Yada Yada Yada

Player Review 2008

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Sun, 04 May 2008 15:46:00 GMT

So after a torturous and trying season which has thankfully given us a chance to fight another day, here are my reviews of the remaining players in the squad. Not going to include the players who have gone for good (Brown, Brellier, Murray) although current loanees are in my list. Also not included are those who haven’t played a match this time around (Gilks, Eagle, etc). Sorry guys, but there just isn’t enough room or time. There have been enough players this season to last a lifetime!

Events in the next few days could obviously change a few things here…

David Marshall - One of City’s better players this season and one of Grant’s better signings. Still prone to the odd error which is worrying, but he’s a young guy and should improve with time. Expected to remain first choice next season.

Jon Otsemobor - Started the season well, then faded, then improved again. Excellent pace but can be prone to lapses of concentration. Get the feeling Semi can offer much more than what he has, but we really need some extra cover in this position should things go awry. Was miles better than the competition (Velasco, Bates).

Juan Velasco - Thought this was a strange signing at the time, and after his disastrous 15 minutes at Coventry, has been absent with a ‘thigh strain’ since. On the bench against WBA but doubt we shall see him at Carrow Road again. Suspect he has already gone home.

Ryan Bertrand - I really like this guy. The Ipswich game apart, he has taken to the side like a duck to water and seemed equally adept at left midfield or left back. Hopefully another season loan or permanent signing.

Mo Camara - Apparently has already been released, although I’ve not seen this confirmed yet. Did a good job for us when he came in, but found his chances increasingly diminished by the impressive Bertrand. Not one for the future, so thanks Mo and good luck.

Adam Drury - A season pretty much wrecked with injury. On a long contract, so will still be here if fit enough but if Bertrand stays, then he has fierce competition for his place.

Gary Doherty

Jason Shackell

Alex Pearce

Have grouped all three together, because I think from these we have to lose one. All are good centre backs in their own way, but I think all lack the sort of strong, experienced leadership that a Martin Taylor or Malky Mackay brought. I’m not sure any partnership involving these three players is going to bring major results. Glenn needs to bring someone of this ilk into the side and I can‘t see Roeder keeping four centre halves. Docherty has improved and despite the odd error, is perhaps at the moment the strongest of the three. Shackell has slipped a bit but still produces some decent displays. Pearce is the unlikeliest to return, as he is only a loanee, but apart from a couple of dodgy games (notably Ipswich) did okay.

Mark Fotheringham - I often forget Fozzy is still only 24 because he seems to show so much maturity with the captaincy. Is a million miles better than last season, and its also easy to forget he missed the first 3 months of this season with injury. Still needs to show a bit more consistency, but I hope he signs a contract, stays next season, and keeps the skipper’s armband too.

Matty Pattison - Hmm…Interesting one. When he plays well (eg. Sheff Utd at home), he is very very good and reminds me of Gary Holt at his best. When he doesn’t (eg. Sheff Utd away) he can be truly awful and remind of Andy Hughes at his worst. Obviously had his off the field problems, but hopefully can move on from that. A good squad player, but I don’t know if I’d want him in the team every week. Plays better with Fozzy than with Rusty (too similar in style).

Darel Russell - But for his back to back red cards, may have snuck the Player of the Year trophy. Has a better attitude than his first spell here and works well with Fozzy in the middle. Needs to chip in with a few more goals though.

Michael Spillane - Has disappeared slowly back into the wilderness after his forays into the first team either side of this season and last. Roeder is not afraid to blood youngsters, so you have to wonder if Spillane has a future here.

Kieran Gibbs - Improved slowly after his unimpressive start, but still looks a bit lightweight for regular Championship football. Jury is out on this one.

Lee Croft - Another interesting one. If you ask City fans about Crofty, its rare you’ll find someone who particularly dislikes him. He works hard and has got on with it, despite playing under 3 managers and in a bad side. At the same time though, there is an alarming lack of consistency. The goals haven’t exactly flowed and neither have the crosses on many occasions. His disappearance at the end of this season makes me wonder if Glenn has already earmarked his departure.

Luke Chadwick - Talented player and committed player, but I just can’t ever see him being fully fit. Would keep him for the last year of his contract as a squad member (unless anyone came in for him) but no point trying to nail him down as a first team regular.

Ryan Jarvis - I watched Ryan play at reserve, first team, and international level and have to say I never understood what all the fuss was about him. Looks like the Bury away game was his last chance because he hasn’t figured since.

Rossi Jarvis - Not played since the autumn, so its unlikely he’ll figure again for us.

Ched Evans - I would love us to get this guy on loan again - unlikely we will have the money to sign him. Good player but a really good attitude too. Could have come to Carrow Road and acted the big shot without delivering. Yet, apart from one dry spell, he has looked talented AND committed, something that similar loanee David Bentley often failed to deliver three years ago.

Jamie Cureton - A great enigma. Top scorer, some crucial goals which delivered crucial points, and a genuine desire for the shirt. On the other hand, a stack of missed chances, too many offsides, and the fact that 5 of his goals came against Barnet and Colchester. I’ve been reliably told more than once that Glenn will sell, but it’s a gamble. Perhaps not good enough for 46 games, but good enough to come in the side and off the bench when needed? A real tricky one for Roeder.

Maceo Rigters - No idea. Wasn’t fit long enough to judge.

Dion Dublin - Yes, I know he’s one of those leaving, but I had to mention him. Top top man who could have come here for the money and sat on his backside. That he didn’t is testament to his attitude and ability. Thanks for everything Dion and good luck!

Chris Martin - Has it all to do really. Not scored a goal since he signed his contract last year and hasn’t really figured much too. Roeder has spelled it out to him, but with one or two stories doing the rounds (and recently publicised in one of the local papers) it looks like Chris has to sort his head out first before he can sort out his football. A shame.

Darren Huckerby - And finally…my favourite ever Norwich player. I’ve seen technically better footballers at Carrow Road but not one that excited me as much as Hucks has done (I like my enigmatic flair players). However it has to be said that this has been his least effective season whether it be through injury or through lack of form. There have been flashes of the old Huckerby towards the season’s end but I wonder if the time has come to call it a day. At best I think a one-year deal and a big wage cut. Otherwise, it’s a big big thank you, goodbye and good luck. My inclination is heading towards the latter.

Not forgetting…

Glenn Roeder - I didn’t want him to come here and I know a fair few people who agreed with me (and will now no longer admit it). Has been a revelation and did what not many thought possible. Glenn didn’t only keep us up, but managed to do it without spending a massive amount of money and also by finding that you can actually get loan players in from the Premiership and get them to play for us if their lives depended on it. I have a great deal of belief that Roeder can get us back to a decent position in the table and also believe he won’t do it overnight. He MUST have the backing of the board though. Anything but and we are either going to drop back to where we were or see GR try his luck elsewhere. Its not good to keep ploughing through new managers. Just ask Leicester…

Step forward the real Jamie Cureton

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:08:00 GMT

Jamie Cureton is a funny fella. There are weeks when he can’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo and there are others when he looks like the best striker in the division (which he was last season). His hat-trick on Saturday has put us probably 3 or 4 points away from safety. Fourteen goals for the season so far is not to be sneezed at considering he hasn’t started every game. Also, some of those goals have been absolutely crucial in gaining valuable points. But there is still reason to think something isn’t quite right.

Roeder’s comments about Jamie were interesting to say the least. A motivational tool perhaps? Maybe, but then when Peter Grant said something similar earlier in the season he was widely criticised (by me as well). Now I’m wondering if Grant was onto something. After all, Jamie has not seen eye to eye with several managers he has played for (including Mike Walker back in 1996) despite having a pretty good goal ratio.

For me Cureton has similar qualities and failings to Robert Fleck. Both delivered often on big games, or local derbies. Both have been hugely popular with the fans. (especially when winding up Ipswich supporters). Both often scored spectacular goals yet both have also been capable of not delivering too often in ‘bread and butter’ games and converting harder chances while missing easier ones. Don’t get me wrong - I’m not rubbishing them (Flecky is one of my all time favourites), but sometimes managers are after a different sort of player to what I have described.

It will be interesting to see what happens over the summer. Glenn has not hesitated to bring in strikers since he came here and has never shirked from making a point out loud about our poor finishing. Then again, he has made Cureton captain on occasions, while bringing him off the bench and back into the team rather than freezing him out altogether. Someone very reliable told me Jamie would be on his way, but I’m not so sure that will be the case.

As for the Matty Pattison affair, I hope it resolves itself in the right way and that we can move on from this strange episode. I think there has been hysteria from both sides - from those condemning him like a mass murderer, to those worshipping him as some kind of hero on Saturday. Personally, I think he has looked very out of sorts since Christmas and was disappointed that he followed another poor individual performance at Bramall Lane with his shenanigans last Sunday. Hopefully Matty can sort himself out and get back to the type of form he produced when he was on loan.

Then again, it could have been worse. We could have had Paul Jewell on our books. Oh dear…

Only a point but lots of positives

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:59:00 GMT

Okay, so we didn’t grab another victory last night. Disappointing maybe but the bigger picture gives a much more positive outlook than we have seen for some time. In the end the result was a fair one. Hull are a good side, deserved a draw and maybe could have had all three points. They may well be in the mix at the end of the season and with class players such as Jay Jay Okocha (slower now but still with sublime skills and passing) a point was no disgrace.

Last time we drew 1-1 with Hull, our alleged ‘manager’ Peter Grant called the fans a “disgrace”. Whatever the rights and wrongs of that (and I could see to a point where he was coming from), it was a crass remark that left his card marked among many supporters. It could have been phrased better or it could have been retracted slightly. No apology ever came and Grant for me never had the fans 100% on his side again.

What a difference last night. Roeder has praised the fans for their efforts, and I think he is absolutely right on this score. In fact, he didn’t really need to say anything at all because it was clear last night that the supporters were top drawer. There have been a few games since Roeder took over when the atmosphere has been first class. Ipswich, Sheff Utd and last night spring to mind. Carrow Road is slowly developing a siege mentality again, something that was evident between 2001-5 under Nigel Worthington.

It was the same story on the pitch. In the last couple of years, if Norwich had conceded a sloppy goal like they did against the Tigers, the team would have rolled over and died. Hull would have won 3-1, the players would have given up and the fans would have jeered them off the field. There was a point in the match when we were starting to wobble, but composure was regained, the fans kept patient and could have been rewarded with victory. The fact that Hull seemed content with a point said a lot about how we never gave up and how much harder teams are finding it to crack us. Their relief at the end was a compliment of sorts to our efforts.

At the start of the season I said we would finish around 10^th place. That seemed ludicrous in the dark days of last Autumn but now I think it is a lot more realistic given our current form. We certainly won’t go down. We will win or draw more than we lose but I suspect not enough to propel us into the top six. The squad is just slightly too thin and any injuries or suspensions will be our undoing. But as I said back in the Autumn, if Glenn keeps us up then he’s done his job. Well, at least the first part of it anyway.

The joy of hindsight!

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:02:00 GMT

As we enter another year with a good point at Palace and no doubt another eventful twelve months for Norwich City, I’ve decided to look back at some of the things I’ve written since the end of last season. Some of what I said makes me cringe (apologies to Gary Docherty and Glenn Roeder in particular) while other comments make me appear to be a modern day soothsayer. Read and weep!

MAY

On Jason Shackell

“Although still prone to some basic errors and dodgy distribution, Shacks has the ability to be a regular for many years and perhaps be a future skipper.”

On Gary Docherty

“I won’t lie. When I heard he had been given a contract extension I was disappointed. For me, the big centre half is simply not up to it. Hopefully just retained as cover and nothing more.”

On Mark Fotheringham

“..it is also true to say he really hasn’t set the world alight. Has been very very poor from set pieces which is a worry. Fingers crossed on this one.”

On Simon Lappin

“I am hoping for much more to come next season.”

On Luke Chadwick

“I’m worried here. Luke came to Norwich with a reputation for being injury prone and so far it has proved the case here too. Are we going to see much more of him?”

On Ryan Jarvis

“Has a year left on his contract but I have a feeling he’s not going to figure too much.”

On Chris Martin

“Has slipped away a bit in form and fitness since the contract wrangle. If he keeps his feet on the ground and Grant gets the best out of him, then he could go far."

JUNE

Season prediction

“Realistically, this Norwich squad is not capable of making the top ten.”

On Grant

“In truth, despite all the criticism or praise that Grant has attained so far, nobody really knows what he is capable of. He could turn out to the best thing that ever happened to Norwich City, or he could be a disaster.”

On the Turners arrival

“Don’t expect them to splash millions and millions…also if they can bring new ideas and impetus to what has become a very stale City board.”

AUGUST

Season prediction

“I would have said with our current squad…about 10^th. Not likely to struggle but just a couple of defenders short of the play-offs.”

On Shackell’s appointment as captain

“..brave decision to give the captaincy to Shackell…he’s not a kid anymore and perhaps need a push to make that next step up….hopefully Shackell is mature enough to accept the challenge and thrive alongside it.”

On Julian Brellier

“my big hope”

On Grant’s spat with Safri

“a manager who probably throws teacups at the wall if he’s been given a plate of Digestives at half-time rather than a packet of Hob Nobs”

On Grant’s comments about Jamie Cureton

“I do worry that he takes it way too far sometimes.... I just hope his comments in general don’t come back one day to bite him on the bum.”

On the defence

“Now let’s sign a big centre half and get that party started!”

SEPTEMBER

On Grant after the first cracks begin to show

“Maybe he’s going to be the best thing since sliced bread or maybe he’s an absolute lunatic who will take us unimagined depths.”

On Brellier’s wretched display at Wolves

“We have bought a midfielder who has contributed nothing except a red card and conceding a penalty, and quite frankly would have looked more at home in the Parc de Princes last night playing against the Irish.”

Season Prediction

“I always believed we needed a couple more players just to make the play-offs. It looks evident now that we need far more than that. League One is a serious possibility this season if not next.”

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

After Grant’s departure

“One year on and we were in just the same mess as when Worthington left. October arrives with Loftus Road again, and suddenly there’s a major vacancy to fill.”

Glenn Roeder’s appointment

“When I heard Glenn Roeder had been appointed Norwich manager this morning, the blood nearly drained out of my face…he wasn’t my first choice, or my second. In fact, he wasn’t even on my choices list….even some of the lesser names would have given me a bit more of a lift than the perennial failure that is GR.”

3 days later…

“I was a bit harsh on Mr Roeder. I'm certainly behind the guy and perhaps with a clearer head than I had on Tuesday, think he can do better job than I first thought.”

After the Coventry win

“I was pretty critical of Roeder’s appointment but…he has impressed me greatly. There is something about Roeder’s manner that betrays everything Peter Grant was about. If Glenn gets us to 4^th from bottom on goal difference with the last kick of the season, then he’s done his job.”

Happy New Year Everyone! OTBC! :)

Cold but happy

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:47:00 GMT

Yesterday was one of those strange days when due to circumstances, I actually followed one of our home matches more than I intended to. For the first time in my life, I actually missed a Saturday at work due to illness. Yes, I could have got a ticket and snuck down to Carrow Road instead of staying in bed but (a) I wasn’t well enough and (b) The husband and daughter of my boss sit in the same stand as me! So it was under the duvet and drugged up on tablets instead of shivering in the Snakepit or serving behind a counter.

What the enforced break gave me was the chance to listen to the game on the radio, which is something I rarely get the chance to do, save for the odd midweek game. Therefore I got a whole ninety minutes, when on a normal day I would have been keeping up with score flashes on the BBC website every time I stopped serving a customer. I certainly felt a bit better by 1700 after a really fine performance and result.

It was good to hear a midfielder’s name being mentioned every few seconds, something that hasn’t happened much over the last couple of years. Pattison, Russell, Fotheringham and Chadwick all seemed to be involved, and certainly played their part in the goals. It also sounded like Martin Taylor impressed again. He would be a good addition to the squad, but I’m not hopeful we can afford him. Importantly, there were no passengers yesterday (at least from what I know) and the atmosphere sounded good on the radio. The fans haven’t turned on the players in the last three home games, and that is another step forward.

I was pretty critical of Roeder’s appointment. I won’t lie and can’t lie (and its on my previous blog) but even before the win today (and even to some extent before his first match against Ipswich) he has impressed me greatly. He not only looks to be saying the right things, but appears to be doing the right things. We now have a big centre-half to accompany Shackell. We have a proper left-back in Drury’s absence. We have a midfielder who looks hungry. We managed to win without Huckerby. We don’t have Brellier in the team. Nuff said.

Its too early to get carried away - there’s a lot of football to be played, but there is something about Roeder’s manner that betrays everything Peter Grant was about (the more I hear about Grant now, the more I realise he was an absolute lunatic). If Glenn gets us to 4^th from bottom on goal difference with the last kick of the season, then he’s done his job. I’ll still back him if we go down though - it’s not his fault we’re in this mess.

As for this protest lark, I’m still a bit confused. I have my gripes against the board, and will still have the same feelings even if we survive. All I know is that some troublemaker on the message boards (who I believe has never anything good to say about the club anyway) was trying to rally a demo. Not much good if people (1) Don’t have a PC or (2) Don’t read bulletin boards. There are still many people who don’t.

I know plenty of people who weren’t even aware of a protest and weren’t interested anyway. I sometimes think people who write on these forums have a rather high opinion of themselves and don’t realise that they are actually in a minority. I come on here cause I like writing and letting off steam, but I’m not here to change the world and to speak to the masses. The sooner some of you fools realise you’re not celebrities or politicians and that you just represent a very small section of the Norwich support, the better.

Graham Paddon

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:33:00 GMT

Like many other Norwich fans today, I was sad to hear the passing of former midfield star Graham Paddon. Now I can’t pretend I saw him in action very often. In fact I only saw him play seven times as his career quietly drew to a close with the Canaries in 1981. Yet Paddon had a link to me that will never be broken.

On the night of 21^st November 1972, Paddon scored a hat-trick at Arsenal to send Norwich into the semi-finals of the League Cup. A memorable match for many but not one I can claim to remember. The reason? It was the day I was born! As I was coming into the world at 20.00 that evening, Paddon was writing himself into Canaries folklore. I’ve often wondered what minutes the goals were. Did I arrive at the same time a Paddon thunderbolt hit the net?

Paddon was one of the first Norwich players I ever met. On returning from his spell at West Ham, he moved into a house just a couple of minutes from where I lived. When he opened my school fete, I had my picture taken with him. I’d love to say I remember every minute of it, but I genuinely can’t. The photo proves it happened though, and is one of the few times I’ve ever posed for a pic with one of my heroes.

I know a few older Canaries fans who are upset at the news today. Paddon was a player that was always talked about with great fondness by a generation of fans, whether for his spectacular goals or his workrate in the middle. He was No.10. A stylish blonde bombshell who could be mistaken for a prima-donna but could look after himself when needed. In a Norwich side known for its work ethic, Paddon provided the flair but had the graft to match it. How I would have loved to have seen him in action more than I did.

Supporters often say he was never the same after he broke his leg at Sunderland, but he still came back and racked up the appearances, 340 in all. His career was successful in comparison with many others, winning an FA Cup medal with the Hammers and a Division Two title with City. He helped take the Canaries to heights they had never been before 1972 and turned out to be one of Ron Saunders best ever signings.

If I have one more regret this week, it is that I’m unable to attend the Coventry game on Saturday and pay my respect in the minute’s applause. Therefore when I am out on my birthday Wednesday night, I’ll raise a glass to a man who was a fine City player and by all accounts, a decent bloke too.

I hope you get the ovation you deserve Graham. RIP.

New day, new dawn, new era?

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:03:00 GMT

When I heard Glenn Roeder had been appointed Norwich manager this morning, the blood nearly drained out of my face. I have to say, he wasn’t my first choice, or my second. In fact, he wasn’t even on my choices list! Maybe Jewell was a touch ambitious and Bruce was always a non-starter (he wouldn’t have come here) but even some of the lesser names (Tilson, Grayson) would have given me a bit more of a lift than the perennial failure that is GR.

Okay, disclaimer out of the way. Yes, I hope he does well, yes I will be there on Sunday, yes I will get behind the team, yada yada yada. That’s the whole bloody point of being a supporter regardless of who is manager. Its not like we were going to cheer Ipswich on Sunday, even with Duffy in charge. I just feel very disappointed with what we have got - an out of work manager with a poor track record everywhere he has been. If that took three weeks to sort out then it suggests a) he was not first choice and b) that some of the candidates must have been truly shocking.

What I find baffling is the way Norwich fans are so forgiving. Already the feeling is that, “well this is the board’s last chance”. Erm, no actually. I think they have had enough last chances. NCFC has been run incredibly poorly over the last few seasons and change is still needed. Delia and Co have to push this club forward and sadly it will have to be without their input (plus Doncaster and the rest). The club has to be offered to potential buyers, be it the Turners of somebody else who has the drive and the capital. Whether Roeder is a success or not does not change the fact that the club is a complete mess from top to bottom.

The other thing that seems odd is over the last few weeks, I have not heard a good word said about Mr Roeder in the endless managerial debates. Indeed at the recent ‘Meet the Board’ event, his name brought a large groan from the assembled throng (did that not register with the directors who were there?). So why is GR now being lauded as a saviour in many quarters (especially by puffed up MP’s)? Is it because Norwich fans are too blind to accept that their club is actually capable of making mistakes (some of the happy clappers would never admit the club and their beloved Saint Delia are wrong). Other team’s fans are laughing at us - trust me they are. What does that tell you?

The thing that really sticks in my claw is being implicated as disloyal because I think Glen Roeder is a dodgy appointment. As I said in an earlier blog, I’ve supported Norwich up and down the country over several decades through good and bad times. I know what its like for us to be crap (albeit not this crap) but I just feel that finding out GR is manager was on a par with finding out Megson was taking over in December 95. He might keep us up, but what happens then? Surely a short term contract till May was a better option than two and a half years.

As for Sunday, I can’t wait. I love derby games regardless of whatever situation we’re in. Yet if people are naïve enough to think a victory against Ipswich will change everything overnight and make heroes of the board and Roeder forever (and yes, people do really think like that) then they’re in for a shock. Fans need to look at the bigger picture at the club, and that is the situation that is still of great concern.

I’ve just got this feeling in the pit of my stomach that after a few weeks, it will go horribly pear shaped again and that in a year or so we will still be at the bottom of the Championship or languishing in League One, have the fans at each others throats, be without a manager again and people saying, “well this is the board’s last chance - they HAVE to get it right this time”. Perhaps I’ll be wrong - god I hope I am, but that is seriously how I feel right now. I'd rather be honest than pretend to be happy when I'm not.

Good luck Glenn, you’re seriously going to need it at this club, but I hope you can turn it round and get some decent players in. Sunday would be a good start.

Who were you, Peter Grant?

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:37:00 GMT

I remember once seeing an interview with Denis Law on his time at Man Utd. When asked about former United manager Frank O’Farrell, Law paused before saying, “Well….he came and went”. O’Farrell only lasted just over a year between 1971-72. United had a honeymoon period before a major decline saw them drop into the relegation zone. After a humiliating defeat at struggling Crystal Palace, and their star player causing disruption, O’Farrell got the bullet. The following season, United went down.

Okay, it’s a tenuous link but to me there is one major connection involved. In the same way United’s boss arrived and departed, here at Norwich I’m asking, “Who was Peter Grant?”. Often on here, I’ve talked about Grant without nailing my colours to the mast. He wasn’t my choice as manager but neither was Hamilton and neither was Worthington. The former was an outright failure and the latter (initially) a big success. Based on those two appointments, Grant could have gone either way, and therefore at least until the last week, I kept an open mind. He would either be brilliant or would sink like a stone.

In the end, Grant’s failure matched that of Hamilton’s. History will look on this twelve month period at the club as a strange footnote. Grant seemed to come from nowhere, albeit with a decent record as a coach, but was a bit of mystery nonetheless. None of my non-supporting Norwich friends knew who he was, and they know their football pretty well. It didn’t make a lot of news in the press - not that Norwich normally do make the headlines, but even Worthington’s departure made bigger noises than Grant’s arrival. More than once did I get the response, “Peter who?” even from our own supporters. Even his departure didn't really make waves outside Norfolk. Its like nobody seemed to know he was here.

He made the right noises about playing attitudes and then some seriously wrong ones about the fans. The results came good in the early stages and then fell away soon after. The dead wood was cleared but replaced by more dead wood (Julian Brellier - come on down!). The crowds threatened to fall but rallied and remained the same. The board just ambled along like they always do, and bingo! One year on and we were in just the same mess as when Worthington left. October arrives with Loftus Road again, and suddenly there’s a major vacancy to fill.

Its almost as if the last year didn’t happen. We all fell asleep, waking up to find it was Groundhog Day and nothing had changed. When people look back many years from now at this odd time in our history, they’ll see this twelve month period, look slightly bewildered and say, “That was a funny year. We had some bloke called Grant in charge. Shouted a lot, didn’t do much, and left quite quickly. Never understood how we found him and never understood what he was trying to do. “

“He just sort of came and went…”.

Falling apart at the seams

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:41:00 GMT

Tonight I feel sad. Not angry, but really really sad. I think despite all that has gone before this season, I never imagined we would have played as badly as we did at QPR. Okay, it was on Sky and against the worst team in the league - the odds suggested we might lose, but I really thought there was a chance we would get something. A draw, a fighting defeat, even a goal for God’s sake!

I know I have said in previous blogs I am not as passionate as I once was, but I DO still care to a major degree and tonight hurt more than any other game this season. My voice was cracking afterwards - alright, I wasn’t in floods of tears (its not life or death) but I felt like the blood had drained from my face. It was just a horrible game of football and even if the penalty was slightly ropey, we deserved to get nothing.

I can’t see any obvious way out this time. When Worthy left we weren’t even in this state - not that I’m advocating a return for Nigel. His time was up. Its clear now that the problem wasn’t just Worthington but so much more. The club now is rotten from top to bottom despite the best intentions of the people in charge both on and off the field.

There are still 36 games left, but how many are we capable of winning? How much can we afford to buy to get out of trouble? Who will be in charge? Will any of it make any difference? The fear I have in answer to the last question is that it may already be too late. There may not be enough time to make a difference.

Tonight I didn’t see any scapegoats. I just saw a club falling apart in front of my eyes. And that’s what really hurts.

Why I'm close to walking

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 13:02:00 GMT

It pains me to say it but I didn’t go to yesterday’s debacle. I could have done and I didn’t. Neither did I watch it on Sky or listen to it on the radio. For the second time this season, I simply didn’t bother.

Yes, I wasn’t feeling too well with a dodgy cold and yes, I had a friend’s party to go to. Yet in days gone by I would have watched Norwich on my death bed and the social events would have come second or just seen me arrive later. If I was working I would swap shifts or knock off early. That doesn’t happen now. Its like with footballers - they’ll play in a winning team if injured, but if the team is losing its very easy to drop out.

I think we know a little bit where we stand now. Promotion for me was never a realistic opportunity - I always believed we needed a couple more players just to make the play-offs. It looks evident now that we need far more than that. Where we stand now is making sure we don’t go down and building from there. The really sad thing is that I was saying the same thing nearly 12 months ago.

Yet what is the answer. Grant out? Grant in? Would either make a difference? Grant is displaying all the hallmarks of a madman who talks a good game but can never actually produce one but the problems lie far deeper than that. If he did go, and if we lose badly on Tuesday then I think he might, then there’s no guarantee we would get a good replacement or that he would get any more backing from the board. Plus he would have the same players. Unless Grant turns it around quickly, it’s a no-win situation for the club whether he stays or goes and that is potentially catastrophic.

The board have flunked and floundered ever since we got promoted, and one mistake has been complemented by another. Their intentions appear to be well meaning, but by trying to put things right they have merely set us back each time. Not just sticking with Worthington, but the terrible transfer dealings which brought us the highest agents fees and ridiculous buy-out clauses, the horrible hotel, the bulls**t of the ‘big push’ and new signings last year that never happened. The fact we are going into October with no first team coach either is incredulous for a supposedly ambitious club like ours.

When I found out that a prominent, pompous board member told a friend of mine that he’s a supporter “who obviously does not care” when this fan travels to EVERY game home and away, then its clear things are not well. There is so much about the board - and that includes Delia - that I don’t buy. The patronising platitudes are not washing anymore. Supporters want some accountability for the mistakes and are not getting it. It does not matter what the board did in the past - they are not up to it now and that is why the club, barring a miracle from Grant, will continue to decline. League One is a serious possibility this season if not next. Nobody is too big to go down. Ask Forest and Leeds.

I’ve questioned my loyalty but then I think back to previous years. Supporting Norwich since 1980, watching hundreds of games and going to over 50 grounds. Missing the last bus back once from Birmingham, running for the last train, getting soaked, getting colds for my sins, going to Burnley in the rain for a night game on my birthday in the Hamilton years. I’ve seen it, done it, bought the t-shirt. I know what its like for us to be crap. Its not a new experience.

I’m not going to be boycotting - I’ll be at Scunthorpe on Tues and the odd game before Christmas, but pulling out all the stops week in week out just don’t seem worth the hassle now when there are better things to do. I’ve only walked away once before and that was in the final year of Chase. This is not a Chase-esque situation right now and hopefully won‘t turn into one, but for whatever reason, the club has that same sinking feeling it did back in 95-96.

That fact I have sat down to write this on a Sunday suggests I still care. The problem is, I just don’t care as much anymore.

Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 22:21:00 GMT

At the beginning of August, I tipped this season to be one of progress. With the current squad I felt we were capable of finishing in the top ten, and possibly higher with an extra couple of signings. At the moment I still want to believe that but I’m becoming seriously overcast by doubts.

Okay, we are only seven league games in. Okay, we were not expected to get much at Charlton and Wolves and we didn’t. Okay, there is a long long way to go and a lot can change. Right now though, there just seem to be lots of warning signs that suggest all is not well. The first alarm bells are starting to ring and today was a wake-up call of almighty proportions. Not so much for losing, but the way we lost and the fall out afterwards.

Perhaps its looking with the glass half-empty but I can see so much that is potentially wrong with the club at the moment. Our new captain has looked anything but a leader this season and has now got himself banned for three games. Our previous skipper was given a four year contract despite his poor form and the fact he is perpetually injured these days. Meanwhile our talisman and hero is rubbishing the club live on the radio. Its not just me that has heard the rumours about him and Grant. Something is up, make no mistake.

We have bought two players with chronic injury records (Chadwick and Murray) who miss more games than they play and when they do actually play look absolutely woeful. We have bought a midfielder who has contributed nothing except a red card and conceding a penalty, and quite frankly would have looked more at home in the Parc de Princes last night playing against the Irish. We also have a striker who for all his good effort has never managed to score a goal for us (and anyone else for that matter). Step forward Chris Brown, the Robert Rosario of his generation (if you ever saw Rosy play, you’ll know what I mean).

It is the end of September now. Norwich still have no first team coach since Martin Hunter left. We are still scrabbling round for a centre-back when it has been evident for the past year that we cannot cope with the current contingent (not just Docherty but Shackell too). The club seem to be scrabbling for loans and trialists and even “legendary keeper Bryan Gunn” (© Archant) was wheeled out to give his, “nobody will come here“ spin (talk about jobs for the boys...). The belief we are actually looking for a defender stems from the fact that the no.5 shirt is vacant! In these days of squad numbers, do people actually believe that an empty shirt means a new signing is imminent? Good god.

What was the point of the Turner’s money? Was it really a cushion in case players left (which they did anyway) or are we in much much worse financial trouble than is mentioned? I don’t doubt the Turner’s ambitions - I know they are decent people and genuine Norwich fans, but I would love to know what they are really adding to the party. Then again this is the board where the chief executive on transfer deadline night allegedly had other plans...

Even taking away signing-on and agents fees, Norwich still seem to have made a small profit on transfers. Where is it? Is it being withheld from Grant? If so, then why? For a club that has held onto nearly 20,000 loyal season ticket holders after the last two seasons of utterly awful football, I find the board’s lack of desire to push forward insulting. It doesn’t mean spending millions and millions, but it means pushing the boat out a little to give us and the manager a cat in hell’s chance of actually achieving something. Rather than acting like we are Sainsbury’s or Tesco’s, we act like the local corner shop.

As for the manager I really don’t know if Grant is good enough or not. I’ve always kept an open mind on him because he arrived as something of an unknown quantity. Maybe he’s going to be the best thing since sliced bread or maybe he’s an absolute lunatic who will take us unimagined depths. He’s not solely to blame for our current position - the board have not helped him to be fair - and he’s genuinely desperate to succeed here but that may not be enough right now. His constant bleating and excuses are not washing with fans at the moment. Grant can moan about injuries, but with such a small squad - especially in defence - any injury is going to bite. Like last Summer, the club have not added strength in depth if such a situation arose and like last season, its coming back to haunt them.

The next few games are the biggest test of his career so far. Carry on in the same way as today and his position will be questioned. So will the position of the board. Norwich fans aren’t as patient as they used to be. Its going to be an interesting month.

Ever get the feeling you’ve being cheated? Not yet, but it doesn’t feel far off.

What the hull happened?

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:34:00 GMT

I don’t always like the beginning of the season very much. To me, its still a hangover from pre-season in that nothing gets going straight away. Some players have come while others have gone, and everything still has an unfamiliar ring to it. Results are a bit freaky and misleading and serve no real guide to where teams might finish.

In the same way I didn’t get carried away after Southampton, I’m not going to get too upset about the defeat at Hull. Yes, I was delighted last week and yes, I am disappointed this week, but the truth is that it is still very difficult to tell where we are actually going to go and how far Peter Grant can actually take us.

As I was working on Saturday, and missed the commentary as well, my knowledge of the game is only limited to those who went. The feedback wasn’t great, but like me, people are just hoping it’s a minor early season blip rather than a worrying trend. It is obvious though from what I hear, that for all his hard work, Brown needs a goal soon, and that the defence needs to improve quickly (not just Docherty who seems to be blamed soley for each and every error the team make). Brellier still sounds off the pace too.

Also, after hearing the experiences of Canary fans at the hands of some of the neanderthal home support, it makes me wish the place would get immersed with rain again. Then again, its probably the same people who failed to insure their houses and then complained where they would get compensation from. Erm..insurance perhaps?

All in all a good one for me to miss. Despite that, I would loved to have gone to Rochdale - new ground and all that - but work suggests otherwise. A win there and a win on Saturday against Cardiff will put a little smile back and hopefully provide a better pointer of what may lie ahead.

Fozzy bear's fruit

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:54:00 GMT

I really didn’t know what to expect on Saturday. The first few weeks of the season are always a bit of a strange call. There tends to be plenty of high scoring games and predictions being turned on their heads. With Norwich having lots of new faces on display and Saints recovering from an awful start to the season, I could see the match going either way.

Thankfully, City ground it out. It was a tough match and one that was difficult at times to sit through. However I was immensely relieved and delighted at the end to have grabbed the three points (I don’t think Southampton will be at the bottom come May). There were plenty of positives, although there is still a lot of work to do.

It was such a joy to see a right back playing for the canaries who looked like…a right back! Otsemobor’s pace at times looked frightening and his link up play with Croft was excellent. Perhaps he left a few gaps at the back, but this can be ironed out in time. Croft himself had an excellent 2^nd half and it was nice to see him get stronger towards the end of the game rather than the predictable substitution on 70 minutes.

Daryl Russell looked at home in midfield. What you see is what you get with him. Hard working and consistency in a Gary Holt type of way. Jamie did what he had to do - three shots, two goals, not much else but it won us the match. Brown, who isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but is a player I like, did all the dirty and unspectacular stuff, while Fozzy played easily his best game so far and was influential in the time he was on (thankfully his injury wasn’t serious - that would have been a major blow). I didn't know until Saturday what Fotheringham had to offer us, but its obvious now he could be a key creative figure in the middle of the park

If there was a big disappointment it was Brellier, but only because of his lack of match fitness. In fairness, he shouldn’t have played and that was a major mistake on behalf of Grant and the player himself. He’s still one of my big hopes this season, but clearly isn’t ready. The defence still looks wobbly. Marshall didn’t have one of his better games while the centre backs are still asking more questions than answering them.

People are slating the Doc after Saturday. Fair enough, he’s not my favourite player and wasn’t outstanding on the day, but he wasn’t terrible and was no better or worse than Shackell. I really feared for the Doc if he made a mistake because he would have got slaughtered (I heard a handful of boos in the warm-up but most people kept quiet). To blame him for the goal as some people are is a bit silly though. The defending as a whole wasn’t great, but you have to give some credit to Kenwyne Jones for his skill in forcing the corner and then creating the space for the goal.

Two guys in the Snakepit particularly riled me. I had never seen them before (am praying to God they haven’t got season tickets) and were just two rows in front of where I sit, but after Doc’s near miss after five minutes, they were slating him big style. They were clearly ready to vent their spleen at any little mistake he made, even if others were doing much worse. I wasn’t surprised at the end to hear one of them cheer rather too loudly at the Spurs result - he looked much happier than he did at City’s victory.

That’s football though and people like that turn up at every club, not just City. On a personal level, I’m not expecting miracles this season and to be frank, I still think we are just short of play-off quality. However if City can muster a few more wins like this during this season and push onwards from the wretched last couple of years, then I won’t be complaining. I won’t be unhappy either with a point next Saturday.

Oh and George. Get over it!

7 thoughts on the last 7 days

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 18:33:00 GMT

1) Preston and Barnet: I wasn’t at either match but the results were good, if not better than expected. A fine away point and a decent cup win were what I would have taken last Saturday morning, although it is way way too early to make any judgment on our progress. Remember the beginning of last season?

2) Grants comments on Jamie Cureton: I have a lot of time for the passion that Peter Grant shows for the club, but I do worry that he takes it way too far sometimes. Perhaps its in my nature (I’m generally a quiet person), but I’ve never liked shouty managers who complain about everything and anyone so Grant’s style is one I won’t adapt to very easily. I just hope his comments in general don’t come back one day to bite him on the bum.

Its funny but everybody criticises Worthington now (and he did lose the plot in the last two years it has to be said) but when we were doing well, people really liked his laid back style and the fact he kept his criticism in the dressing room. Just shows what a winning side can do eh?

3) The training ground ban: I have mixed feelings on this one. It is a pity the club has had to take such draconian action but I can understand to a point where it is coming from. It always surprised me the club allowed such free access, especially close to match days. I suppose after many of us have been calling for a more professional approach from City, that we have now actually got what we asked for.

I do feel that by lumping the blame on ‘Citizen Journalists’ it feels a bit petty. There has been a lot wrong with the club over the last couple of years, and to suggest a few supporters have contributed to our tactical downfall feels like a cheap shot. Then again, one look at the Pink’Un message board these days with its overbearing critics and sycophants suggests that City may have a point…

4) Signings and the defence: Despite a solid start, besides a couple of mad moments against the Bees, it is obvious that City badly need some defensive cover. With Adam Drury injured, Simon Lappin has already had to drop back and what happens if Otsemobor pulls a muscle? Grant has made it clear he needs bodies in (and I’m really pleased its not Davenport - not a great defender in my book) but its getting worryingly close to the end of August and nothing is in sight. With possible injuries and suspensions before Xmas, our season could ride on who we get in now.

5) Joe Lewis: Well done boy! Keep it going, although how you’ll get past the current crop of City keepers is another matter.

6) Safri‘s return: Personally I’ll probably give him some mild applause but nothing more. Provided me with one of my favourite ever goals (Newcastle), but I was never convinced he was a good as people said. Too prone to injuries, suspensions and disappearing on international duty. Thanks for the odd memory Saf but we’ve moved on now.

7) Roy Waller retiring: Was past his sell by date a long time ago and shouldn’t be anywhere near Norwich match coverage on a Saturday. People seem to regard his mistakes as ‘part of his character’. I regard it as poor research and poor commentary and it never helped me when I was trying to catch snippets of matches when stuck at work. Chris Goreham is miles ahead and deservedly has the job on a permanent basis. And please don’t call Waller a ‘legend’. That word is reserved for the likes of Keelan, Gunn, Peters, Roberts, Flem and Malky, not a bloody football commentator!

Besides, I could never love a man that stuck by Robert Chase (and still does according to his awful book).

Bring on the Saints!

Summer of Blub

jaymasala@yahoo.co.uk — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 23:38:00 GMT

If you had asked me a few weeks ago where I thought Norwich may finish next season, I would have said with our current squad…about 10^th. Not likely to struggle but just a couple of defenders short of the play-offs. If anyone asked me today where we might finish, I would probably say…errrm, about 10^th.

It has been a weird summer (and not just with the barmy weather we have had since the season finished) with so much activity going on around Carrow Road. Say what you like, whether it has been positive or negative, its been a damn sight more interesting than most pre-seasons - and I’m not even talking about the action on the field. Its been a right old soap opera off the pitch. Not even poor old Frank Butcher (RIP) could have added any more drama and pathos to the shenanighans that have been going on.

Rob Earnshaw’s exit wasn’t a shock but the transfer fee was, and prompted much gnashing of teeth at the pitiful amount received. Dixon Etuhu’s departure will be most famous for the bizarre non-scripted rant of Darren Huckerby who, instead of promoting a new shiny bus service, ended up promoting the grubby world of insider dealings. After announcing the club’s transfer policy for the next few weeks, Hucks has since gone into hiding with a groin strain. He does have the scan to prove it though…

Peter Thorne finally left the building making noises about “not having a fair run”, conveniently forgetting that you can’t really run when you are on the treatment table 349 days of the year. Meanwhile Martin Hunter’s messy departure provoked another ‘blistering attack’ ( © Mr P.Grant ) from a manager who probably throws teacups at the wall if he’s been given a plate of Digestives at half-time rather than a packet of Hob Nobs (well I certainly would).

And then there was Youssef… Oh dear, I don’t think I have ever heard a Norwich player slaughtered by a manager in that fashion while still at the club (I think John Bond went off on one about Martin Chivers once but even that pales in comparison). I actually found the whole episode quite comical, firstly for Safri’s incredible cheek to behave the way he has done, and secondly for Grant’s hysterical rant which just went on and on and on… How I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall watching those two have a discussion.

Sadly, the incoming transfers have provided less shouting and screaming, although some of them seemed to drag on forever. David Marshall finally (and thankfully) made it here, despite the fact his agent having other distractions (namely Joey Barton plus some legal stuff that got mentioned in the Red Tops). Jamie and Darel are back having taken the long way round, while Otsemobor, Strihavka, Smith (when fit - what is it with Premiership loanees and injuries?), Gilks and Brellier (my big hope) will hopefully be useful additions. How long as well before we hear Granty say that a fully fit Luke Chadwick is “like signing a new player”? In fact, he may have done so already.

Finally, the brave decision to give the captaincy to Shackell. Much as I like Adam Drury, I feel that the skipper’s armband has not suited him recently and it was time for a change. It was somewhat surprising that Shacks got it, but then again, he’s not a kid anymore and perhaps need a push to make that next step up. To be fair, I don’t think there were many obvious contenders (Brellier possibly, and maybe even Russell), but hopefully Shackell is mature enough to accept the challenge and thrive alongside it. Good luck to him.

Now let’s sign a big centre half and get that party started!