Pre-Season.......... .......

Personally, I never pay too much attention to pre-season stuff, particularly where Norwich are involved. Believe me, on 20 years of evidence, Norwich's pre-season form has NEVER particularly been an early viewing necessarily of things to come.

I recall one of our best ever pre-seasons being followed by an awful season, when after the World Cup 1990 we went with fashion and played (new signing) Paul Blades as sweeper. Needless to say it backfired and we only just recovered to stay in the top flight.

A couple of years later, we had an awful pre-season and everyone had us down as relegation favourites. It was followed with a 4-2 win at Arsenal on the opening day of the premier league. 9 months later and we were celebrating our highest ever finish in the top flight.

All I am saying is that pre-season form is not a good guide to what is necessarily about to follow once the real thing starts. I'm convinced that most players just see pre-season friendlies as a jog-around to top the fitness up. The passion is never there, you hardly ever see anything remotely like a meaty challenge as players usually tend to back out of 50-50's.

You also have to remember that as you normally play the lower league teams, they are probably trying at a higher pace than us as they would want to put one over us. We aren't that bothered about winning at all costs, they would like to win and prove they are capable of pitting their wits against higher opposition.

Lets therefore all wait until the real thing starts and THEN, and only then, shall we start to worry if we are not performing as we should/hope/would like etc.

Posted By: Richard Cresswell, Jul 26, 21:59:23