achieved that by taking notable scalps, Man U, Arsenal, Everton, Spurs in the cup, Swansea away.

Hughton has us in a league position that is 8 points ahead of the bottom 3 with 10 to play and spitting distance from tenth place. That would make us one of the ten best clubs in England, I think that would be some achievement.

If people honestly think that we should be doing better than that or even better than where we are, then I?m afraid that leaves me flabbergasted.

We?ve stayed within our means, we?ve paid our debts, Norwich City Football Club can hold its head high in the community. There are plenty that can?t do that, some not a million miles away.

As we prepare for Premiership Season 3 with a clean slate, a secure future and money to spend. Take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Don?t compare apples with pears, look where we are given our budget and see if we are under or over performing. And with that dose of realism, look forward to next season, laugh/cry at the players we are linked with in the summer but ultimately look at where we are, remember how we got there and back the guy that?s kept us there.

Posted By: Yellalee on March 10th 2013 at 18:41:16

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