These quotes from Grant are such bollocks

And incredibly worrying:

"So there are players like that - they like a little bit of time on the ball. But when they've got to go and stop the opposition playing in a two versus two they find that a little more difficult.

"But, passing-wise, Safri is as good as you'll get at the club."

Safri played in a midfield two for much of last season and was the best midfielder at the club. He DOES break up play, probably more effectively than any other midfielder we've had for a long time - a sort of better version of Gary Holt but without as much energy.

Yes, he sits a little deeper than the others, but hsi range of passing enables him to spray passes wide and through the middle from the halfway line. Which is somewhat better than Robinson and Etuhu passing sideways or backwards, or giving it away when they do try something more positive.

Against Leicester (or Sunderland) Safri robbed one of their players just inside their half and slotted a perfect through ball to Earnie, who scored. Which is more than the other two do.

Saf is almost the complete Championship midfielder - the only thing he doesn't get enough of is goals, but then there have been plenty of non scoring holding midfielders playing at the top level over the years. If he played regularly with Dickson, who could then be given licence to get forward, it would be the perfect combination. Dickson noticeably got forward more on Tuesday once Saf came on.

And finally, EVERY PLAYER (other than Robinson) thinks Saf should be in the team. The fact that he isn't pisses them off and leads to them questioning the manager - privately and in Hucks' case last week, publicly. That leads to poor morale, poor motivation, poor performances and poor results. With Saf in the team Saturday I think you will see a totally different Norwich City - partly because he's a better player but also because the players will be trying to prove a point to Grant.

And no, I don't think Safri is as pure as the driven snow either - he would quite like a move, but whether that's because of the situation under first Worthy (Holt preferred) and now Grant, or money or where he wants to live I've no idea.

Fact is, we're paying for him, he's got 18 months on his contract and we might as well play him while we've got him.

Posted By: duke of york, Dec 28, 17:11:46