Looking forward to Sunday.......
Forget Manchester United against Arsenal. This weekend is all about
Norwich City against Ipswich Town. It’s without doubt the biggest game
between the two sides in recent years and I have never wanted us to
beat them more.
It’s one of the most important matches since we were relegated from the
Premiership in 2005. It’s a chance for us to turn our season around. If
we beat Ipswich in Glenn Roeder’s first game in charge, then that could
be the start of the revival. In fact I’m almost certain it would spark
a more positive run of results. If we lose, it highlight’s the massive
task that the former Newcastle boss has in front of him.
On the subject of Roeder, I am amazed with some of the reactions from
fans after his appointment. I saw some comments saying that it was a
dark day in our history and that relegation was now guaranteed. Who are
these people? Who did they expect us to get?
My money says that if Paul Jewell wasn’t rumoured to be in contention,
people would have been a hell of a lot happier with Roeder. I’m not
going to sit here and say that Glenn will turn it around, because I
don’t know that he will. Nobody does. So how about we just get behind
him? Starting this Sunday.
Say if we had gone for Martin Allen - would people have been happier
with that? Another ranter and raver like Grant who has a history of
falling out with players - I don’t think our squad would have reacted
half as well to him as they will to Roeder.
One thing I like about Roeder after hearing him speak is his focus and
determination. He is a man on a mission. He knows what needs to be
done. After two training session with the players, he realises we need
a centre back so he get’s one! Step up commanding defender Martin
Taylor on a months loan from Birmingham. Now I don’t want to criticise
Peter Grant too much, because he gave it everything he possibly could,
but his decision not to sign a centre back during the summer really
got to me and I’m happy Roeder has done something that needed doing
quite some time ago.
So overall I’m happy with the impression our new boss has given me so far. Now back to the game.
We haven’t beaten Ipswich for what feels like an eternity. September
18th 2005 - to be precise. Hucks bagged the winner at Portaloo Road.
That’s too long. Surely we are due one? Carrow Road needs to be
rocking and we need to get behind our team - they need us more than
ever. No matter how it looks at the minute we are all after the same
thing - for Norwich City to be a success again.
One of my proudest moments as a Norwich fan came after disappointment
on the pitch. It was the truly incredible singing from our supporters
after our 6-0 drubbing at Fulham which confirmed relegation. Let’s get
this sense of unity and togetherness back and unite to defeat our
Suffolk rivals.
What we as fans do to help us win does have it’s limits. So does what
the manager can do. At the end of the day it’s all about the players.
It’s about Hucks making sure he’s at his best. It’s about Jason
Shackell showing us why he is captain and it’s about every single
Norwich player that pulls on the shirt this weekend.
For what it’s worth, this is the team I would put out on Sunday:
Marshall
Otsemobor Taylor Shackell Lappin
Croft Smith Russell Huckerby
Cureton Hartson
I’ve got a feeling Hartson is going to bag himself a goal. Always
seemed to score in the Old Firm derby and he will cause them problems -
no doubt about that. My only concern with this team is the lack of
defensive cover that Lappin will get from Hucks, but we have to be
positive and I think this the team to give Ipswich a well deserved
reality check. Do us proud boys. We’ll be doing our bit - make sure you
do yours. Come on City!
City 'Til I Die.
Rooney